there.

Jesus, therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus upon the well." Surely, this is very man! Yet hear him speak. He promises to give this woman under the figure of water that spiritual instruction and assistance which shall conduct her to everlasting life. He promises this of his own authority, and as within his own power to give-“ Whosoever shall drink of the water that I shall give him," not "God through me." He proceeds to tell her a perfect stranger to him in all human intercourse-" all "all things that ever she did ;" and finally affirms that he is the Messias. Can this be less than very God? And to meet the difficulty which occurs here, and in many other passages of the same kind, can we imagine any other solution, than that which Christ himself gives us when he says, "I and the Father are one," than that which the Evangelist affords us, when he writes that "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," and which

1 John x. 30.

2 John i. 14.

the Apostle advances when he shows that "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself1?" Can any other solution, in short, be imagined than that doctrine supplies, which, in spite of conflicting heresies on the right hand and on the left, the great majority of Christian churches have held in all ages the doctrine, namely, that in the person of Jesus Christ, the fulness of the two natures, divine and human, were united? Jesus Christ was man, and therefore was he weary and athirst. He was God, and therefore could he offer to this woman, and to all that would come unto him, that Spirit that should lead them unto life.

But I meant not to argue. turn to matter more practical.

Let us

Here is

a promise made, in which it may readily be supposed that every one would wish to participate. By whom is that promise made? To whom is it addressed? And what is the nature of it?

1 2 Cor. v. 1.

In answer to the first of these questions, perhaps, we have said enough already. We know who it is that promiseth-and we know that his promises. are Yea and Amen. We know that he who promises this living water, is himself the fountain-the only well-spring of life. He hath repeated the offer in other places. "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink'." And the Scriptures had long ago foretold of him that he should thus invite men. It is of him the prophet speaks when he summons every one that thirsteth to the waters, and bids them drink freely " without money, and without price." It is of him another prophet writes when he says, that "In that day there shall be a fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness 3." And the waters which were to break forth in the wilderness, and the springs

1 John vii. 37.

2 Isaiah lv. 1.

3 Zech. xiii. 1.

which should gladden the desert, were all predictive allusions to the blessings which this same Jesus Christ was destined to impart.

And to whom were these blessings to be imparted ?-Here again the answer is obvious. It may be found without research, and understood without difficulty. The blessings are offered to all mankind; there is no exception-no reserve. If any man thirst, he may go to this fountain and drink. If any man thirst—that is, if any man feel his need of the spiritual graces and succours which are to be obtained from and through Christ; he has only to apply in the manner that Christ has directed, and he shall receive them. What, may the poor

come? Yes! and he shall obtain that wealth which is more precious than thousands of gold and silver-a treasure for which a man might well sell all that he hath and which is not only more valuable but more secure than any other; for it is laid up in that place "where neither moth, nor rust, doth corrupt, and

where thieves do not break through nor steal 1."

May the ignorant come? Yes! And he shall obtain that knowledge, compared to which all the wisdom of the world is foolishness the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and him crucified-that wisdom which is more precious than silver, and the merchandise of it than fine gold, the wisdom that maketh wise unto salvation.

May the sinner come?-Why need we pause for an answer? Yes! if it be his wish to continue a sinner no longer. This is the very person for whom the fountain was opened this is he whom the physician came to heal. If he thirst-if he feel that burning desire of relief, by which he, above all others, should be actuated: let him drink of the waters which Christ will give him, (waters mingled with his own precious blood,) and he shall thirst no more a voice shall whisper while he drinks, “Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee."-If no sinner be al

1 Matt. vi. 19.

2 Matt. ix. 2.