LER!'ONB, 1. Let m realiv:e our relatiomhip to all p(l,,~t omd future agencies, thnt wo may feel our indebtedness to the former, and ,,ur responsibilities totho la•tcr. We reap much which ot.hl'rs have sown. Let us not be elatl'd with pride, but with gratitude remember the tearful sowers. Let us sow faithfully, even if we reap not; and remember t.he reward and joy of the harvest. Let us leave the same legacy of fruitful labour to our successors as our predecessors left to us. 2. Let us be ver.11 diligent in spiritual service. It is harvest. And in relation to us is very short-it will be soon over. 3. Let u.s be puncfual and pi·ompt. "The fields are white." It will be too late soon. 'J'here is <lAnger that some corn will spoil for want of timely harvesting. Procrastination is a be~etting sin. We cannot say," There are yet four months," etc. No; "the fields arc white already." They ea.II us now to work. 4-. Let us be very earnest and watchful. "Lift up your eyes, and look," etc. Spiritual cultivation demands earnest and con• tinual watchfulness. The spiritual eye should be keen, and ever on the look out on the old fields and new ones. Let us watch lest we lose an opportunity, lest the fields be riper than the hu!'bandman-he green and they white. The harvest of souls-the hll.l'Vest of Jesus-is infinitely great, important, valuable, and promising.-B. T. Vers. 6-15.-Th.efo1tntain of living water. I. AN EVIDENT PHYSICAL NEED. This chapter connects spiritual truth with one great physical need of men, even as eh. vi. connects spiritual truth with another great need. Both Jesus and the woman were exactl_v in che position to appreciate the value of water, and the opportunity of getting it easily and freely. Jesus is a thirsty Traveller; the woman is one who has frequent journeys from her home t.o get the indispensable supply for every day's needs. We cannot all get the same amount of good out of the conversation between Jesus and the woman. 'l'hose whose toil often makes them thirsty, and those who get their supplies of water with difficulty, they will be the people to relish the figure by which spiritual benefits are here set forth. Our very difficulty in profiting by this conversation should be a matter for thankfulness. If we arc thirsty we very soon get a drink; and if others in their thirst ask from us, we very soon get them the requisite supply. II. .AN m.TELT SPIRITUAL NEED. This woman is an excellent specimen of a very large class. They feel the physical need so much that the spiritual need is altogether· overlooked. It is little wonder that the woman talked as she did in this conversation. How was she to know, without a good deal of instruction and experience, whence Jesus came and what be meant? By this conversation, as well as other recorded ones of his, Jesus would evidently stir us up to consider whether there be not other wants just as nf'Cessary to be met in their way as the wants that are met by a supply of water. When we are hungry we all know the use of bread; when we are thirsty we all know the use of water; why is it, then, that we know not the use of Jesus? It is either that we- have not yet felt the deeper thirst of the heart, or, having felt it, we do not yet under- stand how in Jesus alone that thirst can be effectually quenched. This woman was wholly and solely occupied with the idea of getting natural water more easily. Her journeys to the well must have been very frequent ones, and, though they might not be long ones, yet they might be quite enough to add very considerably to the toil and burden of the day. What a warning there is for us in this woman's gross spiritual ignorance, her inability to comprehend, even in the very least degree, what Jeaus was talking about I She had come out to get as much water as she herself could carry back. There she stood before Jesus, and ~o ignorant was she of his mission and bis power, that at the moment she could think of nothing better to ask him than the opening up of some natural fonnte.in of waters such as would render needless any more toilsome journeys to Jacob's well. III. THE OONTINUAL BEADINEBS OF JESUS TO SUPPLY ALL SPIRITUAL NEED. He is weary with travt:l and heat, and needs rest. But the need of this ignorant, degraded woman is far greater than bis, and, more than that, in speaking the words that may go far in instructing her as to her need, be speaks the words that may instruct many others also. 1'he physical want of Jesus is soon supplied; a draught from Jacob's well will do that. But the want of the 1.voman is not so easy to supply. It would be easy enough if she were only in the right slate of mind; but, first of all, what ignorance, misconception, and wrong desires have to be removed I A deal has to be done for us before we care to appropriate our share in that fountain which, because of its uufailing en. IV. 1-64.) THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 2()1
fnlness, can do nothing else but lcnp forth to everlasting life. But what an encourage- ment to know th11t Jesus is eo reody to do all when we are willing to have it done I If we nre unsaved, unblessed, unbelieving, unhoping, unloving, if no fresh, deep spiritual stream runs through our nature, it is because we keep away from the fountain that Jesus has opened up. It is not he who has to discover the need and make the prepara- tion. Jesus he.s everything in perfect readiness so soon as the heart be.,.ins 0 to feel its thirst.-Y.