groaning under self…imposed austerities； for want of clear teaching；
when an undergraduate at Oxfordall have left on record their
experience。 I believe they all knew what our Lord meant when He spoke
of 〃thirst。〃
And surely it is not too much to say that all of us ought to know
something of this thirst； if not as much as Augustine； Luther； Bunyan；
or Whitefield。 Living as we do in a dying worldknowing as we do； if
we will confess it； that there is a world beyond the grave； and that
after death es the judgmentfeeling； as we must do in our better
moments； what poor； weak； unstable； defective creatures we all are； and
how unfit to meet Godconscious as we must be in our inmost heart of
hearts； that on our use of time depends our place in eternitywe ought
to feel and to realise something like 〃thirst〃 for a sense of peace
with the living God。 But alas； nothing proves so conclusively the
fallen nature of man as the general； mon want of spiritual appetite！
For money； for power； for pleasure； for rank； for honour； for
distinctionfor all these the vast majority are now intensely
thirsting。 To lead forlorn hopes； to dig for gold； to storm a breach；
to try to hew a way through thick…ribbed ice to the North Pole； for all
these objects there is no lack of adventurers and volunteers。 Fierce
and unceasing is the petition for these corruptible crowns！ But few
indeed； by parison； are those who thirst after eternal life。 No
wonder that the natural man is called in Scripture 〃dead；〃 and
〃sleeping；〃 and blind； and deaf。 No wonder that he is said to need a
second birth and a new creation。 There is no surer symptom or
mortification in the body than the loss of all feeling。 There is no
more painful sign of an unhealthy state of soul than an utter absence
or spiritual thirst。 Woe to that man of whom the Saviour can say； 〃Thou
knowest not that thou art wretched； and miserable； and poor； and blind；
and naked。〃 （Rev。 iii。 17。）
But who is there among the readers of this paper that feels the burden
of sin； and longs for peace with God？ Who is there that really feels
the words of our Prayer…book Confession： 〃I have erred and strayed like
a lost sheepthere is no health in meI am a miserable offender〃？ Who
is there that enters into the fullness of our munion Service； and
can say with truth； 〃The remembrance of my sins is grievous； and the
burden of them is intolerable〃？ You are the man that ought to thank
God。 A sense of sin； guilt； and poverty of soul； is the first stone
laid by the Holy Ghost when He builds a spiritual temple。 He convinces
of sin。 Light was the first thing called into being in the material
creation。 （Gen。 i。 3。） Light about our own state is the first work in
the new creation。 Thirsting soul； I say again； you are the person who
ought to thank God。 The kingdom of God is near you。 It is not when we
begin to feel good； but when we feel bad； that we take the first step
towards heaven。 Who taught thee that thou wast naked？ Whence came this
inward light？ Who opened thine eyes and made thee see and feel？ Know
this day that flesh and blood hath not revealed these things unto thee；
but our Father which is in heaven。 Universities may confer degrees； and
schools may impart knowledge of all mysteries； but they cannot make men
feel sin。 To realise our spiritual need； and feel true spiritual
thirst； is the A B C in saving Christianity。
It is a great saying of Elihu； in the book of Job〃God looketh upon
men； and if any say； I have sinned； and perverted that which was right；
and it profited me not； He will deliver his soul from death； and his
life shall see the light。〃 （Job xxxiii。 27； 28。） Let him that knows
anything of spiritual 〃thirst〃 not be ashamed。 Rather let him lift up
his head and begin to hope。 Let him pray that God would carry on the
work He has begun； and make him feel more。
II。 I pass from the case supposed to the remedy proposed。 〃If any man
thirst；〃 says our blessed Lord Jesus Christ； 〃let him e unto Me； and
drink。〃
There is a grand simplicity about this little sentence which cannot be
too much admired。 There is not a word in it of which the literal
meaning is not plain to a child。 Yet； simple as it appears； it is rich
in spiritual meaning。 Like the Koh…i…noor diamond； which you may carry
between finger and thumb； it is of unspeakable value。 It solves that
mighty problem which all the philosophers of Greece and Rome could
never solve〃How can man have peace with God？ 〃Place it in your memory
side by side with six other golden sayings of your Lord。 〃I am the
Bread of life： he that eth unto me shall never hunger； and he that
believeth on me shall never thirst。〃〃I am the Light of the world： he
that followeth me shall not walk in darkness； but shall have the light
of life。〃〃I am the Door： by me if any man enter in； he shall be
saved。〃〃I am the Way； the Truth； and the Life： no man eth unto the
Father but by me。〃〃e unto me； all ye that labour and are heavy
laden； and I will give you rest。〃〃 Him that eth to me I will in no
wise cast out。〃Add to these six texts the one before you to…day。 Get
the whole seven by heart。 Rivet them down in your mind； and never let
them go。 When your feet touch the cold river； on the bed of sickness
and in the hour of death； you will find these seven texts above all
price。 （John vi。 35； viii。 12； x。 9； xiv。 6； Matt。 xi。 28； John vi。
37。）
For what is the sum and substance of these simple words？ It is this。
Christ is that Fountain of living water which God has graciously
provided for thirsting souls。 From Him； as out of the rock smitten by
Moses； there flows an abundant stream for all who travel through the
wilderness of this world。 In Him； as our Redeemer and Substitute；
crucified for our sins and raised again for our justification； there is
an endless supply of all that men can needpardon； absolution； mercy；
grace； peace； rest； relief； fort； and hope。
This rich provision Christ has bought for us at the price of His own
precious blood。 To open this wondrous fountain He suffered for sin； the
just for the unjust； and bore our sins in His own body on the tree。 He
was made sin for us； who knew no sin； that we might be made the
righteousness of God in Him。 （1 Peter ii。 24； iii。 18； 2 Cor。 v。 21。）
And now He is sealed and appointed to be the Reliever of all who are
labouring and heavy laden； and the Giver of living water to all who
thirst。 It is His office to receive sinners。 It is His pleasure to give
them pardon； life； and peace。 And the words of the text are a
proclamation He makes to all mankind〃If any man thirst； let him e
unto Me； and drink。〃
The efficacy of a medicine depends in great measure on the manner in
which it is used。 The best prescription of the best physician is
useless if we refuse to follow the directions which acpany it。
Suffer the word of exhortation； while I offer some caution and advice
about the Fountain of living water。
（a） He that thirsts and wants relief must e to Christ Himself。 He
must not be content with ing to His Church and His ordinances； or to
the assemblies of His people for prayer and praise。 He must not stop
short even at His holy table； or rest satisfied with privately opening
his heart to His ordained ministers。 Oh； no！ he that is content with
only drinking these waters 〃shall thirst again。〃 （John iv。 13。） He must
go higher； further； much further than this。 He must have personal
dealings with Christ Himself： all else in religion is worthless without
Him。 The King's palace； the attendant servants； the richly furnished
banqueting house； the very banquet itselfall are nothing unless we
speak with the King。 His hand alone can take the burden off our backs
and make us feel free。 The hand of man may take the stone from the
grave and show the dead； but none but Jesus can say to the dead； 〃e
forth and live。〃 （John xi。 41…43。） We must deal directly with Christ。
（b） Again： he that thirsts and wants relief from Christ must actually
e to Him。 It is not enough to wish； and talk； and mean； and intend；
and resolve； and hope。 Hell； that awful reality； is truly said to be
paved with good intentions。 Thousands are yearly lost in this fashion；
and perish miserably just outside the harbour。 Meaning and intending
they live； meaning and intending they die。 Oh； no！ we must 〃arise and
e！〃 If the prodigal son had been content with saying； 〃How many
hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare； and I
perish with hunger！ I hope some day to return home；〃 he might have
remained for ever among the swine。 It was when he arose and came to his
father that his father ran to meet him； and said； 〃Bring forth the best
robe and put it on him。Let us eat and be merry。〃 （Luke xv。 20…23。）
Like him； we must not only 〃e to ourselves〃 and think； but we must
actually e to the High Priest；