（John 16：15）； that he shall rest from spiritual anxiety about death；
judgment； and eternity。 He may have his seasons of darkness and doubt；
through his own infirmities or the temptations of the devil。 But；
speaking generally； when he has once e to Christ by faith he shall
find in his heart of hearts an unfailing fountain of consolation。 This；
let us understand； is the first thing which the promise before us
contains。 〃Only e to Me； poor anxious soul；〃 our Lord seems to
say；〃Only e to Me； and thy spiritual anxiety shall be relieved。 I
will place in thy heart； by the power of the Holy Spirit； such a sense
of pardon and peace； through my atonement and intercession； that thou
shalt never pletely thirst again。 Thou mayest have thy doubts； and
fears； and conflicts； while thou art in the body。 But once having e
to Me； and taken Me for thy Saviour； thou shalt never feel thyself
entirely hopeless。 The condition of thine inward man shall be so
thoroughly changed； that thou shalt feel as if there was within thee an
ever…flowing spring of water。〃
What shall we say to these things？ I declare my own belief； that
whenever a man or woman really es to Christ by faith； he finds this
promise fulfilled。 He may possibly be weak in grace； and have many
misgivings about his own condition。 He may possibly not dare to say
that he is converted； justified； sanctified； and meet for the
inheritance of the saints in light。 But for all that； I am bold to say
the humblest and feeblest believer in Christ has got something within
him which he would not part with； though he may not yet fully
understand it。 And what is that 〃something〃？ It is just that 〃river of
living water〃 which begins to run in the heart of every child of Adam
as soon as he es to Christ and drinks。 In this sense I believe this
wonderful promise of Christ is always fulfilled。
（2） But is this all that is contained in the promise which heads this
paper？ By no means。 There yet remains much behind。 There is more to
follow。 I believe our Lord meant us to understand that he who es to
Him by faith shall not only have an abundant supply of everything which
he needs for his own soul； but shall also bee a source of blessing
to the souls of others。 The Spirit who dwells in him shall make him a
fountain of good to his fellow…men； so that at the last day there shall
be found to have flowed from him 〃rivers of living water。〃
This is a most important part of our Lord's promise； and opens up a
subject which is seldom realized and grasped by many Christians。 But it
is one of deep interest； and deserves far more attention than it
receives。 I believe it to be a truth of God。 I believe that just as 〃no
man liveth unto himself〃 （Rom。 14：7）； so also no man is converted only
for himself； and that the conversion of one man or woman always leads
on； in God's wonderful providence； to the conversion of others。 I do
not say for a moment that all believers know it。 I think it far more
likely that many live and die in the faith； who are not aware that they
have done good to any soul。 But I believe the resurrection morning and
the judgment day； when the secret history of all Christians is
revealed； will prove that the full meaning of the promise before us has
never failed。 I doubt if there will be a believer who will not have
been to some one or other a 〃river of living water；〃a channel through
whom the Spirit has conveyed saving grace。 Even the penitent thief；
short as his time was after he repented； has been a source of blessing
to thousands of souls！
（a） Some believers are 〃rivers of living water〃 while they live。 Their
words； their conversation； their preaching； their teaching； are all
means by which the water of life has flowed into the hearts of their
fellow…men。 Such； for example； were the Apostles； who wrote no Epistles
and only preached the word。 Such were Luther； and Whitefield； and
Wesley； and Berridge； and Rowlands； and thousands of others of whom I
cannot now speak particularly。
（b） Some believers are 〃rivers of living water〃 when they die。 Their
courage in facing the King of Terrors； their boldness in the most
painful sufferings； their unswerving faithfulness to Christ's truth
even at the stake； their manifest peace on the edge of the grave；all
this has set thousands thinking； and led hundreds to repent and
believe。 Such； for example； were the primitive martyrs； whom the Roman
emperors persecuted。 Such were John Huss； and Jerome of Prague。 Such
were Cranmer； Ridley； Latimer； Hooper； and the noble army of Marian
martyrs。 The work that they did at their deaths； like Samson； was far
greater than the work done in their lives。
（c） Some believers are 〃rivers of living water〃 long after they die。
They do good by their books and writings in every part of the world；
long after the hands which held the pen are mouldering in the dust。
Such men were Bunyan； and Baxter； and Owen； and George Herbert； and
Robert M'Cheyne。 These blessed servants of God do more good probably by
their books at this moment； than they did by their tongues when they
were alive。 〃Being dead； they yet speak〃 （Heb。 11：4）。
（d） Finally； there are some believers who are 〃rivers of living water〃
by the beauty of their daily conduct and behaviour。 There are many
quiet； gentle； consistent Christians； who make no show and no noise in
the world； and yet insensibly exercise a deep influence for good on all
around them。 They 〃win without the Word〃 （1 Pet。 3：1）。 Their love；
their kindness； their sweet temper； their patience； their
unselfishness； tell silently on a wide circle； and sow seeds of thought
and self…inquiry in many minds。 It was a fine testimony of an old lady
who died in great peace；saying that under God she owed her salvation
to Mr。 Whitefield：〃 It was not any sermon that he preached； it was
not anything that he ever said to me。 It was the beautiful consistency
and kindness of his daily life； in the house where he was staying； when
I was a little girl。 I said to myself； if I ever have any religion； Mr。
Whitefield's God shall be my God。〃
I charge every reader of this paper to lay hold on this view of our
Lord's promise； and never forget it。 Think not for a moment that your
own soul is the only soul that will be saved； if you e to Christ by
faith and follow Him。 Think of the blessedness of being a 〃river of
living water〃 to others。 Who can tell that you may not be the means of
bringing many others to Christ？ Live； and act； and speak； and pray； and
work； keeping this continually in view。 I knew a family； consisting of
a father； mother； and ten children； in which true religion began with
one of the daughters； and when it began she stood alone； and all the
rest of the family were in the world。 And yet； before she died； she saw
both her parents and all her brothers and sisters converted to God； and
all this； humanly speaking； began from her influence！ Surely； in the
face of this； we need not doubt； that a believer may be to others a
〃river of living water。〃 Conversions may not be in your time； and you
may die without seeing them。 But never doubt that conversion generally
leads to conversions； and that few go to heaven alone。 When Grimshaw；
of Haworth； the apostle of the north； died； he left his son graceless
and godless。 Afterwards the son was converted； never having forgotten
his father's advice and example。 And his last words were；〃 What will my
old father say when he sees me in heaven？〃 Let us take courage and hope
on； believing Christ's promise。
（1） And now； before we part； let me ask every one who reads this paper
a plain question。 Do you know anything of spiritual thirst？ Have you
ever felt any…tiring of genuine deep concern about your soul？I fear
that many know nothing about it。 I have learned； by the painful
experience of the third of a century； that people may go on for years
attending God's house； and yet never feel their sins； or desire to be
saved。 The cares of this world； the love of pleasure； the 〃lust of
other things；〃 choke the good seed every Sunday； and make it
unfruitful。 They e to church with hearts as cold as the stone
pavement on which they walk。 They go away as thoughtless and unmoved as
the old marble busts which look down on them from the monuments on the
walls。 Well； it may be so； but I do not yet despair of any one； so long
as he is alive。 That grand old bell in St。 Paul's Cathedral； London；
which has struck the hours for so many years； is seldom heard by many
citizens during the business hours of the day。 The roar and din of
traffic in the streets have a strange power to deaden its sound； and
prevent men hearing it。 But when the daily work is over； and desks are
locked； and doors are closed； and books are put away； and quiet reigns
in the great city； the case is altered。 As the old bell strikes eleven；
and twelve； and one； and two； and three at night； thousands hear it who
never heard it during the day。 And so I hope it will be with many a one
in the matter of his soul。 Now； in the plenitude of health and
strength； in the hurry and whirl of business； I fear the voice of your
conscience is often stifled； and you cannot hear it。 But the day may
e when the great bell of conscience will make itself heard； whether
you like it or not。 The time may e when； laid aside in quietness；
and obliged by illness to sit still； you may be forced to look within；
and consider your soul's concerns。 And then； when the great bell of
awakened conscience is sounding in your ears； I trust that many a man
who reads this paper may hear the voice of God and repent； may learn to
thirst； and learn to e to Christ for relief。 Yes！ I pray God you may
yet be taught to feel before it be too late！
（2） But do you feel anything at this very moment？ Is your conscience
awake and working？ Ar