The Works of William Bridge Volume 3, Sermon 2
THE Woman of Canaan.A Sermonpreached at Chriſts-Church Octob. 26 1647.
MATTHEW, 15. beginning at the 21. verſ.
Then Jeſus went thence, and departed into the coaſts of Tyre and Sidon.
22. 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, my daughter is grievouſly vexed with a devil.
23. But he anſwered her not a word. And his Diſciples came and beſought him, ſaying, Send her away, for ſhe crieth after us.
24. But he anſwered and ſaid, I am not ſent, but unto the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael.
25. Then came ſhe, and worſhipped him, ſaying, Lord help me.
26. But he anſwered and ſaid, It is not meet to take the childrens bread, and caſt it to dogs.
27. And ſhe ſaid, Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their maſters table.
28. Then Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee, even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whol from that very hour.
YE have in this Story, a great Storehouſe of Heavenly Comfort, and Inſtruction. I ſhall labor (briefly) to open it at this time unto ye.
The words tell us, of a great Miracle, wrought by our Savior Chriſt, Caſting out the Devil in one that was poſſeſſed. Concerning which cure, Two things conſiderable: Where this cure was wrought: And by what means it was wrought. Wrought in the coaſts of Tyre and Sidon: And by means of a womans faith. For our Savior ſaid, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee, even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole. The greatneſs of this womans faith, is ſet out by Three great Temptations that ſhe did meet withal, when ſhe came and beſought our Savior for the cure of her child.
Firſt, He anſwered her not a word; but was ſilent to all her miſery, and Prayer. This was a great Temptation, a great tryal.
Secondly. He was not only ſilent; but when the Diſciples ſpake for her, he ſeems to give her a flat denial: I am not ſent, but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael. And this was a further, and greater Temptation.
Thirdly. When yet ſhe preſt in upon him; he ſeems to give her the repulſe, and to call her Dog: It is not meet to take the childrens bread, and to caſt it to Dogs. Here was a great Temptation indeed. But her faith wrought through all theſe Temptations. And becauſe (as ye ſhall ſee and hear in the opening of the words) that there is none of all theſe Temptations, but one time or other, may befall the beſt of Gods children: it will be good for us to obſerve, How this womans faith wrought through every Temptation, that we may do the like in our Temptations.
But before we come unto that. The holy Ghoſt here, would have us take notice, Firſt, From whence Chriſt came, and upon what occaſion. Secondly, Whither he came, and how he was received.
Firſt of all, it is ſaid here, [Then Jeſus went thence.] He went from the Jews. He had been (as ye reade in the former part of the chapter) diſputing with them againſt their Traditions, Ye have made the Commandement of God void, through your Traditions, verſe 6. Whereupon they were much offended, verſe 12. Our Savior now then goes from them; they were offended, and rejected his words, and he goes from them. Theſe were the Jews that dwelt at Jeruſalem, not the meaneſt neither, The Scribes and Phariſees, the Learned men of that time, and thoſe that were moſt in account for Holineſs; See what entertainment the Goſpel finds in Chriſts own time among the Learned, and thoſe that were accounted the moſt Holy: Scribes, Learned men, and the Phariſees, the moſt preciſe, and ſtrict men of thoſe times, and yet here the Goſpel is rejected by them. Chriſt goes away, Chriſt goes from thence, upon this account.
Obſerv. None more rigorous oppoſers of the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt, than Learned men, and ſuch as go for Holy, and Preciſe men, being wedded to their own inventions: So were theſe here. Know ye therefore, men wedded to their own inventions, though never ſo Learned, or never ſo ſtrict in their lives; little hope that the Goſpel, or the Lord Chriſt, ſhould find entertainment among them. Be not offended though this fall out.
Jeſus went from thence: But whither went he? The text ſaies, [He departed into the coaſts of Tyre and Sidon.] How ſo? Our Lord & Savior Chriſt, commanded his Diſciples, that they ſhould not go into the way of the Gentiles; but (ſaies he) Go and preach to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael, Mat. 10.5, 6.but go not into the way of the Gentiles. Will Chriſt forbid his Diſciples and Apoſtles to go into the way of the Gentiles, and will he himſelf go into the way of the Gentiles, go into Tyre and Sidon, how can this be? Some anſwer it thus: That the Law-giver was not bound unto the Law that he made himſelf. Others anſwer it thus: That our Lord and Savior did not go unto Tyre and Sidon for to preach, but he went thither to be hid. As in the 7. of Mark, (where ye have the ſame ſtory) From thence he aroſe and went to Tyre and Sidon, and entred into an houſe, and would have no man know it. In this reſpect now, he did not forbid his Diſciples to go into the way of the Gentiles.
But the anſwer is clear, both in the 15. of Matthew, and that ſame of Mark, He departed foreign unto the coaſts of Tyre and Sidon. And in the 7. Mark 24. He aroſe and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He went unto ſome place of Judea; he did not go into the way of the Gentiles, but he went unto ſome Town and place in Judea, which was upon the coaſts of Tyre and Sidon.
And here now he being, A woman comes unto him. Who is deſcribed at the 22. verſe, From her Country; and from the Action which ſhe did. Behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the ſame coaſts, and cried unto him, ſaying, &c.
A Woman, a woman of Canaan, and Behold, a woman of Canaan.] As if that the holy Ghoſt would have us take ſpecial notice of it, Behold, a woman of Canaan came unto him. The Canaanites were of all others the moſt Wicked: the Jews were for to caſt them out of their Nation, and not to converſe with them: in the Jews account they were Dogs. And therefore our Savior ſaies afterward, It is not lawful to caſt childrens bread unto Dogs. She was a Canaanite. But now this Woman, this Canaanite, ſhe Beleeves; comes unto Chriſt, and Beleeves greatly: O woman, great is thy faith.
Obſerv. Pray let us obſerve the wonderful diſpenſation of God here. The Jews that Chriſt was ſent unto, they rejected Chriſt: a Canaanite that is called a Dog, receives Chriſt. Oh! the wonderful diſpenſation of Gods grace! Mercy takes thoſe in, and Free-grace takes in thoſe into Chriſt that are moſt unlikely. The Jews, they were called the Children of the Kingdom; the children, they turn Dogs: Beware of the Conciſion, Phil. 3.2beware of Dogs. Children turn Dogs, and Dogs turn Children: the Canaanite, a Dog, becomes a Child and beleeves; and the Jews that were the Children of the Kingdom, they turn Dogs and rend Chriſt; Oh! what Free-grace and Love is here! Who would reſt upon any outward Priviledge though it be never ſo great? Who would be diſcouraged in regard of any unworthineſſe though it be never ſo much?
But what ſaies this woman? Saies ſhe, [Have mercy upon me, O Lord, thou Son of David, my daughter is grievouſly vexed with a Devil.] Have mercy upon me, O Lord, thou ſon of David. Why does ſhe call him the ſon of David? and not rather the ſon of Abraham? and not rather the ſon of Adam? and not rather the ſon of Man? (as Chriſt was often called) why does ſhe here call him the ſon of David?
We find in Scripture, that Chriſt and David did often exchange Names. And David your King ſhall reign over you. Jer. 30.9(A Promiſe made to the Jews yet to be converted) that is, Chriſt: David your King (and not Abraham) ſhall reign over you; but David your King. David was the King of the people of God, and was to feed them: and ſo Jeſus Chriſt is King of the Church, and feeds the people of God. Abraham was not a King, David a King; and therefore, thou ſon of David, and not, thou ſon of Abraham. And then, the Meſſiah ordinarily among the Jewes was called David. And therefore this woman here ſaies, O Lord, thou ſon of David.
She does firſt of all acknowledge his Deity; and therefore ſhe cals him Lord, O Lord: Shee does acknowledge his Humanity, and Incarnation; and therefore ſhe ſaies, Thou ſon of David. Her Faith was rightly planted: here now ye have her Faith in the Muſterd-ſeed; look but down a few verſes, and you find it grown up into a great tree, that the birds of the air, and the Saints, may come and build their neſts in the branches of her Faith. But here it is planted. She had in her own countrey, ſome that by Exorſiſme did undertake for to caſt out Devils: ſhe does not go to them: ſhe had her own gods in her own countrey, ſhe leaves them, and ſhe ſingles out Chriſt, and ſhe ſingles out that Name, Title, and Attribute of Chriſt, wherein was moſt of the Covenant, and moſt of the Promiſe: and her faith now, being thus rightly planted, it riſes up unto great perfection, ſhe comes on with boldneſs.
But ſtay, O woman, a little, Thou art a great ſinner, thou art a Canaanite, and ſo a Dog, and what doeſt thou comming unto Jeſus Chriſt? I know what I do (might ſhe ſay) I do not come to Peter, I do not come to James, I do not come to John,; but I come to Chriſt, and I come to Mercy, to Mercy it ſelf. I do not plead mine own Righteouſneſs, or mine own Patience, or my Humility, or Prayer, or Perſeverance in prayer; but I plead Mercy, Have mercy on me, O Lord. Behold a Miracle in the midſt of a Miracle, (ſaies Chryſoſtom) The Angels in heaven cover their faces, in beholding the glory of Jeſus Chriſt; and a poor Woman here on earth comes with boldneſs: the Cherubims, and Seraphims in heaven (ſaies he) fear before Chriſt; fear above, and faith below; fear in Angels, faith and boldneſs in a poor woman, ſhe comes with boldneſs.
Obſerv. If faith be true and right, it laies aſide all ones own righteouſneſs, and comes unto naked mercy; paſſes by all other helps and means, ſingles out Chriſt, that Name and Title of Chriſt that hath moſt of the Covenant, and of Gods love in it.
She does not only come with Boldneſs, but ſhe comes with Prayer, Have mercy upon me &c. She comes Praying, for ſhe came Beleeving. Faith and Prayer well go together. Prayer is the iſſue of Faith. Faith is Prayer in the Coale, and Prayer is Faith in the Flame; ſhe comes Praying. And mark alſo, She comes with Love; and ſuch Love, as makes another bodies infirmity and weakneſs ones own: For ſhe does not ſay thus, My Daughter is grievouſly vexed with a Devil, have mercy on my Daughter; but have mercy on Me: her daughters vexation is her own, her infirmity is her own. Faith wrought the Love here. Oh! that Parents would imitate this woman, and go unto Jeſus Chriſt for their Children that are vexed with Devils. If a child be ſick in body, a parent wil run to God and cry for help; but childrens ſouls may be vexed with Devils (every Luſt and Sin is a Devil) and they do not run to Chriſt and ſay, Oh! Lord, have mercy on me; for my Daughter, or my Son, or my Child, is vexed with an unclean Devil, or a prophane Devil: But this woman, having planted her faith rightly, her faith here it does work by Prayer, and it works by Love, and ſhe ſaies thus, Have mercy upon me, O Lord, thou ſon of David, my daughter is grievouſly vexed with a Devil.
But what now is Chriſts anſwer to her? [He anſwered her not a word.] Now comes the Temptations, the Three great Temptations; Do not wonder that I call theſe Temptations. It is true, God tempteth no man, and Chriſt tempteth no man: but take Temptation for Tryal, ſo Chriſt tempts, ſo God tempteth. Satan, he tempts a man for to draw out his Sin; but Chriſt tempts for to draw out our Faith. Satans temptations are black within, white and ſweet without: but Chriſts temptations are black without, white and ſweet within.
The firſt Temptation therefore, you have here, He anſwered her not a word. Not a word! Chriſt is called the Word: The Word anſwers not a Word. The Fountain of mercy ſeems to be incloſed; as if he rejected Her, and her Condition; as if he cared not for It, nor for Her; He anſwered her not a Word. Here was a great temptation upon the woman, a great tryal; for ſhe might ſay thus: I have heard, That the LORD heaheth Prayer; and now I come and pray unto him, he anſwers me not a Word; How is the Scripture true? I have heard that this man ſaies, Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will eaſe you: and now I do come unto him, he anſwers me not a Word. The Centurion came unto him, and he helped him. A poor Leper came unto him, and he helped him; my condition is worſe than any bodies. Here was a great Temptation, Chriſt anſwered her not a word.
Though Chriſt anſwered her not a word, he heard every word: in not anſwering of her, he anſwered her. In not ſpeaking, Chriſt ſpeaketh much, (many times) for when he ſpeaks no anſwer to your prayers, the language of his actions ſpeak thus, Pray on, Cry on, and lift up your voice on High. Chriſt holds the door cloſe, not that he may keep you out, but that he may make you knock the more. Chriſt lets you continue praying, not becauſe he does not regard your prayer, but becauſe he loves your prayer ſo well, that he would hear your prayer again and again, Chriſt knows, that ſtrength comes in wreſtling.
Obſerv. It is no new thing then for Beleevers to have no preſent, viſible anſwer to their prayers. But mark, although they have no viſible anſwer to their prayers, they have inviſible ſtrength: he anſwered her not a word to her prayer, but he aſſiſteth her all that while in praying: he gives her no anſwer to her prayer, but he gave her prayer, he gave her faith to continue in prayer. So long therefore, as the Lord Jeſus Chriſt does ſend down his ſpirit upon your heart in prayer; though ye have no viſible anſwer unto your prayer, yet if he uphold your heart in beleeving, ſtill to hang upon him, ſtill to wait upon him, your condition is not new, it is no other than that which befals the beſt of Gods Children and true Beleevers; thus it befell this woman.
If this Temptation do befal any of you as it befel this woman, to have no viſible anſwer unto your prayer; pray do as this women did: What did ſhe?
Firſt. He anſwered her not a word; but ſtill ſhe does acknowledge that he was able to help her, does acknowledge his Deity, and ſaies, Lord. So do you.
Secondly. She does acknowledge; that it is his Office for to help: and therefore ſhe ſaies, Thou ſon of David. So do you alſo ſay in your heart, Though I have not help for the preſent, it is the Office of Chriſt to help me; He is the ſon of David.
Thirdly. She does not reſt upon her own Duty, or her own Righteouſneſs; but ſhe comes unto meer mercy, and ſhe waits on that. So do you alſo.
Fourthly. She does propound her miſery, leave her miſery at the feet of Chriſt, and does not ſtint or limit him to this or that means. Lord (ſaies ſhe) my daughter is grievouſly vexed; but ſhe does not ſay, how ſhe would have her daughter cured, ſhe leaves that to Chriſt, only propounds her miſery, and leaves that at the feet of Chriſt, to take his own way, and uſe his own means. So do you alſo.
Fiftly. She continues yet praying, yea, when the Diſciples had done. The Diſciples they ſaid, Send her away (at the 23. verſe) for ſhe crieth after us. Chriſt made an anſwer to them, and ye hear no more of the Diſciples, they had done. Thus do you alſo, as this woman did, Though your Friends, and the Diſciples of Chriſt that have been praying for you, be weary, have done, and have no more to ſpeak for you; yet hold you out, and continue praying. Thus did this woman, ſhe would not leave Chriſt, but ſhe comes on afreſh, ſhe comes unto him again.
What is Chriſts anſwer? [He anſwered and ſaid, I am not ſent, but unto the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael.] Here now is the Second Temptation. And this indeed ſeems to be greater than the former. Before he anſwered her not a word; and now here is denyal, ſeeming denyal, I am not ſent, but unto the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael. This Temptation is greater: for now in this his dealing, his way ſeems to run croſſe unto promiſes. The Promiſe was made unto the Gentiles; the old Teſtament is full of it: 42. of Eſay, and the 1. verſe. He ſhall bring forth judgment unto the Gentiles. verſe 6. I have given thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles. And ſo in many places, Mercy is promiſed unto the Gentiles. Here now our Savior ſaies, I am not ſent, but to the laſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael: His dealing with this woman, ſeems to run croſſe to the Promiſes. Yea, now he comes to the great unanſwerable Objection; as if he ſhould ſay thus: There are a company of poor loſt ones, that are my ſheep, elected, predeſtinated to Salvation from all Eternity; and I am ſent unto them, I am not ſent, but unto the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael. Whereupon this woman might ſay, Nay then, what do I waiting any longer? for is I be not one of the Elect, if I be not one of Chriſts Sheep, then there is no hope for me. This was a great, and a very great Temptation, to lay theſe words before her, a great Tryal, I am not ſent, but uno the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael. But mark her carriage: ſhe does not fall to diſpute the matter of Election, or Predeſtination; ſhe came and worſhipped him, ſaying, Lord help me, at the 25. verſ. As if ſhe ſhould ſay, Lord, whether I be Elected or no, I do not know; whether I be one of thoſe loſt ſheep or no, I cannot tell; but I am ſure I am loſt, and therfore, O Lord help me. Obſerve,
Obſer. 1 Firſt. A mans temptations may riſe higher and higher, even after prayer; and yet pray aright. This women did pray before, and her temptation riſes after prayer, yet her prayer right, and her faith right.
Secondly. Obſerve this, That Gods dealings, or Chriſts dealings with a man, may ſometimes ſeem to run croſſe to his very Promiſe, and yet a mans Condition right. So here with this woman.
Thirdly. That it may be the caſe of ſome of Gods Children, to be exerciſed about their Election, and Predeſtination; and temptations concerning Election, and Predeſtination thrown in upon them.
Fourthly. That in caſe any poor Beleever, that is a weak perſon, weak in the faith, be tempted and tryed about Election, or Predeſtination, the beſt way for the preſent is, to lay that diſpute by, and to run to mercy, and ſay, Lord help me: and for the preſent, not to diſpute whether he be a Sheep or no, Elected or no, Predeſtinated or no, but run to Chriſt, and go to Prayer, and ſay, Lord help me, and lay the diſpute by.
Again. As our Temptations encreaſe, ſo our Faith ſhal encreaſe. The womans Temptations roſe, ſo did her Faith too; She came and worſhipped him, ſaying, Lord help me: ſtill ſhe held on, and hung upon Jeſus Chriſt. According to the encreaſes of our Temptations, ſo ſhall the encreaſes of our Faith be.
If al this wil not do, behold now a Third, and a greater Temptation. He anſwered and ſaid, It is not meet to take the childrens bread and to caſt it to dogs.
It is not meet to caſt childrens bread to DOGS.] The word in the original is, a Whelp. A Dog grown, or a Maſtiff, may be, & is good for ſomething, of great uſe; but what is a Whelp good for, (for the preſent) of what uſe? It is not meet to caſt childrens bread unto Whelps.
To CAST Childrens bread] It intimates thus much, That God does caſt ſome Outward bleſſings upon Wicked men, that are even Dogs: but the bread of Children is ſo diſpenſed, Goſpel-bread is ſo diſpenſed, as nothing ſhall be loſt.
Here was a very great Temptation, and greater than the other. Dog is moſt unworthy. When the Scripture would ſet out the unworthineſs of a man, and the abject condition of any, he is called a Dog. Goliah could underſtand this, Am I a Dog? that thou comeſt out thus againſt me. 1 Sam. 17.43.Am I ſo baſe, vile, and unworthy? am I a Dog? And ſo Mephiboſheth, when he would acknowledge his own Unworthyneſs to David, he cals himſelf, a Dog, and a dead Dog. So Haſael, Am I a Dog? Yet ſaies our Savior here, It is not meet to caſt childrens bread unto Dogs. This woman now, her heart might have riſen, and ſhe might have ſaid thus, (one would think) I am no Dog; I am a Woman, though a ſinful Woman, but I am no Dog: I have now come & ſpread my condition, and miſery before ye; if ye will not relieve me, do not miſcall me; if ye will not help me, yet do not abuſe me; if ye will not help me, yet pity me, do not call me Dog, I am no Dog. The Jews, that you call the children of the Kingdom, they indeed are Dogs, they turn again and rend you, but I do not turn again and rend you, I am no Dog. Her heart might have riſe at this phraſe: Here was a great Temptation now, a mighty Trial here in this Third thing.
Obſerv. Obſerve: It is no new thing for true Beleevers, Gods own people, to have their unworthineſs objected to them. It is an ordinary thing amongſt men and women, I am Unclean, I am Unworthy of Communion with the Saints, Communion with Gods people, with Chriſt, I am a Dog, I am moſt unworthy, it is no new thing for true Beleevers to have their own unworthineſs objected to them.
But mark, how this womans faith works through this Temptation. Saies ſhe, True, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their maſters table.
True] The word is the ſame that in the Corinthians ye tranſlate,1 Cor. 15.33. Proteſt. I proteſt by our rejoycing, that I die daily. And it ſhould rather be tranſlated ſo; Yea, by our rejoycing, we die daily: rather than in the form of an Oath, (as it is there) it is the ſame word that is here for, True.
Obſer. 1 Ye cannot charg a Beleever ſo deeply, or ſpeak ſo meanly of him, but he does think and ſpeak as meanly of himſelf: Lord, thou doeſt call me a Dog, and one that is moſt unworthy; True, Lord, I am moſt unworthy. Some, they will diſpraiſe themſelves; but if you diſpraiſe them too, then they will be angry: if you fal in with their own diſpraiſes, and ſay, 'Tis true; then they will be angry. But a true Beleever, you cannot ſpeak, or think ſo meanly of him, but he wil ſay, True, Lord, true.
Lord] Obſerve here, ſhe cals Chriſt Lord, when Chriſt cals her Dog. Lord, (ſaies ſhe) though thou ſpeakeſt diſhonourably of me, yet I will ſpeak honourably of thee: though I am a Dog in thy mouth, thou art a Lord in my mouth. A gracious heart, and a true Beleever, wil ſpeak and think honourably of Jeſus Chriſt, even then, at that time, when the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhall ſuffer the greateſt dirt and reproach to be thrown upon him: True, Lord.
But the dogs eat the crumbs.] Thirdly. True faith finds out a promiſe in the very refuſal, in Chriſts refuſal: finds out Encouragment in the bowels of Diſcouragment. True Lord, Bread is for Children; that is, the loaf, the piece that is cut off the loaf; but the Crumbs does as well belong to the Dog, as the Loaf belongs to the Child. And Lord, thou faieſt I am a Dog, therefore a Crumb does belong to me. True faith, it gathers in upon Jeſus Chriſt, and gathers in upon him by that very hand that ſeems to put the ſoul away from him: it makes advantage of a diſcouragment, and gathers in upon Jeſus Chriſt, even by that hand that does thruſt it away. The dogs eat the crumbs.
Again. You may obſerve here, That the leaſt of Chriſt, is highly prized with a true Beleever: a gracious heart, a true Beleever, does highly prize and value the leaſt of Chriſt. A crumb, a crumb, Oh! if I may have but a crumb, a crumb ſhall be welcome, Lord, a crumb of mercy is welcome: the loaves are for Children, but if I can get a crumb, I will praiſe God for it, I will be contented. The leaſt, the worſt of Chriſt in the eye of a Beleever, is highly valued, and he ſets a great price upon it.
Laſtly. All this is ſaid by a Woman. Women uſually are not of that boldneſs, but more eaſily daſh'd out of countenance. Faith riſes above our Nature, and above our natural diſpoſition. Faith had gotten into this womans heart, and ſhe forgets her own diſpoſition, ſhe comes like any Man, with boldneſs upon Jeſus Chriſt, follows him, and will never let him alone. Faith riſes above our own Diſpoſitions, and above our Natures.
From all this, you may obſerve here. If you be tempted with conſideration of your own unworthineſs, how you ſhould give an anſwer unto thoſe temptations. Do as this woman did; if I be a Dog, Lord, yet I am thy Dog; and if I be a Dog, Lord, yet crumbs belong to me; and if I be never ſo great a ſinner, mercy and grace is for ſinners, and I come to mercy. Oh! ſtill, ſtill hang upon Jeſus Chriſt, ſtill hang upon Jeſus Chriſt, and never let him go. Ab negando promittit, he does promiſe in denying. There was honey-combs found in the body of the Lyon. Do but hang upon Jeſus Chriſt, hang upon him by faith, and you will find hony-combs in the midſt of all thoſe temptations, and diſcouragements that you do meet withall. And though for the preſent he does ſeem to give a denyal unto all your prayers, yet at the laſt he will own your prayers, he will own your faith, and he will ſay unto to thee, Man or Woman, Great is thy faith: be it unto thee even is thou wilt.
I come to the Victory after this Combate. Then Jeſus anſwered, and ſaid unto her, [O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.] Here now the Lord does give a Teſtimony of her faith, and he does give her the mercy deſired. Firſt, he commends her faith: and ſecondly, he commends the greatneſs of her faith, O woman great is thy faith.
Queſt. Why does he rather commend her Faith, than other graces? ſhe had other graces: Here is Humility in this woman to be ſeen; here is a great deal of Wiſdom in this woman to be ſeen; here is Prayer; here is Perſeverance in prayer; Chriſt commends none of theſe, but commends her Faith: why does he rather commend her Faith, than any other grace?
Anſw. Faith does commend Chriſt above all the other, and therefore Chriſt will commend Faith above all other Duties or Graces. Faith honors Chriſt, and Chriſt will honor Faith. It is faith that gives a Being to, and is the root of all other graces. He commends that: It is only faith that brings Chriſt and the ſoul together; and therefore he does commend faith above all other graces.
If the Lord Jeſus Chriſt does commend faith ſo, why ſhould we not all labor eſpecially to ſtrengthen our faith. Get faith, you that have it not, & ſtrengthen it, you that have it. Get Humility, Patience, Wiſdom; be much in Prayer, and continue in Prayer; but above all things get Faith: Faith is the grace commended by Jeſus Chriſt above all other graces; therefore we ſhould labor above all for to get faith, and to ſtrengthen faith. It is obſerved from this place, that Chriſt commends none but the Gentiles, the faith of the Gentiles: He ſaies concerning the Centurion, I have not found ſo great faith, no not in Iſrael: he was a Gentile. And here he ſaies concerning this women, O woman, great is thy faith: and ſhe was a Gentile. What ever therefore thou haſt been; though a Canaanite, though a Sinner, though a great Sinner; get faith, labor to ſtrengthen then thy faith, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will own thy faith at the laſt: though for the preſent he ſeems to hide himſelf from thee, yet he will own it at the laſt, and he will commend it at the laſt.
Secondly. He commends here the Greatneſs of her faith. Wherein was the Greatnes of her faith? Faith conſiſts in the knowledge of Chriſt, aſſent unto the truth, a relying upon God in Chriſt in time of temptation, it's a Coming to Jeſus Chriſt; an Adherence to him. But the greatneſs of her faith lay in this, That in the midſt of all theſe temptations, yet ſhe did hang on Chriſt, and would not be beaten off by any of theſe diſcouragements, or temptations. Here was the greatneſs of her faith.
Obſerv. The ſtrength of faith does not lie in the aſſurance of our Salvation, or of Gods love, or of the mercy that we deſire in prayer; one may have ſtrong faith, and yet no aſſurance: I ſay, not only faith but ſtrong faith. This woman had no Aſſurance (that we reade of) not aſſurance of the thing that ſhe begged, that the Lord would hear her prayer; ſhe had no aſſurance of it, only ſhe hung upon Chriſt, and would not away. And when he put her away, ſhe gathered in upon him: in the midſt of all temptation and oppoſition, ſtill ſhe did hang upon him. So then, a man may have faith, and ſtrong faith, although he have no aſſurance.
And upon this account, How many are there that have ſtrong faith, that think they have no faith at all. Some think they have no faith, becauſe they cannot ſay, Chriſt is mine, Mercy is mine, Heaven is mine: but yet, if in the time of your temptation ye can hand upon Chriſt, and will not away from Chriſt, but will ſtill hang upon him, ſtill wait upon him; you have not only faith, but you may have ſtrong faith, a great faith as this woman had. And let me tell you this for your comfort: at the laſt the Lord will make a report of your faith unto your own heart: Yea, he will make a report anſwerable to your temptation: for you may obſerve here, That as the wound was made, ſo the plaiſter was laid. You have Three great temptations: Anſwerably now, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt does teſtifie of this womon. Firſt of all, He anſwered her not a word, would not own her, would not ſpeak to her: Now (ſaies he) O woman. Then he ſaid, That he was not ſent, but unto the loſt ſheep. Now he does own her for a Sheep, and he ſaies ſhe hath Faith. Before he ſaies, It is not meet to caſt childrens bread to dogs. This did argue that ſhe was a Dog, one moſt Unworthy. Now he ſaies, that ſhe is moſt Worthy; O woman, thou haſt not only faith, but thou haſt a great faith, O woman, great is thy faith. So that I ſay, ſtill hang upon Chriſt; in all your Temptations, in the midſt of all your Diſcouragments, ſtill hang upon Chriſt; and the Lord Jeſus, he will not only make a report of your faith unto ye, but according as your temptations riſe, ſo ſhall the report of your grace be from the Lord Chriſt unto your poor ſoul: therefore hang upon Chriſt.
He does not only here, give a teſtimony of her faith, and the greatneſs of her faith; but now he does give the Thing: Be it unto thee as thou wilt. Chriſt can deny nothing to a true Beleever: a Beleever may have what he will of Chriſt at laſt. Chriſt cannot hold: though he do hide himſelf from his brethren (as Joſeph did) for a time, he cannot hold it out alwaies, he cannot hold out the ſiege alwaies, but he will give up himſelf to a poor Beleever, O poor Beleever, Be it according as thou wilt: thou wouldſt have Grace, thou wouldſt have this or that Mercy; Be it unto thee even as thou wilt.
I'le only take one Leſſon from all, and ſo conclude.
And the great Leſſon that we ſhould all Learn from this whole Story is, To beleeve in the face of all Diſcouragement, of all Oppoſition, all Temptation; ſtill to hang upon Jeſus Chriſt. The very reading of this ſtory provokes us hereunto. Whatſoever your Temptations be, whatever your Diſcouragements be, yet hang on Chriſt, never away, ſtill wait upon him.
Object. You ſay, (it may be) But I fear Chriſt and the Promiſe does not belong to me.
Anſw. But did Jeſus Chriſt ever ſay unto ye with his own mouth, I am not ſent, but unto the loſt ſheep; and thou art none? He ſaid ſo to this woman, and yet ſhe did hang upon him, and he commended her for her faith.
Object. But you will ſay unto me; I have been at prayer, I have prayed long, and I hear nothing of all my prayers.
Anſw. This woman did pray to Chriſt, he anſwered her not a word, and yet ſhe did hang upon him, yet ſhee did beleeve; and ſhee is commended for her beleeving.
Object. You will ſay, I am one that have been a great ſinner; an Unclean wretch, even as a Dog; ſurely there is no hope, and no mercy for me.
Anſ. Did the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ever Himſelf ſay to you, as he ſaid to this woman? ſeeming to call her Dog; yet ſhe did hang upon him, yet ſhe did wait upon him, yet ſhe did beleeve, and the Lord commended her for her faith.
Object. I Pray, indeed, but it's my Neceſſities makes me go unto God in Prayer, and when I go unto God in Prayer, my Neceſſities put me on.
Anſ. And was it not ſo with this woman? Her daughter was grievouſly vexed with a Devil, and thereupon her Neceſſity drave her unto Chriſt; and yet, poor woman, ſhe is welcome.
Object. But, I do not go unto Jeſus Chriſt; I go not unto Chriſt at all.
But Jeſus Chriſt yet will come to you. This woman did not come to Jeruſalem, Chriſt went down unto the coaſts of Tyre and Sidon; Chriſt came to her, and yet ſhe beleeved, this ſtood with faith, and Chriſt commended her faith.
Object. I have no Aſſurance of Chriſts love and mercy towards me.
Anſw. Tell me, Had this woman any aſſurance of the mercy that ſhe prayed for? She only brings in her wants, propounds them to Jeſus Chriſt, laies them at his feet, hangs upon him, and this was her faith; and ſhe is commended for her faith, and the greatneſs of her faith, O woman, great is thy faith. So that, do but now hang on Chriſt, though thou haſt not aſſurance of thy Salvation, or of the love of God, yet in the face of all Temptation, and all Diſcouragment, hang on Chriſt, never away, never be beaten off by any Diſcouragment, hang on Chriſt, wait on Chriſt, and the Lord Chriſt will at laſt commend thee for thy faith, and he will ſay unto thee, Be it unto thee as thou wilt. How ſhall people, that go on in a continued way of Doubting and Unbelief, ever look this poor woman in the face at the great day of Judgment? this poor Canaanitiſh woman? How will you be able, you that go on in a continual way of Doubting and Unbelief, to look the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in the face? Stir up your ſelves, ſtir up your ſelves I beſeech you, to this great work of Beleeving. I confeſs it's a hard thing to Beleeve, and harder to Beleeve than to keep all the Ten Commandements; there is ſomething in Nature to contribute towards the keeping of the Ten Commandements; but there is nothing in Nature to contribute to thy Beleeving on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. It is a very hard thing to Beleeve truly; and thoſe that make it an eaſie matter, they do not know what it is to Beleeve. But reade over this ſtory, and your hearts will be provoked to Beleeve, to hang upon Jeſus Chriſt; do it, and the Lord will commend your faith, and own you and your faith.
FINIS.