ed to the house of David, and the inhabitants of Jerufalem. Though wells are mentioned in the plural, this circumftance does not fuggeft a fufficient objection against this interpretation; but ferves to fhew, that the fountain of falvation is to be found in all places, and that grace may be every where derived from its fulness. By the wells of falvation may be fignified, the word of God, comprehending all the inspired books of holy fcripture, publifhed for the benefit of the church, by the prophets, the apoftles and evangelifts, and chiefly by the Son of God himself. This word includes all the prophecies, the promises, and doctrines, refpecting that great falvation which God hath prepared for them that love him, comprehending remiflion of fins through faith in Jefus Chrift, fanctification through the Holy Spirit, with eternal glory. Or, by the wells of falvation may be meant, the teachers and minifters of the gofpel, by whom are conveyed, to those who are defirous of participating of divine confolations, the moft neceffary falutary truths of the gospel, with a plenitude of fpiritual bleffings, from the fulness of Jefus Chrift, to fupply all their neceffities. The word of God is indeed the principal mean whereby the God of all grace is pleafed, through the miniftry of his fervants, to impart to his people the ineftimable benefits of his falvation. Similar metaphorical expreffions are used by writers of different nations, and frequently occur even in the fcriptures themselves, where teachers are compared to fountains, their doctrine to water, and their fcholars to thofe that drink for refreshment.--Let us approach this pure and open fountain, these wells of grace and falvation, convinced of our need of the inestimable bleffings which are there to be obtained, that we may imbibe larger measures of divine confolation, acquire new vigour in the exercife of grace, and get our holy defires fully fatisfied.From thefe wells, Ye shall draw water. The water fpoken of, mult likewife be understood in a figurative fenfe, denoting,

as it often does in fcripture, the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit; fuch as a clear knowledge of the myfteries of the kingdom of God; a lively faith in the perfections, providence, and record of the Moft High; fupreme love to the Lord our God; tranquillity of confcience, arifing from a comfortable sense of remiffion of fins, and peace with God; accefs with confidence to his throne, the glorious liberty of his children; joy in the Holy Ghoft; increase of grace, and perfeverance in the good ways of the Lord. These valuable bleffings are poffeffed of fimilar properties with water; and produce, in the fpiritual world, fimilar effects to thofe which that precious fluid does in the natural. Water is a neceflary element, deftitute of which, this earth would foon become a defolate wildernefs; without it, mankind could not poflibly fubfift. No lefs neceffary are the bleffings of the Holy Spirit to the new creation, without which, the man of God could not exift, nor could any of the children of men advance one ftep in the way of falvation. Water is almost every where enjoyed in abundance, by the poor as well as the rich: creatures of every order commonly have it in plenty, unless when the fins of men provoke the fovereign Ruler of the univerfe to withhold this ineftimable blefling. With equal abundance doth the great Lord of all afford his Spirit to his church, to whom it is conveyed, as floods upon the dry ground,' when fin doth not prevent its liberal communication. Water, as it comes from the fountain, is exceeding fine and transparent, and ferves to wash away every kind of ftain and pollution. In like manner, the Spirit of God is perfectly holy and pure in himself; and he it is who cleanfes the peculiar people of God from all unrighteousness, and makes them partakers of that holiness which they difplay with admirable luftre before the world. The falutary influence of water is univerfal, diffufing itfelf through every part of nature: it enters into the food

* See John vii. 37, 38, 39.

and

and fuftenance of man, and all the other creatures. The benign operation of the Holy Spirit, with his gifts and graces, is univerfally experienced in the fpiritual world: not a new creature, the workmanship of God, created in Chrift Jefus, who doth not share in their beneficial effects.There is alfo a ftriking resemblance between the purpofes to which water is applied, and the effects produced by the Holy Spirit. Water is used to foften hard fubftances: it mollifies the earth, when rendered impenetrable by frofts, or parched by the drought of fummer. The Holy Spirit foftens the hard hearts of men, become obdurate and infenfible by being withdrawn from the influence of the Sun of righteoufnefs, and the meliorating power of divine grace. Water fructifies the earth; and to it we are indebted for the beauties which adorn the fpring, and the rich fruits which are gathered in harvest to cover our tables. The Holy Spirit, by his gifts and graces, adorns the faithful in Chrift Jefus with the beauties of holiness, and renders them fruitful in every good work, to the glory and praife of God. Once more: As water quenches the thirft of the weary traveller, and refrethes him when his fpirits and ftrength are exhaufted, fo the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the fountain of life, gratifies the defires of thofe who are athirit after fpiritual bleflings, reftores their fouls to health and vigour, and difpofes them to purfue their journey toward the Zion that is above with increasing alacrity. Other inftances of refemblance might be mentioned; but enough hath been faid, to fhew the import and propriety of the beautiful figure here employed.It remains to fhew what is meant by the words,

With joy fhall ye draw water. The drawing fpoken of, muft likewife be interpreted in a metaphorical fenfe. Drawing water is an employment which requires ftrength, labour, and diligence, to which fome means or inftruments of conveyance are indifpenfably requifite. From thefe and other

circumftances attending this operation, we learn the import of the fpiritual exercife here intended. The bleffings communicated by the Holy Ghoft, are obtained by diligent application of the mind to prayer, attentive reading, hearing, and meditation; and by rightly difpofing and digefting the fubjects read, heard, and contemplated, fo as believingly to apply them for the great purpofes of fpiritual improvement. In this manner the peculiar people of God receive fresh communications of divine grace, fpiritual ftrength, and reviving confolation, from the inexhauftible fulnefs of Jefus Chrift, fuited to their various neceffities, whereby they are furnished for the performance of duty, fupported under the preffure of affliction, and refreshed in their journey toward the heavenly and better country.This exercife is declared to be accompanied with joy; with the warmeft emotions of pleafing affection, exquifite delight, and agreeable fatisfaction. The expreffion feems to allude to the pleasure enjoyed by thofe travellers who, when fcorched with heat, and parched with drought, quench their thirft with the cooling water of fome pure fountain. The pleafing fenfation felt by fuch perfons, affords a faint reprefentation of the far fuperior pleasure and joy experienced by the faints, when, refreshed by the water of life, they look forward to the rivers of pleafures which they have in profpect. The bleffings which they enjoy, in frequent contemplation, in conftant expectation, and daily experience, are exceedingly precious and excellent, procured not with fuch corruptible things as filver and gold, but by the blood of Chrift, whofe purchase and gift they are. They are perfectly fuited to their circumftances and condition, conveying fight to thofe who are fpiritually blind, ftrength to the weak, relief to the diftreffed, happiness to the miferable; and ferving to mortify corruptions, to help infirmities, to refift temptations, and difarm death itfelf. Joy ought always to be proportioned to the intrinfic worth, and extenfive utility

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of the benefits received: and, therefore, when the fervants of the Lord draw water from the wells of falvation, they rejoice with exceeding great joy, as one that hath obtained a glorious victory, that hath acquired immortal honour, or found great fpoil; and that hath the delightful profpect of ceafing from his labours, and entering into peace.Let us frequently, and particularly this day, have freth recourfe to these wells of falvation, that from thence we may derive living water. For your encouragement, I conclude my remarks on this verfe with the very gracious invitation delivered by our prophet, Chap. lv. 1. Ho, ⚫ every one that thirfteth, come ye to the waters, and ⚫he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price.'

4 And in that day fhall ye fay, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

The redeemed from among men, having becn reprefented as forming the noble refolution of praifing the Lord, they are here introduced, exciting their brethren to unite with them in this becoming delightful employment.The kind affection felt for thofe with whom we are intimately connected ought not to be concealed; nor fhould the grateful fenfe entertained of mercies received be confined within the breaft of the receiver, but fhould engage him to invite all with whom he hopes to fucceed, to join in celebrating the praifes of his generous Benefactor. Senfible of their inability for fhewing forth the praifes of the Lord their God, and of their need of affiftance in this pleafant exercife, thofe who fing this fong of triumph, call upon others to affift them in magnifying the Lord. Solitary devotion, and fecret praife, have no doubt their excellencies and advantages; but the