purifying the spiritual vision. When the good is habitually chosen, the true comes to be habitually sought and prized. 2. The will thus in harmony with God's will recognizes the Divine origin of Christ's teaching. Both by reason of his acquaintance with the mind of God, and by his sympathy with the Law and the truth of God, the devout and obedient man is fitted to pronounce upon the origin of the Lord's teaching, "He that is spiritual judgeth all things;" he has "the mind of Obrist." 'l.'hus it is, as our Lord acknowledged with gratitude, that things hidden from the wise and prudent a"'e often revealed nnto babes. His own apostles were a living illustration of this law, And every age furnishes examples of clever men, and even learned men, who have misunderstood and misrepresented Christ's teaching, because they have not been in sympathy with the righteous and holy will of the Eternal; whilst every age furnishes also examples of simple and unlettered men who, because lovers of goodness, have displayed a special discernment of mind iu apprehending, and even in teaching, Christian doctrine. In this, as in other respects, it is the childlike nature that enters the king- dom of heaven.-T.
Ver. 37.-The thirsting invited to the Fountain of living waters. It wes our Lord's wont to make use of the most familiar objects, the most ordinary events, the most customary practices, in order to illustrate and to enforce spiritual truth. To set forth man's need of teaching, of heavenly grace, of salvation, Christ spoke of hunger and of thirst, of bread and of water. On the occasion of the Fe&St of Tabernacles, there was per- formed a ceremony which may have immediately suggested the language of the text. This was the drawing of water from the Pool of Siloam, which was borne in procession to the temple, and poured out as a sacred libation before the Lord. It was probably upon the suggestion of this ceremony that our Lord uttered the memorable and encouraging words of the text. I. THE THIRST OP THE BmtAN SOUL. This thirst is deep-seated in the nature of man. It manifests itself in the many forms of restless activity by which men seek to satisfy their aspirations. The powerlessness of the world to quench this thirst is an indication of the Divine origin of the soul. He who drinks at a cistern will find that the cistern will run dry. He who quaffs the water of a pool may find the water foul and turbid. He who tries to quench his thirst by draughts from the sea will learn that, 10 far from assuaging, these salt waters only increase the thirst. " The frail vessel thou hast made, No hands bnt thine can fill ; For the waters of this world have failed, And I e.m thirsty still.'' II. THE BATIBPYING GIFTS OP Goo's HoLY SPmrr. That which the world cannot do the Spirit of God can do; he can fil! the created nature with peace, purity, truth, and power. The river of God's Jove flows on for ever; it is inexhaustible. " With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." "Blessed are they that . . . thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." m THE n."VITATION AND PROMISE OF JEsus. 1. He claims himself to dispense the satisfying gifla of the Spirit. He is _the Rock i!l the wilderness, fro:;i which flows t~e stream of living water. Thus he said, " Let him come unto me ; and at an earlier period of bis ministry, "I would have given thee living water." 2. The terms upon which this blessing is conferred are such as are most encouraging to the hearer of the gospel Faith is required from the thirsting applicant. This is evidently intended by the use of the words "come" and "drink." 'l'he blessing must be appropriated. And yet the satisfying provision is offered freely; it is not bought, but given. "Drink of the water of life !reely."-T. Ver. 40.-The prophet. In the Jewish dispensation no unimportant place was filled by the order of men known as seers or prophets. From Samuel to Malachi, they were the spiritual teachers and guides of Israel. The Lord Chri~t gathered up in his own Person and ministry the significance and power of the prophetic office. I. CnRIBT'e PBOPRETIO DESIGNATION. He was known as a Prophet by those who saw in him more than a rabbi, while yet they knew him not as the Messiah, It had been en. vu. 1-53.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 333