Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit: v. 27

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1875. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... Delivered On Lord's-day Morning, November 8th, 1874, By C. H. SPURGEON, AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON. "Whosoever drinVeth of tho -water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall bo in him a well of water springing np into everlasting life."--John iv. 14. All things that are of earth are unsatisfactory. Onr spirit craveth for something more than time and sense can yield it. Nothing which comes of earth, even if it should yield a transient satisfaction, can long maintain its excellency. Pointing to the water in Jacob's well, our Lord said, "He that drinketh of this water shall thirst again;" and therein he took up his parable against all earthly things, whether they be fame, or riches, or fleshly pleasure, or aught else beneath the sun. He that drinketh at these shallow wells snail not quench his thirst, or if for a time he imagines that he has so done, he will be undeceived, and in a little season the old craving will return. That which is born of the flesh is flesh even at its best, and all flesh is grass, and the goodliness thereof is as the flower of grass; the grass withereth and the flower thereof fadeth away, and in like manner fadeth the flesh and its glory. The religion of the flesh shares in the common fate, if it has a man's own self for its author, his own energy as its impulse, and his own opinions for its creed, it may for alittle while flourish like the flower of the field, but the wind passeth over it and it is gone. Waters from his own cistern may stay a man's desires for a space, but ere long he must thirst again. Nothing can abide for ever but that which comes from the Eternal One. Not from the will of man, but from the work of the Holy Ghost, all truly satisfying religion must proc...