From these we may draw water with joy —
[Truly there is nothing which can conduce to our salva- tion, which is not to be found in Christ. The water that he will give us will cleanse us at once from all the guilt and defile- ment of sin : it will purify our very nature, so that we shall be renewed after the Divine image in righteousness and true holi- ness." From him all may draw. Not a sinner in the universe is so unworthy, but that he may come to Christ, and by faith receive from him whatsoever he stands in need of. The invi- tation is given to "all who thirst:" no qualification is required on their part, except an earnest desire, and a humble faith : they may take as much as they can wish freely, " without money and without price '^." They are not in the situation of Hagar, who when she relieved her son's thirst from the small vessel that she had taken, grudged, as it were, every drop that was expended, because she knew not where to obtain enough to satisfy his returning wants, which would speedily arise : they may come and draw " with joy," knowing that the supply is inexhaustible, and perfectly commensurate with all their wants. The very first taste of this water shall so invigorate their souls, that they shall feel " like a giant refreshed with wine :" and every successive draught shall " strengthen them with might in their inner man," and " fill them, as it were, with all the fulness of God^."]
But the true virtue of this fountain will be best seen in,
II. Their heavenly employment —
There is a remarkable difference between the two parts of this divine song : in that which precedes our text, the expressions relate entirely to the case of the individual himself; but, in the text, the individual
d John vii. 37—40. « isai. Iv. 1. f Eph. iii. 19.