SECTION XIII.

Chap. iii. ver. 25-36.

JOHN THE BAPTIST'S TESTIMONY OF CHRIST.

25. Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

Probably, the dispute was whose baptism was the better, that of John, or that of Jesus. John's disciples pleaded for the former, and told him with some concern, that his followers forsook him. Let us notice how, like a true servant, he keeps within his own bounds, and sends all to Christ.

26. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

27. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

28. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

His meaning was, that he must not go beyond his commission; and he had none to keep his disciples to himself.

29. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

His joy was to hear Christ, who is the bridegroom of the church, and of every believer. What an honour is this, and how can we think worthily of it! What an endearing relation is that in which he stands to us! What care should we take to preserve so happy a union; to be the bridegroom's friends, as John was, and to have no greater joy than to hear him speaking to us in all the kindness of his word, and warming our hearts with it!

30. He must increase, but I must decrease.

John was willing that it should be so. Christ's faithful servants desire nothing but the increase of his power and influence in the world. Let us see to it, that he increases in us, as he will, when we are nothing in our own eyes.

31. He that cometh from above is above all he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

And therefore more especially to be attended to; since whatever he teaches is true, pure, heavenly, and of his own infallible knowledge, which is more than can be said of any "They will reverence my Son." No such thing. Behold, to the shame of mankind, what follows.

mere man.

32. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

That is, comparatively but few receive it. one put the question to himself, Lord, is it I? receive thee upon thy own testimony?

The next words will tell us when we do.

Let every

Do I not

33. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

That is, he hath a firm belief, and can seal to the truth of his promises, from the life and power of a true faith in himself.

34. For whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

What is this to us, if we do not receive of his fulness? 35. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

He hath given all into his hand, to give us, according to our wants, which he is always ready to supply; and if he does not, it is because we are ignorant of them, and do not desire his gifts.

Observe, God's giving all power to the Son, to govern and bless us, is mentioned as the highest instance of his

love, and the greatest honour he can put upon him. How dear is our salvation to God!

36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

He that believeth on the Son of God for the remission of sins, and a new will to please God in all holy obedience, "hath everlasting" life already begun in him, and shall have it more abundantly. "And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." Here John the Baptist plainly implies that it is upon every man in his natural state, and that it must abide on him for ever, if Christ does not remove it. It is not without cause that so much is said in the gospel of the greatness of the Person whose word we are to take.

SECTION XIV.

Chap. iv. ver. 1—10.

CHRIST MEETS WITH A WOMAN OF SAMARIA.

1. When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

2. (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) There is a twofold work in baptism, outward, and inward. The outward act of baptizing into him must be performed by his ministers; but he has a higher work, namely, to baptize with the Holy Ghost; and the former is nothing without the latter.

3. He left Judæa, and departed again into Galilee.

He did this to avoid danger from the Pharisees; not indeed that he feared it, but because he would not provoke it, before the time.

4. And he must needs go through Samaria.

5. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

Though Christ was so faint and weary that he could go no further, yet he was patient and contented. This was about the sixth hour, or noon, when probably Jesus was fasting.

7. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

Who can be in a poorer condition than Jesus was? What did he not suffer for our imitation? And how can we complain when we are generally in better circumstances than Christ was, and never in a worse condition?

8. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

9. Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

She wondered, either that he would ask; or, how he could expect to be gratified in his request. The cause was an old grudge betwixt the two nations, on account of religion which to the shame of mankind, inflames their hatred more than anything else. We shall perceive in what follows, that Jesus brought the Samaritans to a better temper. They forgot the Jew, when they found what he And if Jesus does not reconcile us in himself to all the world, we mistake him.

was.

10. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Let us mark the several particulars of this conversatior

and, as we proceed, have an eye to ourselves. Happy shall we be, if we see our own case in this woman, and following her step by step in the workings of her mind, come to the same conclusion. She did not at first know what a gift of God Christ was; do we? Let us not think that we do, when we do not; for then we shall never know. Christ let the light of divine truth in upon her sweetly, and by degrees, as she could bear it; but then she was inquisitive, and willing to learn.

He tells her that on her asking, "he would have given her living water;" that which refreshes, supports, and comforts the spiritual life, as drink does the body. This living water, is Christ and all his benefits. Thirsting for him is all. Why do we not ask, but because our souls are athirst for something else, and we feel no want of him?

SECTION XV.

Chap. iv. ver. 11—24.

CHRIST REVEALS HIMSELF TO HER.

11. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep from whence then hast thou that living water ?

So the soul is apt to question with Christ, and to doubt at first of his power.

12. Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13. Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

That is, he shall thirst over and over again, and die at last.

14. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him