IN Eastern countries water has often to be purchased, for it is only in a few cities that a water supply is laid on to le, the houses. Thus water-carriers are needed, and in one place these with skin botties of water pass through the streets crying, “He ya, ‘atchan, tahaloo yishraboo.” “Ho, ye thirsty ones, come and drink.” This is just such a cry as the prophet Isaiah utters in the fifty-fifth chapter of his prophecy: “Ho, EVERY ONE THIAT THIRSTETH, COME YE TO THE WATERS.”
The water-carrier sells the water he carries, and in this we find a great difference from what Isaiah cries, for he says: “AND HE THAT HATH NO MONEY; COME YE, BUY....WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT PRICE.”
But sometimes a kindly passer-by wishing to do a helpful deed will pay for all the water which the carrier has, and then it is freely given to all who come for it. Then the carrier will alter his cry, and shout out, “Ho, ye thirsty ones, come and drink today, for nothing, for nothing!”
This is the true gospel cry. Christ has paid. Now the water of life is free.
ML-02/15/1920