John 4:13–14

Christ, in his third speech to this woman, doth not carp at her contradicting and carnal humour, but points out the excellencie of his offer, above what she gloried in, from the effects of both; The water she spake so much of (as all other outward contentments) could not give any abiding satisfaction, even to the body, but his living water should have enduring and lively effects and satisfaction, till it were compleated in glory. Whence learn, 1. A great cause of mens despising of spiritual things, is their ignorance of them, and of their excellencie and worth; therefore Christ taketh so much pains to clear this. 2. A special mean helping to point out the worth of spiritual things, is to compare them with earthly things, and take up the superexcellent worth that is in the one above the other; for, thus doth Christ commend this living water. 3. Whatever pains men take to follow after, or drink up outward contentments, yet they will finde no abiding satisfaction therein, and will sooner drink them dry, then quench their own thirst; for, what is said of this water, is true of all things of the same kinde. 4. The Lord hath so ordered it, that mens outward necessities should recurre often upon them, after the use of means, that so they may be humbled, and made to depend constantly on Providence, and to seek better things, yet with the thankful use of what they have. And in particular, God hath put men to much trouble to uphold a cottage of clay, and hath framed it so, as to need constant new supplies, that we may minde our mortality daily: so much doth this dispensation of Providence point out, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. 5. The water of life, albeit Christ did purchase it, yet, it must be his free gift to us, who cannot buy it; and his offer includeth a promise of giving it to every one who will receive it in the due order, and that indifferently, without respect of persons: for, so much is imported in that he calleth it, the water that I shall give him: he saith not, I can give, but I shall give him, to wit, if he will receive my offer, and that indefinitely, whosoever he be. 6. Who so partakes of the true grace of God, it will so refresh and satisfie him, as to quench his thirst after vanity and earthly delights, and make them tastlesse, and to give him contentment in the want of all things; so much is imported, in part, in this promise, VVhosoever drinks of this water shall never thirst. 7. Albeit such as enjoy the grace of God in part, will still need and desire more of it, and feed in part on hunger and thirst, while they are within time, 1 Pet. 2.2, 3. Matth. 5.6. yet they shall never fall again under a deadly thirst of total want of this water, a seed still remaining in them; and their mouth being still at the well, they are rather quenching thirst, then thirstie, and when they have gotten their full draught at the end of their race, they are satisfied, and never thirst any more; for, so much also is included in this promise, he shall never thirst. 8. Whosoever receive the true grace of Christ in any measure, get also the Spirit of Christ as the fountain, to make grace thus enduring in it self, and its effects: for, the water shall be in him a well of water. 9. The Spirit and grace of Christ in believers, is not a stream or a pond that may run dry, but a well, and springing well, of inexhaustible fulnesse, vertue and refreshment; nor is it such a well, which may rot and make water ill tasted, but it is a springing well, still fresh, and where the Spirit is entertained, formality will be a stranger; nor is it only a spring to abide within its banks, but a well of water, springing up, or leaping up, and watering all about: The Spirit and grace of Christ floweth out in all the carriage of men who receive the same, making them fruitful, and never to have done with duties, (but the more they do, still the more before their hand) and active and vigorous in them, as a well boiling up. It floweth out also upon others, unto their good and edification, according to the station and vocation wherein God hath placed them. 10. As the truly godly have no tearme-day of Religion but eternity, and their desire is to keep fresh till the end; so where the Spirit of Christ is, he will still be venting of his vertue and riches from day to day, and letting out more and more to the sinner till eternity come, wherein all the banks of incapacity, sin, distance, ignorance, mortality, &c. being broken down, and the windowes of heaven being opened, this stream and well becometh an Ocean, and grace, smothered here under corruption and infirmity, gets leave to expatiate it selfe in glory; for, It shall be a well of water springing up into everlasting life.