had degenerated in our blessed Saviour's time, their conduct plainly evinces.

The worship of the Samaritans, as well as their fyftem of morality, was greatly inferior to that of the Jews in its state of purity they indulged themselves in many liberties which were forbidden by the Jewish law.

From the above account, we may eafily conceive, that great jealoufy and enmity would naturally arise between the two people: and this appears to have been the case, and to have risen to fuch a height, in the time of our Saviour, that they seem to have avoided even the common offices of humanity to each other.

Such were the people to whom our bleffed Lord was graciously pleased to offer his divine gospel; and many of them thankfully accepted it, and became his faithful followers and difciples.

"5. Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to

"the

"the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to " his fon Joseph.

"6. Now Jofeph's Well was there. Je"fus therefore being wearied with his "journey, fat thus on the well: and it "was about the fixth hour."

The foregoing verfe furnishes a fresh proof of our bleffed Lord's fubmitting to the infirmities of human nature, in reprefenting him as tired with his journey; nor did he choose easy and expeditious ways of travelling, but fuch as best fuited that ftation of life in which he condefcended to appear. His whole life on earth was a continued state of fuffering.

"7. There cometh a woman of Samaria "to draw water: Jefus faith unto her, "Give me to drink.

"8. (For his difciples were gone away unto the city, to buy meat.)"

This woman, we learn from what follows, had lived a very fcandalous life; nor

does

does it appear that she had formed any plan of reformation, when fhe met and converfed with our Saviour. He foon brought her to a right way of thinking ; and by implanting in her heart a firm faith in him, furnished her with the strongest fhield against the temptation to return to her former wicked and diffolute life.

The Scribes and Pharifees continually reproached our Lord for affociating with publicans and finners. His answer to all fuch charges, is well worthy of remark: "I come not to call the righteous, but fin

ners to repentance." How merciful, kind and condefcending in our Saviour, not to refuse the very worst of sinners, upon their fincere repentance, faith and amendment of life. Had he kept fuch at a distance, and only admitted to his prefence perfons bearing a fair character in the world, how many of those who became the fincereft of his profelytes, must have been fuffered to perish in their ignorance and vices!

In like manner, let us endeavor to bring back to the paths of virtue, our unhappy brethren;

brethren; let them have ftrayed ever so far into those of vice, we fhould not be difheartened, or give up our attempts to fave them, any more than we would the care of a fick friend, but ftill continue to adminifter the proper medicines; fince, whilst there is life, there is hope. How pleafing fuch conduct is to God, may be gathered from the greatness of the reward promised to fuch endeavors: "Those who bring 'many to righteoufnefs, fhall fhine as the ftars, for ever and ever.

'

66

9.

Then faith the woman of Samaria "unto him, How is it that thou, being a "Jew, afkeft drink of me which am a woman of Samaria? (For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.)"

The furprize of the woman, that he fhould enter into converfation with her who was a Samaritan, much more ask a favor of her, is perfectly natural. She did not come there with the expectation of meeting the Meffiah, but merely for the Y purpose

purpose of drawing water at the public well; there being no private ones amongst them, as with us: but it often happens that we are bleffed with the divine mercies, when we think not of them. found of those who seek him not.

God is

This

woman appears to have poffeffed a good difpofition, though perverted by vicious courses, and to have been therefore thought by our Lord, to whom the fecrets of the heart are open, a proper object of his mercy and regard.

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

The holy Spirit is here called living water; as it is conftantly flowing in the hearts of thofe to whom it has been communicated, cleansing and reviving the foul. Had fhe known that it was the Meffiah

who