Christ, under the foregoing characters, to be disclosed to the soul, and no desire to be excited there for the enjoyment of his blessings.]
2. We shall infallibly be made partakers of them—
[Not even the Samaritan woman, stranger as she was, and profligate, should have solicited his favour without obtaining it: much less shall any person now be suffered to seek his face in vain. He says to all, " Ask, and ye shall have ; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Nor would he have us straitened in our requests : his promise to the trembling suppliant is, " Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." Nothing would be too great for him to give, if only we sought him in humility and faith. Pardon, peace, holiness, and glory, should all be poured into our souls in rich abund- ance ; yea, " his Spirit, which he would give us, should be within us a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life."]
Know then, all of you,
1. That the Lord Jesus Christ is here present with you—
[We see him not corporeally, as the Samaritan woman did: nevertheless, he is spiritually present with us, as he has said, " Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world;" and, if you will seek communion with him, you shall not be disappointed of your hope. He is, in reality, the same as ever he was. Still is he the great gift of God to man. Still is he the fountain of all spiritual good. Still does he complain of our forgetfulness of him, and declare he will impart out of his fulness to every inquiring soul. He put the Samaritan woman upon asking of him; saying, in fact, "Ask of me." So says he now to every one of us, " Ask of me, and I will give you living water."]
2. That you, no less than the poor Samaritan, need the blessings which he offers —
[Which of you needs them not? Which of you can find any other fountain from whence to quench your thirst ? Which of you will not one day bitterly lament that you lost the present opportunity? I pray you, then, avail yourselves of your Lord's present condescension and grace ; and let your souls take of him, and live for ever.]