A Trial of Faith, Sermons · Sermon 7
Matth. 15. 22.
My daughter is grie vouſly vexed with a Devil.
SERMON VII.
YOu have ſeen this womans faith in her coming to Chriſt, and cloſing with Chriſtt as Lord, and as the ſon of David.
We ſhall now ſee the love of this woman; here is her love as well as her faith; there was a great deal of love and compaſſion in her towards her daughter, the ſtroke that was upon her daughters body, fell upon her ſpirit, and lay heavy there; and therefore ſhe doth not ſay, Lord have mercy upon my daughter, but, Lord have mercy upon me: It is my affliction, and my burden, Lord have mercy upon me, for my daughter is grievouſly vexed with a Devil. Her daughters affliction was heavy upon her ſpirit.
Queſt. But you will ſay, Whether was this affection natural or ſpiritual grace? Whether did ſhe ſpeak this from natural affection to her child, or was this a fruit of her faith?
Anſw. I anſwer, Here was both natural affection and ſpiritual grace; for ſeeing this woman had a ſeed of faith in her, as hath been proved, natural affection could not work alone; where there is the grace of faith in the heart, it will not leave nature to work alone, but grace will ſtep in and rectifie natural affection, order natural affection, ſet bounds to natural affection, ſet natural affection upon a right ground, and make them look to right ends, where there is grace natural affection cannot work alone: Indeed in that heart where grace doth not dwell, there nature works alone, as the natural affections, grief, and ſorrow, and anguiſh, in a natural man, where the ſpirit is not, nature works alone, he cannot propound any ſpiritual conſideration to himſelf to quiet his grief and ſorrow; he may fetch in ſome carnal conſiderations, or he may ſtay till nature ſettle of it ſelf, time may wear out his grief, but no work of grace to compoſe the ſpirit, time muſt work it out: But now in a gracious ſoul, nature cannot work alone, but grace will ſtep in to order and rectifie, to ſet bounds to the affections, and will help to compoſe the ſpirit; and ſo we may conclude of this woman, here was firſt natural affection in her; nature did teach her to love her child, but natural affection did not work alone, here was alſo the ſpiritual grace of faith, faith taught her to love her child aright; nature taugh her to love her child, but grace taught her to love her child aright.
So that there was the working both of nature and grace.
Queſt. But you will ſay, Was it not an evil to give way to natural affection?
Anſw. I anſwer, No, natural affection is not the corruption of nature: Indeed there is a great deal of corruption in natural affection, but natural affection is not the corruption of nature; no, natural affection is part of the Image of God, the remnant of the Image of God which was left in man ſince the fall of Adam, for it is a ſin to be without natural affection: The Apoſtle, ſpeaking of the ſins of the laſt dayes, he reckons up this as one, without natural affection, Rom. 1. 31. Natural affection is part of the Image of God; and it is that, without which the world could not be continued: The Lord in abundance of mercy and wiſdome hath planted natural affection in the hearts of Parents to their Children, for if it were not ſo, Gods name would ſoon be diſhonoured, and there would be all manner of cruelty, and the race of mankind would ſoon be deſtroyed; ſo that it is a mercy to have natural affection, but to have ſpiritual grace to work with natural affection, to have faith to ſet natural affection right, and to cauſe it to work aright, that is the greateſt mercy: Now this woman had both, ſhe loved her child, and loved her child aright.
And this woman may be a pattern to all parents, to all thoſe that have children, and may teach every one of us, not only to love our children, but to love them aright.
So then to cloſe with the Doctrine, which is this: That whereſoever there is faith in any man or woman, it will rectifie natural affection in them; faith will teach parents to love their children aright.
In the opening of this Point I ſhall ſhew you two things.
Firſt, That there is a great deal of love in natural affection in the hearts of parents towards their children.
Secondly, Where there is faith, it will rectifie thoſe natural affections, and teach to love Relations aright.
Firſt, It will not be unneceſſary to ſhew you, that there is a great deal of love in natural affection in the hearts of parents to their children; it will not be altogether unuſeful to ſee how much love there is in the hearts of parents to their children, that children may ſee the love of their parents to them.
What a great deal of natural affection is there in the hearts of parents towards their children? O Lord, thou ſon of David, have mercy on me, for my daughter is grievouſly vexed with a Devil.
And you ſhall ſee, that the Lords hand hath ingraven natural affection upon the hearts of parents, and it is ingraven in ſuch great letters upon the hearts of parents, that it is almoſt impoſſible to wear it out, Iſai. 49. 15. Can a woman forget her ſucking child, that ſhe ſhould not have compaſſion on the ſon of her womb? It is a very hard thing to do it, it is almoſt impoſſible that a woman ſhould forget her ſucking child: It is true indeed, ſome have done it, ſome have forgotten it, ſome have laid cruel hands upon their ſucking child; ſuch are monſters rather then women, but it is not poſſible that a woman that hath the compaſſions of a woman ſhould forget her ſucking child.
And our Saviour tells us, that it is in the worſt of men, Matth. 7. 11. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children: There is this good thing in the hearts of the worſt men living, love in their hearts to their children. And therefore it is, that the Lord doth make uſe of the compaſſions that is in the hearts of parents, to ſet forth his own love and compaſſion toward his people; that place before, Iſai. 49. 15, 16. Can a woman forget her ſucking child, that ſhe ſhould not have compaſſion on the ſon of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee: Behold, I have graven thee upon the palmes of my hands. And ſo Pſal. 103. 13. Like as a father pittieth his children, ſo the Lord pittieth them that fear him: He maketh uſe of the bowels, the pitty and compaſſion of Parents, to hold forth what bowels are in his heart towards his children.
Now that you may ſee what this natural affection is, and that you may ſee the greatneſs of the love of parents to their children, conſider how it works.
Firſt of all, Love makes them willing to undergo a great deal of pain and ſorrow, labour, care and travel; what is it almoſt that Parents are not willing to undergo for their children? O how much ſorrow do poor women meet withall in bearing and bringing forth children? And yet their deſire to children doth carry them through all; A woman, though ſhe have a ſore travel, ſaith Chriſt, when delivered forgets her ſorrow, for joy that a man is brought forth into the world. And ſo when they are brought forth; what great pains are parents willing to take for their children? How long doe they hang upon their mothers breaſts before they can ſhift for themſelves? And yet that affection that the Lord hath planted in parents, makes them willing to doe all this.
Secondly, that natural affection that the Lord hath planted in parents to their children, maketh them to ſympathize with their children, in every burden and affliction, every affliction that lieth upon their children to be their own affliction; ſo this woman in the Text, O thou ſon of David have mercy upon me: The affliction was upon her daughter, but it was her burden; O Lord have mercy upon me. The parent doth ſympathize with the child, and doth account the affliction of the child to be their own affliction; for how are Parents affected when their children are ill, and when the hand of God is upon their children? If the childs head doth but ake, it makes their heart ake, ſo ſenſible are parents of their childrens troubles: The Noble man that came to Chriſt, ſee how he was affected when his child was ſick, John 4. 49. Sir, come down ere my child die: At verſe 47. he beſought Chriſt, that he would come down and heal his ſon, for he was at the point of death. Chriſt delayed the buſineſſe, verſe 48. then ſaid Jeſus unto him, Except ye ſee ſigns and wonders ye will not believe: But ſee how abruptly he anſwered Chriſt, verſe 49. Sir, come down ere my child die. He was not able to attend any thing elſe, all his mind was upon his child, O Sir, come down ere my child die. He could hear nothing till his child was healed, and thus natural affection vvorketh tovvard their children.
Yea thirdly, This natural affection vvill ma… the parents to paſſe by many injuries that are done by children to parents, and yet parents ready to pardon them; upon the leaſt ſubmiſſion the heart of a parent relents; it is a very hard matter for a parent to caſt off his child, though there be many provocations.
See ſome Inſtances in Scripture; that of Abraham is remarkable, Gen. 21. 9, 10, 12. His ſon Iſmail he vvas a vvicked child, one that ſco… fed at the ſon of the Promiſe, and Sarah ſhe maketh her complaint, and deſires that the bond-vvoman and her child might be caſt out, verſe 10. And the thing was very grievous in Abrahams …ight becauſe of his ſon, verſe 11.
Though he vvas a vvicked child, a rebelli…s child, a ſcoffer at good, yet when it came to caſting of him out, it ſeems very grievous to Abraham, becauſe of his ſon.
And you know the Prodigal ſon, that had ſpent his portion in riotous courſes, how willing was his father to forgive him, to pardon all his miſcarriages, and to cloſe with him again upon his firſt return and ſubmiſſion?
And you know that Inſtance of David, which holds forth a great deal of affection that was in that good man towards a wicked child, 2. Sa…. 18. 5. Deal gently for my ſake with the young man, even with Abſalom. He was a wicked and rebellious ſon, one that roſe up againſt his father, one that would have turned his father out of his kingdome, one that ſought his fathers life, one that had committed great wickedneſs in the ſight of the Sun: But oh! how doth Davids heart yearn towards him? And when the Captains went forth to battel, David gave this charge, that they ſhould deal gently with him for my ſake. Thus you ſee how the hearts of parents works towards their children.
Fourthly, That natural affection that God hath planted in the hearts of parents towards their children, doth teach them to accept willingly any ſervice that is done by their children; though it be never ſo weakly done, yet if the Father ſees that the child hath done its good will, in obedience, and in love, O! how acceptable is the leaſt piece of ſervice done by ſuch a child? And therefore the Lord taketh an argument from this to ſtrengthen his peoples faith, I will ſpare them as a man ſpareth his own ſon that ſerveth him, Mal. 3. 17.
Fifthly, Natural affection will teach the parents to ſupply all the wants of the children. O! what care doth parents take to ſupply their childrens wants, that they may want nothing that is good for them? They ſhall have that which is ſutable to them: Ye that are evil know how to give good gifts to your children: What care do parents take of their children, while young, to ſupply their wants? And what care do they take to make proviſion for their children, when they are dead and gone? Nay, do not many a poor parent undoe himſelf to make proviſion for his children, that he may make them great in this world, and leave them ſomething when he be dead and gone.
Sixthly and laſtly, to name no more; The love that is in parents makes them exceeding unwilling to part with their children; it is the greateſt affliction in the world, they had rather looſe all their eſtates then looſe their children: Nay, though parents many times be ſo poor as they cannot keep their children, yet how loath are they to part with their children? The poor Widdow we read…, 2 King. 4. 1. all her eſtate was gone; nothing left her but her two ſons, the creditor came to take unto him her two ſons from her, but how loth was ſhe to part with her two ſons? Nay, how hard is it for parents to part with their children when God takes away their children by death? You know that Inſtance of Job, Job 1. he did bear very well all the afflictions and loſſes that he met withall, till he came to looſe his children, the meſſengers came and told him, that all his eſtate was taken away; and you read of nothing that Job ſaid, but when they come and told him, his children were ſlain, then Job rent his mantle, and fell down upon the ground and worſhipped: To looſe his eſtate was nothing, but to hear that all his children were ſlain, he rent his mantle, and fell down upon the ground; a token of his great ſorrow: And you know how David was affected, when they brought him word that Abſolom was killed, he went up to the chamber over the gate, and he wept as he went, ſaying, O my ſon Abſolom, would God I had died for thee: A moſt pathetical complaint that this poor man makes when his child was taken away, though he was a wicked child, and one that ſought his fathers life. Thus you ſee the firſt part of the Doctrine, that God hath planted natural affection in the hearts of parents to their children.
But ſecondly,The ſecond part of the Doctrine. I ſhall ſhewe you, that where there is faith, natural affection cannot work alone, but faith will rectifie natural affection; faith will teach Parents to love their children aright: Natural affection will teach them to love their children, ah, but ſpiritual love that ſprings from faith will teach them to love their children aright.
Queſt. But you will ſay to me, when may Parents be ſaid to love their children aright? or how ſhall we know that the love of Parents to their children, is not only the working of Natural affection?
Anſw. Firſt, where there is faith, it will teach Parents to love the ſouls of their children: Nature will teach to provide for the body, but the Spirit of the Lord that teaches Parents to look after the ſouls of their children; now when the ſoul is loved and reſpected more then the body, then do Parents love their children aright.
In Gen. 17. 18. you may ſee what a requeſt Abraham doth make for his ſon Iſhmael: Oh! that Iſhmael might live before thee. God hath been making many gracious promiſes to Abraham concerning another Seed, but Abraham did not forget his ſon Iſhmael, neither could he beg that he might have a great eſtate, but that he might live in the ſight of the Lord: When Parents take care of the ſouls of their children, then Parents love their children aright.
Secondly, Parents love their children aright, when as they do love them in obedience to the Lord; when they love them, and when they take pains, and act for them, and perform all offices of love to them in obedience to the Lord; when Parents do bring up their children, and perform every duty to them, in obedience to the Lord: theſe are the children that the Lord hath graciouſly given his ſervant; and ſo he love them, and perform duties to them, that he may obey the Lord, and be found working the work of his ſtation and relation, in bringing up theſe children to the Lord; this is that love that is not only natural, but ſpiritual.
Thirdly, Again, Parents love their children aright, when as they have an eye to the Covenant of God concerning their children; when they have an eye to the promiſes of God that he hath made to the children of Believers: He hath ſaid, that they that come of thee, ſhall build the old waſte places. When as Parents thus eye the Covenant of God in looking upon their children as the Lords, and theſe are they that the Lord hath ſaid he will own; and ſo love their children more becauſe they are the Lords then theirs, becauſe the Lord hath promiſed that he will own them, and make uſe of them. And ſo I conceive Moſe… 's Mother had reſpect to this in her love to her child, Hebr. 11. 23. By faith Moſes when he was born, was hid three Months of his Parents, becauſe they ſaw he was a proper child, and they not afraid of the Kings commandment. Her love ſprung from faith, when ſhe hid her child Moſes three months; it was not from Natural affection, but from faith. By faith Moſes when he was born, was hid three months, becauſe they ſaw he was a proper child, and they not afraid of the Kings commandment. The Kings commandment was, that all the Male-children ſhould be drowned, and to diſobey his commandment, it did endanger their own lives; ah, but by faith, ſhe ventured: ſhe looked upon her child as one that God would make uſe of, ſhe was perſwaded that God would make uſe of this child Moſes, to do ſomething for the future; ſhe knew that there was a promiſe that God would deliver his people, and ſhe knew not but that this might be the Man, and ſo was not afraid, but by faith hid him.
Fourthly, Parents love their children aright, when as they are much praying for their children, preſenting their children to the Lord, and praying for them, crying to the Lord in their behalf for the bleſſing of the Lord upon them, when they are very inſtant with God that he would take away the guilt of original ſin that is upon their children, and the guilt of actual tranſgreſſions that are found upon their children. Job every day took a ſacrifice, and ſacrificed for his Sons and Daughters, he prayed for them, he was careful that ſin might not lie upon them: Oh, that was ſpiritual love that was found in Job, it was of a right ſtamp, he was careful that the guilt of ſin might not lie upon them, and therefore he every day offered a ſacrifice to the Lord. And the woman of Canaan ſhe cries in the behalf of her child, ſhe comes to Chriſt, and cries to him for her child. And ſo when Parents go to Chriſt for their children; when under bodily Infirmities go to Chriſt for them, and when under ſpiritual Infirmities, go to Chriſt for them, pleading with Chriſt for them, then do Parents love their children aright.
Fifthly; when Parents are careful to educate their children for God, when they are careful that God may be honoured by their children, that their children may be inſtructed ſo as to honour God, when they deſire and endeavour to prevent all diſhonour that may be done to God by their children, to reprove them, and to rebuke them, and not to be ſo indulgent as old Eli was, which proved to be the ruine of the whole family. I ſay, when Parents are careful that God may not be diſhonoured, but labour that their children may be inſtrumental for God, and they do ſeek the Lord for this thing, and do deal with them upon this account, and are careful to inſtruct them, and to lay before them the mind of God, and careful ſo to diſpoſe of them, as God may be ſerved by them; when this is the care of Parents, this is a diſcovery that their love is not only natural affection, but ſpiritual grace, and their natural affection is ſet right by their faith, which the Lord is pleaſed to beſtow upon them.
For the Application.Application.
Firſt, Take notice what a mercy it is, that God hath planted ſuch Natural affections in the hearts of Parents; it is a great mercy, it is that which is little taken notice of, but it is that which we and all in the world have cauſe to bleſs God for, that parents, yea thoſe that are evil can do ſo much good for their children, give out of the good things which they have to their children; there is much of the wiſdom and goodneſs of God in it, that Parents ſhould do ſo much for their children, when they doe not deſerve it, it is long before it can deſerve any thing; nay when grown up, there are many times contrary deſerts, and that yet the hearts of arents ſhould be kept up towards their children, as I ſaid before, there is a great deal of the wiſdom and goodneſs of God in it; for there is a great deal of evil thereby prevented, a great deal of ſin and cruelty that is prevented by the Lords giving of natural affection. Oh admire the wiſdom & goodneſs of God in this!
Secondly, Let Parents know that this is not enough to have natural affection and love to their children, but oh that Parents would labour to love their children aright. It is not enough to love them much, to have great natural affections, but let Parents labour to love their children aright; labour ſo to love them as to love their ſouls, to take care of their ſouls, which is a thouſand times more worth then the body; labour to love them in obedience to God; labour to eye the Covenant of God in loving your children; be more in ſeeking the face of God, in the behalf of your children: Oh that Parents would look upon it as their duty, to pray more for their children. Oh, look upon Abraham, and let him be your pattern; how did he cry to the Lord in the behalf of Iſhmael? it lies upon all Parents to go to God for their children, yea for every one in particular. Oh that ſuch an one might live in thy ſight! Look upon the woman of Canaan, how did ſhe cry to Chriſt for her daughter? oh, Lord have mercy upon me: Now let Parents go to Chriſt for their children; oh go and cry for the ſouls of thy children, as this woman did for the body of her daughter; oh Lord, I ſee ſuch a corruption in ſuch a child, and ſuch a luſt in ſuch a child, oh that the Son of David would have mercy on them. We ſhould go to Chriſt for the ſouls of our children, that Chriſt would caſt out thoſe corruptions that we ſee ſprouting in our children.
Thirdly, Oh that this might provoke us all to look after faith: what need have Parents to labour for faith in Jeſus Chriſt? if it be but upon this account, that you may love your children aright: oh look to Chriſt for faith, cry unto Chriſt to give you faith, that ſo you may love your children aright: There may be a great deal of natural affection in parents, they may dote upon their children, and undo their children, and yet not love them aright; for it is impoſſible that a man or woman that hath not faith to love children aright, they cannot love their children aright, till they have faith.
And to provoke all parents to look after faith upon this account of their children, let me ſay this to you; that faith will teach you to love your children impartially. There is a great deal of partiality in natural affection, and it runs out much to one child, and neglects another; ah, but with ſpiritual love it is not ſo. When Parents love their children aright, it will teach to love their children more equally; not to love one more then another, unleſs they ſee more of God in one then another.
Again, let me tell you, that faith will make your work to your children eaſie; there is a great deal of labour, travel, and pains (as you have heard) to bring forth children, and a hard work to bring up children when brought forth, but faith will make your work more eaſie, when as God is eyed in it, and ſo you are bringing up children for God, when as you are loving and caring for children in obedience to God. Oh this will make your work more eaſie.
And further let me tell you, that faith will make your work more acceptable to God. That work you are doing for children, when it is done in faith, is accepted; if you love your children in faith, the Lord will take it well at your hand, and the Lord will reward all the labour, ſervice, travel and pains that Fathers and Mothers do undergo for their children. That inſtance you find in Scripture of Moſes his Mother, when Pharoahs daughter found Moſes by providence, ſhe commits him to his own Mother to be his Nurſe, and ſhe pays his own Mother for him: And ſo the Lord he will deal with you that are parents that act in faith, and perform your duties in faith, the Lord will reward you for your love to your own children, for taking care of your own children, all your labour is taken notice of by the Lord, and you ſhall be rewarded: Oh! what an encourageis here to all Parents to look after faith in Chriſt, that ſo your ſervice may be accepted of the Lord?
One thing more, and ſo I conclude: and that is a word to children; is it ſo, that there is ſo much love in the hearts of Parents to their children? is there ſo much that Parents do from love to children? oh, that children would labour to know what is their duty that they owe to Parents! it cannot be told, it cannot be expreſt, how much it is that children owe unto parents. Children, it is impoſſible that ever you ſhould requite the love of your parents; oh the pains, the travel, and ſorrow of bringing forth, and bringing up! oh, that children might know that there is a great engagement lies upon them to love their parents, to reſpect their parents, to take heed that they do not grieve their parents, to paſs by all in firmities of parents, to ſhew all reſpect to them, and when grown up, to take care of them!
And this is a duty that Chriſt lays upon you, though a Moral duty, ſee what is ſaid in 1 Tim. where children may ſee what Chriſt injoyns them, 1 Tim. 5. 4. But if any widow have children or Nephews, let them learn firſt to ſhew piety at home, and to requite their parents, for that is good and acceptable before God. God lays this duty upon children: you ſhould labour to requite your parents, to remember their love, their care, their ſorrow, their pains and travel; and you are bound by the Law of Chriſt to requite your parents, this is good, this is piety, and this is acceptable to God. And ſo that place, Levit. 19. 3. Ye ſhall fear every man his Mother, and his Father, and keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. Here is a duty that God lays upon children, to fear every man his Mother and Father. Children are moſt apt to deſpiſe their Mothers, therefore the Lord begins there, and lays that duty, firſt that children ſhould fear every man his Mother.
And take notice of it, that this is a duty that the Lord ſets before the keeping of his Sabbath; as if the Lord ſhould ſay, in vain ſhall they pretend to be Religious, if they do not fear and reverence every man his Mother and his Father: I will not accept of your ſervice. It was a brand that was ſet upon Eſau to all generations, that he did that which was a grief to his Father and Mother. Now children ſee your duty, and remember your duty, which the Lord Jeſus lays upon you.
And oh that children would labour for faith, that they may perform their duties▪ Parents cannot love their children aright, till they have faith; and truly children cannot reverence their parents, nor perform the duties they owe unto parents, unleſs they have faith. Oh, then that Parents and children would look up to Chriſt for faith! and then ſhall both be able through faith in Chriſt to perform that mutual duty that God requires from parents and children.
And to ſhut up all; let this that hath been ſpoken, ſtrengthen the faith of all Gods people in Gods love to them: Oh, that by this we might aſcend to the love of God! O, that they that think they have not been concerned in what hath been ſpoken hitherto, would know they are concerned in this. The Lord would have you to aſcend by the conſideration of the bowels that are in parents to their children, to a conſideration of thoſe infinite bowels that are in him towards you that are his children; As the Father pitieth his children, ſo the Lord pitieth them that fear him; what ever workings of love are in the hearts of parents towards their children, oh! know that there is larger workings of love in the heart of God towards his children; there are infinite bowels in the everlaſting Father: and if there be ſo much pity in the hearts of parents, that they are willing and ready to give out good things to their children, and willing to paſs by and to pardon the miſcarriages of their children; oh! how much more willing is our God to paſs by and to pardon the failings of you that are his children? oh! that this might encourage prodigal children to return to the Lord▪ If the father receive his child, that hath been a prodigal, why the Lord is ready to receive you though a prodigal, if the Lord give you an heart to return, though you have ſpent all, and abuſed all your mercies, yet the Lord is ready to pardon and to receive you.
And let it ſtrengthen your faith and hope in Chriſt, you that cleave to Chriſt for righteouſneſs, you that are the children of that everlaſting Father; oh know that Chriſt will plead for you, Chriſt will cry to his Father for you: Was the woman of Candan ſo affected with the miſery of her daughter, that ſhe cries, Lord, have mercy on me, my daughter is grievouſly vexed with a devil? … (I ſay) this found in this woman towards her daughter? and ſhall not this be found in Chriſt towards his children? oh! then let this comfort you, when you ſcarce dare go to God, and cry your ſelves, ſuch and ſuch a corruption doth annoy you, ſuch and ſuch an unclean ſpirit is in you: Oh! the Lord Jeſus pities you under every ſpiritual burden; when as you are troubled with unclean ſpirits, he hath bowels of compaſſion towards you; and know that he will go to his Father, and cry to his Father; and if he cry, he cannot deny the ſon of his love, but an anſwer ſhall be given to all thoſe requeſts that Chriſt puts up for you, or for any of his people.