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But if bodily thirst is so painful； how much more painful is thirst of
soul？ Physical suffering is not the worst part of eternal punishment。
It is a light thing； even in this world； pared to the suffering of
the mind and inward man。 To see the value of our souls； and find out
they are in danger of eternal ruinto feel the burden of unforgiven
sin； and not to know where to turn for reliefto have a conscience
sick and ill at ease； and to be ignorant of the remedyto discover
that we are dying； dying daily； and yet unprepared to meet Godto have
some clear view of our own guilt and wickedness； and yet to be in utter
darkness about absolutionthis is the highest degree of painthe pain
which drinks up soul and spirit； and pierces joints and marrow！ And
this no doubt is the thirst of which our Lord is speaking。 It is thirst
after pardon； forgiveness； absolution； and peace with God。 It is the
craving of a really awakened conscience； wanting satisfaction and not
knowing where to find it； walking through dry places and unable to get
rest。
This is the thirst which the Jews felt when Peter preached to them on
the day of Penetcost。 It is written that they were 〃pricked In their
heart； and said； Men and brethren； what shall we do？〃 （Acts ii。 37。）
This is the thirst which the Philippian jailor felt； when he awoke to
consciousness of his spiritual danger and felt the earthquake making
the prison reel under his feet。 It is written that he 〃came trembling；
and fell down before Paul and Silas； and brought them out； saying；
Sirs； what must I do to be saved？〃 （Acts xvi。 30。）
This is the thirst which many of the greatest servants of God seem to
have felt when light first broke in on their minds。 Augustine seeking
rest among the Manichean heretics and finding noneLuther groping
after truth among monks in Erfurt MonasteryJohn Bunyan agonizing
amidst doubts and conflicts in his Elstow cottageGeorge Whitefield
groaning under self…imposed austerities； for want of clear teaching；
when an undergraduate at Oxfordall have left on record their
experience。 I believe they all knew what our Lord meant when He spoke
of 〃thirst。〃
And surely it is not too much to say that all of us ought to know
something of this thirst； if not as much as Augustine； Luther； Bunyan；
or Whitefield。 Living as we do in a dying worldknowing as we do； if
we will confess it； that there is a world beyond the grave； and that
after death es the judgmentfeeling； as we must do in our better
moments； what poor； weak； unstable； defective creatures we all are； and
how unfit to meet Godconscious as we must be in our inmost heart of
hearts； that on our use of time depends our place in eternitywe ought
to feel and to realise something like 〃thirst〃 for a sense of peace
with the living God。 But alas； nothing proves so conclusively the
fallen nature of man as the general； mon want of spiritual appetite！
For money； for power； for pleasure； for rank； for honour； for
distinctionfor all these the vast majority are now intensely
thirsting。 To lead forlorn hopes； to dig for gold； to storm a breach；
to try to hew a way through thick…ribbed ice to the North Pole； for all
these objects there is no lack of adventurers and volunteers。 Fierce
and unceasing is the petition for these corruptible crowns！ But few
indeed； by parison； are those who thirst after eternal life。 No
wonder that the natural man is called in Scripture 〃dead；〃 and
〃sleeping；〃 and blind； and deaf。 No wonder that he is said to need a
second birth and a new creation。 There is no surer symptom or
mortification in the body than the loss of all feeling。 There is no
more painful sign of an unhealthy state of soul than an utter absence
or spiritual thirst。 Woe to that man of whom the Saviour can say； 〃Thou
knowest not that thou art wretched； and miserable； and poor； and blind；
and naked。〃 （Rev。 iii。 17。）
But who is there among the readers of this paper that feels the burden
of sin； and longs for peace with God？ Who is there that really feels
the words of our Prayer…book Confession： 〃I have erred and strayed like
a lost sheepthere is no health in meI am a miserable offender〃？ Who
is there that enters into the fullness of our munion Service； and
can say with truth； 〃The remembrance of my sins is grievous； and the
burden of them is intolerable〃？ You are the man that ought to thank
God。 A sense of sin； guilt； and poverty of soul； is the first stone
laid by the Holy Ghost when He builds a spiritual temple。 He convinces
of sin。 Light was the first thing called into being in the material
creation。 （Gen。 i。 3。） Light about our own state is the first work in
the new creation。 Thirsting soul； I say again； you are the person who
ought to thank God。 The kingdom of God is near you。 It is not when we
begin to feel good； but when we feel bad； that we take the first step
towards heaven。 Who taught thee that thou wast naked？ Whence came this
inward light？ Who opened thine eyes and made thee see and feel？ Know
this day that flesh and blood hath not revealed these things unto thee；
but our Father which is in heaven。 Universities may confer degrees； and
schools may impart knowledge of all mysteries； but they cannot make men
feel sin。 To realise our spiritual need； and feel true spiritual
thirst； is the A B C in saving Christianity。
It is a great saying of Elihu； in the book of Job〃God looketh upon
men； and if any say； I have sinned； and perverted that which was right；
and it profited me not； He will deliver his soul from death； and his
life shall see the light。〃 （Job xxxiii。 27； 28。） Let him that knows
anything of spiritual 〃thirst〃 not be ashamed。 Rather let him lift up
his head and begin to hope。 Let him pray that God would carry on the
work He has begun； and make him feel more。
II。 I pass from the case supposed to the remedy proposed。 〃If any man
thirst；〃 says our blessed Lord Jesus Christ； 〃let him e unto Me； and
drink。〃
There is a grand simplicity about this little sentence which cannot be
too much admired。 There is not a word in it of which the literal
meaning is not plain to a child。 Yet； simple as it appears； it is rich
in spiritual meaning。 Like the Koh…i…noor diamond； which you may carry
between finger and thumb； it is of unspeakable value。 It solves that
mighty problem which all the philosophers of Greece and Rome could
never solve〃How can man have peace with God？ 〃Place it in your memory
side by side with six other golden sayings of your Lord。 〃I am the
Bread of life： he that eth unto me shall never hunger； and he that
believeth on me shall never thirst。〃〃I am the Light of the world： he
that followeth me shall not walk in darkness； but shall have the light
of life。〃〃I am the Door： by me if any man enter in； he shall be
saved。〃〃I am the Way； the Truth； and the Life： no man eth unto the
Father but by me。〃〃e unto me； all ye that labour and are