gone away. The story reads so much like the relation of an eye-witness that some have thought that John had remained with the Saviour while the rest went to the village. To buy meat. Rev. Ver., "to buy food." Had they been present they could have obtained the water, as in the East most traveling companies carry the requisite rope and bucket. 9. Then saith the woman. At her first glance she saw that this was no ordinary traveler, and her curiosity was the motive that drew her on to faith. Thou, being a Jew. She knew that he was a Jew by his dress and In the his dialect. For the Jews have no dealings. Rev. Ver. this sentence is inclosed in parentheses, and reads, For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans,' showing that it was not spoken by the woman, but is an explanatory clause. The quarrel between these two races was on religious grounds. They were excluded by the Jews from the temple at Jerusalem, and they rejected all the Old Testament except the Pentateuch. (4) How bitter are the strifes which spring from mistaken views of religion. 10. Jesus answered. Notice that in his answer Jesus paid no attention to her captious question. He had greater work to do than to recognize the quarrels of sects. (5) Let us seek practical good, rather than theoret ical opinion. If thou knewest the gift of God. God's great gift of salvation to men, not limited to Jews nor Samaritans, but free to all. Who it is that saith. He would inform her that he who spoke with her was no ordinary man, but one who could impart to her spiritual gifts. Thou wouldest have asked. He would have her know that in reality she was the thirsty one, and he the abundant giver. (6) How little do people realize the deepest needs of their nature! Living water. In the ordinary sense, living water would be running water, or that from a spring; in the deeper sense, the water of divine life, or the benefits of fellowship with God. my lord," a title of re11. Sir. This may read “ spect, showing that the woman was already growing serious and reverent as she listened to the stranger. And such being Thou hast nothing to draw with. the case, you cannot refer to the water of Jacob's well; what water, then, do you mean?" She was quick in her comprehension and far finer in her insight than the slow-minded Nicodemus. Though she did not yet apprehend the truth at which Christ was aiming, she was eager for it. 12. Art thou greater? Evidently this dust-covered traveler made a deep impression upon the woman, if she would even suggest the possibility of his being greater than the ancient patriarch. Our father Jacob. She boasts her descent from Jacob, and will not yield to Jewish claims that they are the only seed of AbraJacob gave us Saham. Which gave us the well. maritans this well, and showed his appreciation of it by drinking of its waters; have you any better water than this?" 13. Jesus answered. Replying, us usual, to her Whosoever drinketh thought, and not to her words. of this water. And herein Jacob's well is a type of all wells of enjoyment or benefit dug by men. Shall thirst again. There is no water of earth which can satisfy men, for when the body has been satiated, the thirst of the soul yet remains unslaked. We drink of this water 14. Whosoever drinketh. when by faith we enter into fellowship with Christ, and become partakers of the divine nature. The water that I shall give him. Salvation, which is the Shall free gift of God through Jesus Christ to man. never thirst. In one sense he will continue to thirst, for he will want more and more of the privileges of the Gospel, and aspire after height above height; yet this statement is true, for this water of salvation possesses the power to satisfy all his longings. A well of water. He will have within himself the supply for all his spirInto everitual needs, bestowed upon him by Christ. lasting life. Rev. Ver., "eternal life," which is the correct rendering, since this means more than that which lasts forever, the life of God which is divine. HOME READINGS. M. Jesus at the well. John 4. 5-26. (7) Notice here that a free salvation, a soul-satisfying salvation, and an eternal salvation, is the salvation which Christ offers. 15. Sir, give me this water. She has only a vague idea of what this Teacher means, but she knows that it is some great gift. That I thirst not. Had she been a Jew, and read in the prophecies, she might more readily have understood the allusion of Christ to salvation. 16. Go, call thy husband. How delicately this wise winner of souls touches upon the one sore spot in her heart, and makes her in one moment feel that he knows her better than she knows herself! She must be convicted of her sin before she can drink of the water of life, and Christ brings conviction home by an apparently casual remark. (8) Let us learn from the Master the art of reaching the hearts of sinners. With confusion of 17, 18. I have no husband. face and trembling lips she makes her confession of wretchedness and guilt. Jesus said. Calmly, as one who had known from the first glance her life and her heart. Thou hast well said. "She had honestly confessed the truth, and in so doing had done right. Hast had five husbands. Divorce was easy among the Samaritans, and from the fact that she was now living without even a form of marriage, it is evident that she was in a deep sense a sinner. (9) The Lord knows our sins as well as he knew hers. 19. The woman saith. The searching words of Jesus would appear not to have penetrated deeply, but we see from verse 29 that the woman realized their meaning more fully than she showed. Thou art a prophet. She recognizes in him one who can speak with authority, and asks for a solution of the vexed question between the Jews and the Samaritans. She is not the first inquirer who has deemed theoretical theology more important than practical duty."-L. Abbott. 20. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain. Mount Gerizim, which the Samaritans claimed to have been the place of the sacrifice of Isaac; where the blessings of the law were recited in the days of Joshua, and on which a Samaritan temple had stood four hundred years. The remnant of the same people still worYe say. "You Jews declare ship upon its summit. that Mount Moriah is the holy place." 21. The hour cometh. Up to that day religion had been local, but the time was at hand when every place should be holy ground, and every nation might be the people of God. Worship the Father. She had inquired about the place for worship, he would teach her concerning the Being to be worshiped. (10) Christianity reveals God as our Father. 22. Ye worship ye know not what. The Rev. Ver. gives a much better rendering, "Ye worship that which ye know not." The Samaritan Bible included only the five books of Moses, which give far less knowledge of God than the Old Testament Scriptures. Salvation is of [Rev. Ver., from] the Jews. Not of the Jews, as if belonging to them, but from the Jews, proceeding out of them for all mankind. 23, 24. In spirit and in truth. In spirit, as opposed to all physical and idolatrous forms; and in truth, as opposed to all formality. God is a Spirit. This was the great truth which the Jewish people were called to establish. They were the only people of the ancient world who accepted the spirituality of God, and worshiped him without having any visible form. 25, 26. I know that Messias cometh. [Rev. Ver., Messiah.] "Messiah" is the Hebrew word meaning "anointed," and "Christ" (Christos) is the same word in Greek. Both Samaritans and Jews expected the Which is called Christ. In coming of a Redeemer. the Rev. Ver. this is placed in parentheses, showing that it is an explanation, not the words of the woman. I that speak unto thee. Only three times, so far as we know, did Jesus declare that he was the Messiah: and this, the first declaration, was made to the woman of Samaria. QUESTIONS FOR INTERMEDIATE SCHOLARS. What city did Jesus approach? By what name is it called in Josh. 24. 32? Whom did he meet there? Where had his disciples gone? Why did the woman think his request st 2. The Water of Life, v. 10-18. Of what did Jesus assure her? With whom did she compare him? With what did Jesus compare the water 3. The Worship of God, v. 19-26. To what differences of teaching did she For what teacher was the woman lookin 1. The teacher's opportunity? 2. The cry of the thirsty soul? 3. The true worship of God? QUESTIONS FOR YOUNGER SCH Where did Christ stop to rest on his way maria? By Jacob's well. Who came there to draw water? A woman. For what did Jesus ask her? For a drin Why was she surprised at his request? was a Jew, and the Jews never spoke maritans. What did Jesus say to her?"If you k would ask me for living water to drink. How did she question him?"Where w that living water?" What did Jesus answer?" He that drin living water shall never thirst." What is the living water? The Holy guides and blesses us. What did the Samaritan woman ask "Give me of this water." What did Jesus show her? That all h known to him. What was her confession? What question did she ask of Jesus? shall men worship God?" What was Christ's answer? Not in any but in a right spirit. What did Jesus say of his Father? Golden Text.) Of whom did the woman speak to Jesus long-expected Saviour, who would do gre What did Jesus tell her?" I am he." What happened? She believed with all Words with Little People. From morning until night, every look and m God's sight. From our earliest breathing t year, every sound we utter meets his ear. A we go, every thought and feeling doth he kno Hear us, O, our Father! hear our earnest p thy little people how to live for thee in truth. THE LESSON CATECHISM. [For the entire school.] 1. Where did Jesus stop on his journey f to Galilee? At Jacob's well. 2. Whom d at the well? A woman of Samaria. 3 Of the water of did Jesus talk with her? What did he promise to those who should water that he would give them? Everla 5. What did he say of God and how to wor 6. Who did Jes "God is a Spirit," etc. woman of Samaria that he was? The Savi world. Jesus saith unto her. v. 7. "To seek....that which was lost." Luke 19. 10. III. HIS DIVINE CONSCIOUSNESS. If thou knewest....who it is. v. 10. "Before Abraham was, I am.' IV. HIS ABUNDANT GRACE. The water that I shall give him. v. 14. "By grace are ye saved." Eph. 2. 8. "Let him that is athirst come." Rev. 22. 17. V. HIS INSIGHT INTO CHARACTER. Go, call thy husband. v. 16. "He knew what was in man." John 2. 25. "The Lord looketh on the heart." 1 Sam. 16. 7. VI. HIS INSIGHT INTO TRUTH. ADDITIONAL PRACTICAL LESSONS. 1. From the example of Christ we learn the value of way-side work, that is, of work which comes to us apparently by accident. We can work while we are resting from earthly labor, and in the work of Christ we will find refreshment. 2. We see the value of individual work, that is, of work for one soul. Christ was ready to use his time and his powers in working to reach one, as earnestly as though that one were a thousand. Not all of us can speak to a thousand, but all can talk to one. 3. We see the power of skillful work. With what exquisite tact the Saviour approached the sinner! How wisely he led her on to deeper interest and to a conviction of her sin! Let us seek some of his wisdom in winning souls. What is the meaning of this? The man is a Brahmin, one of the highest caste, and they are of the lowest. They look up to him almost as a god, and dare not venture to intrude upon his presence, while he will not touch or even approach them, for fear he should be defiled. Breathing the same air, and treading the same road as they do, he will not mingle with them in any way, since he imagines himself infinitely above them. Four Sundays ago we read of the Highest coming down and dwelling among man. He not only took upon himself man's nature, trod the same earth, and breathed the same air as man, but he stood among men. John 1. 26. He did not hold himself aloof. He mixed with them. We have seen him among the guests at the marriage feast; we have seen him among the worshipers in the temple; we have seen him in private conversation with Nicodemus. But all these were Jews, his countrymen according to the flesh, the people whom God had chosen out from all the nations of the earth. To this people God had made his revelations of old, and to them he, in the "last times" (Heb. 1. 2), sent his Son. The Jew, in spite of his political subjection, felt and gloried in his superiority to all other nations round about him. And of all these there was none upon whom he looked down with such scorn as his neighbors, the Samaritans. Perhaps no Brahmin ever felt more contempt for a Sudra than a strict Jew for a Samaritan. And to this contempt was added hatred for the alien race who had possessed themselves of some of the fairest portions of the land of Israel, and whose worship was half-imita tion of, and half-opposition to, their own. No more opprobrious term could be applied to any one than the name "Samaritan." And when a strict Jew had to journey from Galilee to Judea, he would take the long route round by the Jordan valley instead of the direct route through Samaria. But to-day we read of a party of Jews who did go through Samaria. The suspicion and jealousy of the Pharisees had been aroused by the numbers who flocked around the Lord Jesus, and received baptism at the hands of his disciples. Not to excite their enmity too 4. We see the importance of practical work. The strongly before his "time" came, our Lord left woman was constantly endeavoring to turn aside to questions of controversy and opinion; Christ kept ever in view the aim of convicting her of sin, and leading her to repentance. 5. We see the results of work for one soul. What a transformation was wrought in this woman, from a sinner to a missionary! An English Teacher's Notes on the BY SARAH GERALDINA STOCK. Judea on his way to Galilee. And what do we read of the way he took? He did not choose the circuitous route by the Jordan; he did not hasten quickly over the shorter road, spending no more time than he could help on the way. No, "he must needs go through Samaria." He went there on purpose. He went there with a purpose. He had come down to the Jew. He would now go down, as it seemed, a step lower, even to the despised Samaritan. So he journeyed with his disciples across the fertile plain of Moreh, and turned up the valley leading between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, rest THE traveler in India may sometimes see a remarkable sight as he passes along the high road-ing, after the fatigue of the morning's march, at whole groups of respectable-looking passengers rushing and hasting to get out of the way of one man, and leave the path clear for him to pass. Jacob's well, while his disciples sought provisions at the neighboring town. And when the disciples returned they found him, not enjoying quiet repose, but engaged in earnest conversation. Last Sunday we saw him in conversation with a ruler, an eminent man. Now it is a woman he is talking to, to the surprise of the disciples, since it is an unusual thing among the Jews for any man to stop and talk to a woman. It is not even a lady of eminence, but an ordinary person come from the town to draw water for herself. He has gone, as it seems, a step further down, even to an obscure Samaritan woman. And, in fact, he has gone still further. For this woman is a "sinner," one of known bad character; probably for this reason coming alone, some distance, to this well, instead of going to any frequented place for drawing water nearer at hand. He has come down, not only to a despised people and to the despised sex, but to the most despised of that sex, even to a sinful woman. And now, what is the reason of this condescension? Observe how our Lord opens the conversation with the woman. He represents himself as seeking something from her. He begins with a request: "Give me to drink." Wonderful that the Lord of all should thus address a needy creature! And yet, since he had taken our nature with its wants and infirmities, he was really in need of that water. But this was not all. There was something he longed for far more. He longed for that woman's soul. He was thirsty to bless. This was what he had come for. He was seeking a soul to whom he might give the water of life. And so he first aroused the woman's conscience and gave conviction of sin, and revealed himself as the Messiah. And, in so doing, he revealed the Father. Just as he had left Judea, and come forth seeking souls in despised Samaria, so the Father sought for worshipers, not among the Jews only, but anywhere and every-where, without respect of persons. God seeks those who will worship him "in spirit and in truth," because it is those only who can receive what he has to give. The flowers that open their heart to the sun are those which receive the rich dower of warm and glowing color. Samaria's daughter, poor, despised, and sinful as she was, opened her heart to the living word of Christ, and became, not only a witness for him to her townspeople, but a light shining in the page of Scripture down the long years to our own day. Let us learn : That God comes down to the lowest. The Son of God was found in despised Samaria, talking with a woman, and with a sinful woman. There is not one who can say, God will not come down to me. That God seeks souls every-where. Place and people are nothing to him. He looks for ready hearts that will open to him. No one can say, God will not come so far as to seek me. Berean Methods. Hints for the Teachers' Meeting and the Class. Songs from the Epworth Hymnal. 116. Just as I am, Ŏ Lord. 120. Come with thy sins to the fountain. Lesson Word-Pictures. It is the old well of Jacob that we can see in the val ley! To the worn stones that rim the well, how many have come, year after year, century after century! Of its deep, cool waters, how many have gratefully drank! One more has come, a weary, thirsty traveler, Jesus. His disciples have gone into the city to buy food. Alone, he sits upon the well. Beyond him is that picturesque valley above which swell Ebal and Gerizim. Not far away is that venerated "parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph." As the centuries' misty veil is lifted, what strange scenes people the empty air! But what foot-step disturbs the fascination of these memories? It is a woman who approaches. She is a Samaritan. She has brought her water-vessel to the well. What does the stranger there on the well ask of her? "Give me to drink?" "Some Jew!" she murmurs, and a look of scorn may wrinkle her features. A Jew ask drink of a Samaritan? There is a light of a surprise flashing out of the depths of her black eyes. But what does he say? Living water, has he? Water sweeter, water cooler, water deeper, than the great father Jacob gave-can this obscure stranger make to bubble out of the earth? And then Jesus tells the old, old story so precious to thirsty souls, how a well can be opened in every heart and give of its stores unceasingly. She forgets that it is a Jew before her. In the longing of her eyes, in the dumb pleading of outreaching hands, her soul cries out for the wonderful gift of God. As she reaches after the prize, she is checked, surprised, overwhelmed, by a sudden command, "Go, call thy husband, and come hither." Husband? She readily allows that she has none. But why does she then draw Finally, if God is no "respecter of persons," ought back, why do her dark eyes seek the ground, why does his children to be? her tongue falter? Ah, out of a careless, shameless That God seeks in order to bless. The great "gift of God," the "living water," the Holy Spirit, in his divine power and grace, was offered and given to the woman of Samaria. None can say, This "gift of God" is not for me. life she has strayed by chance to this spot to meet a mysterious stranger who knows her through and through, and now confronts her with the truth. A look of awe deepens in her eyes. "Some prophet," she is saying in her heart. It will not do to linger on this subject of morals. It will be safer to talk about an old ecclesiastical dispute. She remembers once more that he is a Jew, and adroitly changes the subject. Ah, she cannot avoid a meeting with her Judge and Saviour! He brings her to the solemn necessities of spiritual worship. And what does she say about Messiah who "will tell us all things?" Then it is he startles her with the assertion. "I that speak unto thee am he." The mystery that hides him falls away, and he of whom prophets dreamed and poets sang, for whom the weary centuries had hoped, makes himself known to that single auditor, an obscure, sinful woman who had come to draw water from Jacob's well. Primary and Intermediate. BY M. V. M. LESSON THOUGHT. Jesus the Living Water. Introduce the lesson by a little talk about a journey. Speak of different ways of travel. Tell that this journey was made by Jesus and his disciples; let children tell how they think Jesus traveled. Bring out the fact that, though the Lord and maker of all things, Jesus yet lived among us as a poor man for our sakes. Trace the journey on the map, or locate Samaria on the board, between Judea and Galilee. Tell briefly why the Jews and Samaritans were not friendly. The Samaritans were not idolaters, but they did not receive the whole word of God; they built a temple in which to worship on Mount Gerizim, and would not go to Jerusalem to worship, and thus made the Jews dislike them so much that a Pharisee would not even drink water from the hand of a Samaritan! Show a picture of an Eastern woman at the well, and talk a little about the Eastern custom of carrying water. Tell that Jesus was a Jew, and ask children if they think he would speak to a Samaritan. They will say yes. Take the opportunity to show how unlike Jesus it is to refuse to be friendly with any body, and teach that we must be like Jesus in this if we are his children. If the children have heard the lesson story at home, or in division classes, you can call out the conversation between Jesus and the woman by a few questions. Make them understand that Jesus talked about a kind of water of which the woman knew nothing. That was because she did not know Jesus, and what he came into the world for. Print on the board"Living Water." Tell that Jesus said this was what he gave. He said that it should be like a well, or fountain, in the heart of one who believed in him. Show a drooping flower. Ask what water will do for it? Children know that it will freshen, give new life to it. So water from the fountain which Jesus supplies will give new life to the soul which is drooping without it. What happens to the flowers and the grass. when they get no water? They fade and die. So our souls must die without the living water, which is Jesus himself. How shall we get the living water? Show the hand holding out a cup. Tell that our cup is our want. Do we want Jesus to live in us? Then we must. take him. Sing, "Jesus the water of life will give." Suggestions for review of the blackboard lesson from the superintendent's desk: Compare the journey of life to a journey over a road where there are heat and dust, and but little shade. Tell of the intense thirst. that would cause the traveler to suffer; the longing for cool, living, running water; the coming of the weary one to a well, with its stone walls and pitcher; its outside promise of relief; the lowering of the pitcher, and the disappointment in finding that the well is empty. Thus it is with the well of worldliness-it has no living water. Those who try to quench their thirst. at it grow old, "dropping buckets into empty wells, drawing nothing up." There is One that is ever near, ready to lead us to a living fountain of pure water that one is Christ. He alone can supply our need. The person who does not drink of this fountain cannot give a cup of cold water to any one in Christ's name, and hath no reward. "Jesus the water of life will give, A. D. 28.] this the Christ? 32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. LESSON VI. SOWING [Commit to memory verses 35-38.) 27 And upon this came his disciples, and marveled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. 31 In the meanwhile his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him aught to eat? 34 Je'sus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that Soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true. One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no |