A Cluster of Grapes Taken out of the Canaanite Womans Basket, Sermon 3
Reaſons why Chriſt at firſt ſeems to bee harſh. The Third SERMON.
Matthew 15. from verſ. 23, and ſo on.
But hee anſwered her not a word. And his Diſciples came and beſought him, ſaying, Send her away, for ſhee crieth after us.
But hee anſwered and ſaid, I am not ſent, but unto the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael.
Then came ſhee, and worſhipped him, ſaying, Lord help mee.
But hee anſwered and ſaid, It is not meet to take the childrens bread, and to caſt it to doggs, &c.
BEſides thoſe things which are commonly experienced, and which muſt bee certainly expected in the coming of every ſoul to Chriſt, beſides thoſe, there are ſome RARE extraordinary things, that now and then fall out upon ſome ſouls in their coming to …hriſt: And my Brethren, it concerns us to bee acquainted with them, that in caſe they ſhould befall us (as others) wee may know what to think, and how to carry our ſelves. Now in this ſtory of the Woman of Canaan, wee have ſome of thoſe rare and extraordinary things, which may befall ſome ſouls when they come to Chriſt. Indeed wee have not the like Hiſtory in all the New Teſtament unto this; you read of many that came to Chriſt, and you read how Chriſt did entertain them, but you never read that Chriſt did carry it ſo to any, as hee did to the Woman of Canaan.
There were four heads of matter unto which I ſaid we might reduce this ſtory.
Firſt, The coming of the Woman to Chriſt, that wee have diſpatched.
The Woman came upon a low account at firſt, ſhee had a childe-ſick, poſſeſſed with Satan, and her ſick childe did revive a dead ſoul, and brings her to Chriſt.
But now the ſecond head wee are come to, It is Chriſts entertainment of this Woman.
How doth Chriſt entertain her? ſhee comes with much affection, ſhee ſpeaks with great humility, how doth Chriſt welcome her? truly very ſtrangely, hee anſwers her not a word; And when the Diſciples ſpake on her behalf, hee ſeems to reprove them; when ſhee renews her requeſt, hee puts her off with a dreadful anſwer; ſo ſtrangely doth Chriſt ſometimes carry it to poor ſouls.
The Doctrine wee are upon from the carriage of Chriſt to the Woman, is,
Doct. That Ieſus Chriſt is ſeemingly harſh ſometimes to ſome ſouls when they come to him.
Wee expreſſed the Doctrine with more caution, becauſe it is rare, and it muſt not bee miſtaken; Therefore wee told you the l…ſt day, thoſe three expreſſions are boundaries of the point.
1 It is but ſeemingly; There is harſhneſs in the carriage, when none in the heart,
2 And that ſometimes.
3 And but to ſome perſons; wee do not read of any more but this one, to whom Chriſt did carry it ſo.
There were two things I ſaid I would open, in the doctrinal part.
Firſt, Wherein Chriſt might ſhew ſome kinde of harſhneſs ſometimes to poor ſouls.
This wee opened by this inſtance of Chriſts carriage to this Woman.
1 Hee doth not entertain her.
2 Hee doth not ſpeak to her.
3 Puts off them that ſpake for her.
4 When ſhee renews her requeſt, ſhee is not the better.
5 Nay, hee ſpeaks that as might daſh her hope.
6 And at laſt hee doth for her, but upon a great diſpute, and after denials and delaies.
Secondly, But whence is it that the Lord ſhould thus ſometimes, unlike himſelf (as wee may ſo ſpeak) carry himſelf thus to poor ſouls? The Prophecies ſpeak contrary, the Promiſes ſpeak fairer, whence is it the Lord whoſe Name, and whoſe Nature is love, ſhould deal ſo harſhly with any when they come to him?
I anſwer, Though God will fulfil the Prophecies, and make good the Promiſes, yet hee will keep up the Prerogative both of his WILL and of his WISDOME, that in the general I ſpake unto the laſt time.
But there are ſix particular Reaſons that I ſhall give of the point; Chriſt may have ſix ends, or ſix Reaſons why hee will deal, it may bee with you, as with the Woman of Canaan.
Firſt, Chriſt hath a deſign to further humiliation.
Secondly, Chriſt hath a deſign to make a little trial upon the poor ſoul.
Thirdly, Chriſt hath a deſign to caution many, by dealing harſhly with ſome.
Fourthly, Chriſt hath a deſign fully to bring the ſoul to Goſpel ſelf-denial.
Fifthly, Chriſt hath a deſign to heighten himſelf in the heart.
And ſixthly and laſtly, That the ſoul may catch more hastily, and keep more cloſely hold of Chriſt. Now pray minde it, poſſibly this afternoon I may give an account of Chriſts dealing with ſome of your ſouls; it may bee ſome of you are like the Woman of Canaan that have gone to Chriſt, and found hard entertainment, and you are ready to ſay, Lord, why doſt thou do ſo? ſuch a one went and found thee friendly and favourably, while I come and cry, and have no kindneſs, Nay, ſeemingly, and to my ſenſe, much harſhneſs. Conſider now what I ſhall ſay to ſatisfie you in the Reaſon of this ſtrange carriage of Chriſt.
And firſt, It may bee Chriſt intends to humble thee. Jeſus Chriſt doth indeed humble all, but not all alike, nor all in the ſame manner, Now by thus dealing with the ſoul in this manner, hee doth humble the ſoul in the beſt and ſweereſt manner, viz. in an Evangelical way. Legal humiliation, it is juſt as a Father deals with a very untoward childe, hee will not bee ruled, and the Father ſends him to the Magiſtrate, that hee may go to Bridewel; But Goſpel-humiliation is juſt like a Father dealing with his childe by himſelf. The Father looks ſtrange, and ſpeaks hard, and thereby humbles the childe; ſo, Chriſt will not turn us over to Satan, to buffer us, and fear us, and as it were break us; but himſelf by a little unuſual, ſtrange, and rough carriage will that way humble us. And truly what will humble us, if that will not? There are but three heads unto which humiliation doth relate, and you ſhall ſee, this ſame harſh dealing of Chriſt with us at firſt, will tend very much to the accompliſhment of them all.
Firſt, Humiliation relates to ſin, that ſin may bee exceeding bitter.
Secondly, It relates to ſelf, that the ſoul may bee exceeding low.
Thirdly, It relates to Chriſt, that a ſoul under the ſenſe of the bitterneſs of ſin, and the lowneſs of ſelf-thoughts, may think of Chriſt very highly.
Now obſerve, when Chriſt ſhall deal roughly with a ſinner coming to him, all theſe three are effected.
Oh now! Firſt, Sin is made bitter by this dealing of Jeſus Chriſt: The Law made ſin bitter, but the Goſpel makes it more bitter. Oh! ſaith the ſoul, mine iniquities make Chriſt look frowning, they ſeparate between God and mee. A tormenting Devil with a fiery face, doth not make ſin ſo bitter as a frowning Jeſus Chriſt with a harſh countenance, when Chriſt looks angry; thus ſaith the ſoul, Oh that ever my ſins ſhould make my Father frown, that is all love. I had once thoughts that ſin was that which would make the Devil roar, and ſpeak terribly, but now I ſee it makes Chriſt himſelf harſh, and ſpeak roughly. Oh vile ſin! Oh great evil! now thy ſin appears (Oh my ſoul) to bee indeed exceeding ſinful, the ſole and principal evil that is; for it makes my Saviour carry it ſadly towards mee.
Secondly, By this harſh dealing of Chriſt, the ſoul is humbled in it ſelf: If Chriſt frown, ſelf muſt down and kneel. It may bee the ſoul comes conceited, hee is not ſo bad as the Preacher would make him; but when the ſoul ſhall come to Chriſt for mercy, and Chriſt ſhall frown, and call him Dogg, Now, ſaith the ſoul, though I thought Preacher, and Father, and Mother made mee worſe than I was, yet now I ſee I am very bad, Chriſt hee calls mee Dogg, and hee ſaith, it is not fit I ſhould come in houſe with the children; and makes mee to ſee, that for all my daintineſs, and high thoughts, I am no … than a Dogg. Oh ſelf! how poor, and mean, and exceeding vile art thou?
Thirdly, Chriſt is mightily exalted; this carriage makes thee more to prize Chriſt. Poor creatures onelyonly thought Chriſt a common perſon, one that might bee eaſily come and ſpoke unto, yea and prevailed with. But now, when Chriſt carries it a little high, and ſpeaks ſomething harſh, bidding us as it were keep off: Now hee comes to bee heightned in our heart, and by caſting us down, hee doth lift up himſelf, that now wee come with more reverence and fear, with more ſelf-abhorring, and Chriſt-admiring thoughts, than poſſibly wee did at firſt. So that Chriſt by this carriage, rendring ſin more vile, and ſelf more baſe, and himſelf more precious, doth hereby ſweetly and ſurely humble us; and this may bee one reaſon of this ſtrange carriage to us.
Secondly, The Lord intends to make a trial upon the ſoul by this harſh dealing. I pray minde it (Beloved) That Jeſus Chriſt, that will never burn the ſoul to aſhes, doth yet intend to make a trial of the ſoul in fire; And my Brethren, the harſh dealing of Jeſus Chriſt it is a ſhrewd trial to us.
Two things I ſhall intimate in this, the Lord by harſh dealing makes a trial of two things.
Firſt, Chriſt will make a trial of the reality of our humiliation, and hunger, by which wee pretend to hunger after Chriſt, and to pant for him, as thoſe who do heartily prize him.
And Secondly, Of the reality of our Faith too.
Firſt, Chriſt by this makes a trial of the reality of our ſpiritual hunger, by which wee pretend to long after Chriſt. All is not hunger and thirſt for Chriſt which ſeems ſo to bee. The ſoul comes to Chriſt, as a man that is a hungry, comes to bread, and Oh, ſaith the ſoul, I am hungry; and now …iſt will try him; Hee comes and ſaies hee thirſts for Righteouſneſs, and Bread of Life; now, ſaith Chriſt, I will try him a little, will hee lye by the cupboard-door? and if I ſay bread, will hee ſay a crumb? If I call him Dogg, and bid him bee gone; will hee yet lye at my feet? A hungry man indeed will do ſo, and I will try if this ſoul bee (as hee ſaies) really hungry: So Chriſt hereby tries our ſpiritual longing. Many pretend to long, who do not ſo much as love, (for longing is the ſtrength and height of love) Many, ſay they hunger, who yet have not a ſpiritual ſtomach at all to Chriſt, the Bread of Life: They ask bread, but it is onelyonly an asking. Now Chriſt will try us, and by this ſtrange carriage hee trieth us indeed. And for us to continue begging, crying bread, after Chriſt hath ſpoke to us, as to this woman; After hee hath ſaid, I am not ſent for you, it is not meet to give unto you; bee gone, what, ſhould a Dogg have childrens bread? after this, I ſay, to wait, and worſhip, to beg, and reiterate cries for bread, this will make Chriſt ſay, this longing is ſincere, and ſtrong, beleeve it, here is a hungry ſoul indeed. Many wiſh for Chriſt, who do not heartily hunger for him.
Secondly, Chriſt will try Faith too, and it is good for us to bee tried in our Faith. Saith Chriſt, Here comes a ſoul to mee, hee looks as if hee would take hold of mee, I will try whether hee bee one of Jacobs children that will wreſtle a fall, and keep his hold when I ſeek, and ſeem to caſt him off. I will ſee if I call him Dogg, Whether hee will truſt and beleeve hee may bee a Childe. It was a trial and demonſtration that Jobs Faith was right, when hee would truſt in a killing God, and it will try our Faith indeed, to wait upon, and cling to a ſeemingly rejecting Redeemer. And this was the great matter in the caſe of this poor woman; Oh Woman! great is thy Faith: Jeſus Chriſt did all this to try the womans Faith. God will ſee whether the ſoul will take hold of an angry Chriſt, and run after a going-away Chriſt. In 1 Pet. 1.7. ſaith the Apoſtle there, That the trial of your Faith, being much more precious than of gold that periſheth, &c. It is not ſpoken of Faith in it ſelf, that that is more precious than gold that periſheth, (though that is precious) but of the trial of it; The very trial of Faith is a precious thing. Now that Chriſt may try our Faith, as well as our Hunger, therefore hee deals a little harſhly with us.
Thirdly, The Lord hath this deſign too, By his harſh dealing with one, hee will make many wiſe. When two or three of the younger boles ſhall ſee the Father deal ſomething harſh with the eldeſt, it teaches them all ſomething. The Lord help us, wee are a company of mad untoward children, wee neglect many a precious opportunity; Chriſt calls, and wee will not anſwer, &c. Now when Chriſt ſhall deal harſhly with ſome, then wee ſhall bee made wiſe to hearken when Chriſt calls. How many have preached this truth from that experience? Children (have ſome Parents ſaid) take a Chriſt while hee ſmiles, take a Promiſe when it is tendered, you do not know what it may coſt you; I neglected my ſeaſons, and I found it a hard matter for mee to cloſe with Jeſus Chriſt. You have a great word, in Heb. 3.7, 8. Wherefore to day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderneſs, &c. What doth hee allude to? hee alludes to the ſtory of the children of Iſrael in the wilderneſs; and of Gods harſh dealing with them, and all becauſe of their unbeleef. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt, hee doth deal harſhly with many, leads them thorow wilderneſſes, ſtings them with Scorpions, to make others wiſe to accept of mercy, when and while it may bee had. Ah! how many think it an eaſie matter to come to Chriſt, and have bread preſently; and therefore defer and delay, put by (at beſt) lay by many a choice tender till another time, as they think wherein they may at pleaſure take it: But now, when they ſhall ſee ſuch examples as this, that a man or woman may come, and call, and crouch, and worſhip, and begg, and yet bee put off, yet have no mercy, No, nor no kinde word (as was this womans caſe) this will make them wiſe to take heed how they refuſe that which afterwards they may requeſt with tears, and yet bee rejected.
But beſides, fourthly, The Lord Chriſt doth deal thus, that indeed hee may bring the ſoul to Goſpel-ſelf-denial. I ſay unto Goſpel-ſelf-denial.
The Lord is reſolved, that whoſoever will bee his Diſciple, muſt deny himſelf; Now ſome have obſerved, that nothing doth ſo much tame any, as hunger. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt will take the ſoul upon the hip, and make the ſoul fully deny it ſelf; and now, ſaith God, If thou wilt come to mee in my way, well, otherwiſe no bread: Bread, bread, ſaith the hungry man, if I may have it this way, or that way, any way, I will take it; well, ſaith Chriſt, I ſee the ſoul is come pretty well too (as wee ſay) I will keep off a little longer, make him faſt a few daies more. Deny him till hee is ready to dye for hunger, and then I ſhall make him deny himſelf in his honour, in his inheritance, in his very birth-right: I ſhall make him ſay, what profit will that or any thing do mee, if I dye for hunger? and I am at the point of death. Therefore whatever the terms are, I will deny all, part with all for this Bread of Life. So that real, univerſal ſelf-denial, is by the Lords grace effected through this delaying, and ſeemingly-denying carriage. And to this end, or for this reaſon, doth Chriſt ſometimes deal with us, as with the woman of Canaan. Hee will ſeemingly deny us, that wee may really deny our ſelves. Hee will tame us, and then put his own terms upon us, and for that end carries it ſo ſtrangely to us.
Fifthly, Chriſt doth intend to heighten himſelf in our hearts: Before Chriſt give us himſelf, hee will greaten himſelf. And my Brethren, it is our ſore miſery, that wee are too apt to have ſleight thoughts of Jeſus Chriſt; Now Chriſt will make us prize him very highly, and therefore wee ſhall come by him very hardly. It is a Rule, and a general Obſervation, That wee prize that highly, which wee come by very hardly. Oh Sirs! the Lord Chriſt knows how to heighten himſelf in your hearts, by deferring to grant your requeſt. Poſſibly thou art a poor ignorant creature in thy firſt coming unto Chriſt; one who thinkeſt well, but not well enough of Chriſt; Thou valueſt him a little, but not as the chiefeſt: Now Chriſt is reſolved to heighten himſelf in thy heart, and will therefore keep off ſo long that thou ſhalt come thereby to prize him at a higher rate than all the world, and ſhalt have cauſe to ſay, I value him much, and love him dear, for I came by him very hardly, and was fain to wait long before I did enjoy him.
Laſtly, The Lord Chriſt may have this end, Namely, That the ſoul might catch at him more haſtily, and keep him more faſtly; therefore hee doth hold off thus, and deal thus harſhly; wee are not eager enough in cloſing with Chriſt. My Brethren, the ſoul is apt to linger in the matter of taking Chriſt, but when Chriſt ſhall ſtand off, that will make the ſoul come on more haſtily. Jeſus Chriſt doth catch us by craft, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 2 Cor. 12.16. Truly Chriſt doth catch ſome poor ſouls by craft, as the fiſher-man doth the fiſh, you know, or may have heard how that is; The fiſher-man laies the bait, and draws it as it were away, hee draw it before the fiſh, and when the fiſh is ready to take it, hee doth make as if hee ſnatched it away, and why ſo? truly that the fiſh may catch at it more eagerly, and bee held by it more ſurely. So doth Chriſt with us, when hee ſhall offer, and ſeem to draw back, when hee ſhall come neer, and ſuffer us as it were to touch him, and then ſnatch away again, this will make us come on more earneſtly, and cloſe with him more eagerly. The ſoulby this means takes the bait, I and the ſoul will hold it too when it hath it; beleeve it Sins, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is kinde to catch by craft. Well, this is the account of the Reaſon, wherefore it is that ſometimes Chriſt is ſeemingly harſh to ſome ſouls.
There are but three Uſes I aim at in this Doctrine.
Uſe 1. The firſt Uſe is, To let us all ſee that Chriſt is not ſo eaſily come by, as the generality of people do think: All have Chriſt freely, but not eaſily. Minde it. My Brethren, I think, and I will tell you my thoughts, becauſe it may awaken you, and do you good. I think many will go to Hell as upon other miſtakes, ſo upon this, that they do think it eaſie to go to Heaven, and eaſie to come by Jeſus Chriſt. But if it bee true, that Chriſt ſtands a loof off from a poor ſoul, then it will appear to bee a hard work to come by him. Remember this, you will finde three things will make it hard work ere Jeſus Chriſt and you bee brought together.
1 The backwardneſs of your own hearts.
2 The many hinder ances and puts in of Satan.
3 And the ſeeming backwardneſs of Jeſus Chriſt.
Firſt, Your own hearts will bee backward. Ah ſoul! unleſs the Lord make it a day of his power, they are not a willing people, Pſa. 110. hee that talks of free-will, I am afraid, was never ſenſible of freegrace, nor of the backwardneſs of his own heart.
Secondly, The Devil makes it hard work too: Verily, when the ſoul would go to Chriſt, the Devil will hinder, and ſet one to hinder another, to keep the ſoul off from going to Jeſus Chriſt.
But thirdly, and eſpecially, The ſeeming harſh dealing of Jeſus Chriſt, makes it very hard work. Oh, ſay ſome poor ſouls, My thinks the Lord makes mee willing, and hungring after a Chriſt, but when I come to Chriſt, Chriſt hangs off; My thinks God the Father is willing I ſhould have Chriſt; hee hath ſent him, the Spirit is willing, hee hath revealed Chriſt to mee, and my heart is willing; but I come to Chriſt, and hee doth not hear mee; verily here you will finde difficulty, and it will much pazzle and try Faith, to beleeve upon, and cloſe with a Chriſt, who ſeems to ſtand at a diſtance: His ſeeming harſh dealing will make it real hard beleeving.
Uſe 2. The ſecond Uſe is of Caution. I pray learn by this, to take heed how you provoke the Lord Jeſus Chriſt to deal thus harſhly with any of you. My Brethren, the Lord Chriſt can frown, and look bitterly, and deal ſeverely, &c. and beware how you provoke him ſo to do. The truth is, there bee ſome ſouls that rationally (I mean religiouſly rationally) cannot expect otherwiſe, that if Chriſt do receive them, hee ſhould receive them very harſhly. Let mee in a word touch upon this, and do you remember it.
Two words I would ſpeak my minde in, that I may not bee miſtaken.
Firſt this, I do not ſay that there are any ſouls that have reaſon to think Jeſus Chriſt will reject them. Whatever you are, Canaanite, Periſite, or Jebuſite, &c. Whoever you are before the Lord, I do not ſay, there is reaſon for you to conclude that there is no coming to the Lord. But
This I ſay ſecondly, That though you have no reaſon to think hee will caſt you off, yet you have reaſon to think hee will deal harſhly with you; you may have reaſon to fear hee will not preſently entertain you.
Firſt, I think there bee ſome ſouls that may verily expect God may make them ſtand at the door, and wait till they cool their heels, and though Chriſt will let them in at laſt, yet hee may ſet them ſtand all night: Some ſouls Chriſt may let them bee hoarſe with crying, and yet Jeſus Chriſt may ſtand off.
Secondly, There are ſome ſouls that may expect, that though hee ſhould let them in, yet it may bee with them, as with ſome childe, the childe is let in, and hee ſits at the table, but the Father looks ſo ſtrangely and harſhly on him, that his meat doth him no good; thou mayeſt never relliſh mercy ſweetly, till thou comeſt to Heaven, it may bee.
Thirdly, There are ſome ſouls that may expect, that though Chriſt will give them mercy, yet hee will diſpure it out with them; that they ſhall wreſtle a whole night, as Jacob, and go limping all their life time, and bee called Dogg many a time, and as it were threatned with a cudgel, before ever hee give them childrens bread. Therefore I beſeech you for the Lords ſake, ſouls, look about you.
Now there are three ſorts of people that have thus reaſon to think, that though Chriſt may receive them at laſt, yet it may bee very harſh at firſt.
Firſt, Thoſe that have dealt very harſhly with Jeſus Chriſt: With the froward, I will bee froward, ſaith God. Grace will receive froward ones at laſt, yet hee will bee harſh. Why, what was the matter Joſeph looks ſo roughly upon his Brethren? their conſciences could tell them. Wee had not pitty upon our Brother, Gen. 42.21. Sirs, there are many poor ſouls deal harſhly with Jeſus Chriſt; I ſay, deal harſhly with Chriſt; is there any deals harſhly with him (you will ſay) how can that bee? why bee not miſtaken, as you deal with Chriſts members, ſo you deal with him. You ſcoff at poor Saints, and Chriſt takes it as againſt himſelf. O minde it! you that have been, or are, the perſecutors of the Lords people; you can expect no other, but that Chriſt ſhould deal harſhly with you, ſince you have done ſo by him; It may bee there is a poor man or woman by thee that hath precious Faith, I ſay, that hath precious Faith, thou dealeſt hardly with them, and ſo thou dealeſt hardly with Jeſus Chriſt in them, and hee may do ſo with thee.
Secondly, Thoſe ſouls that have lived in any more notable prophaneneſs than others, may expect if Chriſt receive them, it ſhould bee, as the woman of Canaan, harshly. Take a plain ſimilitude; Let two men go to a Phyſician, the one hath a little knock on the crown, a little dreſſing, a little washing doth cure it; another hath a wound in the thigh, or the arm, that muſt have a great deal of lancing, and washing ere it bee whole. Oh! ſins are wounds; the leaſt vanities are knocks on the crowns; but there are blaſphemies, and uncleanneſſes, and unrighteouſneſſes (with a witneſs) and the Lord muſt deal a little harſhly with thee, how elſe ſhould hee deal with thee? Tremble at every little ſin, but tremble eſpecially at great ſins. I ſay not that great ſins ſhall hinder us from Chriſt, but upon the account of them at our firſt beleeving, wee may meet with harſhneſs in Chriſt; The deeper our wounds, the ſharper our cure alwaies.
Thirdly, There are a third ſort of people that cannot but expect Chriſt will deal harſhly with them. Thoſe that do neglect many a ſweet and gracious tender of mercy, and ſalvation by Jeſus Chriſt many a day. Suppoſe two people in the ſame Congregation, one is crouded here, that never heard the Goſpel all his daies; another is here that hath heard the Goſpel many years; you that have neglected ſweet calls, and precious opportunities, if Chriſt receive you at laſt, it will bee rich mercy, but it will bee harſhly. I have often thought of it; young people do not know how much bitterneſs of ſpirit they avoid by cloſing with Chriſt betimes. My thinks I ſee ſome ſouls under ſuch a condition, you have ſtayed out all day, and come home at midnight, I do not ſay you ſhall not bee received when you come, but you may bee received with a whip, and go to bed without a Supper, as wee uſe to ſay to ſome children. Now I am afraid of one ſnare of the Devil. My thinks I hear the Devil whiſpering to ſome ſouls, well, bee it ſo as you ſay, ſo long as Chriſt will receive you at laſt, ſo long as I ſhall not go to Hell, ſo long as I ſhall have mercy at laſt, then I will go on, &c. I will ſpeak three words to this.
Firſt of all, It is more than you know; I ſay, it is more than you know, that you ſhall bee ſaved at laſt. I ſay, it is poſſible Chriſt may receive the ſoul, but how do you know it? who did tell thee, that it thou didſt ſin ſo many years, after all thou ſhouldeſt have Chriſt with a whip and a knock?
Secondly, It is a thouſand to one that it ſhall bee ſo. The ſoul that puts off cloſing with Chriſt upon this preſumption, that hee ſhall have it at laſt, and will preſume to tarry, becauſe hee perſwades himſelf of a ſure reception, though it may bee ſore; I ſay, theſe of all perſons, in my judgement, have ground to fear leſt the Lord give them to a deluded heart, to damning dreams, and ſoul-cheating hopes. I fear if any bee thus Chriſt will not receive them, no not at firſt, nor laſt, neither ſweetly, nor ſeverely; therefore take heed of this deluſion. But let mee add,
Thirdly, I will ſuppoſe this, that thou ſhalt bee ſaved at laſt very harſhly: Conſider the terms, doſt thou know how harſh they will bee? Doſt thou know what terrours of the Lord may bee upon thee? what terrours of Hell may bee in thee, &c? Oh Sirs, who knows the power of Gods wrath? who knows the terrour of a wounded conſcience? can you live ſeven years under the apprehenſion of Gods wrath? fourteen years under terrour? and every day to walk up and down under everlaſting burnings? Beware how you go on upon thoſe tearms, but let every ſoul bee wiſe now, beware now, bee watchful now, that ſith the Lord, though hee bee ſweet, can bee bitter, beware how you provoke him to bee ſo to you.
Laſt Uſe, The third and laſt Uſe, It is for Exhortation, to exhort you all to receive this truth, ſo as not to bee offended with it. I ſay, ſo to receive this truth, &c.
I remember our Lord and Saviour, in John 16. preaches the truth of perſecution upon this account; Theſe things (ſaith hee) I ſpeak, that you may not bee offended &c. My Brethren, this Truth, this great Truth, this ſtrange Truth (that Chriſt may deal thus hardly with ſome ſouls that come to him) I preach it, and tell you of it, that you may not bee offended; not offended when it comes to paſs as to your particulars.
There are two offences, one is, therefore to ſay I will never go to Chriſt; The other offence is, I finde it ſo, that Chriſt is harſh, and therefore I will go no further. I pray bee not thus offended.
Firſt, Do not ſtumble upon this as a rock of offence, and ſay, I will not go to Chriſt; this is but to ſome, I do not ſay the Lord will deal thus with all; ſay not, were I in the Woman of Canaans condition, I could never hold up, and therefore I will ſtand off. Do not ſay ſo, who are you that walk uprightly, and avoid ſin, and ſnatch at a tender of mercy, and are willing to come at a call? go to Chriſt, and you will finde that hee will entertain you friendly, or ſuppoſe it bee ſeemingly harſh, yet remember, better bee entertained by Chriſt ſeemingly harſh, than not to go at all, and bee ſhut out for ever; bee not offended therefore, do not ſtumble at going to Chriſt.
Secondly, Let no ſoul bee ſo offended at this dealing, as to ſay, I will bee gone, I will bee gone, I will wait no longer. By Brethren, it may bee there may bee ſome poor ſoul here before the Lord, that may ſay, I am a ſecond Woman of Canaan, a woman of a bitter ſpirit, of a grieved ſoul, becauſe I have gone to Chriſt, and am not entertained. I have got Father, Mother, Miniſter, childe to pray for mee, I am not yet anſwered. My beloved, for all this, thou art but a Woman of Canaan, and the Lord may deal with you as ſuch; what though hee ſpeak not at all, or but harſhly, this is not new, neither do thou ſo wonder at it, or bee offended by it, as to think of drawing back, or going away from Jeſus Chriſt. Therefore let mee ſpeak two words to thee.
1 One is, Bee adviſed.
2 The other is, Bee encouraged.
The firſt word is of Advice; I pray take advice O poor heart. Thou ſayeſt thou haſt gone to Chriſt, and hee frowns; thou ſayeſt thou haſt looked up to the brazen Serpent, and yet the ſting of the fiery Serpent abides; thou ſayeſt thou haſt called for a crum of bread, and no anſwer comes; bee adviſed to look about you, to ſee why God deals thus with you; you may bee bold with the Lord Jeſus (hee never checked the Woman with boldneſs) ask Chriſt, Lord, is thy deſign to humble mee? then do ſo; or, Lord what is thy deſign? is it to try mee? then do ſo, but ſupport mee. Is it to heighten thy ſelf in my heart? Lord, what is thy deſign? look about you and conſider for which of all the Reaſons it is, that the Lord deals thus with you.
Secondly, Bee encouraged to wait upon the Lord yet a little longer. Tarry thou the Lords leiſure yet a while. In Pſal. 40. ſaith the Pſalmiſt there, I waited for the Lord, and at laſt the Lord heard mee, hee brought mee up alſo out of an horrible pit, and hee hath put a new ſong into my mouth: Oh it is a bleſſed Scripture, wait thou yet for the Lord, thou art yet in a horrible pit of ſin, and filth, fear, and doubt; thou cryeſt, yet the Lord doth not hear; I but yet hee may hear, this is no ſtrange thing; indeed the ſoul is ready to ſay as the Church, Oh all you that paſs by, is there any ſorrow like to mine? Lam. 1.12. So it may bee your ſoul is ready to ſay, was there ever any ſorrow like mine? my conſcience diſturbs mee, Satan diſturbs mee, I go to Chriſt, and hee doth not hear mee, hee will not anſwer; Oh bee of good comfort, and wait ſtill, hee that calls thee (as the Woman of Canaan) Dogg now, will ſay to thee, Go thy way, great is thy Faith, Indeed my Brethren, when I was drawing up the concluſion of this, by my ſelf, I thought I ſhould meet with a Woman of Canaan, and I was bid to incourage her thus.
Firſt, All this harſhneſs it is but in ſhew. As wee told you the laſt day; Joſeph had bowels though for a time hee dealt roughly.
Secondly, All this will not laſt, Joſeph will ſpeak peace, and the Lord Jeſus that ſeems rough now, hee will ſpeak to thee in ſoft language at laſt: Therefore you that are as the Woman of Canaan, waiting upon Chriſt, and yet hearing nothing from him, bee comforted, and counſelled.
Firſt, Bee comforted, your condition is bleſſed; Bleſſed are they that wait at the poſts of Wiſdomes gates, Prov. 8.34, &c. This may bee the condition of a beleever, and it is bleſſed.
Object. I ſaies the ſoul, If I did but know that, or think that.
Repl. Did Joſephs Brethren know hee knew them? did they think hee wept, and his bowels yearned? It was their happineſs Joſeph knew them, though they knew it not: And it is comfort Chriſt knows us, when wee are, and may bee as ignorant of him, as they of Joſeph. That is the foundation of our life and comfort, that the Lord may, and doth know us firſt, before wee know him; and hee ſtill knows us, even while wee know not him. Minde that, in the ſecond Epiſtle of Timothy chap. 2. verſ. 19. Nevertheleſs the foundation of God ſtandeth ſure, having this ſeal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. Let that word bee for thy comfort. But then
Secondly, Bee counſelled to carry your ſelves very wiſely. Carry it well, and it ſhall bee your wiſdome. I know indeed, my Beloved, wee need much wiſdome to carry it wiſely when Chriſt doth frown.
Oh! wee are apt to have impatient ſpirits, murmuring ſpirits, riſing ſpirits; nothing is ſo provoking as unkindneſs from Jeſus Chr…ſt. I look for no better from the Law, or from the Devil; but that Chriſt ſhould ſpeak death, or Chriſt call Dogg, or that hee that was ſent to give the children bread, ſhould ſay hee was not ſent to mee, Oh this doth wound mee, this doth kill mee, (ſaith the poor ſoul) Well yet bee counſelled to wait: Do not think evil of, nor speak hardly concerning Jeſus Christ. Hee knows (as wee ſay) what hee doth; there may bee many reaſons of this carriage of his; and therefore whatever bee his carriage to thee, let thy carriage to him bee good; if Chriſt deal with thee as with the Woman of Canaan, do thou deal with him as ſhee did. Now what that is, wee ſhall come unto next.