John 4:10

In Christs second speech to her, he lets her see how much she mistook her own mercy: for, if she had known him, she would not only not have refused his request, but would have turned a Supplicant to him, and he would have given her better and living water: whereby we are to understand the Spirit of God, and the graces of the Spirit acted by him, as chap. 7.38, 39. Doct. 1. Christs meeknesse passeth over much frowardnesse, which he findeth in his own in the time of their Conversion, and by his goodnesse he overcometh their ill; for, so much doth this reply to the woman, teach. 2. Ignorance of Christ, and what he hath, and is ready to give, is a great ground of sinners miscarriage towards him: for, Christ findeth this want here, If thou knewest, &c. 3. Christ is then known rightly and savingly, when he and all that he hath are looked on as free gifted to the world by the Father, (as well as by himselfe) and made theirs by offer to be embraced in the due order; for, therefore is he named, the gift of God, as is expounded in the following words. 4. Christ being rightly known, it will adde to his commendation in a sensible heart, that he is at the pains to come unto them, and prevent them with offers of himselfe: and especially, that he stooped so low as to take on their infirmities; therefore, also it is added as a ravishing consideration, If thou knewest who it is that saith unto thee, Give me to drink, or, that the Messiah, compassed with infirmities, should be at her hand. 5. When Christ is rightly known, as offered to the world for the salvation of lost man, it will beget a thirst after him, and put souls to seek the supply thereof by prayer, and that they cannot stay away from him: and they will see him seeking sinners, rather to give to them, then to receive of them: for, if thou knewest, thou wouldest have asked of him, rather then have refused him a drink of water. 6. Christ hath better things to give sinners, then any thing he can ask of them, or they can offer him: and particularly, the well of life is in Christs hand to dispense it as he will: for, in stead of her water, he hath living water to give her. 7. Christ, who makes offer of grace before we seek it, will not refuse it to them who ask it; nor will former sinnes hinder their acceptance who come to seek grace; for, even to this wicked woman he saith, Thou wouldest have asked, and he would have given thee living water. 8 The grace of Christ, communicated by the Spirit, is compared to water, not only that he might allude to her water, but to point out its cleansing and fructifying vertue, and that it will quench the thirst of a burnt up soul: and it is compared to living water, &c. springing, as Gen. 26.19. because it hath an enlivening, quickening vertue, and because of its constant endurance unto eternal life, as it is, ver. 14.