who spoke to her, she would also have known that this first of blessings, as well as every other, was at his command, and would therefore most probably have folicited it of him.

"11. The woman faith unto him, Sir, "thou hast nothing to draw with, and the " well is deep; from hence then haft thou " that living water?"

This poor woman, still understanding our Saviour in a literal sense, might well be surprized; but he spake figuratively, comparing his grace, holy spirit, or the doctrine of his gospel, to living water: not therefore having the least conception of his meaning, and knowing the well was very deep, she naturally expresses a defire to be informed how he is to get at the water; and her curiosity being excited, she is led to make inquiries concerning him

felf.

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12. Art thou greater than our father Jacob which gave us the well, and "drank thereof himself, and his children, "and his cattle?"

The Samaritans were always proud to own their relationships to the Jews, altho' the latter treated them upon all occasions with the greateft contempt.

13. Jesus answered, and said unto her, "Whofoever drinketh of this water, shall "thirst again;

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14. But whosoever drinketh of the "water that I shall give him, shall never

"thirft; but the water that I shall give him " shall be in him a well of water, spring

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ing up into everlasting life.

15. The woman faith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, nei

"ther come hither to draw."

The woman, who seems not to have

given the smalleft credit to any thing our Saviour

Saviour was saying to her, defires him, in derision, to give her that water, still considering him as speaking literally, and knowing that in the common course of things he could not raise it from the bottom of the well, without something to draw it with.

" 16. Jesus faith unto her, Go call thy " husband, and come hither."

Our blessed Saviour might probably say this to check her presumption, and to bring her to a sense of the finful life she led, that she might be the more fit to receive the glad tidings of falvation which he was about to publish to her.

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" 17. The woman answered and said,

"I have no husband. Jesus said unto "her, Thou hast well faid, I have no "husband;

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18. For thou hast had five husbands; " and he whom thou now haft, is not thy "husband: in that saidst thou truly."

Struck

Struck with surprize at the supernatural knowledge here displayed by our Saviour, she attempts no vindication to the charge made against her: her confcience bears teftimony to its justice; and, being touched with remorse, she appears not to wish to conceal her offences, but rather to be made fully sensible of them, as a necefsary step to that penitence she now first refolved on.

19. The woman faith unto him, Sir, " I perceive that thou art a prophet."

She was well aware that no one without being inspired, could discover the secret actions of his fellow-creatures; and therefore, instead of denying the crimes laid to her charge, and being angry at the perfon who charged her, she acknowledges them in filence, and seems only anxious to be rightly informed in her duty, that she might re-trace her wandering steps.

That the very best of us are guilty of great faults, our confciences, if permitted

to

to speak the truth, will bear ample testimony. When, therefore, we are rebuked for them, or kindly entreated to amend our lives, let us take pattern by this woman, and immediately set about a serious fcrutiny into our conduct, both religious and moral, with a fincere determination to reform whatever we may find amiss in either.

She now proceeds to inquire, with anxiety, concerning her religious duties.

20. Our fathers worshipped in this "mountain; and ye say, that in Jeru"salem is the place where men ought to " worship."

It is no less necessary for us, if we afpire to the honor of being the children of God by adoption and grace, to examine our lives and actions with his law, that we may know upon what foundation our hope rests, than it was for this woman to learn who were right in their public worship, the Jews or the Samaritans.