Perhaps there is nothing that strikes us more in this conversation, which is so very direct and consistent in its purpose, and yet which follows all the windings of the human heart, beginning from '_Give me to drink_,' and ending with a revelation of the nature of God; perhaps, I say, there is nothing more remarkable in it all than the result of it. You expect to see the woman bowing before the mysterious Foreigner, expressing her astonishment at his high doctrine, lamenting that she had spoken to Him so uncourteously. Not at all. She says, '_I know that when Messias cometh, He shall tell us all things_.' 'Our people speak of One who is to be sent from God, of a Messias. I suppose, if these things are true about God being a Spirit, and about our having a Spirit of truth, He will tell us. We shall know as much of these things as we can know.' Evidently this part of the conversation has not yet taken hold of her. The part about herself has. 'The Messias will tell us all things; but this Jew has told me of myself; He has seen what I am.' And therefore, when Jesus answers, '_I that speak unto thee am He_,'--so making a more direct profession of His name and dignity to this Samaritan than He had made in Jerusalem,--He surely meant to fix this impression on her mind: 'Yes, this is the test of Messiahship. Look for no other. Do not ask for some outward signs to tell you when He is coming, or what He can do. I that speak unto _thee_--I that lay bare _thy_ heart--am He. That is the proof of my kingship over human beings; that is the proof of my being sent from God. I know what is in thee--the wrong of thy outward life, the evil of thy inward life. I know thy deepest necessities. I know thy want of a new spring of life within, of water of which thou mayest drink, and not thirst again. Thou needest that. All Samaritans, all Jews, all men and women who shall live, all nations and generations to come, will need it. I can give it them. For I can give them that Spirit of truth which the Father desires them to have, that they may know Him and worship Him.' Lord, evermore give us this Spirit, that we thirst not, nor seek to draw the water of life, which is only in Thee, from the wells of earth! DISCOURSE X. THE REWARDS OF LABOUR, AND THE KINDS OF FAITH. [Lincoln's Inn, 2d Sunday after Easter, April 6, 1856.] ST. JOHN IV. 48. _Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe._