889. 'To the thirsting one I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely' signifies that to those who desire truths on account of any spiritual use the Lord out of Himself by means of the Word is going to give all the things that conduce to that use. By 'a thirsting one' is signified one who desires truth on account of a spiritual use, concerning which [something] follows. By 'the fountain of the water of life' is signified the Lord and the Word (n. 384); by 'to give freely' is signified out of the Lord and not out of any self-intelligence of a man. The reason why by 'to thirst' is signified to desire on account of some spiritual use is because there is given a thirst or desire for cognitions of truth out of the Word on account of a natural use, and also on account of a spiritual use. It is on account of a natural use with those who have learning as an end, and by means of learning fame, honour and gain, thus self and the world; but it is on account of a spiritual use with those who have as an end to serve the neighbour out of a love of him, to have a regard for the souls of those [who are the neighbour], also for their own, thus for the sake of the Lord, the neighbour and salvation. To the latter, out of 'the fountain of the water of life', that is, out of the Lord by means of the Word, there is given truth so far as it conduces to that use. To the rest truth is not given thence. They read the Word, and every doctrinal truth there they either do not see or, if they do see it, they turn it into untruth, not doing this in speech when it is uttered out of the Word, but in the idea of the thought concerning it. That 'to hunger' signifies to desire good, and 'to thirst' to desire truth, may be seen (n. 323, 381).