CHAPTER IV.
4. Q. _Why must CHRIST needs go through |Samaria|?_
_A._ Because there was a woman to be converted there.
Q. _What learn you from thence?_
_A._ That where GOD has got people to be called, he will find means to bring them to himself.
6. Q. _What may you observe from CHRIST’s being weary?_
_A._ That he was truly man.
7. Q. _What learn you from CHRIST’s saying “Give me to drink?”_
_A._ That our blessed LORD underwent much fatigue in going about to preach to sinners. And that we ought not to be ashamed to beg, when providence reduces us to an indigent life, or to pressing circumstances.
9. Q. _How can it be said that the |Jews| had no dealing with the |Samaritans|, when in the foregoing verse we are told, the disciples were gone to buy food?_
_A._ They might do some few good offices to, but had no general commerce with each other.
10. Q. _What may we learn from CHRIST’s introducing religious talk by asking for a little water?_
_A._ That we ought to spiritualize every thing we meet with, and take all proper opportunities to introduce religious conversation wherever we are.
14. Q. _What does CHRIST mean by “the water he should give?”_
_A._ The holy Spirit.
Q. _Why is the holy Spirit represented by water?_
_A._ Because, as water washes away the filth of the body, so the holy Spirit cleanses the pollution of the soul; and as water refreshes the thirsty, so do the comforts of the Holy Ghost refresh the spiritual man.
Q. _What may we learn from these words, “shall be in him a well, &c.?”_
_A._ That where GOD has begun a good work, he will carry it on to the day of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
15. Q. _What may you learn from this verse?_
_A._ That we should pray to CHRIST, as this woman did, and beg him to give us his holy Spirit, that we may not apply to outward things for comfort.
20. Q. _Why did the woman mention this to CHRIST?_
_A._ Because, there was a dispute between the _Samaritans_ and _Jews_, which was the proper place of worship, _Jerusalem_ or mount _Gerizim_. And from hence arose such an enmity between them, that they would have no dealings with one another.
23. Q. _What is the meaning of this verse?_
_A._ That now JESUS CHRIST was come, GOD’s worship could not be confined to any particular place, but persons might every where lift up holy hands to GOD.
24. Q. _When may we be said to worship GOD in spirit and in truth?_
_A._ When we are inward with him in our worship, and not only honour him with our lips, but with our affections and lives.
26. Q. _What may we learn from CHRIST’s revealing himself so freely to the woman?_
_A._ That he will as freely and spiritually reveal himself to every believing heart.
27. Q. _What may we learn, from the disciples wondering that he talked with a woman?_
_A._ That men, especially ministers, ought not too freely to converse with persons of that sex.
28. Q. _What learn you from the woman leaving her water-pot to go into the city?_
_A._ That we should leave our worldly business, rather than neglect at proper times to attend on the means of grace.
29. Q. _Did not the woman tell an untruth here?_
_A._ No, for CHRIST might have told her all. However, as CHRIST had revealed to her the greatest secret of her life, she might easily infer that he could tell her every thing else.
32. Q. _What may we learn from this answer?_
_A._ That we ought, after the example of our master, to forego our ordinary meals sometimes for the sake of doing good. And we may also learn, that a true christian has meat to eat, spiritual comforts, which the world knows not of: a stranger intermeddleth not with his joys.
34. Q. _What learn we hence?_
_A._ That it ought to be our meat and drink, or as much pleasure and our constant business to do the will of GOD, as to supply our bodies with proper food.
35. Q. _What does CHRIST mean when he bids his disciples “to lift up their eyes?”_
_A._ In all probability, he pointed to the _Samaritans_ whom he saw crowding over the fields, coming to hear his doctrine.
38. Q. _What does CHRIST mean by this?_
_A._ That the prophets had prepared the way for his coming, by their prophecies, which made the disciples work far more easy.
41. Q. _What learn you from hence?_
_A._ That though there are many external proofs of the divinity of CHRIST’s doctrine, yet his own words or his doctrine best explains itself: the divine image and superscription being written on every precept and line of it.
47. Q. _What learn we from the Nobleman’s coming to CHRIST about his sick son?_
_A._ That parents should apply to CHRIST for their sick children, and that afflictions should drive us to GOD.
48. Q. _Wherein was this Nobleman to be blamed?_
_A._ In that he confined CHRIST’s power to his bodily presence. Therefore to convince him of his frailty, and to strengthen his faith, CHRIST cured his son at a distance.
52. Q. _What is meant by the seventh hour?_
_A._ One in the afternoon.
53. Q. _What learn we from this verse?_
_A._ That bodily distempers are all cured by the power of CHRIST, and that those who are now recovered from sickness, are raised up as certainly though not so visibly by him, as was the Nobleman’s son.