A Trial of Faith, Sermons · Sermon 2
Matth. 15. 22.
And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the ſame coaſts, and cryed unto him, ſaying, have mercy on me, O Lord, thou ſon of David, my daughter is grievouſly vexed with a Devil.
SERMON II.
BEhold, a woman came out of the ſame coaſts. The Evangeliſt Mark does take notice, that when Chriſt came into theſe coaſts of Tyre and Sidon he entred into a private houſe, and would have hid himſelf there, Mark 7. 24, 25. And from thence he aroſe and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entred into an houſe, and would have no man know it; but he could not be hid: For this woman of Canaan comes and finds him out, and falls down and worſhips him.
So then we may obſerve this briefly:
That where there is a ſeed of faith in any ſoul,Obſervation. where the work of faith is begun, it will find out Chriſt whereever he is.
This woman had a ſeed of faith, ſhe heares of Chriſt, and though Chriſt goes about to hide himſelf, he could not be hid. Whereever faith is begun in any ſoul, it will find out Chriſt, never reſt till it find out Chriſt, it will come to him whereever he is: Chriſt cannot alwayes be hid to the eye of faith; Where the body is, there will the Eagles be gathered together, ſaith Chriſt: The Eagles will find out the dead body, though it be never ſo remote, though it lay in a ſecret cave of the earth, and ſo where there is faith, the ſoul will find out Chriſt, Chriſt cannot alwayes lie hid from the ſoul.
For the eye of faith it hath ſome reſemblance like the eye of God: There is nothing can be hid from the eye of God, Pſal. 139. 7, 8, 9. Neither ſhall I go from thy preſence; if I go to heaven thou art there, and if I make my bed in hell thou art there, if I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermoſt parts of the ſea, thou art there. And ſo the eye of faith hath reſemblance to the eye of God, though indeed the eye of faith cannot alwayes ſee God, yet where there is faith the ſoul will be purſuing after God and Chriſt: My ſoul followeth hard after God, ſayes David, Pſal. 63. 8. David had faith, and his ſoul preſſed after God, made hard after God: Faith will follow Chriſt whereever he is, if in heaven, faith will follow him there, if he go down to hell, even in dark diſpenſations, faith will follow him there, if he flie to the uttermoſt parts of the earth, and ſeem to be at a great diſtance, faith will follow him there: Chriſt cannot be hid alwayes from the eye of Faith, it will follow him when he hides himſelf, as the Spouſe in the Canticles, when Chriſt hid himſelf from her, yet ſhe follows him, and ſeeks him at home and abroad, and leaves no place unſought, and ſhe never gives over till ſhe finds him, ſeeks till ſhe finds, and at laſt ſhe found him whom her ſoul loveth.
Nay, I may ſay, faith will ſee ſomething of Chriſt whereever he is, not only follow after him, but ſee ſome glimpſe of him whereever he is, though he go down into hell, the ſoul will ſee ſomething of Chriſt in ſuch a dark diſpenſation; in the hardeſt ſaying of Chriſt faith will find ſomething of Chriſt, as the Lord calls this woman a dog, and yet ſhe finds out ſomething of Chriſt.
And therefore to apply this,Application briefly.
Firſt, Brethren: O that we might take this woman for our pattern, to follow after Chriſt, and find him out, when he hides himſelf: You that walk in darkneſs and ſee no light, oh that you would look upon this woman, and make her your pattern: Chriſt hid himſelf from her; ah, but ſhe finds him out, and Chriſt could not be hid: One would have thought it had been a bold part of this woman, when Chriſt retired himſelf into a private houſe, that ſhe ſhould find him out and preſs in upon him; ah, but the Lord did not reprove her for her boldneſs, it pleaſed Chriſt well enough. And oh that we might ſeek after Chriſt, and preſſe in upon Chriſt, even then when Jeſus Chriſt ſeems to hide himſelf that he might not be found!
And for your incouragement,Incouragement to ſeek Chriſt. does Chriſt ſeem to be hid from you as from this woman of C… naan? never leave till you find him, go where he is, wait upon him in an Ordinance, look to him in a promiſe, and preſs in upon him; and let me ſay for your incouragement, Jeſus Chriſt doth not hide himſelf from you that you might never find him; no, the end of Chriſts hiding himſelf is, that you might ſeek him, that you may ſeek him earneſtly, diligently, as the Wiſe men did: Chriſt did not hide himſelf from this woman, with an intent ſhe ſhould not find him; no, if Chriſt had intended that, Chriſt would never have come into thoſe coaſts, and therefore his intent was not that ſhe might not have found him, he might have gone into the wilderneſs, and gone where ſhe might never have heard of him; no, that ſhe might ſeek him, and exerciſe faith, and preſſe in upon him. And oh that this might give incouragement to you poor ſouls, who are looking after Chriſt, who hath hid himſelf from you: O conſider, that if Jeſus Chriſt had intended ſo to hide himſelf as you ſhould never find him, Chriſt would never have come upon your coaſts, Chriſt would have gone ſome where elſe, he would never have come ſo nigh to you as he hath done, he would never have come ſo nigh to your ſouls, and never have drawn nigh to you in ſuch a word of grace and promiſe; no, he hides himſelf that you might ſeek him, and not with an intent you might not find him.
Secondly, conſider what an ingagement this doth lay upon all our ſouls, this example of the woman of Canaan in finding out Chriſt, and preſſing in upon Chriſt, when ſhe had no invitation: Oh what an ingagement is this for our ſouls to believe in Chriſt? What an ingagement to come to Chriſt, to come in faith? ſeeing Jeſus Chriſt doth not hide himſelf in a private houſe as he did then, no, Chriſt he draws nigh to us, and ſtands, as it were, upon the houſe top. Wiſdome ſtands in the open ſtreet, and there ſhe cries and makes proclamation, O ye fools, how long will you love folly? ye ſimple ones, how long will you love ſimplicity? So then if ſhe came to Chriſt when Chriſt hid himſelf, what an ingagement have we to come to Chriſt when Chriſt ſtands upon the houſe top? If ſhe preſs'd in to Chriſt when ſhe had no invitation, O what an ingagement lies upon us in the day of grace to come to Chriſt? We have many a word of incouragement; He ſayes, Look to me and be you ſaved: And he ſayes, Behold me, to a nation that was not called by his name. O the gracious invitations that we hear from Chriſt from day to day! Chriſt ſets the door of Grace wide open; let him come, and whoever will let him come; and he doth ingage, that whoſoever comes ſhall not be ſhut out, ſhall not find the door of Grace ſhut againſt him; whoever comes to Chriſt by faith ſhall find that all their ſins and iniquities ſhall not ſhut the door againſt them: And therefore, to conclude this, if this woman came when ſhe had no invitation to come, O what an ingagement is it for us to come to Chriſt, now Chriſt ſtands ſo as he may be ſeen afar off? O that God would perſwade the heart of ſome poor ſinner to come to Chriſt by faith! But to paſſe by this.
We ſhall now conſider who this woman was,Who this woman was that come to Chriſt. A woman of Canaan came.
Firſt, Deſcribed firſt, by a woman; a woman is the weaker veſſel, more weak ordinarily then men; ſtronger paſſions, greater fears, ſubject to doubts; and yet here is a woman▪ Behold, a woman came.
Secondly, She is deſcribed to be a Canaanite, a woman of Canaan, ſhe was of the ſtock of the Canaanites, a curſed Nation, caſt out of the Land for their abominations, and their Land given to Iſrael for a poſſeſſion; and yet this woman, though a Canaanite, comes to Chriſt.
Thirdly, She being a Canaanite, it follows, that before the Lord revealed himſelf to her, ſhe was a very ſinful woman; ſo the reſt of the Canaanites were, not only vile in reſpect of kindred, but vile in reſpect of actual tranſgreſſion; and yet behold, this woman of Canaan here coming to Chriſt.
So then the Doctrine is this: That the Lord many times is pleaſed to make choice of the moſt weak,Doctrine. and the moſt unworthy, and the moſt ſinfull, and cauſeth them to come to Jeſus Chriſt. She was a woman, there is her weakneſſe; a Canaanite, there is her unworthineſs; ſinful in reſpect of actual tranſgreſſion, even as the reſt of the Canaanites.
We ſhall clear this Point to you from the Word of God, and give you Inſtances that the Lord makes choiſe many times of the weakeſt and unworthieſt, and win upon their hearts, and cauſe them to believe in Chriſt,
Firſt of all for Gods chuſing thoſe that are weak, and bringing home ſuch to Chriſt, it will appear that God many times chuſeth the weakeſt.
Weak in reſpect of
Eſtate.
Parts.
Age.
Sex.
To clear theſe,Weak in eſtate many times choſen. firſt, Such as are weak in eſtate, poor, ſuch as are mean in eſtate, for the moſt part the Lord makes choice of ſuch: Go and tell John (ſaith Chriſt, Matth. 11.) that which you have heard and ſeen, unto the poor is the Goſpel preached, and the poor receive the Goſpel: And in James 2. Hearken my beloved brethren, hath not God choſen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heires of the Kingdom? Some rich, ſome of great eſtates are choſen; but for the moſt part the vein of Gods election runs thorough the loins of thoſe that are poor.
Secondly, Weak in parts many times choſen.Weak in parts: If you conſider ſuch as are weak in parts and gifts, that have no great natural parts and gifts, God many times, nay, for the moſt part makes choice of ſuch, 1 Cor. 1. 26, 27. For you ſee your calling brethren, how that not many wiſe men after the fleſh, not many mighty, not many noble are called; but God hath choſen the fooliſh things of the world to confound the wiſe, and God hath choſen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty.
Thirdly,Weak in age many times choſen. If we conſider thoſe that are weak in reſpect of age; young men, the Lord many times makes choice of young men, bringing them in, and revealing more of himſelf to them then he doth to old men; youth is weak, young men are weak, though not in natural ſtrength, yet in morral ſtrength; for youth is accompanied with ſtrong paſſions and luſts that weaken the mind and underſtanding; young men for the moſt part are moſt raſh and inconſiderate. Arguments of weakneſſe: Young Rehoboam, his young Counſel, what raſh judgement did they give to their King, that coſt him his life? And young men are moſt apt to be lifted up with pride, and therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, A Biſhop muſt not be a novice: and yet many times, notwithſtanding young men are accompanied with ſo many weakneſſes, yet the Lord is pleaſed to make choice of them: There are many Inſtances of it, that the Lord hath made choice of young men, and brought in young men▪ He made choice of Samuel when he was very young, he miniſtred before the Lord; God ſpake to him, and gave out viſions to him concerning Elie's houſe; when he was a child: And ſo if you look upon all the Kings of Judah, you ſhall find none more zealous for God then Joſiah was; Joſiah was brought home to God when he was a young man, 2 Chron. 34. In the eight year of his reign he made a great reformation; and then he was but ſixteen years old, and yet he expreſt more zeal for God then all the Kings.
And ſo among Job's friends God ſpeaks beſt of Elihu the young man; and of all the Evangeliſ…s none like to Timothy, he was trained up, and had known the Scriptures from a child; Nay you ſhall find, that the very children did follow Chriſt when Chriſt came into the Temple, Matth. 21. 15. and cryed Hoſanna to the Son of David: the Scribes …d Phariſees they were offended when they heard …e children cry Hoſanna to the ſon of David; he …d perfect his praiſe out of the mouths of babes …d ſucklings, the children cryed Hoſanna to the …on of God; ſo that weak in reſpect of age the …o…d many times makes choice of.
Fourthly,Weak in reſpect of ſex many times choſen. Weak in reſpect of ſex, and that is a …oman, ſhe is called the weaker veſſel, and yet he many times reveals himſelf to women, and unto women ſooner then men. This woman of Canaan …sthe firſt that comes to Chriſt in all theſe coaſts; we read of no man that came to Chriſt: and ſo …he woman of Samaria, John 4. ſhe was the firſt of all that City that was converted to Chriſt; Chriſt firſt ſpeaks to her, and draws her heart to …elieve on him, and then ſhe runs to the City and calls all her friends. And ſo in Luke 8. 2. you …ead of divers women that followed Chriſt, there were divers weak women followed after Chriſt, …nd did miniſter to him. And ſo in the Acts of the Apoſtles, when the Apoſtles came to ſome Ci…ies, the women came firſt, and were more forward …hen men to hear the Goſpel, Acts 16. 13, 14. And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city by a rivers ſide, where prayer was wont to be made, and we ſat down and ſpake unto the women which reſorted thither? And a certain woman named Lydia, a ſeller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worſhipped God, heard us; whoſe heart the Lord opened, &c. The women were the firſt that came to hear; and here is mention made of Lydia, whoſe heart the Lord opened, and ſhe received the Word of God, and received Chriſt. And thus you ſee this particular alſo cleared, that the Lord ma… times makes choice of the weakeſt, and mak… them to come to Chriſt.
But ſecondly, to ſpeak to the ſecond part … the doctrine, that the Lord doth not only ma… choice of the weakeſt, but of the moſt unworthie… and I ſhall ſpeak only of unworthineſs, in reſpe… of parentage or kindred; this woman ſhe ca… of the ſtock of the Canaanites, which were a wic…ed and curſed generation; you read divers time… in Scripture what they were, and what great ſin…ners, how they were a people that were given ove… to all whoredome, and witchcraft, and cruelty, … ſuch as did offer their ſons and daughters to D…vils, thoſe were the abominations of the Cana…nites; yet, behold, here is one of the ſtock … the Canaanites that lay under a curſe, curſed … Cain, they were ſtrangers to God and the Cove…nant, and counted dogs by the Iſraelites, yet th… woman is pluckt out, and the Lord works faith … her heart.
But to give you ſome Inſtances in Scripture. Th… Lord pulls out Abraham from an idolatrous pe…ple, idolatrous kindred, and makes him to be excel…lent in faith, and the Father of the faithful. An… ſo you read of Rahab, that was of the Nation th… God deſtroyed, and by faith ſhe was ſaved and … houſhold. And ſo you read of Ruth, that was … the ſtock of Moab, yet the Lord makes choice … her, and brings her to be a Proſelyte in Iſrael, an… though ſhe was one that came of Moab, yet ſhe was made a Mother in Iſrael. So you ſee the ſecond Particular.
Thirdly, to ſpeak to the third branch of the Doctrine; That the Lord makes choice of th…ſe that were moſt ſinful. This woman was not only a Canaanite, but was as ſinful as the Canaanites, before the Lord brought her in to himſelf: The Lord makes choice of thoſe that are moſt ſinful. Manaſſeh, of all the Kings none like Manaſſeh, none like him for vileneſs and wickedneſs, he did worſe then the Canaanites that were caſt out of the Land before the children of Iſrael, yet the Lord makes choice of him, & Manaſſeh's heart at laſt was turned to the Lord. And ſo among all the perſecuters of Chriſt and his Church, except thoſe that ſinned againſt the holy Ghoſt, none a greater perſecuter then Paul, he did it with a great deal of violence▪ and he ſayes, he made the poor Chriſtians to blaſpheme the name of Chriſt; ſo violent was I, and ſo mad was I, that I perſecuted them to ſtrange cities, and haled them to priſon; and when they were judged to death I gave my conſent, and my voice was among thoſe that gave ſentence of judgement for their death: And yet the Lord had mercy upon Paul, and he was brought at laſt to believe in Chriſt, and of a perſecuter he was made a Preacher of the Goſpel, and of the faith that once he deſtroyed. And ſo divers Inſtances I might give you of thoſe that were moſt ſinful, which the Lord brought home to Chriſt.
Yea ſuch as lived in Chriſts time, of all the people the Publicans and Harlots were the worſt. None like to Zacheus a great oppreſſor, one that had done much wrong, and one that did bea… himſelf up upon his riches; he was a rich Robber, …ah but the Lord makes choice of Zacheus, Chriſt calls him, and he comes down, and then he turnes his hand againſt his ſin that was ſo dear to him, and makes reſtitution of the wrong he had done. And ſo among all the Harlots none worſe then Mary Magdalen, who had ſeven Devils caſt out of her, and yet the Lord makes choice of Mary Magdalen, ſhe was brought in to Chriſt, and made moſt excellent among women. Thus you ſee the Lord many times doth make choice both of the weakeſt and of the unworthieſt in reſpect of kindred and ſtock, and of the moſt ſinfulleſt.
To ſhut up all briefly with a little Application.Application
Firſt of all, here is an invitation that this Doctrine doth give to divers ſorts to come to Chriſt▪ this Doctrine invites the weakeſt, and the unworthieſt, and the ſinfulleſt, to come to Chriſt.
Let me ſpeak to the weakeſt: O you that are weak in eſtates, weak in parts, that you would perſwade your hearts to come to Chriſt, know th… this weakneſs ſhall be no block in your way, Chriſt will as ſoon receive you as the ſtrong. And le… me ſpeak to thoſe that are weak in reſpect of age▪ O that you would perſwade your hearts to lo… after Chriſt, to ſeek after Chriſt betimes, to ſee after faith in the name of the Son of God. Lo… upon the example of young men, ſpoken of … your imitation, Samuel the Prophet, and Joſiah the King, Timothy the Evangeliſt. Oh that childre… young men, would look to thoſe patterns and examples for their imitation, think upon the children that ſung Hoſanna; O that children and you… men would read that place, the very children ſu… Hoſanna to the ſon of David. Oh what ſwe… muſick was it? What heavenly muſick to he… young men and children to be praiſing the name of Chriſt? Children in tender years they ſung Hoſanna: and oh that this might be a pattern for children! Children fear the Lord, look after him in tender years, that while other children are blaſpheming and curſing, you may be ſinging of praiſe to the Lord: O what heavenly muſick is it? The Lord Chriſt will take it well at your hand, if you that are young will begin in tender years to look after Chriſt, and lift up the name of Chriſt. Chriſt took the part of thoſe children; the Phariſees were offended that the Children ſhould cry Hoſanna, but Chriſt he took it well, and he pleaded for them; this is that which is written, ſaith Chriſt, Out of the mouth of babes and ſucklings wilt thou ordain praiſe: Chriſt will take it well at your hands if you that are children will be ſinging Hoſanna to the Son of David; Chriſt will take it well at your hands, if you will be praiſing and praying to the Lord, though accompanied with a great deal of weakneſs, as it is like they ſung Hoſanna with a great deal of weakneſs, yet Chriſt takes it well at their hand, and ſaith, this is that which is written, Out of the mouth of babes and ſuoklings thou wilt ordain praiſe.
And let me ſpeak to women, the weaker ſex; the Lord, as you have heard, doth make choice of the weakeſt, and you have had the example of women ſet before you that the Lord hath done good to.
O remember the women that miniſtred to Chriſt; remember the women that followed the Apoſtles to the rivers ſide; remember Lydia, whoſe heart the Lord opened, and the woman of Samaria, and this woman of Canaan; and oh that this might be an incouragement to women! be not diſcouraged becauſe of your weakneſs, and do not ſay, I know not how to come to Chriſt: Why the Lord makes choice of the weakeſt, and they are brought home ſooner then the ſtrong: And O that it might be an incouragement for you to come to Chriſt! And let me ſay to all women that hear me this day, The woman was firſt in the tranſgreſſion; O that that might provoke women to look after Chriſt; the woman was the firſt that ſinned, and the woman was the firſt that was deceived; and therefore oh that women would be the firſt in coming to Chriſt!
And let me tell you, that if there be any women that hear me this day, and hear the Word of the Lord, and ſhall deſpiſe it, and will not come to Chriſt, but ſtay at home and dwell in themſelves, in their luſts, take heed that the Lord doe not leave you for the refuſal of the tender of Chriſt to be worſe then the vileſt of men. Wicked women the Lord hath left them many times to be worſe then the worſt of men. You know what Jezabel was, a mother of witchcraft and whoredome; Ahab was bad enough, but ſhe was … times worſe, drew him on to ſhed all the bloud of the innocent: And you know that Herodias heard John as well as Herod, but ſhe received not the Word, and Herodias was worſe then Herod; wh… would have thought that there had been ſo much cruelty in her heart towards John a good man And therefore women take heed how you de…ſpiſe the word of Grace, leaſt the Lord lea… you to greater abominations, and you become… worſe then the vileſt of men.
And let me ſpeak alſo unto thoſe that are unworthy in reſpect of parentage. If there be any here that with a ſad heart look upon their kindred and fathers houſe, as being ſuch as know not God, but are contrary to God; O let not that be any block in your way, you may be accepted of Chriſt, though you come of the vileſt kindred, your kindred cannot be worſe then the kindred of the woman of Canaan was, they were caſt out of the Land, a curſed Generation; and therefore all the ſins of your parents ſhall not be any block in your way, the child ſhall not bear the ſin of the parents, if the child be coming to Chriſt, and taking hold of his Covenant, all the ſins of your parents ſhall not be any block in your way, but you ſhall be welcome to Chriſt.
And ſo for thoſe that are ſenſible of perſonal tranſgreſſion; O let not that be any block in your way to hinder you from coming to Chriſt! though you have ſinned greatly with a high hand, yet do not go on to eſtrange your ſelves from the Lord, by keeping at a diſtance from Chriſt, and by adding unbelief to all your ſin, which will ſet home all your ſin, and bind them all upon your back: O that thoſe that have committed great offences might ſee what a door the Goſpel to Chriſt opens to them to come in to Chriſt!
And let me ſay for your incouragement, that the Grace of the Lord ſhall appear the more towards you: the more ſinful you are, the more rich, and glorious, and excellent ſhall the Grace of the Lord appear to you; and know that Grace is never more glorious, then when it triumphs over great iniquities, when Grace doth triumph over great tranſgreſſions: O then the Grace of God is glorious; grace towards you ſhal be exceeding glorious.
And it ſhall be for the Lords honour to receive you, to paſſe by and to forgive ſeventy times ſeven. It is the honour of a man, a mans glory; why it is the glory of the great God to forgive many and great tranſgreſſions, and there ſhall be the more joy in heaven for your return; the greater ſinners you have been, the more glad ſhall the heart of Chriſt be: When the Prodigall ſon came home, what joy was there at his return?
And let me ſay to you, that all your tranſgreſſions ſhall not be mentioned, though he or ſhe hath been never ſo vile, yet if the Lord doth give any ſinner a heart to come to Chriſt, the Word of the Lord ſhall be made good; That all their ſins ſhall not be mentioned, Ezek. 18. 21, 22. If the wicked forſake his way all his tranſgreſſions ſhall not be mentioned: Oh that this might incourage unworthy ones to look to Chriſt!
And truly if unworthy ones ſhall not be perſwaded by this to come to Chriſt, know that this example of the woman of Canaan will riſe up in judgement againſt you; ſhe was as unworthy and ſinful as you; and oh what a cutting thing will it be when ſinners ſhall ſee Manaſſeh, and Paul, and Mary Magdalen, and the woman of Samaria, and this woman of Canaan, to ſit down with Chriſt, and they themſelves ſhut out? O that God would help you to imbrace the Goſpel! and know, that all unworthineſs and ſinfulneſs ſhall be no block in your way, if the Lord now perſwade your heart to make a cloſe with Chriſt.
And to draw to a concluſion, let us labour to help forward Gods deſign: Doth God make choice of ſuch? O then we ſhould help forward Gods work, eſpecially where any ſtand related to us; weakneſs ſhall not hinder, they may come to Chriſt; and therefore be in the uſe of the means, pray for them, and ſpeak to them, and improve every talent that God hath given you, even for the weakeſt and unworthieſt.
And again, take heed that we do not murmur againſt any of the diſpenſations of the Lord; take heed we do not envy this diſpenſation, and that our hearts do not riſe up againſt it; that we do not murmur when we ſee ſuch and ſuch profeſs the name of Chriſt, and they are very forward, and ſuch as were young children, and ſuch poor weak women; Now what a high profeſſion do they make? The Phariſees they were offended when as the rude people (as they called them that knew not the Law) they followed after Chriſt. Oh this made the Goſpel and Chriſt a ſtumbling block to them! And ſo when as the children did confeſs Chriſt, and ſung Hoſanna to the ſon of David, the Phariſees were offended, it troubled them at the heart that the children ſhould cry out ſo, it was a trouble to them. Take heed that we be not offended when the Lord makes choice of young ones, and they are too forward as ſome think; why this is no more then what the Lord hath promiſed, to pour out his Spirit upon young men, take heed we be not offended at it; we ſhould rather rejoyce in it, when you ſee young ones, weak ones, and ſinfull ones come in to Chriſt, and are high in profeſſion, oh you ſhould rejoyce in it.
And let your ſouls wonder at this diſpenſation, do not envy it, but do you wonder at it. The Evangeliſt Matthew he placeth a note of wonder, behold, a woman of Canaan, it was a wonder, and we ſhould ſtand and wonder at Gods ſecret diſpenſation: O here is the myſterie of the Goſpel, that weak ones and ſinful ones are brought in to Chriſt.
And rejoyce in it as Chriſt did, and bleſs the Lord for it, though they have more then we have, yet do not envy it, but know that this pleaſeth the Lord, and the Lord will ſo have it; I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for ſo it ſeemeth good in thy ſight. Chriſts ſoul was taken with it. O here is a wonder indeed, for which God is to be bleſſed and praiſed: And ſo if God be your Father, when you ſee this, do not envy it, but rejoyce in it as Chriſt did; though I have little, I thank thee that thou art pleaſed to give out ſo much of thy ſelf to ſuch and ſuch, that weak ones and unworthy ones are brought in to Chriſt.
And laſt of all: You that are weak in reſpect of parts and gifts; and poor, and unworthy, and weak, in reſpect of ſex, or of vile parentage, and yet the Lord hath pluckt you out; and vile and great ſinners, and yet the Lord hath brought you home to himſelf; O bleſs the Lord for this his diſpenſation toward you. If the Evangeliſt look upon the woman and ſay, Behold, the woman of Canaan, O look upon your ſelves with admiration, Behold the Grace of God which is revealed to you though poor wretches. O know that you are ingaged to the Lord for this mercy, that God ſhould chuſe you, the weakeſt, the unworthieſt, and the ſinfulleſt.
And do you labour to walk worthy of this mercy. Oh if the Lord hath choſen you that vvere the ſinfulleſt, O labour to bring much honour unto God, as you have brought much diſhonour, and to hold forth the contrary graces to thoſe great tranſgreſſions.
And if the Lord hath brought you in that are vveak ones, women; is there ever a vveak vvoman that the Lord hath made choice of? O admire vvith fear this diſpenſation of God, and bleſs him for his Grace to you, and labour to adorn the Doctrine of God and your Saviour vvith a gracious converſation, and ſtudy the Graces the Apoſtle Peter commends to you, that you ſhould be much in the exerciſe of faith, and adorn themſelves vvith a meek and quiet ſpirit. O this meek and quiet ſpirit, this ſober and this modeſt converſation and obedience to Husbands, theſe Graces Chriſt by the Apoſtle doth commend to you, and you are ingaged to do all this and more for Chriſt, becauſe he hath had reſpect to the vveakeſt.