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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
Jesus alluded, for of this she used continually, drinking, and thirsting
again. With remarkable faith she asked him to give her the water of
which he spoke, that she might not thirst nor come to draw from the
well.
Jesus did not intend to convey the idea that simply one draught of
the water of life would satisfy the receiver, but that whoever is united
with Christ, has within his soul a living fountain from which to draw
strength and grace sufficient for all emergencies. Words and deeds of
righteousness flow from it and refresh the hearts of others, as well as
the soul from which it springs. Jesus Christ, the never-failing source
of this fountain, cheers the life and brightens the path of all who come
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to him for aid. Love to God, the satisfying hope of Heaven, springs up
in good works unto eternal life.
Jesus now abruptly changed the subject of conversation, and bade
her call her husband. The woman answered frankly that she had no
husband. Jesus had now approached the desired point where he could
convince her that he had the power to read her life history, although
previously unacquainted with her. He addressed her thus: “Thou hast
well said, I have no husband; for thou hast had five husbands; and he
whom thou now hast is not thy husband; in that saidst thou truly.”
Jesus had a double object in view; he wished to arouse her con-
science as to the sin of her manner of life, as well as to prove to her
that a sight wiser than human eyes had read the secrets of her life.
But the woman, although not fully realizing the guilt of her manner of
living, was greatly astonished that this stranger should possess such
knowledge. With profound reverence she said, “Sir, I perceive that
thou art a prophet.” Her personal feelings were now lost in anxiety
concerning religious matters. She proceeded, “Our fathers worshiped
in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men
ought to worship.”
Just in sight was Mount Gerizim, its temple demolished, and only
the altar remaining. The place of worship had been a subject of con-
tention between the Jews and Samaritans. The latter people had once
belonged to Israel, but had become divided from them because of their
transgressions in neglecting to obey the statutes of God. The Lord
suffered them to be overcome by an idolatrous nation, whose religion
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had gradually contaminated their own. Still preserving their reverence