OceanSide church of Christ

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THERE’S A FOUNTAIN FREE

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     There are at least two hymns we sing that have to do with fountains.

1.       There Is A Fountain Filled with Blood

2.       There’s A Fountain Free

 

B.      In this lesson, we want to look at the hymn, “There’s A Fountain Free.”

1.       The song was written by Mary Bridges Canady Slade.

 

M. B. C. Slade

 

a.       She was born in 1826.

b.      She was born in Fall River, MA.

c.       She was well educated.

d.      She was a minister’s wife.

e.       She was a teacher and poet.

f.        She was the assistant editor of the New England Journal of Education.

g.      She died in 1882.

2.       Mary Slade wrote others hymns with which we are familiar.

1.       Footprints of Jesus

2.       Who at the Door Is Standing?

3.       Mrs. Slade wrote the hymn, “There’s A Fountain Free,” in 1876. 

a.       The music was provided by Asa B. Everett.

b.      The song consists of four stanzas and a chorus.

 

I.                    THERE’S A FOUNTAIN (#1)

 

A.     The word “fountain” is only found in the song three times (#1, chorus 2x)

1.       It is called a “fount” one time (#1)

2.       It is also called:

a.       A living stream (#2)

b.      A living well (#3)

c.       A rock that’s cleft (#4)

 

B.      The fountain about which she writes is a fountain of water. 

1.       While the waters flow (#2)

2.       There’s a living well and its waters swell (#3)

3.       That may not its pure water share (#4)

 

C.     Water is an essential for a human being.

1.       It provides life.

2.       It is a source of refreshment.

3.       It enables us to be clean.

4.       It helps in the healing process of the body.

 

D.     The fountain of water about which Mrs. Slade writes is not a literal fountain of water. 

1.       She is writing about a spiritual fountain.

2.       It is the same water about which Jesus spoke to the woman at the well in John 4.

a.       Verse 10

 

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest 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 living water.

 

b.      Verse 14

 

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 up into everlasting life.

 

II.                 ‘TIS A FOUNT OF LOVE FROM THE SOURCE ABOVE (#1)

 

A.     The source of this fountain is not on earth.  The source is from above (#1) 

1.       It is God who provides spiritual nourishment for the inner man.

2.       Psalm 23:1-2

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 

B.      This fountain flows from the love of God for mankind (#1)

1.       Ephesians 2:4-5

 

But God, who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).

 

2.       Titus 3:4-5

 

But after that the kindness of love of God our Saviour toward men appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

 

III.              AND ETERNAL LIFE THEY CAN GIVE (#3)

 

A.     Life on earth will come to an end for all human beings.

1.       To think about it can be depressing.

2.       To think about it can involve little hope.

 

B.      The fountain whose source is from above flows “from the throne of life (#2), and its waters give eternal life (#3).

1.       Eternal life is life that has no end.

2.       Eternal life is forever and ever and ever.

C.     Verses:

1.       John 10:28

 

And I give unto them eternal life…

 

2.       Romans 6:23

 

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

3.       1 John 2:25

 

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

 

4.       I John 5:11

 

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

 

IV.              ‘TIS FOR YOU AND ME (#1)

 

A.     This fountain is not limited to a certain group of people.

 

B.      Stanza #4:  “There’s a rock that’s cleft and no soul is left, that may not its pure waters share.”

 

C.     Regardless of the person to which we are speaking, the fountain is for you and me.

1.       Color

2.       Education

3.       Socio-economic status

4.       Male or female

5.       Young or old

6.       The last words of the chorus state:  ‘Tis a fountain open for all.”

 

D.     Numerous passages affirm that salvation is for all.

1.       “All ye that labor and are heavy laden” (Matt. 11:28)

2.       “Teach all nations” (Matt. 28:19)

3.       “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15)

4.       “Unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8)

5.       “But in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him” (Acts 10:35).

6.       Colossians 3:11

 

Where there is neither Greek nor Jews, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free:  but Christ is all, and in all.

 

7.       “But also for the sins of the world” (I John 2:2)

 

V.                 THERE’S A FOUTAIN FREE (#1)

 

A.     The first stanza ends with these words:  “And He bids us all freely drink.”

 

B.      There is no financial outlay that one must give in order to obtain the eternal life attached to this fountain.  It is absolutely free.

C.     Who doesn’t like free?

 

VI.              THIRSTY SOUL HEAR THE WELCOME CALL (Chorus)

 

A.     There is a call that comes from deity welcoming all men to come and partake of the water of life.

 

B.      We do not have to wonder whether we are wanted.  God says:  “Come.”

1.       Matthew 11:28

 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 

2.       John 7:37

 

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

 

3.       Revelation 22:17

 

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that heareth say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.

 

VII.           LET US HASTEN JOYFULLY THERE (#4)

 

A.     Hasten:  to move or act with haste, with urgency, to hurry

 

B.      All men should run as quickly as possible to the “living stream with a crystal gleam” (#2).

 

C.     Why?

1.       The blessings are phenomenal.

2.       The offer will not last forever.

3.       Those who miss the offer will receive eternal condemnation (Matt. 25:46).

 

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment:  but the righteous into life eternal.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     The old hymn writers of the past amaze us with the sublimity of thought that can be put into so few words.

 

B.      Listen to the first verse of “There’s A Fountain Free:”

 

There’s a fountain free, ‘Tis for you and me:

Let us haste, O, haste to its brink;

‘Tis the fount of love from the Source above,

And he bids us all freely drink.

 

C.     There is only one other aspect of the hymn to consider.  It is a question that is found in chorus.  It asks:  “Will you come to the fountain free?”

1.       The Lord does not force us to partake.

2.       He makes a warm and inviting invitation to all. 

3.       Then, He allows each one of us to make a choice.

 

D.     Why would I turn down a free offer to have eternal life?  Please, come and drink of the fountain of life!