A Trial of Faith, Sermons · Sermon 1
SERMON I.
YOu have a Relation of Chriſts departure from the parts of Judea near to Jeruſalem; Verſ. 21.and his coming to the coaſts of Tyre and Sidon, the uttermoſt part of the Land of Canaan.
And here is a Relation of two great Wonders wrought by Chriſt there:Two great Wonders wrought by Chriſt. One was a ſpiritual wonder, a wonderful faith that Jeſus Chriſt wrought in the heart of a poor woman,1. Wonder. the woman of Canaan; it was a wonderful faith, therefore it is brought in with admiration in the 22. verſe, and BEHOLD, a woman of Canaan came out of the ſame coaſts, and cried unto him, ſaying, have mercy on me, O Lord, thou ſon of David, &c. Yea it was ſuch a wonder, as made the Son of God to wonder at it in concluſion, and to ſay, O woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt.
The ſecond Wonder, 2. Wonder.which was the effect of this wonderful faith, it was a miraculous cure that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt wrought upon the daughter of this woman of Canaan, who was poſſeſſed with a Devil, which Devil Chriſt caſt out by ſpeaking one word.
Now concerning the faith of this woman of Canaan; The wonder of this womans faith appears firſt.the wonder that was in it appears,
Firſt, In that it was a woman, the weaker veſſel, and moſt ſubject to fears, yet her heart was raiſed to believe.
Secondly, Not only a woman, but a Woman of Canaan, a Canaanitiſh woman, one that was of the ſeed and poſterity of that curſed Nation the Canaanites, that were a curſed Nation, and caſt out, that room might be made for the Children of Iſrael; caſt out of the Land, that room might be made for the Children of the Kingdome, and yet Chriſt meets with mighty faith in the heart of a woman that was a Canaanite, one that had not injoyed the means of Grace, one that had not injoyed the priviledges of the Jews.
But we ſhall open the Scripture, and give you a brief Anallyſis of it, and lay a foundation for future diſcourſe, for I ſhall but dwell upon the borders at this time.
And in the faith of this woman of Canaan.
Firſt take notice of the Declaration of her faith,The declaration of th… woman… faith. ver. 22.
Her faith was declared, firſt, by the confeſſion ſhe made of Chriſt, ſhe made a full and excellent confeſſion of Jeſus Chriſt; O Lord, thou ſon of David, there is the confeſſion of her faith: ſhe doth acknowledge the Lordſhip of Chriſt, ſhe doth acknowledge him to be Lord of all, infinite in power, able to do what he pleaſes, yea to command the Devil out of her daughter, for ſhe came to him for that end; there is a confeſſion of the Divinity of Chriſt, and of his infinite power.
Secondly, She doth acknowledge him as the Meſſias, not only as the Lord of all, but as the Meſſias, Chriſt the Saviour, him that was to come to redeem his people, and to be a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and therefore ſhe calls him the ſon of David; Oh Lord, thou ſon of David, have mercy on me, &c. where ſhe doth acknowledge him to be the Meſſias that was promiſed to come out of the loins of David.
Thirdly, There is a declaration of her faith by her prayer ſhe poures out before the Lord; her prayer was an effect of her faith, ſhe calls upon him with a great deal of earneſtneſs; and her petition was, that Chriſt would caſt out the unclean ſpirit that had taken poſſeſſion of her daughter, therefore ſhe ſpread it before the Lord, My daughter is grievouſly vexed with a Devil.
And the Argument ſhe uſes to move Chriſt (beſides her own neceſſity and the miſery of her child) it was his own free-grace and mercy: The Argugument this woman uſeth to move Chriſt.Have mercy upon me, O Lord, thou ſon of David; my daughter is grievouſly vexed with a Devil.
Have mercy upon me; the affliction of her child was upon her; ſhe does not ſay, have mercy upon my child, but upon me; and ſhe pleads mercy and free-grace, have mercy upon me, not her own worthineſs; no, but have mercy upon me.
Secondly, We have the tryal of her faith; her faith is tryed three ſeveral times, and three ſeveral wayes the Lord Chriſt doth try her faith, that ſo it may appear more ſhining.
Firſt,How Chriſt tryed the womans faith. Chriſt doth try her faith by keeping ſilent, giving her no anſwer; ſhe cries aloud, Lord have mercy on me, but Chriſt doth not ſo much as open his lips to give her any incouragement, but he is ſilent; and that was a mighty tryall, that when ſhe ſhould cry ſo loud, that Chriſt ſhould ſay nothing to her, it was a mighty tryall to this womans faith.
Secondly, Chriſt tryes her faith by giving of her a ſeeming denial, in the 24. verſe, He anſwered and ſaid, I am not ſent but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael; as if he ſhould ſay, it is beſide my arrant to have any thing to do with this woman of Canaan, I am ſent to the Jews in the firſt place; it was a ſeeming denial of Chriſt.
And it was the greater tryall, becauſe Chriſt did not only ſeem to deny her requeſt, but to deny the requeſt of the Diſciples, for in the 23. ver. The Diſciples of Chriſt came and beſought him: Oh this was a tryal of her faith; ſhe might have ſaid, I have cryed, and there is no hope, and the Diſciples they have beſought him for me; but Chriſt doth not anſwer, but deny her requeſt, and deny the Diſciples requeſt, what hope was left then?
Thirdly, The faith of this woman is tried in the 26. verſe, where Chriſt doth object to her, her own unworthineſs and vnfitneſs that he ſhould have any thing to do with her; he anſwered and ſaid, it is not meet that I ſhould caſt the childrens bread to dogs: And oh! what a tryall of faith was this? Chriſt doth not only deny her, but ſeems to upbraid her with her unworthineſs; ſhe was of the Nation of the Canaanites, and they were of the Jews accounted as Dogs; they were caſt out, and were without the Covenant, and without God in the world; it is not meet, ſaid Chriſt, I cannot do it, to take the childrens bread, and give it to dogs; this was a mighty tryal.
Now in the third place let us conſider the behaviour of this woman under theſe tryals,The behaviour of this woman of Canaan under her tryals. how did her faith bear up under theſe tryals? That is declared unto us,
Firſt of all; when Chriſt gives her no anſwer, yet ſtill ſhe continues crying after him; there is the behaviour of this womans faith under that tryal. Though Chriſt give her no anſwer, ſhe gives not over her requeſt; though Chriſt was ſilent and would not open his mouth to give her one word, yet ſhe continues crying, the Diſciples ſay as much, Lord ſend her away, ſay they, for ſhe crieth.
Secondly, And for her deportment under her ſecond tryal; ſhe came and worſhipped, and ſaid, Lord help; and ſo ſhe continues ſtill in duty, and is found waiting upon the Lord in an humble poſture, ſhe falls down and worſhips, ſhe worſhips Chriſt and continues in prayer, Lord help.
Thirdly, The behaviour of this woman under the third tryal ſhe meets withall is in the 27. verſ. and ſhe ſaid, Truth Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their Maſters table. When Chriſt tells her, that he muſt not take the childrens bread and caſt it to dogs, ſee how her faith now works, and though this ſeem the greateſt diſcouragement, yet her faith doth make an excellent improvement of it, and from this diſcouragement her faith takes …ice and waxeth ſtronger and ſtronger; Truth Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their Maſters table; ſhe grants all that Chriſt ſaid, ſhe grants the propoſition and application of it, ſhe grants that ſhe was no better then a dog, and yet her faith makes an improvement of that which ſeems to be the greateſt diſcouragement, ſhe fetcheth an argument from thence, if I be a dog let me have the crumbs, if a dog, thy dog, and I will not away from thy feet, but let me have crumbs that fall from the childrens table. So you have the carriage of this woman under her ſeveral tryals.
Fourthly,The victory of this womans faith. You have the victory of her faith in the 28. verſe; O woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee as thou wilt; and her daughter was made whole.
The heart of Chriſt ſeems to be taken mightily with the faith of this woman; and therefore Chriſt ſtands and wonders, that there ſhould be ſuch a faith in a Canaanitiſh woman: O woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt: I do not only grant the mercy thou askeſt, but even what thou wilt; thou haſt overcome me with thy faith, Be it unto thee as thou wilt; and her daughter was made whole that hour: So that you ſee the hiſtory of this woman of Canaan o…ened to you: I ſhall not enter into it now, but (as I ſaid before) dwell upon the borders of it.
And at this time I ſhall conſider what is written in the 21.21. Verſe ſpoken to: three things to be conſidered. verſe; Jeſus went thence and departed into the coaſt of Tyre and Sidon.
1. We ſhall conſider from whence Chriſt went when he came into theſe parts.
2. And what was the occaſion of Chriſts going away.
3. And then conſider what this place was that Chriſt came to, where Chriſt wrought this wonder, this miracle.
1. He went from thence, from the parts of Judea; which were near to Jeruſalem; for in the beginning of the Chapter you read, that Chriſt was there in ſome place, where many of the Scribes from Jeruſalem came to him, as in the firſt verſe.
2. What was the occaſion of Chriſts departure from theſe parts of Judea that were near to Jeruſalem? Why did Chriſt leave theſe parts, and leave that people? The occaſion is intimated; becauſe they oppoſed Chriſt, they cavelled againſt him; againſt the perſon of Chriſt, againſt the truths of Chriſt, againſt the diſciples of Chriſt, and againſt the way of Chriſt; the Scribes and Phariſees were filled with enmity againſt Chriſt, and the way of Chriſt, and therefore Chriſt departs from them, and goes into the coaſt of Tyre and Sidon.
But more particularly, that which was the cauſe of Chriſts removing from this people; it was becauſe they ſet up their own traditions; they ſet up their own inventions, and made them equal with the Command of God, nay, they made their own inventions and traditions above the Commandement of God, which was a mighty provocation to Jeſus Chriſt; if you read the beginning of the Chapter, you ſhall ſee how they ſet up their own rules above Gods Rules, which is a provocation to Chriſt, and he will not bear with ſuch; you may read the ſecond and third verſes, and ſo to the end of the ſeventh verſe.
In vain (ſayes Chriſt) do you worſhip me, teaching for doctrine the commandements of men.
So that the occaſion of Chriſts removing from theſe parts of Judea which were near to Jeruſalem, was the exalting their own traditions, and making them equall with Gods Commandements.
It affords ſomething to us for our inſtruction, which is this, That when a people,Propoſition or Doctrine. or any ſoul, ſhall exalt their own traditions, their own inventions, and make them equal, or ſet them above the Commandements and Rules that Chriſt hath given his people to walk by, Chriſt will not afford his preſence to ſuch a people, Chriſt will certainly depart from ſuch a ſoul, or people.
For the truth is; there is little hope that there ſhould be any good done by ſuch a people, when they decline the Rule, and ſet up ſomething of their own, there is little hope that the word of Chriſt ſhould do good among ſuch a people. Therefore Chriſt will withdraw from them, as he did from theſe Scribes and Phariſees; and ſo will Chriſt withdraw his ſpecial preſence from a people that ſhall ſet up their own inventions. For it is a mighty provocation to Chriſt.
Firſt of all, when a people ſhall exalt their own inventions above the Rule that Chriſt hath given his people to walk by; the minds of ſuch a people are blinded and darkened, and their hearts are hardened againſt the Truths of God; therefore there is little hope of ſuch a people: I ſay; mens own inventions thus exalted and lift up above Gods Rule, it blinds the mind, and hardens the heart againſt Chriſt and the things of Chriſt; it is a making to a mans ſelf a graven Image: Whatſoever a man ſhall bring in of his own, as a rule to walk by, and to worſhip by, he makes that an image to himſelf; now they that make graven Images are like to them, ſayes the Pſalmiſt, They have eyes and ſee not; God gives them up to blindneſs; declining Gods Rule, and Chriſts Inſtitution, it will blind them and harden them againſt the Truths of Chriſt.
Secondly, When as men ſhall exalt their own inventions, the heart is ſo filled with them, that there is no room for Chriſt, and for the moſt part there is in ſuch a ſoul a kind of loathing the Truths of Chriſt. Whereever you find mens inventions exalted, there you ſhall find a kind of loathing, in ſuch a ſoul, of the pure and ſincere truths of the Goſpel, the bread of life is no longer ſweet with them, and the water of life hath no relliſh with them; and when it comes to this, Chriſt will not ſtay, but withdraws his ſpiritual preſence from them, as he did his bodily preſence from the Scribes and Phariſees.
Thirdly, Chriſt will withdraw from ſuch a people, becauſe for the moſt part they are deſperate enemies and perſecutors of Chriſt, and of his People, and of his Truths: So it was with the Scribes and Phariſees, Chriſt had not ſuch enemies in all the world as they were, becauſe they were moſt zealous for their own inventioons, they declined the Rule, and ſet up their own rule, and therefore they prove deſperate enemies to Chriſt. Paul makes an acknowledgement of it when Chriſt came to open his eyes, and doth tell you, that that was the cauſe of his driving on that trade of perſecuting the Saints with ſo much earneſtneſs, becauſe he was ſo zealous for the traditions of men; in Phil. 3. 6. You may ſee there what he ſayes was the cauſe of his perſecuting the Saints: Concerning zeal, perſecuting the Church, touching the righteouſneſs which is in the law blameleſs: And ſo in Gal. 1. 13, 14. For ye have heard of my converſation in time paſt, in the Jews Religion, how that beyond meaſure I perſecuted the Church of God and waſted it. Ver. 14. And profited in the Jews religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more zealous of the traditions of my fathers: The zeal which he had for the traditions of men was that which carried him on to perſecute the Chriſtians with ſo much violence; and many times it is ſo, that they which do moſt exalt their own traditions, they become very zealous in perſecuting the Saints and Truths of Chriſt, for it is natural for a man to become zealous for that which is his own; that which is of the fleſh, that which is a kin to the fleſh, the fleſh will be zealous for: Now all traditions they are born of the fleſh, they are the off-ſpring of mans own brain, and therefore upon that account men are many times very zealous for them to the perſecuting of the Saints of God. Now upon this account the Lord Chriſt will not afford his preſence with ſuch as lay aſide his Rule, for they many times prove the greateſt perſecuters of Chriſt and his people.
Fourthly, Chriſt will not continue and afford his preſence with ſuch a people, as ſet up their own inventions and traditions in the place of God's Rule, becauſe they do arrogate that to themſelves which is Chriſts due; he is the great Prophet, and given to inſtruct his people, to make known the way of life and ſalvation, and it belongs to Chriſt to give a rule for his people to walk by: And therefore when men ſhall ſet up their rule in the place of Chriſts Rule; what do they but take the place of Chriſt, the office of Chriſt, and turn Chriſt out of his office, and ſet themſelves in Chriſts chair. Now this is a great provocation to Chriſt, and that which Chriſt will not endure, but depart from ſuch a people.
Fifthly, They that do exalt their own inventions and traditions in the place of Chriſts Rule, for the moſt part they place their righteouſneſs in thoſe very traditions of their own; which is a great provocation unto Chriſt; for you may obſerve this in the Phariſees, they that were ſo zealous for their own inventions, and would not ſubmit to the Rule of Chriſt, they would not ſubmit to the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, but they placed their righteouſneſs in their traditions, in their inventions; a kind of volluntary humility they had, and willingly ſubmitted to their traditions, and by ſo doing did overturn the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, placing their righteouſneſs in their own obſervations; it was that which made them not to ſubmit to the righteouſneſs of God. Let a man do never ſo much, let him walk never ſo ſtrictly, let him ſet up the ſtraiteſt rule to himſelf to walk by, though a man do never ſo much, though he afflict his body never ſo much, if this tend to draw off the ſoul from the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, that a man ſhould look upon this as his commendation before God, and place this in the room of Chriſts righteouſneſs, as all do that ſet up their own traditions, they do greatly provoke the Lord Chriſt, and looſe all they do; though men could walk as exactly as the very Angels, yet if that exactneſs ſhould draw them to place any truſt, any confidence in their obſervations and humility, they looſe all their labour; for Chriſt tells his Diſciples in Matth. 5. 20. That except your righteouſneſs exceed the righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees, you ſhall in no wiſe enter into the kingdome of heaven: Except your righteouſneſs exceed the righteouſneſs of the Scribes and Phariſees: they went a great way in ſelf righteouſneſs, they walked very ſtrictly and very preciſely; ah but you muſt have another kind of righteouſneſs, a righteouſneſs that muſt be beyond theirs; they placed their righteouſneſs in their doings, in their obſervations and inventions; but except your righteouſneſs exceed theirs, you ſhall in no wiſe enter into the Kingdome of Heaven.
The Devil he will allow men to go a great way in ſuch paths of ſelf-righteouſneſs, to do a great deal, to ſuffer a great deal, to carry it very humbly, and very ſtrictly, and ſeem to be the moſt mortified men living; if the Devil can but draw them off from Chriſts righteouſneſs thereby, and place their righteouſneſs in this, he care not how far they go; for the Devil knows that this will never mortifie the deeds of the fleſh, whatſoever is of mans ſetting up will never mortifie the deeds of the fleſh; but as I ſaid before, men may live very ſtrictly, faſt and pray, and yet be far from mortifying the deeds of the fleſh; it may be ſo far from mortifying the deeds of the fleſh, that it may ſtrengthen the fleſh and corruption, get ſtrength while men ſeem to walk in ſuch a way of ſeeming mortification; yea the ſtrength of the body may be ſpent in ſeeming mortification, and the corruption unmortified.
But to reflect a little by way of Application.Application
Oh that this might be a warning piece to us to take heed that we do not exalt any thing of man in the room of Chriſt; take heed we do not exalt our rule above Chriſts Rule, that we do not form rules to our ſelves to walk by, and to worſhip by, and decline the Rule, and Inſtitutions, and Ordinances of Chriſt.
There are two ſorts of people that are and will be found guilty of this,Two ſorts of people that exalt their rule above Chriſts Rule. who ſhall not injoy the preſence of the Lord, for Chriſt will depart from ſuch a people.
Firſt, Such as ſet up outward formes of their own in oppoſition to Chriſts Form; there have been ſuch a generation of men in this Land, and ſtill there are, who hath ſuch Idols in their hearts who ſet up their form above Chriſts Form; Chriſt hath left a Rule, and Chriſt hath given his Form, and his Inſtitutions, which muſt be obſerved till his coming; but now when men ſhall bring in their own inventions and traditions, their own ſuperſtitious ceremonies into the worſhip of Chriſt, which Chriſt hath not commanded, this is a great provocation to the Lord, and ſuch a people cannot injoy the ſpiritual preſence of Chriſt; for …ait… Chriſt, Go teach, and obſerve what I have commanded you, and loe I am with you to the end of the world. So long as a people cleave to Chriſts Inſtitutions, ſo long they are under the Promiſe of Chriſt, but they that ſhall go from this are not under the Promiſe of Chriſt.
2. And then again there are thoſe that will be found ſetting up ſomething of their own in the ſtead of Chriſts Rule,Second ſort of people that exalt their rule above Chriſts Rule. while they pretend that they have another rule then the Word to walk by; the other is more groſs and carnal, but this more ſpiritually wicked. I ſay, when men ſhall pretend to have another rule to walk by, that they have the Spirit of the Lord to be their rule to teach them, and they ſhall not look to the rule of the Scripture, not look to any rule without them; truly both theſe ſorts of men will be found to ſet up their own rule above Chriſts Rule: And oh how dangerous is it? and as I ſaid before, ſo again, and oh that it might be remembred! It is a pulling Chriſt out of his Throne; for men to decline his Rule, the rule of his Word, which he hath given them to walk by, and decline his Ordinances, and pretend to walk by a rule that is within them, truly they exalt ſomething of their own above Chriſt; and let it be remembred what the Lord threatens to ſuch as will not hear the great Prophet, Deut. 18. 15. and 19. The Lord thy God will raiſe up unto thee a Prophet from the midſt of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me, unto him ye ſhall hearken. V. 19. And it ſhall come to paſſe, that whoſoever will not hearken unto my words which he ſhall ſpeak in my name, I will require it of him. He that will not take the rule from Chriſts mouth, he that will not walk by that rule that Chriſt hath left in his Word to walk by, but ſhall take another rule though the pretence be never ſo high and ſpiritual, the Lord hath ſaid that ſuch a ſoul ſhall be cu… off; the Lord will not afford his preſence, Chriſt will not continue his preſence with ſuch a people as ſhall exalt any invention above Chriſts Rule, the rule of the Word.
But it may be that they will ſay, Object.They do not exalt any thing of their own, we are miſtaken of that no, it i… only the Spirit of Chriſt that they exalt: it is the Spirit of Chriſt that is their rule to walk by, and they are not bound to attend to any rule whatſoever that is without them; but to walk by the rule of the Spirit of God that is within them.
To whom,Anſw. I ſay, it is a great miſtake, that the Spirit of the Lord in us ſhould be a rule for us to walk by; the Spirit is not the rule, the Spirit is given to open the rule, the Spirit is given to ſhine upon the rule, to declare the rule, but the Spirit of the Lord is not the rule. It is true indeed, we cannot know the rule, at leaſt in the ſpiritual nature of it, till the Spirit of the Lord doth open it▪ as a man cannot ſee what time of day it is by the Sun-dyall till the Sun ſhine upon it; ah but the Dyall is the rule: And ſo it is a great miſtake▪ while men think that the Spirit is the rule, when as the Word of the Lord is the rule, to the Law and to the teſtimony, if any man walk not according to this rule. And ſo Chriſt tells his Diſciples, that the Spirit is not given to manifeſt and diſcover any new thing, but what Chriſt hath laid dow… in his Word: look into John 16. 13. Howbeit when the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he ſhall not ſpeak of himſelf▪ but whatſoever he ſhall hear, that ſhall he ſpeak, and he will ſhew you things to come. Mark how clear it is, that the Spirit is not given to diſcover any thing that is beſide the rule that Chriſt hath left; he ſhall guide you into truth; ah but how? he ſhall lead you to the rule and guide you into truth, for he ſhall not ſpeak of himſelf, but what Chriſt hath ſpoken, and what is written in the Word of the Lord; and the Spirit is given to ſpeak it with power, and life, and efficacy; He ſhall take of mine and ſhew it to you, no new thing, but what is mine; my Truth, my Goſpel; he ſhall take of mine and ſhew it to you.
Object. But you will ſay, If the Spirit of the Lord be in me, ſurely the Spirit need no rule to walk by; but the Spirit of the Lord is in all the Saints, what need have they of any other rule?
Anſw. I anſwer: The Spirit needs no rule, ah but the Lord ſaw that we needed a rule to walk by, we were apt to be deceived, to call darkneſs light, and light darkneſs; the Lord ſaw we had need of a rule, and that rule is the Word of the Lord, which is given us as our rule, and no other rule but only the Word of the Lord: And therefore be not deceived upon any pretence whatſoever; take heed you be not drawn off from the Inſtitutions of Chriſt, from the Word of Chriſt, the rule that Chriſt hath left all his people to walk by, for if you be, you will exalt ſomething of your own, ſomething that you will place your Righteouſneſs in; and oh how provoking is that to Chriſt? for a people that do ſo, they cannot and ſhall not injoy the ſpiritual preſence of Chriſt; ſuch as forſake Chriſts Rule, and ſet up their own rule that Chriſt never made a rule, they ſhall not injoy the preſence of Chriſt, no more then Chriſt afforded his preſence with the Scribes and Phariſees.
And therefore doe but wait upon the Lord, cleave to the Lord, and hold faſt his Rule, and you ſhall ſee that the Lord will make it evident to all the world, that he hath left them, though they are never ſo ſeemingly high and ſpiritual, yet it will appear, that ſuch as forſake him, Chriſt will forſake them, they are left of Chriſt in their judgements already, and wait upon the Lord, and you ſhall ſee that the Lord will leave them to corrupt themſelves by a corrupt converſation; for what way of Chriſt will not men only forſake, but blaſpheme? and what ſins ſo great will not ſuch a man, as leaves the rule, be drawn to the commiſſion of? For if the Word be not the rule, but a ſtrong impulſe of Spirit, what impulſes may not a man have? he may have the ſtrongeſt impulſe to the greateſt evil whatſoever; if the Lord hath not yet left, yet he will leave ſuch a people to the commiſſion of great evil: As I remember the hiſtory of ſome of the low Countries, they had ſuch a pretence, that the Word was not to be their rule, but they were led by the impulſe of the Spirit of God; and I remember in that hiſtory it is recorded, that many grievous wickedneſſes they did commit▪ they came to marry many wives, and one of the chief of them cuts off one of his wives heads. And another upon a time, he calls his kindred together, and he in the preſence of them all takes away the life of one of his brethren, and ſaid, now the will of the Lord is done: And what wickedneſs is it that men may not fall into by a ſtrong impulſe?
But ſo much for that.
I will give you but one hint more in that 21. v.Third thing laid down, which is the place Chriſt came unto. …eſus went into the coaſts of Tyre and Sidon: You …ee from whence Chriſt came, which was from the …arts of Judea: and the occaſion of Chriſts de…atture, becauſe they rejected his Word. But whe…er came Chriſt? He departed into the coaſt of Tyre and Sidon. A word or two of that, and ſo …onclude; The coaſts of Tyre and Sidon.
Firſt, They were the uttermoſt parts of the …and of Canaan.
Secondly, It was a very dark place, a place full … darkneſſe and ignorance; a people that were …ixed with the heathen, and had learned their ſin…l cuſtomes; and yet the Lord Chriſt when he goes …om Jeruſalem, he goes into the parts of Tyre and …don.
Briefly obſerve this:Obſervation. The faithfulneſs of Chriſt … his Fathers work, and the love of Chriſt to the … of men: Tyre a hundred miles from Jeruſa…m, and yet Chriſt undertook this journey. Oh … faithfulneſs of Chriſt in his Fathers work! he …ares no labour, no travel from place to place, …om City to City, to the uttermoſt parts of the …nd, and all was to do his Fathers work: Oh the …ithfulneſs of Chriſt!
And take notice of the love of Chriſt to the …uls of men;The love of Chriſt to the ſouls of men. it was in compaſſion to a poor wo…n of Canaan that Chriſt took this journey, ſhe … known to the Lord before, and in compaſſion …do her ſoul good, and to releaſe her daughter … was poſſeſt with a Devil, Chriſt takes this …urney. See the love of Chriſt to the ſouls of …or creatures. Chriſt knew the worth of a ſoul, the preciouſneſs of a ſoul: what would it advanvantage a man to gain the whole world and looſe his ſoul? Why in compaſſion to this womans ſoul Chriſt takes this great journey.
And by way of Application:Application Oh that we might learn of Chriſt to be faithful in that work which the Lord hath committed to us; and to expreſſe more love to our own ſouls and the ſouls of others. What a great way did Chriſt go to doe good to one ſoul? if there be but one woman … Canaan, if but one woman of Samaria, for Chriſt to preach to, he takes that occaſion. Whatever work the Lord puts into our hand, in the ſervice … our generation, and for compaſſion to ſouls, look … Chriſt, he thought no labour too much to do go… to the ſoul of one woman.
Secondly,Obſervation, that God hath ſome in every place. This was a very dark place, the darkneſſe of ignorance and ſin did abound in the… parts, in the coaſts of Tyre and Sidon, and yet … Chriſt goes from Jeruſalem, he departs into the… coaſts. You ſee the Lord hath ſome in every place; no place ſo dark and ſinful, but there … be ſome that may belong to the Lord, and whe… there are any that do belong to the Lord in … part of the world, though never ſo dark, yet … Lord will ſend from heaven and viſit them; if … one poor Canaanitiſh woman that belongs to th… Lord, Chriſt will take care of that woman; … comes into theſe dark places, that ſo he mig… make known the light of the Goſpel, that this … woman might believe, where there are any … belong to the Lord, the Lord will find … way to find them out, he will viſit the… with the diſcoveries of his Grace and Love by the declaration of the Goſpel of Chriſt.
And oh that we might obſerve the wonderful diſpenſations of the grace of the Goſpel, that he ſhould carry it into the dark corners, that Chriſt ſhould leave Jeruſalem and carry the Word of Grace into the dark places; that the Lord ſhould make choice of moſt unlikely places, places moſt deſtitute of the Goſpel; oh the wonderful diſpenſation of the Lord! nay, that the Lord ſhould there make ſome poor creatures eminent in grace; this is another wonder, that the Lord ſhould bring in ſome out of the dark corners, and make them moſt eminent in Grace, make them patternes of …aith, as this woman of Canaan was; here was faith in this woman that made the ſoul of Chriſt to wonder: Now what a wonderful diſpenſation is …his and diſcovery of the free Grace of God? That all is of God, nothing in man, nothing in the …eanes without his bleſſing, that he ſhould make …ome to believe in the dark places, yea not only to …elieve, but with ſuch an admirable faith as this woman; that he ſhould make them that were at …he greateſt diſtance to be moſt nigh, and the greateſt ſinners the excellenteſt Saints: Oh the …eeneſs of Gods Grace in his diſpenſations!
This ſhould teach us to put on bowels of mer…y towards ſinners, towards them that are in the …ark places of the world. All Chriſtians that are … the world, that hath received the light of Chriſt, …hould be filled with compaſſion towards them …hat ſit in darkneſs; if we dwell near Jeruſalem, … ſhould pitty them that dwell in the coaſts of Tyre and Sidon; and if we can do nothing, pray that …he Lord would ſend forth labourers into his harveſt, to ſend ſome into the coaſts of Tyre and Sidon. Oh pray that the Lord would ſend forth labourers into his harveſt, that there may be ſom… called out there that may be ſtrong in faith, an excellent in holineſs; nay, they that may be brough… in out of ſuch places, they may go far beyond them that dwell nigh Jeruſalem, out-ſtrip them … faith and holineſs; ſeeing the Lord may have ſu… a people in dark places, as he had here a preciou… ſoul, the woman of Canaan, let us pitty them tha… are in darkneſs, and pray that the Lord would ſen… forth his light to them.