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the Bible for the special benefit and encouragement of all who will use
them。
Yet promise lies at the bottom of nearly all the transactions of man
with man in the affairs of this life。 The vast majority of Adam's
children in every civilized country are acting every day on the faith
of promises。 The labourer on the land works hard from Monday morning to
Saturday night； because he believes that at the end of the week he
shall receive his promised wages。 The soldier enlists in the army； and
the sailor enters his name on the ship's books in the navy； in the full
confidence that those under whom they serve will at some future time
give them their promised pay。 The humblest maid…servant in a family
works on from day to day at her appointed duties； in the belief that
her mistress will give her the promised wages。 In the business of great
cities； among merchants； and bankers； and tradesmen； nothing could be
done without incessant faith in promises。 Every man of sense knows that
cheques and bills； and promissory notes； are the only means by which
the immense majority of mercantile affairs can possibly be carried on。
Men of business are pelled to act by faith and not by sight。 They
believe promises； and expect to be believed themselves。 In fact；
promises； and faith in promises； and actions springing from faith in
promises； are the back…bone of nine…tenths of all the dealings of man
with his fellow…men throughout Christendom。
Now promises； in like manner； in the religion of the Bible； are one
grand means by which God is pleased to approach the soul of man。 The
careful student of Scripture cannot fail to observe that God is
continually holding out inducements to man to listen to Him； obey Him；
and serve Him； and undertaking to do great things； if man will only
attend and believe。 In short； as St。 Peter says； 〃There are given to us
exceeding great and precious promises。〃 （2 Pet。 i。 4。） He who has
mercifully caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning has
shown His perfect knowledge of human nature； by spreading over the Book
a perfect wealth of promises； suitable to every kind of experience and
every condition of life。 He seems to say； 〃Would you know what I
undertake to do for you？ Do you want to hear my terms？ 〃〃Take up the
Bible and read。〃
But there is one grand difference between the promises of Adam's
children and the promises of God； which ought never to be forgotten。
The promises of man are not sure to be fulfilled。 With the best wishes
and intentions； he cannot always keep his word。 Disease and death may
step in like an armed man； and take away from this world him that
promises。 War； or pestilence； or famine； or failure of crops； or
hurricanes； may strip him of his property； and make it impossible for
him to fulfil his engagements。 The promises of God； on the contrary；
are certain to be kept。 He is Almighty： nothing can prevent His doing
what He has said。 He never changes： He is always 〃of one mind〃： and
with Him there is 〃no variableness or shadow of turning。〃 （Job xxiii。
13； James 1。 17。） He will always keep His word。 There is one thing
which； as a little girl once told her teacher； to her surprise； God
cannot do： 〃It is impossible for God to lie。〃 （Heb。 vi。 18。） The most
unlikely and improbable things； when God has once said He will do them；
have always e to pass。 The destruction of the old world by a flood；
and the preservation of Noah in the ark； the birth of Isaac； the
deliverance of Israel from Egypt； the raising of David to the throne of
Saul； the miraculous birth of Christ； the resurrection of Christ； the
scattering of the Jews all over the earth； and their continued
preservation as a distinct peoplewho could imagine events more
unlikely and improbable than these？ Yet God said they should be； and in
due time they all came to pass。 In truth； with God it is just as easy
to do a thing as to say it。 Whatever He promises； He is certain to
perform。
Concerning the variety and riches of Scripture promises； far more might
be said than it is possible to say in a short paper like this。 Their
name is legion。 The subject is almost inexhaustible。 There is hardly a
step in man's life； from childhood to old age； hardly any position in
which man can be placed； for which the Bible has not held out
encouragement to everyone who desires to do right in the sight of God。
There are 〃shalls〃 and 〃wills〃 in God's treasury for every condition。
About God's infinite mercy and passionabout His readiness to
receive all who repent and believeabout His willingness to forgive；
pardon； and absolve the chief of sinnersabout His power to change
hearts and alter our corrupt natureabout the encouragements to pray；
and hear the Gospel； and draw near to the throne of graceabout
strength for duty； fort in trouble； guidance in perplexity； help in
sickness； consolation in death； support under bereavement； happiness
beyond the grave； reward in gloryabout all these things there is an
abundant supply of promises in the Word。 No one can form an idea of its
abundance unless he carefully searches the Scriptures； keeping the
subject steadily in view。 If anyone doubts it； I can only say； 〃e
and see。〃 Like the Queen of Sheba at Solomon's Court； you will soon
say； 〃The half was not told me。〃 （1 Kings x。 7。）
The promise of our Lord Jesus Christ which heads this paper is somewhat
peculiar。 It is singularly rich in encouragement to all who feel
spiritual thirst； and e to Him for relief； and therefore it deserves
peculiar attention。 Most of our Lord's promises refer specially to the
benefit of the person to whom they are addressed。 The promise before us
takes a far wider range： it seems to refer to many others beside those
to whom He spoke。 For what says He？〃He that believeth on Me； as the
Scripture hath said〃 （and everywhere teaches）； 〃out of his belly shall
flow rivers of living water。 But this spake He of the Spirit； which
they that believe on Him should receive。〃 Figurative undoubtedly are
these wordsfigurative； like the earlier words of the
sentencefigurative； like 〃thirst〃 and 〃drinking。〃 But all the figures
of Scripture contain great truth； and what the figure before us was
meant to convey I will now try to show。
（1） For one thing； then； I believe our Lord meant that he who es to
Him by faith shall receive an abundant supply of everything that he can
desire for the relief of his own soul's wants。 The Spirit shall convey
to him such an abiding sense of pardon； peace and hope； that it shall
be in his inward man like a well…spring； never dry。 He shall feel so
satisfied with 〃the things of Christ；〃 which the Spirit shall show him
（John xvi。 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 were 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。 xiv。 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 graveall
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 th