Man naturally is earth-like, a heavy and lumpish piece, being taken out of the Earth, and the offspring of red Earth.
If a man would come to God, which is happiness, his chief end, the Way if Jesus Christ: “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Here man is the subject, God or happiness the end, Christ the Way.
Among the many things Christ is compared to in the holy scripture, to set forth his transcendent excellency, beauty, usefulness, and perfections, this of a Fountain is none of the least, it being a most profitable metaphor.
Amongst the many metaphors that our blessed Saviour is expressed by in the holy scriptures, certainly this of the Door must carry emphasis and signification, for use and improvement; otherwise He that was wiser than Solomon, and spake as never man spake, (for excellency of matter and form) would never have likened himself to a Door.
Almost 140 years before the southern kingdom of Judah went into Babylonian captivity, the northern kingdom of Israel was taken into Assyrian captivity. And, whereas the kingdom of Judah returned to the land, there is no corresponding record of the kingdom of Israel doing the same. This has led to much speculation on the present identity of the lost tribes of Israel, which make up ten of the twelve tribes of the ancient Hebrews.
