o the text again. If you will trace
the chapter throughout, you will see how gently and tenderly the Lord
approached the dark mind of this woman. He told her of things in her
life that no stranger would be likely to know. In this way he gained
her confidence. She said: 'I perceive thou art a prophet.' This was
one point gained. Next he told her that 'ye' (including the class of
Samaritans to whom she belonged) 'worship ye know not what. We know
what we worship.' This was another step with the cup of living water
in his hand to apply to her lips. His next step was to tell her that
God is a Spirit, and that all true worship must be from the heart, 'in
spirit and in truth,' and that the Father seeketh such to worship him.
I do suppose this is the first time she ever heard God called Father.
It was new to her, so new that she confessed her belief in a coming
Messias, who would be able to tell her all things; but that he would
come in the spirit and love of a kind Father exceeded all her hopes.

"And say, Brethren, did not this poor woman take the cup from the
Lord's hand and drink of the Water of Life? I think she did, for she
turned missionary right away, and if you will read the thirty-ninth
verse you will see something of her success, for 'many of the
Samaritans ... believed on him for the saying of the woman, which
testified, He told me all that ever I did.'

"I will now quote one more text to show that this living water, or
life-giving water, also represents the Holy Ghost in his enlightening
power and love. 'He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he
of the spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.' Here,
it does seem to me, the believer in Christ is compared to a spring of
pure water. What makes a spring flow, and keep on flowing even in dry
weather? It must be that deep down in the veins of the rocks, away out
of sight, it is being constantly fed by an influx of pure water. What
a lesson we have here! Brethren, the Spirit, or what is the same thing
again, the truth of God's holy Word, must not lie dormant in us. We
must, as the passage quoted puts it, we must give out rivers of living
water. These rivers flow out of our hearts into everything of our
lives in a way to make others know that we are full of the water of
life.

"I very lately read about the Dead Sea. And how did it get its name? I
will tell you. It got the name