where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and

whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of 9 the Spirit. Then Nicodemus said unto him, 10 How can these things be? Jesus replied and said unto him, Art thou a teacher in Israel, 11 and knowest not these things? Verily, verily

I say unto thee, we speak that we know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not 12 our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how will ye believe if I tell you 13 of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he who came down from heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven.* 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be 15 lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting 17 life. For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him, is not condemned:

*Whose home, whose permanent abode is in heaven.

† What need of other instruction than reason gives ? Because reason teaches nothing decisive respecting the divine forgiveness, or a future state of retribution. What is declared in this passage on the former subject, and in the fifth chap. 28, 29, of a future judgment, affords us information of the highest importance, as it respects both the morals and the hopes of mankind; and fully vindicates the divine character in sending an heavenly messenger, possessed of miraculous powers, to establish these interesting truths.

but he that believeth not, is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the 19 only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, 20 because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth* cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.†

22

23

After these things Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judea; and there he abode with them and baptized.

And John also was baptizing in Enon, near Salim; because there was much water there;t 24 and they came and were baptized. (For John was not yet cast into prison.)

25

Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.§ 26 And they came to John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, he baptizeth, 27 and all men come to him. John answered and

said, A man can receive nothing, except it be 28 given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear

me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, 29 but that I am sent before him. He that hath

He who practises according to moral truth and virtue. That is, agreeable to God, or according to the divine will.

That is, many springs or streams; and travellers say they are not deep.

That is, baptizing. The dispute probably was, as to the design and object of John's baptism.

the bride, is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly, because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy therefore is com30 plete. He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He that cometh from above, is above all he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above 32 all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he

testifieth; though no man receiveth his testi33 mony. He that hath received his testimony, 34 hath set to his seal that God is true. For he

whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure 35 unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and 36 hath given all things into his hands. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

:

CHAP. IV.

1 NOW when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard, that Jesus made and baptized 2 more disciples than John, (though it was not 3 Jesus, but his disciples who baptized,) he left 4 Judea, and departed again into Galilee. And

*May he not then be worshipped, as the Son of God? See chap. v. 23.

5 he chose to go through Samaria.* Then he cometh to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground which 6 Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. And Jesus being wearied with his journey, sat by the well. (And it was 7 about the sixth hour.)† A Samaritan woman coming to draw water, Jesus saith unto her, 8 Give me to drink. (For his disciples were 9 gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then said the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, who am a woman of Samaria? (For the Jews have 10 no dealings with the Samaritans.)‡ Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou didst know the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee 11 living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well

* Samaria is between Judea, properly so called, and Galilee. This lies in the northern part of Palestine, adjoining heathen countries and therefore is called "Galilee of the Gentiles."

↑ That is, the middle of the day. The Jews counted the hours from sun-rise.

The Jews affected to despise the Samaritans who were a mixed people, descended from those Israelites who returned from captivity, who had become connected with heathens, and imitated some of their idolatrous practices. They received only the book of Moses as inspired; and pretended also mount Gerizzim, and not Jerusalem, was the place to worship.

§ The waters of life, that is, spiritual and immortal blessings.

is deep from whence then hast thou that 12 living water? Art thou greater than our father

Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank thereof 13 himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drink14 eth of this water, shall thirst again but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing 15 up into everlasting life. The woman said unto him, Lord, give me this water, that I thirst 16 not, neither come hither to draw.f Then

Jesus said unto her, Go, call thy husband, and 17 come hither. The woman answered and said,

I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou 18 hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands, and he whom thou now hast, is not thy husband in that sayest thou 19 truly. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I per20 ceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers

worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to 21 worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, 22 worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not

* The woman did not perceive our Lord's meaning. ↑ Still the woman appears not to understand his true meaning.

And I will therefore propose a question for you to decide-our fathers, &c.

§ These places of worship will be destroyed-and the worship of the sincerely pious and devout in all places will be acceptable.