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Scripture hath said； out of his belly shall flow rivers of living
waters。〃
Each of these points concerns all into whose hands this paper may fall。
On each of them I have somewhat to say。
I。 In the first place； then； you have a case supposed。 Our Lord says；
〃If any man thirst。〃
Bodily thirst is notoriously the most painful sensation to which the
frame of mortal man is liable。 Read the story of the miserable
sufferers in the black hole at Calcutta。Ask anyone who has travelled
over desert plains under a tropical sun。Hear what any old soldier
will tell you is the chief want of the wounded on a
battlefield。Remember what the crews of ships lost in mid…ocean；
tossed for days in boats without water； go through。Mark the awful
words of the rich man in the parable： 〃Send Lazarus that he may dip the
tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue： for I am tormented in
this flame。〃 （Luke xvi。 24。） The testimony is unvarying。 There is
nothing so terrible and hard to bear as thirst。
But if bodily thirst is so painful； how much more painful is thirst of
soul？ Physical suffering is not the worst part of eternal punishment。
It is a light thing； even in this world； pared to the suffering of
the mind and inward man。 To see the value of our souls； and find out
they are in danger of eternal ruinto feel the burden of unforgiven
sin； and not to know where to turn for reliefto have a conscience
sick and ill at ease； and to be ignorant of the remedyto discover
that we are dying； dying daily； and yet unprepared to meet Godto have
some clear view of our own guilt and wickedness； and yet to be in utter
darkness about absolutionthis is the highest degree of painthe pain
which drinks up soul and spirit； and pierces joints and marrow！ And
this no doubt is the thirst of which our Lord is speaking。 It is thirst
after pardon； forgiveness； absolution； and peace with God。 It is the
craving of a really awakened conscience； wanting satisfaction and not
knowing where to find it； walking through dry places and unable to get
rest。
This is the thirst which the Jews felt when Peter preached to them on
the day of Penetcost。 It is written that they were 〃pricked In their
heart； and said； Men and brethren； what shall we do？〃 （Acts ii。 37。）
This is the thirst which the Philippian jailor felt； when he awoke to
consciousness of his spiritual danger and felt the earthquake making
the prison reel under his feet。 It is written that he 〃came trembling；
and fell down before Paul and Silas； and brought them out； saying；
Sirs； what must I do to be saved？〃 （Acts xvi。 30。）
This is the thirst which many of the greatest servants of God seem to
have felt when light first broke in on their minds。 Augustine seeking
rest among the Manichean heretics and finding noneLuther groping
after truth among monks in Erfurt MonasteryJohn Bunyan agonizing
amidst doubts and conflicts in his Elstow cottageGeorge Whitefield
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 ca