A Cluster of Grapes Taken out of the Canaanite Womans Basket, Sermon 1
THE Woman of Canaan coming unto Chriſt. The Firſt SERMON.
Matthew 15. from verſ. 22, to verſ. 29.
And behold a Woman of Canaan came out of the ſame coaſts, and cried unto him, ſaying, Have mercy on mee, O Lord, thou Son of David, my Daughter is grievouſly vexed with a Devil.
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.
And ſhee ſaid, Truth Lond: yet the doggs eat of the crumbs which fall from their Maſters table.
Then Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto her, O Woman, great is thy Faith: bee it unto thee, even as thou wilt. And her Daughter was made whole from that very hour.
IN all our addreſſes unto Chriſt (which is the great buſineſs of our Life and Happineſs) it concerns us, not onelyonly to know the great Precepts that ſhould guide us: and the gracious Promiſes that may incourage us; But alſo to bee well acquainted with all thoſe Patterns and Examples of any that have gone to Chriſt before us; and likewiſe with thoſe occurrences which they did (and wee are like to) meet withall in this work: Now (my Brethren) unto this purpoſe I know no one ſtory in all the New Teſtament, which ſpeaks of any coming to Chriſt, like that which I have read, to acquaint us a little by way of Pattern, what wee ſhould expect when wee come to Chriſt. In the coming of this Woman to Chriſt, wee have ſomething very patternable for us to minde. And in the carriage of Chriſt to her, wee may ſee what wee may expect at the hands of Chriſt, even then when wee come to him. There are fix heads unto which the whole ſtory, as it is here recorded, may bee reduced.
Firſt, You have the coming of the Woman unto Chriſt, in verſ. 22.
Secondly, You have the ſeemingly harſh entertainment that Chriſt gives her at firſt, for hee anſwered her not a word, and though his Diſciples ſpake on her behalf, hee puts them off.
Thirdly, You have the Womans good behaviour, notwithſtanding all this, verſ. 25. Shee worſhipped him, ſaying, Lord help mee.
Fourthly, You have the Repulſe that Chriſt doth give to that, in verſ. 26. But hee anſwered, and ſaid, It is not meet to take the childrens bread, and to caſt it to doggs.
Fifthly, You have her yet renewed recourſe to Chriſt after that repulſe, in verſ. 27. Truth Lord: yet the doggs eat of the crumbs which fall from their Maſters table.
Sixthly and laſtly▪ You have the bleſſed iſſue of all, in verſ. 28. Then Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto her, O Woman, great is thy Faith: bee it unto thee even as thou wilt, &c.
My intention is not to confine my ſelf to the Method, but to the Matter: In which you have,
The Coming of the Woman.
The Entertainment of Chriſt.
The Carriage of the Woman under all.
And the bleſſed Concluſion wherewith all is ended.
At preſent wee ſhall conſider the firſt of theſe, The Coming of the Woman of Canaan.
And behold a Woman of Canaan came out of the ſame Coaſts, and cried unto him, ſaying, Have mercy on mee, O Lord, thou Son of David, my Daughter is grievouſly vexed with a Devil. This Note Behold, is obſerved to bee a Note of Attention, and it is put in, to uſher in ſome matter that is more than ordinary remarkable, and to bee minded by us. Here is a Woman, and a Woman of ſuch a Country, and ſo coming, and that upon ſuch an account, that both the one, and the other, and altogether, may very well bee brought in with a Behold. I have formerly ſpoken at large of ſouls coming to Chriſt, how God leads them, and how by Faith they are brought to him; and therefore ſhall not handle that now. OnelyOnly, there are here three heads of Obſervation, to which I ſhall reduce all at this time; And as ſometimes I make three Sermons upon one head or point, ſo at this time I ſhall make one Sermon upon three heads. And the order in which I ſhall proceed to ſpeak of them, ſhall bee this:
Firſt, Wee will a little conſider the party coming.
Secondly, The manner how ſhee comes.
Thirdly, The occaſion, or the account upon which ſhee comes at this time.
To begin with the firſt: Behold (ſaith the Holy Ghoſt) A Woman. You will bee ready to ſay to mee, What ſhall wee ſee in her? why truly in this Woman coming to Chriſt, you ſhall ſee this Truth.
That the way to Chriſt is very free for poor ſouls of any place, in any condition.
Here is a Woman (I liſt not to quibble upon that) but here is a Woman of Canaan. Canaan of all the places at thoſe times had a mark upon it, to bee moſt oppoſite to goodneſs, and it may bee ſaid of it, as once it was ſaid of another place, Can any good come out of it? But of what place of the Country? ſhee was a borderer to Tyre and Sidon; Now Tyre and Sidon were the worſt places of that Country. They were in a ſenſe the Sodome ſinks of Canaan. The Salvage places (as wee ſay of ſome Sea-Towns) the moſt notorious Cities of all that Country; and yet now a Woman of this bad Country; the door is open, and ſhee comes to Jeſus Chriſt. You read of ſome (in John 12.20, 21.) that came to Philip, and ſaid, Sirs, wee would ſee the Lord, &c. Why my Brethren, It is a certain truth, whatever Country you are of, whatever place, ſex or condition, the way is open, and you may freely come to Jeſus Chriſt. This truth is ſo general in all the Goſpel, and ſo frequently preached, that I ſhall not need to ſtay upon it. You read that Chriſt freely invited, and lovingly entertained all that came, even Publicans and Harlots, Sinners and Rebels, Enemies and ungodly ones; I ſay not, qua tales, but qui quondam tales, i. e. ſuch as once were ſo vile, and therefore unworthy and unlikely to come; yet come they did, and the way was not hedged up, nor the door ſhut againſt them.
There are three ends why I touch upon it, and for which I deſire you to Behold this truth in this woman.
Firſt, Behold this Woman, and truth for this end. To let you ſee The certainty of that great truth, That ſome of all ſorts ſhall bee ſaved. Is the way to Chriſt open and free for any ſex, of any condition and Country? then ſome of all ſorts and Countries ſhall come in, Rev. 7.9. you read beſides the ſealed▪ ones (of the Jews) the Holy Ghoſt takes notice of an innumerable company of the Gentiles, and they are thus ſet out, to bee of all Nations, and Kindreds, and People, and Tongues. My Brethren, I do not intend ſo much as in the leaſt to prop the opinion of general Redemption; but this I ſay, that ſith the way to Jeſus Chriſt is ſo free, and ſo open unto all, that therefore ſome of all, though not all, may come to him, and ſhall bee ſaved at laſt. I ſay not that all ſhall bee ſaved, (I could wiſh that errour had died with Origen) but I ſay, ſome of all, i. e. ſome of all conditions, Countries, Kindreds, &c. ſhall bee ſaved by Jeſus Chriſt. And why O ſoul, may not wee bee of that ſome?
But ſecondly, See (my Brethren) what an incouragement here is unto Faith. The poor ſoul would come, and when hee comes hee muſt beleeve (your Faith are your feet by which you muſt come to Chriſt.) But now the great queſtion is, When the ſoul is upon his way going to Chriſt, or upon his feet (It is ſuch a ſinner) that the queſtion is, May hee come? yes, hee may, the way is open and free to any. In Luk. 7.37. You read of a Woman that came to Chriſt, that is called a ſinner, &c. What ever Country you are of, I pray minde mee, bee it never ſo barbarous and baſe: Bee thou, O ſoul, a ſinner of any City, ſuppoſe Sodome, there is this ground for your Faith to build upon, and if you could (as it were) peep and look within the Veil, you ſhould ſee that there are ſome of your Countrymen and women in Heaven. Father Abraham was in an Idolatrous Nation, yet in the 51. of Iſaiah, ſaith the Holy Ghoſt, Look to Abraham; conſider what hee was, &c. and Behold (ſaith my Text) A Woman of Canaan came to Chriſt; take notice of her well, for this end alſo, to ſtrengthen my Faith, you may come what ere bee your Country.
Thirdly, Behold withall, How inexcuſable poor creatures will bee, that do not put forth indeavours to come to Chriſt. What will you have to ſay? will you ſay you might not? this truth will tell you there is a way open for any of you. This ſtory, as it is in Mark 7.24. ſaies, Chriſt would have hid himſelf, but hee could not. Therefore, as it is an incouragement to Faith, ſo it will leave unbeleef without excuſe. This poor woman will condemn thee, poor Chriſtleſs, careleſs Creature; Behold her coming, and tremble to think of thy tarrying away. To terrifie all poor negligent ſouls, that minde not, ſeek not, come not to a Chriſt, is another end why I would have you all behold the Woman of Canaan coming: When ſhee is gone before, what will become of you, if that you follow not after? certainly her coming will bee your condemnation. So much for the firſt head, the party coming.
Secondly, How doth this Woman come?
Why truly, my Brethren, you muſt keep Behold in your hand all along. Behold how ſhee comes, ſhee comes crying, and ſaying, Lord, thou Son of David, have mercy on mee. Verily (my Brethren) this manner of her coming deſerves a Behold, as the very coming it ſelf. There are three circumſtances in the manner of her coming.
Firſt, It is ſaid, ſhee cried.
Secondly, Shee cried, Have mercy on mee.
And thirdly, O Lord, thou Son of David.
Firſt, Shee cried unto him.
The word doth denote a very paſſionate cry; the Syriack doth uſe a word which doth ſignifie ſuch a cry, which is as a beaſt that doth low after its Calf. Shee cried unto him, that is, Shee came with abundance of affection and of intention of ſpirit. The Evangeliſh Mark tells us, ſhee fell at his feet. I cannot better open this, than by turning you to that which is (as it were) a parallel, 2 King. 4.87. where you have a poor woman, whoſe ſoul was bitter, coming to the Prophet, and ſo ſoon as ſhee came to him, ſhee fell down and caught him by the feet. I pray behold and learn, in all your addreſſes unto Jeſus Chriſt, put forth the higheſt affection, put forth the moſt intenſeneſs of your ſpirits that may bee, cry, and get hold of him, Chriſt will not charge thee with unmannerlineſs. Shee cried, it notes the Agony of her ſpirit that ſhee was in. Oh that our drouſie careleſs ſouls would but learn of this Woman! Many are ſo far from crying, that they ſcarce liſp. But remember it (Sirs) when you come to the Lord Jeſus, ſtir up all your ſouls, let all your affection then go out: Oh! when ſhould wee ever let out all our ſouls to the utmoſt, if not then when wee come to cloſe with Jeſus Chriſt? There is a lawful and laudable paſſion to bee manifeſted in this matter. Chriſt loves and likes to hear our cries: O let not this poor womans crying, cry any of us ſhame, who are ſo far from a crying after Chriſt, that wee do almoſt cry away Chriſt: Well, behold her praiſe-worthy paſſion, and go thy way (ſoul) and imitate her therein. Never approach Chriſt, but with much paſſion, with moſt earneſt and ardent affection.
Secondly, Shee cried, Have mercy on mee.
Poor Woman, ſhee ſpeaks as one poor in ſpirit, (that is) rich in Faith, (as Chriſt calls her afterwards) ſhee had no Merit, but ſhee knew the Lord had Mercy, Behold it, and know this as a leſſon to bee learnt hence, viz.
That when you approach Chriſt, let it bee by Mercy, by meer Mercy. That ſame poor Publican in the Goſpel of Luke cries, Lord bee merciful to mee a ſinner. My Brethren, right cloſing with Chriſt, right ſaving juſtifying Faith which carries the ſoul to Chriſt, eyes nothing but Mercy. This is the main incouragement that keeps up Faith, yea, and this is the great Motive that doth ſtill prevail with the Lord, therefore wee ſhould take hold of it; in Epheſ. 2.4. It is ſaid, But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith hee loved us, &c. Thou haſt miſery that pincheth thee, but the Lord hath mercy that will pitty thee, and thou that ſayeſt thou haſt no works, know this, the Lord hath much grace. Behold the Woman of Canaan, and ſee how ſhee doth, and wee ought to eye and plead meer mercy, and that onelyonly, and alwaies when wee come to Chriſt.
Thirdly, Obſerve a little further what ſhee ſaith,
Lord, thou Son of David. Shee ſpeaks in language beyond the learning of the Scribes and Phariſees; though they were great Doctors of the Law, yet they had not learned this myſtery, to look upon Chriſt, as the Lord, and as the Son of David. It was indeed a miracle, that a Woman of Canaan ſhould have this knowledge, and wee might ſay (as it was ſaid in another caſe of Chriſt) whence hath this Woman knowledge? why my Brethren, what could any of us have ſaid more to Chriſt, to ſpeak out our Faith, what is it? but that wee do beleeve in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: This phraſe ſpeaks Faith. Learn hence, In all your addreſſes to Chriſt, to come in the language of Faith, and ſpeak to Chriſt as becomes Jeſus Chriſt. Still know, hee is the Lord, Davids Son, the promiſed one indeed. When you come to deal with Jeſus Chriſt, bee not haſty, conſider who hee is (hee is the Lord) and hee is the Son of David, the true and the onelyonly Meſſiah. Remember this leſſon in all your addreſſes to Jeſus Chriſt, remember this good example; it is a Saints pattern.
There are two ſorts of people I would deſire to look upon this pattern.
The firſt are thoſe, who it may bee are but now beginning to cloſe with Jeſus Chriſt.
And ſecondly, Thoſe who it may bee have revolted and back ſlidden from Chriſt, and are now returning again. I pray (Sirs) make as much haſte as you can, but obſerve how you go. Go to Jeſus Chriſt with much affection, with much humility, renounce Merit, and cry Mercy, and ſtill give the Lord his due: So you ſee this Woman of Canaan doth, and go thou O ſoul, in any caſe, and do likewiſe. That is all I will ſpeak to the ſecond head.
To proceed to the third and laſt thing, Behold once again the occaſion of this Womans coming, It was, That her daughter was grievouſly vexed with a Devil.
The Evangeliſt Mark ſaies, ſhee was vexed with an unclean ſpirit. The one is a general, the other is a particular expreſſion of it. I do not think it worth the while to diſpute about this infirmity, or this poſſeſſion under which her Daughter lay, what it was; All that I ſhall note, ſhall bee not of a Phyſical, but rather of a Spiritual and Theological Nature,— from this Mothers coming to Chriſt upon this occaſion. In the general, ſhee takes her childe to bee poſſeſſed with a Devil, ſhee goes not to a figureflinger, not to any cunning man (as ſimple ones uſe to ſay) ſhee goes not to the Devil in a Doctor, to caſt out the Devil of her Daughter, No, but ſhee comes to Chriſt.
I pray, in the general, Learn in all caſes, diſtempers, diſeaſes, &c. to go firſt to Jeſus Chriſt. You may go to men, to Phyſicians (though not to Wizards) but you muſt go to Chriſt, and behold the Woman of Canaan to eſtabliſh you in that good Chriſtian cuſtome, of having recourſe to Chriſt on all occaſions, in all neceſſities, whether for yours, and your ſelves. But this is general. There are two things in particular.
The firſt particular thing I would have you learn out of this Mothers coming upon this account, Is, Parentive pitty in compaſſion on children. This Woman of Canaan pitties her childe, and cries, as if ſhee her ſelf felt her Daughters pain, and though ſhee was not ſick ſimply, yet ſhee was Sympathetically; thou that canſt let the little one cry, and it may bee periſh while thou art fooling abroad, Oh remember the Woman of Canaan, have pitty on your poor children, and for their ſakes go to Jeſus Chriſt. And do I mean onelyonly you ſhould go to Chriſt for them when they are ſick? no, but Oh pray for thy childes ſick ſoul. It was a notable ſpeech of one of the Antients, ſaid hee, Wilt thou mourn over a body from whom the ſoul is gone, and not over a ſoul from whom God is gone? Oh ſhew that you have ſpiritual ſympathy; many of you have a natural ſympathy, if you ſee the childe burn and ſnake, &c. of a Feavour, thou canſt pitty him; but it may bee thou ſeeſt him ſhake and reel with drunkenneſs, and not pitty them at all. It is Motherly pitty to ſympathize with ſick bodies, but Chriſtian pitty to ſympathize with ſick ſouls. Friends, put on bowels (as the Elect of God) as the Woman of Canaan, and have compaſſion on your children; In all their afflictions bee yee afflicted, with all their ſorrows bee yee affected, and go to Chriſt, on their behalf, but not onelyonly for bodies, but alſo and eſpecially for their ſouls. This is the firſt particular.
But the ſecond is that which I would ſtand upon. Conſidering that this diſtemper upon the Daughter, did bring the Mother here unto Chriſt, I would eſpecially ſpeak to this, and intreat you to Behold this occaſion of her coming, and it will afford us a very profitable Note. The Note is this.
Behold what occaſions the Lord ſanctifies ſometimes to bring ſouls to himſelf: What is the occaſion? My Daughter is ſick.
The particular Doctrine is this, That ſometimes the Lord doth ſanctifie corporal, or external occaſions, and afflictions, to bring ſouls home to himſelf.
The great means, the ſtanding Ordinance by which the Lord brings ſouls to himſelf, is the Word, and the Word Preached. But yet I ſay beſides that, the Lord is pleaſed ſometimes to make uſe of other means, and among the reſt, ſometimes the Lord doth ſanctifie external afflictions to bring home poor ſouls to himſelf.
There are two things in all external afflictions that I would have all to minde.
Firſt, God ſending.
Secondly, God ſanctifying of theſe afflictions.
Firſt, You ſhould obſerve, That God ſends them. Afflictions do not ariſe out of the duſt; if any evil be in the City or Family, it is the finger of the Lord, it doth not come by chance or fortune, it comes from God, and wee ought to behold him in it.
But then ſecondly, Obſerve the Lord ſanctifying afflictions. The Lord doth not alwaies ſanctifie affliction where hee ſends it: But ſometimes God doth ſanctifie it unto many good and gracious ends and purpoſes; and in particular, I ſay, God doth ſometimes to ſome ſouls ſanctifie afflictions to this end, to bring home the poor ſoul to himſelf.
There are three Comings unto Jeſus Chriſt, in all which the Lord doth ſometimes, to ſome perſons, make uſe of corporal afflictions.
Firſt, There is that which wee call our firſt fundamental Coming to Jeſus Chriſt; when the ſoul doth firſt come to Jeſus Chriſt from his wandering rebellious eſtate and condition, when it is firſt brought out of the wilderneſs.
Secondly, There is our gradual Coming to Chriſt; When the ſoul that is come to Chriſt in a good meaſure, comes a little nearer, hee comes from ſtrength to ſtrength, and ſo by degrees appears before God in Sion. Jacobs Ladder had many ſtaves, and coming to Chriſt hath many ſteps and ſtairs: Therefore beſides our prime, or firſt coming unto Chriſt, there is a perfecting progreſs, or aſcendent going to, or growing up in Chriſt higher and higher, which is, (as it were) our coming nearer and nearer.
Thirdly, There is our Coming to Chriſt, which is our Return after ſome eminent Revolt, when a ſoul hath left its firſt love. Now in all theſe, and unto all theſe, the Lord doth ſometimes ſanctifie externall afflictions; the Lord doth ſometimes ſanctifie external afflictions, to bring the ſoul home to himſelf; As Poverty, The Lord makes many an one poor, that they may look after a rich Chriſt. And Diſgrace from creatures the Lord permits, and ſanctifies that to make the ſoul long and labour, that they may bee precious in his ſight. And Sickneſs upon us and ours; the Lord doth ſometimes kill the childes body, to ſave the Mothers ſoul; take away the husband, the hee may bring the wife home to himſelf; wee might give many notable inſtances. As in Matth. 8.2. There you finde a Leper came to Chriſt, and what occaſion brought him; truly this mans Leproſie brought him to Chriſt, and for ought wee know, had not this man been a Leper, hee had never come to Chriſt. In Matth. 9.27. There wee hear blind men calling after Jeſus Chriſt; but why? you ſhall ſee in that place, their blindneſs upon their eyes, make them look after Chriſt. And Matth. 21.14. The blind and lame came to him to the Temple to bee healed, &c. Thus it pleaſeth Chriſt ſometimes to ſanctifie corporal afflictions to bring us home to himſelf.
There are two Reaſons why the Lord doth this.
The firſt relates to us.
The ſecond, unto himſelf.
Firſt of all, I ſay, The Lord doth ſometimes take this courſe, upon our account; conſidering us, the Lord works thus on us; In Jer. 9. ſaith the Lord there, I will melt my people, for how elſe ſhall I do for the daughter of my people? i.e. As if hee ſhould ſay, I cannot tell elſe what to do for them. Oh my Brethren, the Lord ſees ſometimes nothing elſe will do it but affliction. Mee thinks I hear the Lord ſometimes ſpeaking of a poor creature after this manner, There is ſuch a one, who ſo long as hee can bee well, and do well, as to externals, I ſhall not hear of him, I muſt therefore take ſome other courſe with him; well, I will go and melt him, &c. Oh Sirs! this is our folly, that (whatever Arminians dream) wee are ſo backward to come to Chriſt, that except hee draw, wee will not go; nay, except hee drive, wee will not ſtir, nor ſtep forward; all the perſwaſions of the Lord, they will not work us up to free will, except hee make, hee add power to perſwaſion: Indeed in the day of his power, wee are (potentially, not perſwaſively onelyonly) made a willing people, as Pſal. 110. Upon this account it is, that Chriſt is, as wee ſay, fain to uſe the Rod ſometimes to bring us home to himſelf. How oft doth Chriſt ſay, ſith my Pipe will not, my Rod ſhall fetch ſuch a ſheep, and ſuch a ſheep? (i. e. It may bee thy ſoul, and thy childes ſoul.) I will make it a day of power, and by grace I will follow them with one means after another. You know what is ſaid by the Lord, of a backward people, in Hoſea 5. verſe the laſt. In their affliction they will ſeek mee. In 2 Sam. 14.30. You read, Abſolon ſent for Joah to come to him, and hee would not, but Abſolon ſent and fired his fields, and then hee comes. My Brethren, wee may very well parallel it; God ſaith ſometimes, go Miniſter, preach to him judgement, and threatning, and that will not do; and go mercy, that will not do; then go ſickneſs, & Oh! ſickneſs muſt preach a Sermon, before many will hear a word. Well, here is the firſt Reaſon (which as I ſaid, relates to us) Afflictions are ſent and ſanctified to bring us to Chriſt, becauſe often nothing elſe will. Truly, I ſay, this is our naughty Nature, that fair means will not work upon us, and this is our Fathers grace, that hee will take other means, but hee will effect his work.
Secondly, The Lord doth it upon another account, which relates to himſelf; To ſhew us, That hee is not tied to means, but can work by any providence if hee pleaſe. The Lord hath more means than one, and hee is a free Agent, hee can uſe which hee pleaſes. If Oneſimus, a naughty and bad ſervant, will not bee wrought upon at home under a good Maſter, hee ſhall bee brought to the Gaol to hear a Sermon there; you have that intimated in the Epiſtle to Philemon. The account of it take in brief thus, Philemon was a godly man, and a good Maſter, and hee had 2 Church in his houſe; but Oneſimus was nought for all that, his Maſter could not by any means work upon him, but hee breaks out and away, (it is likely) hee runs: And by the hand of Juſtice, (God ordering of it) is brought to a Gaol, where a Priſon prepares him to hear, and a priſoner is provided to preach, and now hee is wrought upon. God hath many waies, if wee run from one, hee hath another to meet with us in. If a Pulpit do not, a Priſon ſhall; if a ſoft word win not, a hard ſhall; hee will have us ſee that hee is not tied to any means, and therefore ſometimes will by a ſickneſs, a loſs, &c. bring us home, as well as by other waies.
There is onelyonly one Objection that muſt bee anſwered.
Object. But doth not his ſeem to give ſome advantage to thoſe who cry down the preaching of the Word? It hath been a ſeemingly fair, but a really poor Argument of thoſe to tell us, that God can make any thing an Ordinance, and therefore they caſt off preaching, and ſay, what need that? cannot, and doth not God work ſometimes without that?
Repl. I anſwer generally; My Brethren, One good means may very well go hand in hand with another: And my Brethren, none of the Lords means are Yea and Nay; deſtructive one of another, or inconſiſtent one with another: All may, and all ſhall ſtand; and in vain do wee think to make one an Argument againſt the other. It is certain God can alwaies, and hee doth often work by afflictions; But yet the Word is the chief, known, tried, and ſtanding means: And after all that hath been ſaid to the contrary, I ſtill think, that though the Lord may make uſe of, and ſanctifie afflictions (as ſickneſs upon us and ours) to bring us home to himſelf, yet it is very rarely without the Word.
There are two Conſiderations in particular, that I would have you minde.
Firſt, Many times Afflictions (as poverty and ſickneſs) do make a word to work a word that wee have heard. The words of the wiſe (ſaith Solomon) they are as Nails faſtened. Now it may bee the Lord faſtens, or rather puts in a Nail in the Aſſembly by his Word, and the poor ſoul runs away; now the Lord ſends an affliction after him, to faſten the Nail, and the man is caſt upon a ſick-bed, and now ſaies hee, I remember ſuch an inſtruction. Affliction brings home, and drives home a word formerly preached unto us, which wee heard, and did not regard or remember, but now by an Affliction are made to do both. I have thought Affliction doth that which Poſſet-drink doth in Phyſick (it is a plain ſimilitude, yet mark it) A man takes Phyſick, and it works not, then give him a draught of Poſſet-drink, and that makes it work, that helps it on; ſo it is here. A Word is given out, and it works not, then the Lord ſends Affliction, and that makes it work: But ſtill it is the Word that works, the Word formerly heard, &c. You know what is ſaid, in Pſal. 141.6. It is ſaid there, when they are overthrown in ſtony places, they ſhall hear my words, for they are ſweet. Why the words were ſweet before, and heard before; but then they ſhall bee made to reliſh, and then they will minde them. Well, minde this, though Affliction work, it is rather as a help to the Word, than of it ſelf without the Word. This is one Conſideration.
Secondly, Another Conſideration is this, That moſtly the Lord makes uſe of Afflictions (if not to) back what wee have heard, yet) to bring them to hear. Minde it; Many a time the poor Creature hath lived without Sermon-hearing all his daies, and Affliction comes, and that drives him to the Word: Now the ſoul will go to Lectures, now the ſoul will wait on the Miniſtery; ſo that Affliction doth rather bring him to the Word as the means, that work, and bee an effectual means without it. I pray then mark theſe Conſiderations, to keep up your higheſt thoughts of the Word, and that preached as the prime means; verily experience ſeals to theſe two things, that the work of Affliction, rather ſeconds a Word heard, or brings the ſoul to hear the Word, than ſimply works without it.
Now then for the Application of this.
There are five Uſes that I ſhall lay before you.
Firſt, Doth the Lord this way uſe and ſanctifie ſickneſs and affliction ſometimes upon us or ours? Then look about you, and ſee whether God hath ſanctified any affliction upon you. Wee live in a ſickly time, it may bee ſickneſs hath been in all your families; hath this (like the Woman of Canaan) brought you to Chriſt? did the ſickneſs of thy body, advance thy foot to Chriſt?
You will ſay, Wee are like the Woman of Canaan, and God forbid but wee ſhould go to Chriſt when wee were ſick.
But did it bring you to Chriſt in a ſoul-way, in a ſoul ſaving-way?
Queſt. How ſhall I know that?
Anſw. Let mee propoſe two things to you, to let you try.
Firſt, When any affliction brings a ſoul to Christ (beſides the material ſickneſs or affliction that is upon the outward man) the ſoul is ſenſible of ſomething like it, lighted upon the inward Man. There is a ſenſe of the ſame ſpiritually, as well as corporally. As now, when ſickneſs brings a man to Chriſt, hee ſpeaks thus, I am ſick, my head akes, I, and ſaith the man, my heart akes too. Oh wife! I am a poor ſinner, I cried firſt out, I am ſick in body, but now I am ſick in ſoul; ſtill the ſoul ſees ſomething like it in ſpirituals, if his ſickneſs brings him to Chriſt. If thou onelyonly art ſenſible of a corporal diſeaſe, and goeſt to Chriſt for that, then it is but a corporal coming, not a ſoul, nor a ſaving coming unto Chriſt: but when thy ſick body leads thee to the ſenſe of a ſick ſoul; when thy Feavour, thy Ague, brought thee to feel the like diſtemper in thy ſoul, and thou thereupon wenteſt unto Chriſt for that, then was ſickneſs indeed ſanctified in a ſoul-ſaving-way.
Secondly, Obſerve this, Hee that by any affliction or ſickneſs is brought home to Chriſt, whatever the iſſue of the affliction may bee, his heart is for certain moving ſtill towards Chriſt; even after the ſickneſs is gone. You may have a man while the ſickneſs is upon him, then hee may bee up in prayer with his Lord have mercy, &c. but when it is gone, his ſickneſs is gone, and devotion is gone too: But if this bring him to Chriſt, though the ſickneſs bee gone, yet the man follows after Chriſt ſtill, and mindes him. The ſoul after ſickneſs is as hee, Luk. 8.38. who beſought the Lord that hee might bee with him. O ſoul! if thou cameſt to Chriſt ſick, thou deſireſt to bee with Chriſt well; I pray then look to it, ſee if your afflictions have been ſanctified, and if they have brought you unto Chriſt. That is our firſt Uſe.
Uſe 2. Then ſecondly, Let this teach us all to prize thoſe afflictions by which wee can ſay, the Lord brought us home to himſelf; I ſay, learn to prize ſuch an affliction: Never ſpeak ill of that ſickneſs, by which the Lord Jeſus brought thee nigh to himſelf. You ſay it hath been an hard time with you, ſickneſs hath been ſore in your families, but did Chriſt bring thee nigh to him? never ſpeakevil of that affliction more. Minde Pſal. 94.2. Bleſſed is the man whom thou chaſteneſt, and teacheſt him out of thy Law. Haſt thou been afflicted? hath that taught thee ſomething of the bitterneſs of ſin, of the neceſſity of Chriſt? and hath it taught thee to look after thy ſoul, to look after a Chriſt? happy man art thou. Oh my Brethren, many a man hath ſaid to the praiſe of God, bleſſed bee God for ſuch a ſickneſs, &c. I have heard of ſome that have bleſſed God for plundering, for poverty, for ſuch and ſuch a ſickneſs on themſelves and theirs, &c. And truly well they might ſo do, becauſe it brought them home to Chriſt. Chriſt hath ſaved a parents ſoul by taking away a childes life; Oh therefore, if God hath done ſo by you, you may ſing, happy time, bleſſed affliction. I pray ſpeak well of all things which help you home to Chriſt.
Uſe 3. Thirdly, This point will give us a Leſſon of Hope in the behalf of any of our Relations, whoſe ſouls wee love, and labour with, till Chriſt bee formed in them, but at preſent is not. Sickneſs, Loſs, Affliction are a way ſometimes. Now hope in the Lord; if thou that haſt done thy indeavour upon thy poor Relation to bring him to Chriſt, and yet hee is not come, thou little knoweſt what affliction may do. It may be that which thou couldeſt not work upon thy childe with all thy inſtructions, that God may do with an affliction. I cannot adviſe you to pray; as I have heard of one (who it may bee, ſpake it honeſtly, though not handſomely, Lord break a legg or an arm, &c.) Lord ſend him a Feavour, an Ague, &c. I cannot adviſe you to that. But this I can ſay for your incouragement: God can ſend, and ſanctifie an affliction to bring home thy childe at laſt. Chriſts Rod can do that which yours cannot; Oh therefore pray and hope, indeavour and hope, yet God can work and win upon thy yoke-fellow, thy childe, thy brother &c. For God ſometimes you ſee ſends and ſanctifies afflictions, to bring in to Chriſt.
Uſe 4. Fourthly, Let this teach us patiently to bear any affliction that may bee upon us for preſent; why ſo? becauſe for ought wee know, God may ſanctifie it to bring us nigh to himſelf; ſhould not wee then bee patient? Poſſibly thou art a poor creature, that haſt been but a Talker of Chriſt, onelyonly a meer pretender, but yet to this day didſt never really come to, nor rightly cloſe with Chriſt, and now thou art ſick, and weak. Free Grace may deſign, and intend thy real, experimental and truly ſaving knowledge of, and laying hold upon the Lord Jeſus, and to that purpoſe it may bee (I ſay) that God brings affliction, O therefore learn patience; who can tell but the Lord will bee gracious, and by this affliction bring thee home to himſelf, hee is chaſtening thee here, that hee may not condemn thee hereafter. True it is, that no affliction (as the Apoſtle ſaies) for the preſent is joyous, but afterwards it may bring forth the peaceable fruit of righteouſneſs. Oh therefore, I ſay, beware of repining and murmuring, for poſſibly the Lord afflicts thee, that hee may bring thee, as this woman, to himſelf.
The laſt Uſe, Let all your hearts run out after this in all your afflictions, that (if it bee the Lords pleaſure) it may work upon you, (as it did upon the Woman of Canaan) to bring you neer to Jeſus Chriſt: Minde and deſire is then in all afflictions. This is that you ſhould look after in your afflictions, not onelyonly to conſider that God ſends it, but to obſerve how God ſanctifies it. Say, Oh Lord, thou haſt afflicted my body, do good to my ſoul; ſay, thou haſt afflicted mee, and mine, thus or thus in body or eſtate; oh that indeed thou wouldeſt work upon mine heart thereby. Conſider, to move you,
Firſt, It is your ſoul-concernments that do moſt of all ly upon you to conſider in all your afflictions. It may bee God hath taken away all thy eſtate, and thou art conſidering how to make it up again, why know, it doth more concern thee to conſider how thou mayeſt bee rich in Faith, and come to a good eſtate in Chriſt, rather than to vex thy ſelf about thy eſtate and how to recover thy loſs: Or elſe it may bee you are ill, and now your great care is to bee well again; Oh thou oughteſt rather to conſider thy ſoul-ſickneſs, thy ſpiritual illneſs, and indeavour to get that cured in Chriſt, than thy poor carkaſs. I beſeech you beloved minde, (as you uſe to ſay) the main, and know, that it is the ſoul that is that main, and do no… altogether minde your bodies, but ſometimes minde your ſouls. Oh that God would make people, but to minde their ſouls more (I could wiſh) but as much as their bodies!
Secondly, To move you, Conſider, whatever the iſſue of any affliction may be, bleſſed are you if your ſouls are brought to Chriſt, It is well indeed if cloſing with Chriſt bee the concluſion. Let childe live or die, eſtate go or come, ſo thou and Chriſt meet together, all is well. Bleſſed is the man that can ſay, I loſt my eſtate ſuch a day, and I found my Lord Jeſus ſuch a day, &c. Therefore ſuffer the word of Exhortation; Above all things ſee how your ſouls are brought to Chriſt in every Affliction; and make it your grand work to obſerve and obtain that, by all the hand of God at any time upon you or yours. But before I conclude, I muſt anſwer this caſe of Conſcience.
Caſe. But will ſome poor ſouls ſay, Alaſs, If I ſhould go to Jeſus Chriſt upon ſuch a carnal account, ſhall I bee accepted? Becauſe my husband, wife, or childe is ſick, will hee hear mee? Is this a fair foundation, or a good firſt Motive to bring mee to Jeſus Chriſt?
Reſol. I anſwer, Truly my Brethren, If thou goeſt onelyonly to Jeſus Chriſt upon a carnal account, or occaſion, I cannot ſay Chriſt will bid thee welcome; But if thy carnal occaſion bee but a Motive, to bring thee upon a higher account, thou mayeſt go and finde entertainment. Although a dirty ſhooe bring you into your Fathers houſe, yet your Father will make you welcome. Therefore I ſay in the Name of the Lord, do not ſtick at this caſe, but rather bleſs God that hath ſent an affliction to awaken thee, to bring thee home, than queſtion whether you ſhall bee accepted upon this account. Let mee therefore end as I began. Behold the Woman of Canaan, for it may bee her condition is yours (in a ſenſe) you have a ſick childe, as ſhee had, &c. I pray thereupon go to Chriſt, as ſhee did; verily Chriſt will in no wiſe caſt you off, in caſe you come. Suppoſe the firſt Motive bee low, and corporal, yet the Matter may prove high and ſpiritual. Who knows but the Lord hath ſent divers ſickneſſes up and down for this end, to bring divers ſouls to Chriſt? I pray therefore minde it, and in all affliction look and long that it may have the ſame operation on you, which it had on this Woman, who was by this means brought to Chriſt. And this ſhall ſuffice for this verſe.