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shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

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"Shall never thirst," that is, shall never want a supply to quench his thirst; or, he shall have a never-ending life from it, which does not need to be supported with meat and drink; as those of whom St. John speaks, Rev. vii. 16, They shall hunger no more, neither shall they thirst any more." Or perhaps the meaning may be, that he shall thirst no more for worldly things and mere earthly comforts. Ease from that tormenting, perpetual thirst is very desirable, and since Christ has it to bestow, we should go to him for the blessing.

15. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

She felt no want of the water of which Christ spoke, and therefore did not understand him. Observe how he brings her to a knowledge of herself, and opens a way into her heart.

16. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

This darted into her like lightning. Conscience was alarmed, and would not let her shuffle with him, though she did not know the person with whom she had to do. We know, and yet do not suffer him to bring our secret sins to light, by his word and Spirit.

17. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

The woman made a true confession. Now she was fully in God's way. Jesus replies, thou hast spoken the truth, most happily for thyself.

18. For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

It is our own fault if Christ does not tell us all. To what purpose is it to think of hiding ourselves from him,

when he knows all? Let us ask ourselves, when did he tell us anything?

19. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

This was the answer he expected. She did not fly in his face for telling her a home truth; but perceiving him to be a prophet, she asks his opinion in a matter which seemed to her of great importance. The Jews had a temple on one mountain, the Samaritans on another, and she wished to know who were in the right. In answer, he tells her plainly, the latter were in the wrong; and withal instructs her how God is to be worshipped: not in one place only, with outward ceremonies, but everywhere, with the heart.

20. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

21. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews.

23. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24. God is a spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The meaning is not, that there is to be no outward worship under the gospel, but that it avails nothing without the inward; and that whenever we do worship God, it must be as a spirit, with an awful sense of his presence, an inward reverence of his perfections, and the offering up our hearts to him.

of

SECTION XVI.

Chap. iv. ver. 25-38.

SHE BELIEVES IN CHRIST.

25. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

Do we say, we know that Christ is come and hath told us all things, and if we are ignorant of anything which it behoves us to know, it is our own fault?-O Jesus! say to us, “I am he !" Speak this to all our hearts!

27. And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou ? or, Why talkest thou with her?

They thought it wrong, she being a Samaritan.

need not

We

however marvel at her; she had a soul to save.

The scripture is particularly careful to let us know, in many instances, that the disciples at first were like other men; to the end that we may see in them how great a change Christ can work in us.

28. The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

29. Come,

see a man, which told me all things that ever I did;

is not this the Christ?

She was

all on fire to carry the good news of the Messiah to them. It is of the nature of christian knowledge to spread itself; and christian experience, when it

is lovingly communicated, has greater force upon others,

than argument.

It is what

we

better,

Christ's way at all times, first to make us know

are, before he can give himself to us, or make us It is a hopeful time with us, when we are will

ing to know the worst of ourselves. And whenever we are

so willing, we know too also who has been working in

us.

30. Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

This conversation was revealed to St. John for our sakes, and that we might come to Christ. O that we did, one and all! That is the happiest hour of our lives, in which we come to Jesus.

31. In the meanwhile his disciples prayed him, saying, Mas

ter, eat.

32. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

O the hidden life, and spiritual joys of Christ! The same appetite, the same feast. We want nothing but the mind that was in him to be happy.

33. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him aught to eat?

34. Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Let ministers, especially, think whether they are in this mind or not. Let all think what is their great hunger and thirst and wherein they enjoy themselves most.

:

35. Say not ye, There are four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

The harvest was within four months in Judæa, at that time; and from this circumstance, and probably, seeing the Samaritans coming to him, he takes occasion to turn their thoughts to another harvest, which was then ready for their hands in all corners of the world. The souls of men are Christ's harvest; and great is his joy when they are brought to him.

36. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

"He that reapeth receiveth wages," according to his

diligence and faithfulness. "He gathered fruit unto eternal life," for himself, and those who are gathered by him. God grant that the minister of Christ, and his flock, may rejoice together for ever, he for sowing, and they for receiving the seed !

37. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

38. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

The persons who had laboured were prophets and ministers of God, who lived before the time of Christ. The disciples had "entered into their labours," to complete what they had begun, with no less labour. This harvest is now, has been ever since the time here spoken of, and will continue to the end of the world. Let us consider whether or not we are fit for Christ's barn. We die either wheat, or chaff.

SECTION XVII.

Chap. iv. ver. 39-45.

CHRIST CONVERTS THE SAMARITANS.

39. And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

It seems, he has nothing to tell us.

When we are spoken to for this purpose, we say, we do no harm.

:

40. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them and he abode there two days.

These were willing to learn, who wished him to remain with them to instruct them. He remained as long as he

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