The soul's communion with her savior. Or, The history of our Lord Jesus Christ, written by the four evangelists digested into devotional meditations. The first part.

Cap. VIII. On our Savior's Conference with* 1.1 [ 12] the Woman of Samaria.* 1.2

§. 1.

NOw when Iesus 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.3 heard that Iohn was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into prison 〈◊〉〈◊〉 de∣parted into Galilee; but be∣fore [ 1] He left Iudea, the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Iesus made and baptized 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Discipls than [ 2] Iohn, tho He himself 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not.

I prais and magnify thy Sacred Name,

O my Meek and Prudent Sa∣vior, For setting us this instru∣ctiv Exampl, which doth at

once direct and authorize us to flee from such Dangers as may prov injurious either to the Bo∣dy or the Mind. Lord, when Persecution ariseth, endu me with the seasonabl Prudence to make a timely Retreat from the impendent Storm that threatens to invade my Life or Liberty, yet accompanied with an un∣movabl Resolution to part with either, rather than relinquish the Practice of that Piety which be∣coms a Christian: for, I may change my Place, tho not my Principls; nay, a discreet Cau∣tion in quitting the one may be a necessary and succesful means to preserv the other inviolabl; and he that retires from the insi∣nuating temtations unto Pride or Vain-glory, which the getting of a Name in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is apt to occasion, may wel be estee∣med a no less pious and discern∣ing

Soul than he that with∣draws from the rougher Hard∣ship of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, since this can only confine the Body, wheras that may also contaminat the Mind.

§. 2.

The H. Jesus, in his way from Judea into Galilee, com∣eth to a City of Samaria (which he must 〈◊〉〈◊〉 go throu)* 1.4 called Sychar; and being wea∣ried [ 4, 5] with his Iourny, about Noon, he sat on Iacob's Well [ 6] which was there, not far from the parcel of Ground that the Patriarch gave to his Son Io∣seph.

I adore and prais thy Name,

O Christ, For submitting to the Toil and Labor of this our Flesh subject to Weariness, wherin thou hast not only conformed

to the common Infirmities of a Man, but even to the very Form of a Servant, walking on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from one place to another, tho evry Beast of the Forrest is thine and the Cattl upon a thousand hills, while the Great Ones of the Earth are carried in state and ease upon their Chariots or Hor∣ses; to assure us that as wel by Experience as Compassion Thou art touched with the Sens of their Wants who hav been hun∣gry and thirsty til their Soul fainted in them. Let me not therfore repine at my scant Al∣lowance of Outward Conveni∣ences, while my wealthy Neigh∣bor's Cup o'rflows, and his Ta∣bl is spred with all the gustful Rarities of Art and Nature, but rest content and thankful under the Dispensations of that Provi∣dence which feeds me with Food convenient for me; remembring

that thou O Iesus hadst occa∣sion [ 7] to ask a Woman of Sama∣ria to giv thee Drink, to reliev thy Thirst; thy Discipls being gon away at the same time unto [ 8] the City to buy Meat, for the redress of thine Hunger.

§. 3.

When she put the Question, [ 9] How is it that thou being a Iew askest drink of me who am a woman of Samaria? The B. Iesus answer'd her, If thou [ 10] knewest the Gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee Giv me to drink, thou wouldst hav asked of him and he would hav given thee living Water.

I glorify thy Name,

O thou inexhaustible Foun∣tain of Goodness, For thus ma∣nifesting thy Self greater than* 1.5 their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iacob who gave [ 12]

Well to his posterity and drank therof himself. Lord, instead of questioning Whence thou hast that living Water, as the woman did, seeing thou hadst [ 11] nothing to draw with out of that deep Well; let me (I be∣seech thee) thirst after and be satiated with that Water which [ 14] whosoever drinketh of shal ne∣ver thirst, that I may taste and see how gracious the Lord is in fulfilling that Request of hers unto my Soul, Sir, giv me this [ 15] Water that I thirst not; so as to pass this thy Promise into an experimental Truth, that it shal be in me a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of water spring∣ing up into everlasting Life. And, to evidence the Power of thy Grace dwelling in my heart by Faith, make it issu out thence into such wholsom Streams of universal Charity as may write a practical Comment on that

Text of thine Apostle St. Paul, There is neither Greek nor Jew, Circumcision nor Uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond, nor free; but Christ is all and in all; since thou hast broken down the middl Wall of partition between us, having abolished the Enmity, not only by thy Death but in thy Life; thine Exampl as wel as Precept engaging us to lay aside those distinctions wherby Schism and Faction curtail our Kindness and hinder our mutual Edifica∣tion. And tho unnecessary Con∣versation with leight or scanda∣Ious persons is to be industriously avoided and very warily admit∣ted, yet when a just Occasion or accidental Providence brings a vicious person into my Com∣pany, let me rather improv the Opportunity to reclaim an Of∣fendor, than be deterr'd from u∣sing my best endevor to save a

Soul from death, throu the Shame or Fear of being cen∣sured a Friend of Publicans and Sinners, as thou my Lord and Master hast often been; who like a merciful Physitian wouldst rather inspect our very Corrup∣tions than neglect the Cure even of a lascivious Harlot, such as this Samaritan seems to be: for, when thou didst bid her, Go, call thy husband, and she re∣plyed, I hav no husband; thou* 1.6 couldst tell her, In that thou [ 16] saidst truly; for, thou hast had [ 17] five husbands, and he whom [ 18] thou now hast is not thy hus∣band: implying, that in case he were husband to some other, she lived in Adultery; if not, yet she lived in Fornication with one not espoused to her self.

§. 4.

This particular Discovery of the privat Transactions of her own life, made by one that was wholy a Stranger both to her Country and Person, induced [ 19] the Woman to confess unto him, Sir, I perceiv that thou art a Prophet, and on that con∣sideration, she enters upon the Debate of a publick Controversy which had been so violently maintained between their two Nations, that the Iews would hav no Dealings with the Sa∣maritans; supposing a person so extraordinarily qualified, very fit to decide the matter in Dis∣pute, [ 20] which she states thus, Our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 worshipped in this Mountain, and ye say, that in Ierusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

I prais thy Holy Name,

O thou Reconciler of the World, not only For asserting the Truth of the Jewish Church and the Error of the Samaritan, in this thy positiv Reply, Ye [ 22] worship ye know not what; we know what we worship; for Salvation is of the Iews: but likewise, for opening a way un∣to their Reconciliation, and re∣moving the Occasion of the Difference, by saying unto the* 1.7 Woman, Believ me, the hour [ 21] cometh and now is, when ye shal neither in this Mountain, nor yet at Ierusalem, worship the Father; but the tru Wor∣shippers [ 23] shal worship the Fa∣ther in Spirit and in Truth. Lord, since thou hast no longer, confined thine Adorers to attend thy Service in one determinat place, but dost will that men

pray evry where lifting up holy hands, I humbly beseech thee, let this our Christian 〈◊〉〈◊〉 engage us to the more hearty and sincere Attendance as wel on thy publick Ordinances as our privat Offices of Religion, remembring that God is a Spi∣rit, [ 24] and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and in truth; for the Father seéketh such to worship him.

§. 5.

The Woman, being hereby [ 25] convinced of her Error, the better to express her readiness to embrace the further Revelation of the Gospel, saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh which is called Christ; when He is com, he will tell us all things.

I celebrat thy Gracious Name,

O Iesus, For saying unto her, [ 26] I that speak unto thee, am He. With what plainness dost thou own the truth and power of that thine Office to this Alien, nay, Enemy, to the Commonwealth of Israel; which thou didst with so much care reserv from the No∣tice of thine own Peepl? the Mystery which thou didst couch under obscure Parabls and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sayings in thy many publick Sermons to them, thou hast clearly unvailed in one short and plain Expression to this Sama∣ritan. O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledg of God! how unsearchabl are his Judgments, and his Ways past finding out! My Gracious God, since thou hast thus reduced in∣to Practice what thou hadst long before professed to thy Ser∣vant

Moses, I will have Mercy on whom I will hav Mercy, I hum∣bly beseech thee, hav Compas∣sion on my Soul, and vouchsafe to make thy self effectually known unto me, who am wors than a Samaritan by Nature, a Sinner of the Gentils in Conver∣sation.

§. 6.

As soon as thou, O Christ, hadst given her this open Evi∣dence and Acknowledgment of thine Office and Authority; the Woman (as having forgot her* 1.8 corporal Necessities, and tasted [ 28] the Grant of the Request she had made unto thee, Sir, giv me this Water that I thirst not, neither com 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to draw) left 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Water-pot and went her way into the City, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Men that-lived in her Neigh∣borhood, [ 29] Com and see a man

which told me all things that ever I did: Is not this the Christ?

I magnify thy Name,

For the communicativ Virtu of the Christian-Faith, and the gradual Propagation of thy Gos∣pel therby: Many of the Sa∣maritans of that City having [ 39] believed on Thee, for the Say∣ing of the Woman which testi∣fied, He told me all that ever I did. Let those apparent No∣tices of thy Will, O my God, which hav enlightned mine Un∣derstanding and engaged mine Affections in the Profession of the tru Faith, render me zealous and succesful in publishing those sacred Truths wherof I my self am convinced, that I may be∣com an happy and industrious Instrument to promote thy Glo∣ry and the Good of others, whe∣ther

they be my Brethren and Neighbors in the flesh, or not; since throu him who came and preached peace to us which were afar off, as wel as to them that were nigh, we are no more Stran∣gers and Foreiners, but are made capabl of becoming fellow Citi∣zens with the Saints and of the hous-hold of God, by being built upon the foundation of the Apo∣stls and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner∣stone.

§. 7.

In the mean while, his Disci∣pls,* 1.9 who were newly returned [ 27] with the Provisions which they went unto the City to buy, and marvelled that He talked with the Woman, prayed him saying, Master, eat: But he said un∣to [ 31] them, I hav meat to eat that [ 32] ye know not of.

I prais and magnify thy Name,

O Jesus, Becaus, (wheras thy Discipls were apt to mistake thy words in a carnal sence, as appears by their questioning one [ 33] with another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?) thou hast fully explained the spiritual Meaning therof by this thy gracious Declaration, My Meat is to do the Will of him [ 34] that sent me, and to finish his Work. O hevenly Father, cre∣ate in me (I beseech thee) the same Mind which was in thy Son Christ Jesus; that I also may prefer doing good in my Gene∣ration before my necessary Food, and esteem the Performance of those things which are agreeabl to the Will of thy Holiness my chief Repast and Satisfaction; such Acts of Obedience and Charity being capabl to 〈◊〉〈◊〉

my Soul unto Everlasting Life; while the daily Bread which my Body stands in need of doth pe∣rish in the using.

§. 8.

O Lord of the Univers, All the Nations of the Earth are thy Fields, wheron thou requirest thine Apostls and Ministers to lift up their Eys and lock; and they are white already to Hat∣vest;

I giv Thee Thanks and Prais,

Becaus he that reapeth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Wages and gathereth* 1.10 Fruit unto Life Eternal. As [ 36] my fleshly Eys behold the fields of Corn before my face, Lord enabl me to view other fields far more excellent and glorious with the Ey of Faith, even all the Cities and Kingdoms of the World ready to be gathered into

thy Barn: And let the hopes of such desirable Wages engage my utmost Industry to further the Welfare of Souls, for which we, upon whom the Ends of the World are com, hav abundant Encorage∣ment; for, other men labored, [ 38] and we are enter'd upon their labors, whatsoever Christ our Lord and his H. Apostls hav don or suffer'd for the Promulgation of the Gospel, redounding to our Advantage and Instruction, be it improvabl either to our own Soul's health or to make us In∣strumental for the Salvation of others: So that in us that [ 37] Saying provs tru, One 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and another reapeth; and the Benefit is so equally con∣veyed throu out all the Mem∣bers of Christ's Body the Church in all Ages, That both he that* 1.11 soweth and he that reapeth may [ 36] rejoyce together.

§. 9.

When the Samaritans went [ 30] out of the City and were com unto him; upon their Request that he would tarry with them, [ 40] he abode there two days.

I adore thy saving Name,

O Jesus, For this thy gracious Condescension and the powerful Effect of thy Presence among them, many mo having belie∣ved becaus of thy Word; who [ 41] said unto the Woman, Now [ 42] we believ, not because of thy Saying: for, we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heard him our selvs, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the World. Tho thy Spous, O Christ, which is the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of Truth, by the Catholick Profession of thy Gos∣pel givs so rational an Invita∣tion

to the Apostat World as is persuasiv enough to win many Proselyts to enter into the Com∣munion of Saints upon a general Conviction; yet when, throu the personal Experiment and Participation of thy Saving Or∣dinances, they are once enl ght∣ned and hav tasted of the hevenly Gift, the good Word of God, and the Powers of the World to com, they no longer rely upon the bare Credit of thy Church, but are established in the Faith by the full persuasion of their own Conscience. Let me not therefore at any time con∣tent my self with hearing the Operations of thy Grace or the Demonstration of thy Power re∣ported at second hand, but make my personal Address to the Mi∣nistry of thy Word and Sacra∣ments, that having heard Thee my self, my Soul also may know

experimentally, that Thou art indeed The CHRIST, the Sa∣vior of the World.

Notes

• * 1.1

  S. Mat. 4.
• * 1.2

  S. Joh. 4. 1, — 42.
• * 1.3

  S. Joh. 4. 3,
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Joh. 4.
• * 1.5

  S. Joh. 4.
• * 1.6

  S. Joh. 4.
• * 1.7

  S. Joh. 4.
• * 1.8

  S. Joh. 4.
• * 1.9

  S. Joh. 4.
• * 1.10

  S. Joh. 4.
• * 1.11

  S. Joh. 4.