lainable these operations may
be, but the effects are discernible in ourselves and others.

Analysing the purpose of God in the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, _we
see its application to ourselves in several ways_.

There is the rectification of our own hearts, the revealing of Divine
things within us, the transforming of our characters. All these are
indications of the Holy Ghost's work in ourselves; and then comes the
power to help and bless and save others, God making us channels of
blessing, and instruments by which His Kingdom can be extended.

In this connexion there are two sayings of Jesus, which, although the
figure is changed, come up together in my mind. The first is in the
story of the woman at the well in Samaria. The Saviour said to her what
is very applicable to you, '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 up into everlasting life'.
Later, on the last day of the feast, Jesus said, 'He that believeth on
Me, out of him shall flow rivers of living water'. Do you see what
those two sayings of Jesus set before us? The one shows how the Baptism
of the Spirit provides the inward spring, the inward supply, bubbling
up within, fresh, clean, sweet, and vitalizing like a 'fountain ever
springing'; the other indicates the outflow, from us to others, of this
spiritual force and blessing.

Now, you want both the inward spring and the outward flow. Some of you
are very desirous about the second provision: 'Out of you shall flow
rivers of living water'. It is good that you have such desires; but
before you can become a channel through which the vital force can flow
for the Salvation of others, you must yourselves be the subject of the
Spirit's operations within you. Not only as the great Revealer must the
Holy Ghost make Divine things real to you, but as a purifying flame He
must change your nature, purging away the natural corruption and
sinfulness of your heart.

An Eastern legend says that an angel once rested by a fair fountain. In
a favoured hour he infused it with a mysterious power, so that if only
some drops of its water were scattered in a barren plain, a fountain of
sweet water would spring up. Any traveller who henceforth came to the
spring might, after refreshing himself, take some portion from it, and
carry with him the secret of unfailing springs, and suffer no fear of
thirst either for himsel