peculiarly precious- to those who first heard them. They eonnd very musical to ne, but they must seem more melodious still to the Oriental ear. We know that water is an invaluable thing. hut it ie only they who have lived or travelled in tropical countries thot app1·eciate a.II that is meant by burning drought or by refreshing streams. And as wor<ls gather sweetness an<l excellency to the ear as they become associated with that which we most prize, so we may be sure that the words "water" and " wells" had a most invHing sound to the people of Palestine, and that this passage had ( as we should say) a" golden ring" in the hellring of the Jews. It may bring before us the joy which springs from the salvation of Jesus Christ in the several stages of our experience. I. PROFOUND AND MOST BLESSED PEA.OE. It is said that the most exquisite sensation that mortal man enjoys is experienced in the sudden ces.qation of excruciating pain. Similarly we may truly say that the mo~t profound satisfaction of the soul is felt in a. blessed consciousnee~ of the. removal of Divine condemnation; in other words, in a sense of forgiven sin. The "peace of God" not only "passeth understanding," but it is a truer and a deeper calm than any other which is bom of outward circumstance or human favour, • This frequently passes into- • II. 'l'HE JOY WHICH RISES INTO HOLY RAPTURE. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God; ... , . and not only so, but we also joy io God through our Lord Jesus Christ!' (Rom. v,.,1, 11). The sense of God's fatherly love, the conviction that sin, condemnation, death, hell-all the really evil and harmful things-are left behind for ever, and that before us is an ever-ascending path of wisdom, righteousness, and joy, will' awaken in the soul a rapturous delight compared with which the excitements and delectations of earth are very poor affairs. Ill. 'J.'HE JOYOUS ACTIVITIES OF THE SOUL THROUGHOUT ALL ITS CHRISTIAN COURSE. With joy we" draw water." lo the activities that are distinctively Christian we find a positive delight-a source of satisfaction which does not injure, but enooble; which does not pall and fade, but abide and deepen. In the course of our Christian experience we have: 1.. The joy of praise; of pouring forth our trust and gratitude in strains of sacred song, "singing and making melody in the heart." 2. The foy of fellowship; holding glad communfon with the heavenly Father, with the Divine Friend of our ·spit'its; holding reverent •and rejoicing intercourse with him both in social worship and in the hour of solitude; having, also, happy a.nd heart-gladdening "fellowship one with another." ' 3. The foy of hope; the eager anticipation of a blesse,lness an<l glory which will follow the strife and suffering of this present time. Learn (I) the folly of •refusing this heritage of joy ; (2) the, 'setious and mischievous mistake of giving a joyless impression of Christian service.-C. Vers. 4-6.-E:llultation and activity. There is a jnbilant strain throughout these verses; not, however, without a selise of some sacred duty to be performed. We learn- I. THAT THE CHURCH OF CHRIST MAY WELL SPEAK IN TIIE ACCENTS OF EXULTATION. The terms of the prophecy do not seem to be satisfied with anything less than ll:cssianic blessings; they fit perfectly the estate to which Christ has called us; they belong to that "kingdom of heaven" of which the Son of man had so much to say (see Matt. xiii.). 'l'he Church may exult in that: 1. God has done such great lhings for her, in (1) the large and long preparation, through many ages, for her redemption; (2) the supreme act of Divine revelation in the person of his Son; (3) the wonderful sacrifice of himself he made on its behalf (2 Cor. viii. 9); (4) th~ lofty privileges to which he has summoned it-holy service, affectionate sonship, eager-hearted heirship. 2. God himself, the mighty and victorious One, is dwelling in the mid,se of it. "Great' is the Holy One." If the family is proud of its honoured father, the army of its invincible captain, the nation of its illustrious sovereign, how much more shall the Church exult in its almighty and victorious Lord I Ile is great in nil the elements of greatness-in external majesty, in intrinsic excellency, in overcoming energy, in transcendent beauty, in the everlasting character of his kingdom, II. THAT EXULTATION DOES WELL TO PASS SOON' INTO HOLY AND BENEFICENT ACTIVITY. Blending with these accents of triumph, and harmonizing with them, is the voice of 22! THE BOOK OF 'l'H..E l'lW1'1:illi'l' 11.iAlAll, LOB, XII, 1-6.
exhortation,· the summons to useful activity: "Praise the Lord;" "Cl\ll upon his Name;" "Declare his doings;" "Be this known [let this be known] in all the earth." Jehovah's greatness could only be known among the nations by the united and continuous testimony of the people of God. The glories of his grace, as they shine in the face of Jesus Ohrist, are to be beheld by all peoples; but they mu8t he reflected from the lives and published by the lips of his faithful servants. It is the privilege and the duty of the Church to carry the knowledge of his Name and truth to the utmost ends of the earth. It is well to rejoice, "to sing for joy," to indulge in pious exultation; it is better to act in such a way that neighbouring nations (cities districts, streets, homes) shall draw from the wells of this great salvation the water~ of eternal life; better, both because (1) we communicate blessing thereby, and because (2) we gain increase of spiritual worth by so doing.-C.