that in the use of it we are unconscious of any power within us
but our own. So with drinking of the _water of life_. The power of
every one to drink is all of the Lord, but is so freely given by him,
and so freely used by us, that it is to all intents and purposes the
very same as if it were all of ourselves: and this makes us
accountable.

Jesus wants every man's will to drink the water of life. A sick man
may come here to regain his health. But upon tasting it he may say, "I
do not like this water; I have no thirst for it; let me have some of
another kind." But his physician says: "You must drink it or you will
die." He obeys his physician and drinks the water. After awhile he
begins to feel better, and as his health improves the water tastes
more natural to him; and by and by, as he regains his health, he loves
it and feels loath to leave the spring. But no one ever need leave the
fountain of divine love and truth: for if a man drink of it freely to
the healing of his soul, it will be in him "a well of water, springing
up into everlasting life" and he will love it more and more.

In a large spring you will hardly ever see all the water come from one
orifice or opening. It boils up through the sand and pebbles in many
places; and one observer will think this the main stream, and another
that. So with the water of eternal life. It is not all found in one
verse; nor in one chapter: nor in one book even. Jesus said to the
devil: "Man liveth _by every word_ that proceedeth out of the mouth of
God."

Ah, friends, time would fail me, were I to attempt to bring to your
minds the many precious promises we have in Jesus Christ. His Word is
full of them; and I most affectionately exhort every one here to-day
to go to that Word and find the water of eternal life.

You may sit by the spring;
And in your soul you may sing:

"I heard the voice of Jesus say:
Behold, I freely give
The Living Water; thirsty one,
Stoop down, and drink, and live.

"I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream:
My thirst was quenched; my soul revived;
And now I live in him."

DIRECT FROM THE DIARY.

THURSDAY, October 4, 1838. Attended the funeral of one of Brother
Christian Niswander's sons. His age was thirteen years and one month.

MONDAY, October 8. Attended the funeral of another one of Christian
Niswander's children to-day. Age, nine years, nine months and
twenty-one days.

SUNDAY, October 1