The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-07-29


INTRODUCTORY
Let US begin this lesson with a prayer.
Dear Lord, we have our Sychars; mako
them thine. We are often wearied, hungry,
thirsty, and we drop, spent and undone, at
the well-curb. Blessed Master, may we
find thee there. Or rather, may we go with
thee there. For thou vast tired and worn
when thou earnest under Judea's hot sun
and across Samaria's cleaning sands 10 this
well-side by the long foot-way. And yet
how clear thine eye for spiritual things.
how swift thy feet for heavenly paths. how
quick thy tongue in celestial converse.
Thy resting place was trystlng place for
souls Make our rest such May we find
repose In caring for others May we know
peace In speaking peace. May we refresh
our own souls by giving a cup OF cold
water to others. If we must needs go
through Samaria, gracious Shepherd, may
IL be III thy footsteps. Amen.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
| Then. Rather, therefore. In pursuance
or his intention to proceed north through
samaria (Which Jacob gaven Gen.
As: %.
Jacobs we'll Probably on the land spoken
OF at Gen. SO: 1920. -Wearied. A peculiar
word, meaning tired out or spent. 1t is
translated toiled at Luke s: 5, and labored
at John 4. 3s-Thus, l. O., thus wearied
His attitude perhaps suggesting weari-
ness.-On the well. AT its edge, the we'll
curb.-The sixth hour. IL we adopt the
Roman time card and say this was six
O'Clock p. M, ought we not then TO say that
"the tenth hour" of John / 80 was, accord
Ing to the same notation, ten "a. M?
A woman. One of the customs OF the day
and place.-To draw water. Or dip, from
antics, sink. The same word used con-
corning the water, made wine, at Cana of
Galilee. John .. 5.
one to draw for him.-To buy meat. From
the word for market place So, then, the
Jews, after ALL did have some sort of deal
ings with the Samaritans. Some OF our
Lords disciples, aas, have not yet return
ed from their marketing tour.
Jesus answered. AS If to reply 80 her
query. Yes, for here you thirst again.
Whosoever Better, every one that, as in
Variations.
Never thirst Not thirst into the eterni-
ties (eis ton aiona) Shall be, or shall be-
come.-A WELL !. e., fountain, as In " 6,
not as in V. 1i.-Springing up. Pictorial
expression, Leaping up. Same word used
of the lame man who leaped at Acts 3: s.
Everlasting life. Same word as in the
opening clause of the verse ("ncver") /. e.,
aionios.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
| Wearied with his journey. Jesus was
tired. Thus, also. was he touched with
feeling of our intirmites. These feet OF
thine, precious Master, were very ten
der to the thorn and the sharp stone;
that brow not easily bore the fierce heat OF
the eastern suns. He was weary and worn.
/ want TO apprehend it clearly that i may
get the lesson right. lie was just as tired
as would have been. possibly more so, If
had Travelled afoOt the miles that stretched
between Jerusalem and Sychar. L can see
him resting there just moment ere other
feet drew near, tired, hungry, thirsty. This
earth was his, for he made it, The cattle
of the hills, the fountains, and springs, all
his, and he in want. This he did for me.
"Thou didst leave thy home and thy kingly
crown
When thou earnest TO earth for me.
But in Bethlehem's home there was found
no room
For thy holy nativity.
"Foxes have their rest and the birds have
their nests
In the shade OF the cedar tree,
But thy couch was the sod, o, thou Son OF
God,
In the deserts of Galilee.n
Give me TO drink. Thus may learn to
make virtue out of niece ssity. DR.. Cor
don happily renders the opaque Biblical
expression. ain season out OF season. I'm
seasonably in season, /. e., making an OPP
portunity out OF that which seemed mop
perfume Christ was tired, but not too
tired To speak good word. We sometimes
excuse ourselves by saying, 81 was too tired
to do or say anything" Dear friend, do
you no- know that the best things that have
been done in this world have been done by
stress and struggle, after someone has
reached the tired point. If we wait till we
are thoroughly rested the good work will
never be done Let us do as did Christ.
He made his very weakness an occasion, he
utilized his earthly wants. he rested to the
glory of God and met this needy woman.
Thirsty, he asked drink and made il the
occasion for one OF the sweetest sermons OF
help and comfort in all the sacred page
Lord, make my infrmlties occasions for
good. May be tired to rest some one else:
may my thirst lead TO the opening of FUN
tains i'm other arid souls.
Living water. That is better than the
boosted water OF Lourdes, however high
they pile their cast-away crutches-helps
that ought possibly 10 have been put away
long before around about it. 1t is better
than the fountain of perpetual youth for
which poor Ponce de Leon sought, and
sought Vanly, and to his loss. Or rather 1t
is that fountain. Youth is here, IA youth
that renews itself as the eagle, that runs
and is not weary, because IL has meat to
eat that men know not OF, that walks and
does not faint, because IL laves its brow in
the waters of eternity. Living water Is the
word, not dying. The latter was the kind
poor, mised Constantine thought TO find
waiting till death for the waters of conse-
Grafton. Christ brings US a refreshing that
is 10 be to-day enjoyed. 1t springs up here
and now into everlasting life. o! that all
life might be refreshed OF IL. Educational
life, industrial life, social life. God means
that eternal life that is in his Son to flow
like river right down by our schools OF
learning and marts of trade, and to water
all the homes of the land.
In spirit and in truth. Then / can wor-
ship him anywhere, any time. ain spirit"
spiritual worship: ain truth"-sincere
worship. IL Gods spirit be with me and
my spirit be with God, there is Gods tenn
pie, there is true worship. L need no
cathedral, / need no pulpit; l need only
God, and him / have. "Brother. what do
you get out of this passage?" My friend
looked up out OF his bed OF sickness and
there was strength In his eyes IL not In his
voice as he murmured: 1.-TWO worlds. not
far apart No, indeed Spirit and truth
are the two spans of the bridge on which
we cross. Yea, in the spirit we even now
anticipate the glorles of heaven, and in
truth we enter into its songs and rejoicings.
What else is worship than thistle enjoy
God here and now.