November 21

"And many more believed because of his own word; and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying; for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."—John 4:41, 42.

If the blessings of salvation are in us as a well of water, that water will spring up in our active exertions with regard to those around us. We have an exemplification of this in the character and conduct of the woman of Samaria; and the passage before us discovers to us the beneficial effects which her efforts produced. Let us observe

THE CONDUCT OF THE SAMARITANS. Four things are stated respecting them.

The candor they showed. "We have heard him ourselves." At the entreaty of the woman, they came and listened to the Saviour's words; and they were caught in the Gospel net, their minds were impressed and their hearts softened by the power of sovereign grace. How many are so strongly prejudiced against religion, that they will not sit under the sound of the Gospel! To such we would say, Come and judge for yourselves: "Oh! taste and see that the Lord is good."

The acknowledgment they made. "And know that this is indeed the Christ." Those who have been brought to a saving knowledge of Christ, will not be ashamed to make an open confession of him. If we have rightly heard him for ourselves, we shall quickly speak of him to others.

The faith they exercised. "Now we believe." Faith cometh by hearing. Perhaps they had often heard of him before this period, and considered him as a false prophet and a deceiver; but now they had heard and seen him, they had no doubt about his divine mission.

The feeling they manifested. "Now we believe, not because of thy saying," they said to the woman; "for we have heard him ourselves." It was "because of his own word" that they believed. We must always distinguish between human instrumentality and Divine agency, and give unto the Lord the glory that is due unto his name. We must not go by hearsay in matters of religion:—"Come and see." Behold here the condescension of Jesus. The Samaritans were a despised and depraved people, and this woman had been a wicked character; but he is no respecter of persons.