The mist and spray which it makes are beautiful. The way in which the falling drops glitter and sparkle in the sunbeams is beautiful. The clear, liquid sounds, made by the streams thrown into the air, when they fall into the water beneath, are pleasant to the ear as sweetest music. Everybody loves to look at a fountain; and when, on a midsummer's day, we see one playing in some green, shady grotto, how pleasant it is to sit down on a soft, mossy bank, and listen to the music of the falling water, and feel the cool, refreshing influence which the fountain imparts to all the air about it!

The most remarkable fountains in the world are those in the gardens of the palace at Versailles, near Paris. These fountains are very large. When in full play they throw up several hundred jets, or streams of water, at once. They are thrown into a great variety of forms. It cost more than a million sterling to make these fountains; and every time they play they cost £500. They only play, however, on particular occasions; and when they are in full play, they form one of the most beautiful sights that can be imagined.

But after all, the fountain spoken of in our text is the best fountain. There is no other fountain in the world that can be compared to this. Now I suppose some of you are ready to ask, What is meant by this fountain? It means the blood which Jesus, shed when He hung upon the cross. It is in consequence of what Jesus then suffered the blood He shed, and the death He died-that God pardons the sins of men, and saves their souls. That blood is here compared to a fountain. When the cruel nails were driven through His tender hands, and the

The Best Fountain is easy to get at.

II

sharp spear of the Roman soldier was thrust into His blessed side, and "forthwith came there out blood and water," then this fountain was opened "for sin and for uncleanness." This is the fountain which we are now to consider. There is none like it in all the world. It is the best fountain. There are three reasons why it is so.

In the first place, this is the best fountain because it is

EASY TO GET AT.

If you wanted to see the fountains at Versailles, you would have to take a voyage across the Channel and take a long journey by railway to Paris. When you arrive at Paris, you must ride fourteen miles to the town of Versailles. And when you get there, you find that the great fountains are only made to play on some special holiday or grand occasion. So that when you arrived at Versailles, after your long journey, you would have to wait for weeks or months perhaps before you would have an opportunity of seeing them.

And it is very much the case with all the earthly fountains that you may wish to go to. They are all more or less hard to get at. You must take some trouble to reach them. You must pack your trunk and leave your home and make a journey in order to get to them.

But it is very different with this best fountain we are considering. This is very easy to get at. You have not to cross the ocean, or take a long journey by railway, in order to reach it. It is not necessary to leave home at all to find it. It is a wonderful fountain, because it is not confined to any particular place or country. You may find it everywhere. It is in this pulpit where I preach. It is in this chancel from which I am now speak

ing to you. It is in the aisle along which you walked to enter your pew. It is in the pew where you are sitting. It is in the street through which you walk to your home. When your father or mother takes the Bible in the morning or evening, and you all gather round to have family worship, this fountain is near you, in the parlour or sitting-room, when you meet for that pleasant service. And

when you go to your own room, and kneel down in that quiet corner, by that chair, or beside the bed, and lift up your heart in earnest prayer to God, and say, "O Lord, pardon my sins, I pray Thee, for Jesus' sake," then the fountain is close by you as you kneel. You cannot see it with your bodily eye. You cannot feel it with your

hand. You cannot hear the sound and splash of its going. Still it is there-it is everywhere. It is in the splendid' dwellings of the rich, and in the humble abodes of the poor. The king may find it in his palace or on his throne, and the beggar may find it in his garret or his cellar. The prisoner may find it in his locked and bolted cell, and the farmer may find it on the hill-top or in the quiet vale; in the broad, open field, or in the shady grove. The sailor may find it as he lies quietly in his hammock or berth; or as, amid the darkness of the night and the howling of the tempest, he lifts his heart in prayer to