THE THIRTEENTH. LECTVRE ON MAY II. MDCIX.
Iesus saith vnto her, Goe, call thy husband, and come hither.
The Woman answered, and said, I haue no husband, Iesus said vn∣to her, thou hast well said, I haue no husband.
For, thou hast had fiue husbands, and he whom thou now hast, is not thy husband: in that saidest thou truly.
WE heard the last day (out of the former Verse) that this Wo∣man though now she began to conceiue better, both of the person and speech of Christ than she had done before, and did not only giue credit to that which Christ had said touch∣ing the water of life, but was also so affected with his speech, as she did desire him to giue her of that water, yet did she not vnderstand his meaning, but thought still that Water of life he spake of, had been no other than a materiall water, and therefore desired it onely in a carnall respect she had to her ease and profit. Two causes there were of this her blockishnesse. First, That she knew Christ no better; but tooke him to be an ordinary man. The other, that she knew her selfe and her owne estate no better; but liued securely in knowne and hainous sinne. Our Sa∣uiour for all this giues her not quite ouer, because of her blockishnesse and vncapablenesse, but now (leauing the speech of the water of life) he begins to make himselfe, and her owne estate better knowne vnto her. To this purpose he discouers to her the most secret things that euer she did; espe∣cially such as might stirre vp in her a thirst after the water of life. For, it appeares by her owne words to her neighbours, Verse 29, 39. That he had told her many other things, that were vnknowne to all men. But the Euangelist mentions this onely, of all the secrets that he told her, because in this the infinite mercy of Christ did most shine, that had such respect vnto, and was so carefull of the saluation of so vile a woman. Now he doth not charge her with her sin in plaine termes, nor deale roughly with her, he cals her not Whore, nor tels her at the fi•…•…st, that she liued in filthy adultery (for he knew in his diuine wisdome, that this sharpnesse would not be needfull, but hurtfull rather) but first bids her go and call her hus∣band, and come againe. And though he knew it well she had no husband, yet did he thinke it fit, to draw out so much from her owne mouth, which