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LESSON VI-FEBRUARY 5.
GOLDEN JX'l'-WIIOSOC\'Ct' will , let him lake the water oC life rl'cclnc
" 17 ,
- - . - . .
1. The Teacher nesting by n
Famous Well.-Vs. 1.G. For several
months , Jesus und John were preach-
- lug to crowds at time same time in
different parts of Judea ] , John extending .
ing his labors up the Jordan , hut not
entering Galilee , so far as wo Imow.
Jesus , through his apostles ) , brought
the believers to open confession by
baptism. John ] , from the nature of his
work , sent to .lesus those Interested
and desiring to bo delivered from sin ,
till ere long , .1"HU had ] snore Ccnm '
fessed followers than John. John's
glory ] was In seU.renunclatlon , and In !
leading ] men from himself to the
1\Iessluh.
Time natural result was that the
growing popularity ] of one who claimed ]
to bo their Messiah , hut disavowed
their views and condemned their con-
duct , should awaken intense opposition -
tion on the part of the Pharisees , as
well as envy all the part of the more
zealous , but less Christianized disciples
clplos of .10hn.
It was wise , therefore , that Jesus
should ] leave these stony and hrlor-
overgrown fields and go to Galilee ,
where there were fewer prejudices
and moro open minds , and there get
his kingdom well rooted and started ,
before he returned to Judea again. .
I
Hence he left Judea , by one of the
great highways which led to the valley ]
Joy between 1\1 t. Ehal on the north ,
and 1\1t. Gorlzlm on the south , whore
was a town ( v. 5) ) "called Syhoar , "
either the ancient Shechem , or the
neighboring vlllago of 'Aslmr. "That
Jacob gave to his son Joseph. " See
Gen. 33 : 13.20 ; ,18 : 22.
G. "Now .lacob's well was there. "
"Josus therefore , being wearied with
his 'journo.r. " Ho had probably been
walking several hours , as the Orientals -
tas ] were accustomed to start early
In the morning , and it was now "ahout
the sixth hour , " or noon , according
to Jewish roclwulng "Sat ( was sit-
ting ) thus on ( by ; ) the well. ] ! " Probably - I
ably on the low curb usually placed I
around wells ( Ex. 21 : 33) ) , resting , and I
waiting for the return of his disciples
( v. 8) ) .
II. The Unlikely Scholar.-V. 7.
"There cometh a woman of ( out of )
Samaria. " Not the city of Samaria ,
seven miles away , but from the country -
- try of Samaria ; one of Samaritan race
and religion. "To- draw water. "
A Character Study.-The woman of
- Samaria was a most unlllccy ] disciple.
She was entirely different from the
woman who ministered to Jesus , such
is Mary and Martha of Bethany ,
Salome , and the wife of Chuza. (1) )
She was disreputable ; (2) ( ) rather hold
and free in her manners ; (3) ) with a. .
rather coarse attractiveness ; (4) ) of
- some native ablllt ; (5) ( / ) of open srml ;
(6) ( ) n Samaritan ; (7) ( of a perverted
religious training. One would think
she would be almost repulsive to
Jesus , and yet ho so saw the open
mind , and the possibilities of her na-
ture , that ho spoke to her In ! his
choicest truths. Dr. Fairbairn says ,
"It is strange that Christ should often
speak Ills most remarkable words to
the least remarkable IOrsons. " What
comfort this Is to \IS !
lIT. 'rho Wise Approach. Vs. 79.
110 asked a favor , "GI\'o me to drlnlt. "
Jesus asked for water because he
needed It , but he used the request as
a means of preparing time way for his
teaching. A useless request would
have defeated his 11II1'1108e. "It was an
net full of the nicest tact. and " 'x .
hlhiling perfect knowledge ] of the hu-
man mind lie asks a. . favor amid puts
, - himself ] under an obligation. No line
of proceeding , It is well ) ) ] down to all
wise people , would ] ho more likely to
ronclllate the womnn's f\nv't \ ! towards .
wards him , and to 111\0 ] her willing '
to hear his teaclling.-Dishop n 'lc.
8. "For his disciples were gone , "
otc. 'l'hls Is given as time reason why
ho asked time woman instead of his
disciples ] to draw time water ; and ] also
why ho could talk more freely to the
woman. In very limy cases , reproof ,
advice , and entreaty are much moro
effective with ono person alone than
whel1 others are IIl'osont. 'rho wise
parent or teacher avoids time effect of
the audience upon the chilel. "To buy
meat. " Provisions , time plural ] belimg
used In time GI'eolt.
U. "lIow Is It that thou , being a
,10w. " "Jesus would 110 recognized as
a Jew by his dress. Time color of the
fringes on his garments was gmrob-
ably white ; that of Samaritans would
bo hluo. Doubtless , olher peculiarities
indicated his nat lonait ] ' . " -Professor
Rldde. ] "AsltOst drink " "
, ele. 'rho
wonder of the Samaritan woman was
that a Jew should seek ] , by asking ] and
receiving drink , to make a friendly ]
compact with a member of n. hostile
race.-TnlInbull , Studies in Oriental
Social Life. " ( The ) Jews have no
dealings with ( the ) Samaritans. "
"Havo no familiar Intercourso.-Vln.
cont. Jesus had reason to feel ns
many of his followers have felt since ,
that If ! ho wore too free with the
Samaritans , ho would ] prejudice his
cause with the stricter Jows. But
ho went straight forward In the path
of duty , leaving the consequences
with God. Time greater the mind and
nobler time character , the mal'O assured -
surod the position , the less power
there Is In projudice.
IV. A Lesson on the Water of Lifo.
-Vs--IO-H. 10. "If thou Imewost. "
There were two things which time woman .
man did not Imow-tho gift of living
water , and time presence of the Ies'
slah. 1'ho pathos of the situation
strikes Josus. The woman stands on
the brink of time greatest possibilities ,
but Is unconscious of them.-Exp
Greek Toxt.
"Tho gift of Gael. " Time Messiah ,
and the waters of eternal IIfe. Per-
haps there Is no cry more striking
than that of the Eastern water-carrier ,
-"Tho gift of God , " ho cries , as he
goes along with his wntor.sltln on his
shoudor. ] "Thou wouldest have asked
of him " Et"nphasizo the thou and
him. "Splrltuall , our positions are
rovorzed. It Is thou who art weary ,
and footsore , and parched , close to
the well , yet unable ] to drink ; It is I
who can give thee the water from the
well , and quench thy thirst forover.-
Cambridge Blbe. ] "Am ] ho would have
given thee living wator. " 1'hat Is ,
perennial I ] , springing from an unfailing
source ( Gen. 2G : 19) ) , ever flowing ,
fresh (1.0lot ( : 5) ) , " ( Westcott ) , bringing -
Ing life , refreshing
11. \othing to draw with. " No
leather bucket , "a skin with three
cross sticks at the mouth to keep it
open , and let down by a goat's hair
ropo. "Unconsciously she gives utter-
anco to a spiritual truth-the water
of life beyond our reach , but the rope
of faith long enough to reach it.-nov.
WIlliam Mowatt , M. A.
12. : : ! "Art thou greater than our
father Jacob ? " Can you dig a better
well , or find sweeter water
13. "Whosoe\'er drlntoth ] of this
water shall thirst again. " 'fhls water
satisfies only bodily thirst , and for
brief porloels-a typo of all worldly ]
supplies for the deeper thirsts of the
soul.
] .I. "Whosoevor drlnkoth of the water -
tor that I shall give him. " Emphasize
glvo. Time living water is a gift , and
all that Is asked ] of the people Is tlJllt
they bo willing to recolve. 'rho h'st t
things of God can never bo bought
"ShaH never thirst. " This does not t
{ 'QlltracUct ttje llcaUtuc1. , "Dlessed are
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
those that hunger amid thirst. aCtor
righteousness , " but It declares that
there Is an unfailing SIIIIIIIj" alwa'g at
hand for time thh'st. Life Is made UI
of Il succession of thirsts and their
satisfaction. There Is no oujoyment
unless there Is a thirst , timid ] unless
time thirst he Sltlsfloel. This 5atisfac-
tlon Is what Is promised In thin verso.
The reason follows. 'l imo water that
satisfies Is not fl'om without , an external .
I
tornal supply , that finny fall 01' bo far :
away , but "shall 1.10 In him a well ( a /
fountain , it / spring ) of water springing
up Into ( unto ) everlasting ] IICo" ( COlli'
pare John 7 : 38. :19) : ) .
The Heart of the Lesson
The ' 1'hrlsto of the Soul. Time Urgent
Need or the Water of Lifo. Thirst Is
the type t > of the Intense human desires
which impel mon to activity , und In
time satisfying of which lie happiness ,
life , and Irogross. Absence of physical .
cal moisture front a man's body for u
day or two brings Indescrlhahlo distress -
tress , and If continued long will cause
lent h.
"or all the physical wants man can
fee ] , none Is Cllllaho ] of being raised to
such a. . pitch of intewslty as the want
of wator. "
This expresses the pain > of unsatis-
I fled desires of the 80U1. For every person -
son is full of wants , longings ] , desires ,
Hopes , both of the body and of the
80U ] .
'rhls World Can Never Satisfy the
Thrlsts of the Soul. Time ambitions ,
longings ] , thirsts for wealth , power and
pleasure ] , arc never fully and con-
tlnuallr satisfied hy anything limo
world 01' flesh can glvo. The pleasures
clog as In Johnson's nassolas , where
Is descrihed one who In the absolute
perfections of the Happy Valley was
so discontented that with great dim-
cuty ] ho climbed ] over the surrounding
wall of mountain crags and oscapod.
Time Water of Life. .lacoh's well was
a type of the sources of earthly ] good.
As God has made time world ] full of
streams to satisfy our bodily thirst , so
ha has made it full of springs to satisfy ,
fr our natural longings ] and eeslres ]
And br each fountain of earthly good
.Tesus still sits , pointing men to the
higher and better things of which It
Is a hint und a t 'pe. By earthly ] pleass ] .
ire he points to heavenly ] and spiritual ]
joy ; by earthy ] riches ho teaches us
of treasures In heaven ; hy earthly
love ] ho points to heavenly love : hy
earthly desires to heavenly desires ;
hr earthly activity and business to
zeal and earnestness In time tlngdom ]
of Goe1.
Christ does not give us a cup oC
water , which wo can drink up and
the contents be exhausted , but n
fountain of water In ! our own souls ,
ever flowing , ever fresh , Inexhaustlho. ]
This Is what completes the gift and
males It 1 > erfoct. It Is not a cistern ,
hut a. . fountain. It Is not outside ; It
Is within us.
Bow Jesus Awakened and Deep-
ened the Consciousness of 'l'hlrst. Time
remainder of the story shows how
.10sus brought the woman to a coti-
sclousness of her sin and unworthy
life , In order that sIlo might feel her
need , and then seek for time waters or I
eternal IIfo. This convincing of sin I
and need , as n preparation for further
light and life , Is illustrated everr- .
where. No one will seek ] a physician
unless ] ho feels sick , or lake food un.
less hungry , or rend good books with-
out a thirst for Imowledge.
Banish All but God.
When God speaks lie IIItCs no other
voice to break the stillness but Ills
own , and hence the place ] that has always ] -
ways been given to solitude In all
true religious life. It can ho overdone ,
hut It can ho grossly uuderdone. And
there Is no lesson more worth Insist-
Ing on in days like ours than this :
when God wants to speak with a
maim He wants hat man to ho II10no
,
-
Folly of Disbelief.
No excuse can ho offered by the
wOllld.IIO "t 111 nIter , " who denies Coel'lI :
existence hecauso Call fails to pOl"
furm miracles or other c'hllellsh feats
for time .thlnlt\r' ' special ] smtlllcn-
tlon. Athc'isll1 , lack of religious fco ] '
hag and lack oC religious I"'vor'nro
! are lrulcal not of sin but or stupidity ,
& " - - -
-s-r---
-
- - - - , - - - -
- -
A WOMAN'S MIOERY.
-
Mrs , John LnHu\ , of 115 I Paterson
IlVOIlUO , Pllternon , N. .J" , SIl 'II : " 1 was
troubled for about nine years , und
whut lour.
i1/jf fNl'll 110 ono
-
As v rrr- J wi ! I 1 ever
r L.l. ' ' \ ,
'J ' . ) , " ; ] 1110\\ , . I used
r : . j .
. ' 1AfW ; f tJ. , . ) about every I
: '
l\l1own roml"
. , - , w. . ) dy that Is said
' ' ' : : t , : : : , . - to ho good fet
'
- ' ' kidney com-
, , > \ \ \1 . 'I' ( plitlnt I ] I , hilt
* " ' 'J.
. " . - ; rn-t ' t"\ without do.
" ; 3,1 , . \ ; ' : rlvlllg II(11'ma.
, f , ' 1.\ „ if ft , Wont 1'l.'lIcf.
. t.\t. Often when
alone In the house the hllcU\rho ] hUH
been so bad ] that It brought ! : team to
my OY ( ' . ' ! . 'rho pain ut tiimimn " WIlS so In-
tense that I was compelled to give up r
mr Household cities amid lie down
There were headaches , di'izlimosn ] \ und
blood rushing' to my helll ] In cause i ?
bleedIng lit the nosu. Time first box of
nOl\n'u Klelnoy Pills IJonellted mo HO
mlleh flint I contlnucd the trel\lll1'nt.
'l'ho stinging ! pain III the small of my
back , the rushes of blood to limo head
and otlmem' SYI1lItoms dbmJllonrl'II. "
Doan's lCldl1l'Y Pills for sale ] by all
dealers. fiG emits per hox. Foster-
1\1Ibu1'11 ] Co. , BuCfao ] , N. Y.
Punctured Buhble.
The lhl'UBO ] "llIllwturcc hllhhlo" IR
applied ) ] to allY person , terprlso 01'
thing tint In time beginning looks ] brilliant .
lIan and ] IIromll1hl/1 / , bit wh Ich , after
IL short existence , la lIunct ' cd by
cl'ltlciam and then disappears ) us
quickly ] as a. . broken huhhlc.
Pasteboard Resists Bullets.
At some firing experlmcnts by time
Swedish government time bullets failed
to penetrate ] targets made ] or paato- ' I'
board three Inches In thlclmosg , yet I
they easily pass ] through lllanlta five 1 ,
Inches thlele. a
Book Brings Diy Pricc
The suns of $20,000 was paid I\t n.
1.oneo ] naucllon for IL "Codox Psalm
I\rull1" of time year 1oI/j / ! ) , of which onlY
twcnty copies were ol'iglnally Irnted. ]
Life of Telegraph Wlrcs. '
Telegraph wires will last for forty
years near the seashOl' In ] the manufacturing -
ufacturing districts the same wires
last only ten years : and even less.
A New Yorl contemporary wants to
know If Julius Caesar 13 dead. 'Vo
have not noticed his death notice any-
where.
I
SPREADING THE
NEWS BROADCAST.
-
That Dodd's Kidney Pills : : : cured his
Diabete : : : After long suffering Mr
G. Cleghorn found a permanent relief .
lief -In the Great American Kidney
Remedy
Port Huron , Mlel1. , Jan. Oth.-Spe- ( -
cla1)-Tortured ) with Diabetes and
Bladder Disease from which Ito could '
apparently get no relief , 1\11' G. Clog- ]
horn a bricklayer , living at 119 But-
tier St. , this ' ! city , has found a. . COIII-
ploto and perinanent ] cure in DoII's ( !
Kidney Pills and In his gratitude ho
Is spreading ! the news broa cast.
"Dode's ] Kidney Pills made a. . man of
mo , " 1\11' Cleghorn says. "I was a
sufferer from Diabetes and madder
Dlsoaso. I was so bad I could do no J
work and the pain was something ;
terrlblo. I could not get anything to f
help } 1110 till I tried Dodd's Kidney
PlIls. Theyhelped ( ) mc right ! from the
first and ] now I am completely ! ] ,1\1'1.,1. ,
I have rocommPJulccl DOlI II's Kidney
Pulls to' nil my friends and ] they have
found them nil that lIS claimed for '
thom. "
odd'B ] Kidney PINS cure nil Kidney
Ills from Hackltcl10 to Bright's DI- ! ' ;
easo. 'Theynever fall 10 cure Rhou-
matlsm. .
- - -
I ;
Ho Ig not dead who departs from ; :
life wit It a high lJIII , : nlle tall1 ; hilt
ho Is d:1' : ] , C'\ ' 11 v , hmlc , livIng , whl + o
brow is bran tc'I ms /111 hnfmnmy : --Tiecic.