And where, Oh where is Babylon ?— A mass of wide-spread, shapeless ruins, A dismal swamp, a blackened mound, A scorched and blasted tower; The lion's lair now occupies That seat of pride and power! THE SAVIOUR AT THE WELL. "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst."-JOHN iv. 14. BY THE REV. JOSEPH BAYLEE. How wondrous the mystery of Divine grace! An adulteress finds mercy-unseeking she is sought out, unkind she is met with love, unholy she is in converse with the Holy One. Behold the Saviour in his weary hour. His failing humanity needs refreshment. Weary, alone, the stillness of noontide around him, he is indeed worthy of our adoring contemplation. Angels would count it their highest joy to descend from heaven to strengthen him. But it must not be. The path of weariness must be trodden by Him, that he may know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary. No kindly voice or helping hand must cheer him, that he may know the sadness, and pity the loneliness, of the friendless and desolate heart. Why was it that He was weary! He was going about doing good. His footsteps tracked out His path in this world of wretchedness-a path not amongst the rich and great, no, not even amongst the holy and refined, but amongst the poor, the despised, the unholy, the gross. Oh, blessed Saviour, thou joint partaker of our common humanity, thou pattern of all that is holy, and all that is good in human relationships, enable us as we ought to contemplate thee at Sychar's well. A woman of Samaria draws near. A water-pot is in her hand. A man in his weariness accosts her. He asks of her a draught of water to refresh exhausted nature. A woman's kindness prompts a ready attention, but she sees in Him a Jew, one of the hated nation, of the people who refused to have any dealings with her people—and shall she now show kindness to one of the proud despisers of her country? No, no; the rancour of party must overcome the compassions of humanity, and the weary stranger must remain unrefreshed. 66 How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? Alas! the bitterness of sectarian animosity can close up the compassions of even a woman's heart. Instead of beholding the weariness of our common humanity, she sees the garb of a hated Jew. Sweetly does the Saviour teach her a holier lesson. "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." Blessed picture of the Saviour's grace! He does not wait for our kindness; He meets us in our unworthiness; He triumphs over our corruptions; He sends the light of His heavenly grace into our earthly hearts, and the purifying power of His word fits our souls for the "living water." Oh, reader, reader! behold that scene! The exhausted countenance loses its weariness-it is beaming with the benevolence of a Saviour's heart. His whole frame is refreshed and invigorated by a meat and drink which His disciples knew not of. His fainting body finds its appropriate food in the Father's will; and the winning of one fallen sinner to holiness and peace, fills Him with a strength and joy which triumphs over nature. 66 As yet, indeed, His sinful, but much-blessed companion had no eyes to see it. She beholds in Him only a helpless One who had no vessel to draw water. Thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep from whence then hast thou that living water?" The weary One speaks to her with a self-evidencing truth and dignity, which could not be mistaken: "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but who soever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." A new feeling begins to arise within her. She found herself unable to shut up her heart against Him. All Jew as He was, the very thought of never again being thirsty, and of having so much labour spared, draws out the petition, Give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw." 66 Oh, how little are we aware of the depth of meaning of our own prayers! The Saviour hasted to answer a prayer which His own goodness had excited. With marvellous skill He draws from her the confession of her sinfulness, He turns her thoughts from curious theological disputes to the state of her own heart, and leads her to the contemplation of Him who must be worshipped in spirit and in truth. Her mind is aroused to a new view of religion, and new thoughts of God. She feels the truth of His words, and longs for the decision of their doubtful questions by the Messiah's advent. 66 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am He.” He offers her no new evidence; she needed it not. In Him was a holiness which the awakened heart could not mistake; and a truth, which the enlightened mind could not but see. |