A Cluster of Grapes Taken out of the Canaanite Womans Basket, Sermon 5
Reaſons why wee ought ſtill to carry it well to Chriſt. The Fifth SERMON.
Matthew 15.25. and 27. verſes.
Then came ſhee, and worſhipped him, ſaying, Lord help mee.
And ſhee ſaid, Truth Lord: yet the doggs eat of the crumbs which fall from their-Maſters table.
AS to bee entertained by Chriſt really and readily, is a great mercy; ſo to bee rejected by Chriſt (though it bee but ſeemingly) muſt needs bee a great miſery. Indeed there cannot befall a poor ſoul a ſadder evil, than to come to Chriſt needing, and expecting relief, and to receive either an abſolute denial, or unuſual delaies at the hands of Chriſt. And yet my Brethren, this is a caſe that ſometimes hath befallen many, and may befall us; Wee have a notable inſtance of it before us, in this ſtory of the Woman of Canaan. There were four things I told you that wee would principally ſpeak unto in the handling of this ſtory.
The firſt was the Coming of this Woman.
The ſecond, is, the Manner of the Entertainment that ſhee had by Chriſt, which was very ſad, not an abſolute denial, but a ſtrange and unuſual delay.
Thirdly, Now wee are conſidering the Carriage of this Woman under this ſtrange and rough entertainment that ſhee received from Chriſt. The point is of concernment for us to conſider, that whenſoever it will befall any of us, upon any account, wee may know how to carry our ſelves as ſhee hath done. In theſe two verſes wee have her Carriage, and after wee had opened that, wee gathered up all into this one Obſervation, viz.
Doct. That it is the duty, the wiſdome, the glory of a Chriſtian, to carry it unto Chriſt very holily; when hee ſeems to carry it to the ſoul very harſhly. Or ſhortly thus, Wee muſt carry it really well, when Chriſt carries it ſeemingly ill.
There were but two Principal things, which I ſaid were neceſſary to bee handled in the explication of the Point.
The Firſt is, What this good Carriage is, wherein this holy, and bleſſed behaviour to Jeſus Chriſt doth lye.
And ſecondly, Upon what account it is our duty, and glory, to have this Carriage. Now for the opening of both of theſe, I did onelyonly confine my ſelf to the example in hand, to ſee how the Woman carried it; and to ſee from her what were the Reaſons that did prevail with her to carry it thus to Chriſt.
Here are ſix things wherein this good thing, viz. this good Carriage of this good Woman, appears.
Firſt, Though the Lord dealt roughly with her, ſhee kept up honourable thoughts of him.
Secondly, Wee ſhewed ſhee did not ſuddenly, nor ſullenly go away, but ſtill ſhee cries after him, And,
Thirdly, Shee ſpeaks to Chriſt as profeſſing her onelyonly hope in his help.
Fourthly, Shee denied nothing that Chriſt ſpeaks againſt her. Chriſt ſeems to ſay to her,
Firſt, That ſhee was a Dogg. And then,
Secondly, That ſhee ſhould have nothing. Truth Lord, ſaith ſhee.
Fifthly, Shee doth gather upon Jeſus Chriſt, and by that very hand which hee thruſt her off, ſhee gathers hope.
Laſtly, Shee was content to have a little in the loweſt manner, when ſhee might not have her firſt and great requeſt in the higheſt manner. Wee did the laſt day open theſe more largely. But now, whence is it that wee muſt have, and labour for this good Carriage? or what is the reaſon wee ſhould carry it thus holily to Chriſt, though hee ſeem to carry it roughly to us? I referred the reaſon of it to three heads. I told you, if wee do conſider either Jeſus Chriſt, or our ſelves, or the Errand upon which wee come to him at any time, wee ſhall ſee great reaſon to carry it well to Chriſt, howſoever hee may ſeem to carry it ill to us. And all theſe three conſiderations wee have here in the Woman.
Firſt, Conſider who Jeſus Chriſt is, when you go to him. Why truly my Brethren, hee is the Son of David, and our Lord; Becauſe hee is our Lord, therefore wee muſt worſhip him. It is becauſe Maſters are Maſters, therefore ſervants muſt carry it well; wee did open that, and therefore ſhall not repeat it now. But,
Secondly, Conſider wee our ſelves, who wee are that go to Jeſus Chriſt; and (my Brethren) you will ſee that ſuch as wee are, coming to Chriſt, ſhould carry it very well to him, though hee ſhould ſeem to carry it ill to us. Alaſs, what was this Woman? Certainly the Holy Ghoſt did help her to look within, to ſee her ſelf as ſhee was, viz. a poor Woman; A Woman of Canaan, of Tyre and Sidon, a Woman that was a Dogg by Nature; ſuch a Woman had need to carry it holily when ſhee comes to Chriſt. And my Brethren, if you look upon your hearts (as ſhee was, ſo are wee) you will ſee all the reaſon in the world, to carry it holily and humbly to Jeſus Chriſt, though hee ſhould carry it ſeemingly harſh to you.
Firſt, My Brethren, wee are poor Creatures, and certainly our poverty doth ſpeak for our humility. Indeed, wee are beggars, and you know the ſpeech of Solomon, in Prov. 28.23. The poor uſeth intreaties. It is but meet that thoſe that come a begging, and are poor, that they ſhould uſe intreaties. And my Brethren, let mee tell you, it is an argument that wee have not the bleſſing of ſpiritual poverty, if wee do not carry it well to Jeſus Chriſt, however hee carries it to us. Indeed it is obſerved, as the very natural diſpoſition of the Spaniſh Nation, that though they bee beggars, yet they bee proud. I wiſh in a ſpiritual ſenſe, that were not true of the moſt of us; wee carry it too proudly, and that becauſe wee forget what wee are. I remember Solomon, when hee would ſtrike fire out of the flint (as it were) (that is reverence, out of the hearts of irreverend ones) falls upon this conſideration; Hee is in Heaven, and thou art on Earth, Eccleſ. 5.2. Ah! it is folly (as Solomon there intimates) for us who are upon Earth (wee duſt and aſhes) to carry our ſelves haſtily, irreverently before the God of Heaven. Our poor condition prompts us on (were wee wiſe to minde it) to a good Carriage. This I finde to bee the proper reaſon of that good Carriage which wee opened, from Pſal. 22. You finde there the Pſalmiſt crying out, Oh my God, why haſt thou forſaken mee, and I cry, and thou heareſt not, &c? but thou art holy, O thou that inhabiteſt the praiſes of Iſrael. Here is excellent good Carriage, but what is the ground of it? See in the ſixth verſe, But I am a Worm, and no Man. As if hee ſhould ſay, I am a worm, a poor ſilly creature, and therefore if I cry, and thou hear not, yet thou art a holy and honourable God. But
Secondly, Wee are not onelyonly poor, but wee are polluted creatures. And now, my Brethren, our pollution (when wee come to Jeſus Chriſt) ſhould have a power upon us to make us carry it, ſo holily and humbly as wee opened. The Leper under the Law had a liberty to cry out, yet hee was to cover his face, and to cover his lips. My Brethren, you and I are but Lepers when wee come to Jeſus Chriſt; and upon this account it is that wee ſhould carry it holily, and humbly. This had an influence in Jobs good Carriage, in the 40. and 42. chapters, Behold (ſaith Job) I am vile, what ſhall I anſwer thee? I have ſpoken once, but I will ſpeak no more. Surely it argues wee are not ſenſible of our own ſtench and pollution, if wee dare ſtand upon terms, and miſ-behave our ſelves towards our holy Phyſician. If thy poverty will not binde thee to the good behaviour, let thy pollution do it.
Thirdly, Yet add a third ſtring to this cord, that it may keep thee in; Wee are not onelyonly poor and polluted, but wee are very enemies. And (my Brethren) an enemy, eſpecially a conquered enemy, coming to plead for his life, for mercy, had need come humbly. When the ſervants of Benhadad came to the King of Iſrael, as enemies, and as conquered enemies, they come with ropes about their necks, and lye at his feet, and ſnatch at a word, 1 King. 20.33. Oh ſinner! that is thy condition, thou art an enemy, thou haſt been in rebellion, and thou art ſuing for reconciliation, and ſhouldeſt not thou carry it well? Is thy heart ſo unſenſible of thy former Carriage, as to miſcarry it ſelf again? Surely thou haſt need, and all the reaſon in the world, to crouch and bend, to yeeld and bow, well to carry thy ſelf (who haſt been an enemy) with all reverence to the Lord Jeſus; otherwiſe you do much forget your ſelves. But I ſhall not inlarge. That is the ſecond Reaſon why ſouls ſhould carry it holily and humbly to Chriſt, Namely, if wee conſider who wee are that come to Chriſt. But then,
Thirdly and laſtly, Conſider you the Errand for which you come to Chriſt at any time, and you will ſee in that an Argument to make you carry it well. This Woman came to Chriſt upon a great Errand, Ah Lord, My Daughter is grievouſly vexed with a Devil; And, Oh Lord, I am troubled with him too (might ſhee ſay) A great buſineſs then, ſhee came about, and ſo do wee when wee come to Chriſt. If wee were to ſpeak with Chriſt for a trifle, then if Chriſt ſpake roughly, wee might go away, but it is about what moſt concerns us. For, ſuppoſe it bee thy firſt coming to Jeſus Chriſt, thou art a poor creature under ſin, and now thou art made ſenſible of it, what doſt thou go to Chriſt for? for eaſe of thy burden, &c. Suppoſe thou art coming to Chriſt after ſome backſliding, under the guilt of ſome ſpiritual Adultery, and now thou art coming to him that hee ſhould receive thee again, and is not this a ſerious thing? Nay, ſuppoſe thou goeſt to Chriſt but for the life of one of your children, or your own life; theſe are ſerious things, and in ſerious things wee ſhould carry it humbly, when wee come to ſuch a one as Jeſus Chriſt is, being ſuch as wee are, upon ſuch a weighty Errand as all our occaſions are; I fear thou (that miſ-behaveſt thy ſelf to Chriſt) forgetteſt thy buſineſs with him. Is the ſentence paſt, and art thou condemned already? and art thou come to Chriſt with the chains about thy feet, and the halter about thy neck, and now carrieſt thou thy ſelf ill to him? Art thou ſuing for thy pardon, and now proud? art thou before the Lord for bread, childrens bread at any time, and is thy caſe ſuch, as death follows upon a denial of it? and now mindeſt thou not thy Carriage? Pray ſouls look about you (as my phraſe is) what come you to Chriſt for? is it for temporals, or eternals? come you for your ſelves, or for yours? are you ſeeking for things on Earth, or in Heaven? do you deſire your childrens, or your own, or both deliverance from the Devil? I pray minde your Errand, what thing it is you come to Chriſt for; and let it bee almoſt what it will that you are with Chriſt about, the conſideration of the one, or other, ſhould and may prevail with us, to carry it exceeding well, though hee ſeem to carry it ill. So much for the explication of the Point.
Why now then for the Application; Indeed there is but one thing that I do aim at as the proper and principal intendment of this Point, which is, to direct, and inable both my own heart, and yours (under God) to carry it thus well to Jeſus Chriſt, though hee may carry it ill to us, But before I ſpeak to that, I beſeech you, if it bee your duty to carry it well to Jeſus Chriſt, though hee ſhould carry it ill to us; then do you take heed (as I was concluding the laſt time, and would a little hint it again) that you do not carry it ill to Jeſus Chriſt, when Chriſt carries it well to you. Therefore all you that are before the Lord, you hear this, though Jeſus Chriſt ſhould ſpurn at you, you ſhould worſhip him; though Jeſus Chriſt ſhould caſt you off with a denial, yet you ſhould lye at his feet, and honour him. I beſeech you take heed, when Chriſt ſmiles upon you, do not ſpurn at him; when hee doth good to you, bee not you bad to him. This is a neceſſary caution, even to thoſe that pretend to God. In Deut. 32. What a large Catalogue of good Carriage is there of God towards a people? When they were in a deſert Land, hee lead them, and as an Eagle hee bare them on his wings, &c. 10, & 11. verſes. Hee found him in a deſert Land, and in the waſte howling wilderneſs: hee lead him about, hee inſtructed him, hee kept him as the Apple of his Eye. As an Eagle ſtirreth up her Neſt, fluttereth over her young, ſpreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no ſtrange God with him, &c. Here was good Carriage from the Lord, but how did they carry it? See in verſe 15. But Jeſurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxed fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatneſs: then hee forſook God, which made him, and lightly eſteemed the Rock of his ſalvation, &c. Oh! as Moſes ſaid, in verſe 6. Do yee thus require the Lord, O fooliſh people and unwiſe? Jeſurun, the Lords people, the Lords heritage, a people that profeſs God, are very apt to carry it ill, when the Lord carries it well. And I wiſh to God this were not the Carriage of England this day, now wee have peace and advantages, and opportunities. But now the Lord doth well, wee carry it ill. I beſeech you, beware of it; I ſhall preſs it in a few words; Who is there of you all before the Lord, but I may ſay to you, as the Lord ſaid to his people by Jeremiah; Have I been as a barren wilderneſs, or a dry heath? &c. There is not the moſt notorious Rebel that lives out of Hell, but is beholding to Chriſt for being preſerved. Who of you all that have not had choice dealings by Jeſus Chriſt? I beſeech you do not deal ill with Chriſt. I know you are ready to ſay, what, do wee deal ill with Chriſt? I pray mark it, I will ſpeak but two words.
Firſt, When thou ſinneſt wilfully after Chriſt hath called thee from ſin, and tendered thee a pardon, thou dealest ill with him. Minde well that place, Heb. 10.26. If wee ſin wilfully, after wee have received the knowledge of the truth (i. e. The great truth of the Goſpel-grace, in, and by Chriſt, diſtinguiſhed, verſ. 28. from Moſes his Law) then what follows? why verſ. 29. It is accounted baſe, and diſpiteful dealing with Christ, who ſhed his blood for ſinners. Ah thou wretch! doſt thou hear, Chriſt pitties wretches, and is come to procure and give in pardon to ſinners, and calls, Come ſinner, leave thy ſin, take my pardon; caſt off thy wickedneſs, accept my grace; and yet thou turneſt thy deaf ear; thou now declareſt a hard heart, and dealeſt ill with Chriſt, who is dealing well with thee. Well then, I ſay, whoever thou art, that when thou heareſt that Chriſt died for enemies, that hee hath gifts for Rebels, and that hee is ready to juſtifie the ungodly; and now wilt bee a Rebel ſtill, this is dealing ill with Jeſus Chriſt. This is that which the Apoſtle calls trampling under foot the blood of Chriſt, &c. And ſo,
Secondly, When you deal ill with any of the eminent things of Chriſt, you deal ill with Chriſt. You know what the Lord will ſay at the laſt day, Mat. 25. For as much as you have done it to any of theſe little ones, you have done it unto mee. When you ſcoff at any member of Chriſt, Jeſus Chriſt ſaith, There is one ſcoffs at mee. And when you deal unworthily with any of the things of Chriſt (as the Miniſters of Chriſt) Luk. 10.16. Hee that heareth you, heareth mee: and hee that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth mee: and hee that deſpiſeth mee, deſpiſeth him that ſent mee, &c. It is not ſpoke of the Twelve, but of the Seventy: Thoſe that hee had ſent out to preach in his Name, though they were not the Twelve extraordinary ones, I ſay, but the ordinary Diſciples. I pray minde it, ordinary Miniſters are ſo near Chriſt, that hee accounts deſpiſing of them, as a deſpite of himſelf. And ſo for Chriſtians, the meaneſt of them all, &c. Conſider them that thou doſt deſpiſe, what are they? they are the Lords Meſſengers for thy good, and they are the Lords Members whom hee tenders. And ſo I ſay, for any thing of Chriſt, they that deal ill with them, deal ill with Chriſt. I know what is the great Objection againſt this, and I remember Dr. Stoughton did well anſwer it. Wee do not take theſe to bee the ſervants of Chriſt, the Lords people; his anſwer is, Beware you do not ſmite aſ chiſmatick, a holy one, and a Saint bee found a bleeding. Well, I beſeech you take heed of this; many that pretend to have much from Chriſt, they deal exceeding ill with Chriſt, it is a ſin without excuſe. Therefore theLord doth make the 2. of Jeremiah, to bee a conviction to leave them without excuſe. Chriſt may ſay unto you all, whom in miſery hee hath ſupported, in want ſupplied, in all things ſuſtained; I ſay, Jeſus Chriſt may ſpeak thus to you, If ſo bee in the day of your diſtreſs, I had let you lye under the burthen of ſin; If when you came to begg mercy, I had put you off with a denial, or long delay, you ought to have carried it well: but how inexcuſable will you bee, that while Chriſt carries it well to you, you carry it ill to him?
But the moſt proper. Uſe is to ſpeak ſomething to direct us all to this good Carriage. You hear, however Chriſt carries it to you, yet you ought to carry it holily, and humbly to Jeſus Chriſt. And it may bee there is ſome poor ſoul or other that is now going to Chriſt; It may bee thou art a Months-Convert, and thou art wreſtling long with Chriſt, and haſt no anſwer; or it may bee thou art a backſlider, and art returning to Chriſt, or haſt been with Chriſt upon ſome family, corporal occaſion, hear how you are to carry it.
I will hold out my thoughts diſtinctly, that I may the better direct: And I ſhall preſs the Uſe under two heads.
Cave, Viz. 1 Beware, beware of ill carriage Unto Chriſt.
Cura, Viz. 2 Take care, labour for a good carriage Unto Chriſt.
Under theſe two Particulars I would preſs this good Womans practice upon my ſelf, and you; That however Chriſt ſeems at any time, in any thing to carry it to us, although it ſeem ill, yet let not us carry our ſelves ill to him, but rather overcome our evil with good, and ſtudy to behave our ſelves to Jeſus Chriſt as wee ought. I beſeech you attend it.
Firſt, Beware of ill Carriage. Satan is at your elbow, hee is tempting, hee is buſie to make you curſe God, and dye: This was Satans main work to provoke Job to ill Carriage, and that is his work upon thee now. Satan ſeeth thee groaning under a ſin, that thou haſt no eaſe, now Satan is tempting thee to carry it ill, but beware, do not carry it ill. Take heed of two things as the principal peeces of good Carriage.
Firſt, Beware of evil words, and wiſhes.
Secondly, Of unlawful works and indeavours.
Firſt, Beware of evil words, and wiſhes. My Brethren, wee are apt in affliction to ſin with our mouths. But oh Sirs, let mee tell you, Mouth-ſin is great ſin; Tongue-ſin on Earth, is tormenting-ſin in Hell; Do not ſpeak ill, nor wiſh ill. Do not ſpeak ill. It was an ill ſpeech, yet that good man drops it in his trouble, Pſal. 73.13. Verily I have cleanſed my heart in vain, and waſhed my hands in innocency. And it was a very ill ſpeech of the Church, in Lam. 3.18. I ſaid my hope is periſhed from the Lord. And a bad wiſh of Job, Job 6.8, 9. Oh that I might have my requeſt! and that God would grant mee the thing that I long for! even that it would pleaſe God to deſtroy mee, that hee would let looſe his hand, and cut mee off. Beware of ſpeaking unadviſedly with your lip…. Saith the ſoul, I cannot ſtand up under the frowns of Chriſt, and I would to God I might dye now; God notes what you ſay, Jer. 45.3. Thou ſaidſt, woe is mee now! Mark, God noted what Baru…h ſaith. But you will ſay, may not the ſoul ſpeak? may not the bitter heart vent it ſelf? may not I ſpeak of my condition as it is? I pray mark but theſe two or three things.
Firſt of all, You may ſpeak, but it is our miſery wee are apt to speak more than it is; Many a time wee cry out of our miſery more than it is. But,
Secondly, Mark this, though wee may ſpeak, It it beſt to hold our peace. Better is it for the ſoul to put his mouth in the duſt, then there will bee hope, as wee opened, Lam. 3.29. But then,
Thirdly, In all your ſpeaking, you muſt diſtinguiſh between humble prayer, and haſty ſpeaking. You may go before the Lord again, and again, and ſpeak to him, as the Woman of Canaan; you may tell the Lord your wounds ſtink and feſter, your bones are broken, &c. but you muſt not do this unadviſedly, or paſſionately.
Queſt. How ſhall the ſoul know, even in prayer, that hee doth not ſpeak of his ſad condition badly?
Anſw. I anſwer firſt, When in all your prayers, and expreſſions unto God, you leave your complaint upon your ſelves. This was Jobs practice, Jeb 10.1. ſaith Hee, My ſoul is weary of my life, I will leave my complaint upon my ſelf, I will ſpeak in the bitterneſs of my ſoul, i. e. I will ſay, Lord, my wound is great, but I made it, &c. you may expoſtulate with God, but ſtill leave your complaint upon your ſelves, i. e. lay the fault of all upon your ſelves; do not blame Chriſt. Confeſs whatever thou feeleſt ſmart or ſore, that thou muſt onelyonly thank thy ſelf for it. Lay not thy ſorrow to thy Saviours charge; whatever you ſay, ſpeak not as charging Chriſt, but condemning ſelf. That is one thing.
And ſecondly, As you muſt leave the complaint upon your ſelves, ſo you muſt not abſolutely, and peremptorily condemn your ſelves. The ſoul is apt to cry out, my caſe is bad, and it will never bee better, I conclude I muſt periſh, there is no hope, &c. Ah! theſe condemning, concluding, abſolute concluding ſpeeches thus againſt our ſelves, proceed from paſſion, and are of that kinde of words which wee muſt avoid. But it is not enough to watch words, take heed eſpecially to your works. Therefore
Secondly, As you muſt beware of ſinful words and wiſhes, ſo, beware of ſinful works, and indeavours. When the Rod of God is upon thy back, take heed of putting forth thy hand to evil. Sauls way, was a wicked way; Indeed the Lord dealt ſadly, ſeverely with him; neither to anſwer him by viſion, nor dream; by Urim, nor Thummim, was very ſore and grievous. And my Brethren, to bee able to forbear at ſuch a time any thing that may ſeem a way to help, I confeſs it is very hard. But although it bee difficult, yet it is duty. Wee muſt beware of going to Witches, and Wizards for counſel in any caſe. It was Sauls ſin, and I wiſh it had died with him; but it remains too great a practice in theſe times, Oh take heed of it. Take heed, I ſay, you do not by any evil practice ſeek to eaſe your ſelves. Though Chriſt ſhould not anſwer thee, no more at preſent, than God did Saul; though hee do neither ſpeak to thee himſelf, nor ſuffer his ſervants to ſpeak on thy behalf (as here in this Womans caſe) yet beware of doing any unwarrantable thing to eaſe thy minde. Bee not as Saul at Endor. No, neither bee as Saul in Mount Gilboa, (as the ſtory is, 1 Sam. 30.) At Endor hee conſults with a Witch; At Gilboa hee took a ſword and ſlew himſelf. O take heed of that temptation! viz. Self-Murther. I have heard it often as obſerved heretofore, and I know, that to this day, it is an evil practiue many take, they will lay violent hands upon themſelves; this is to go back to hell for a plaiſter. And ſurely ſuch a plaister hath ſo much venome in it, that it is madneſs to expect Virtue from it. I beſeech you therefore beware. This is the firſt part of my advice. Learn your duty at leaſt thus far, Not to carry it ill in word or work, however in any thing the Lord deal with you. But my Point ſaith more, therefore I muſt preſs it. Wee muſt carry it well to Chriſt, however hee may ſeem to carry it to us. And therefore to come to that in the next place.
Secondly, Recompence not evil with evil, but rather recompence evil with good. It is true (as I have often ſaid) Chriſt cannot carry it really ill; but however do thou recompence evil with good. Now to that end I pray minde this Woman of Canaan, and imitate her, write after her Copy, do as ſhee did, let your Carriage to Chriſt anſwer her Pattern in all the particulars which I opened and inſtanced in. And to this end give mee leave to commend to you, the exerciſe of three Graces, in the exerciſe of which ſhee was, and in them you ſhould bee, (and ſo ſhall carry it well to God) Namely, Humility, Prayer, Reſolute Faith.
Firſt, Obſerve her Humility, and go thy way, and do likewiſe. However the Lord carries himſelf to thee, humble thy ſelf under his hand. Chriſt could not ſpeak a word never ſo bad, but ſhee would hee viler. If the Lord would ſay Dogg, ſhee would …ay ſo too; Eſpecially labour to carry it humbly in this one thing, to accept of any meaſure, in any manner, of comfort that Chriſt gives you. Thou art perplexed, comfort thou wouldeſt have; Now obſerve, Chriſt it may bee offers thee a crumb, and thy proud heart will not accept of comfort, unleſs thou mayeſt have much. This is juſt like a little childe, the Mother gives it a ſmall peece of bread, and it cries, and throws it away, if hee may not have his Brothers peece of bread. Ah! Beloved, look to your hearts; Take heed of this proud peece of childiſhneſs. If your hearts were humble, you would accept of, and thank Chriſt for a little. As it is with the hungry ſoul, ſo it is with every humble ſoul; Hee admires mercy in a morſel, and is willing to ſtoop under the Table, to take up a crumb. Put on therefore, and bee cloathed with humility, and put it forth, ſhew it in your Carriage to Chriſt, as this Woman of Canaan did. It was the humility of her ſoul, by which ſhee carried it ſo well; and this is the firſt Grace in her Carriage unto Chriſt, wee ſhould indeavour to conform our ſelves. I come to the next.
Secondly, Obſerve in her the Grace of Prayer (I do not ſay, the Gift of Prayer) But I obſerve it as the Grace of Prayer (for here was no great gift) Oh Sirs! however the Lord doth keep up Prayer, your caſe cannot bee ſo bad, but pray you may, and pray you muſt, Do but obſerve an inſtance or two in the Book of the Pſalms, of very ſad caſes, and yet they did not give over Prayer, Pſal. 61. there you have the Pſalmiſt crying after God, in the firſt verſe, But when would hee cry? Why when my heart is overwhelmed, verſ. 2. Thou ſayeſt thy heart is overwhelmed, and thou canſt not, it is in vain to pray; Mark the Pſalmiſt prayed then. Again, Pſal. 88. obſerve how ſad the caſe of Heman is ſet forth there; My ſoul is full of trouble, my life draweth nigh unto the grave, verſ. 3. And ſo on. But what ſaith hee in verſ. 13. But unto thee have I cried, O Lord, and in the morning ſhall my Prayer prevent thee. Though the caſe was very ſad, yet it was not paſt praying. Here is the Devils temptation, What, wilt thou pray, it is in vain? thou haſt prayed, and Chriſt doth not anſwer, Nay, hee hath returned thee a rough anſwer; (So indeed the Serpent ſubtilly ſuggeſts, to take us off from Prayer.) But reſiſt the Devil in that temptation; do thou yet pray, and give not over; yet ſay, I will pray unto him; ſay with Jonah, Yet I will look again towards his holy Temple, Jonah 2.4.
Queſt. But if the ſoul ſay, But I cannot tell how to pray; I have not a Gift of Prayer.
Anſw. If thou bee a Saint, Thou haſt a Grace of Prayer. And obſerve this, thou canſt pray as much as the Woman of Canaan, Lord, help mee, and, Truth Lord, &c. Here are but three words, Lord help mee. And let mee in alluſion tell you but three words that you ſhould pray to the Lord, let your caſe bee what it will.
Firſt, Lord, thou onelyonly canſt help mee; all the men in the world cannot help mee.
Secondly, Lord, thou didſt help many as bad as I.
Thirdly, And Lord, If thou didſt never help any as bad, then now thou wilt have the more glory by helping mee.
Object. Poſſibly the ſoul will be ready to ſay, But alaſs, Jeſus Chriſt puts mee off, I would pray, but hee turns away, and will not hear; and I would catch hold of him, but hee runs away.
Repl. You know what Jacob did, (Gen. 32.26, 27.) Hee would catch hold of God, though hee would bee gone; and you muſt wreſtle with him, and cry after him, You muſt not let him go. You ſee the Diſciples tell Chriſt, that this Woman cried after them, verſ. 23. Shee was as one that ran after another, who went away. Shee crieth after us (ſay they) do thou ſo; if Chriſt ſeem to go, run after, cry after. Bee not put off, renew, and re-inforce thy Prayer again and again. Indeed, in this the Grace of Prayer differs from the Gift; the Grace lives, and laſts, the Gift dies, and goes out. Well then, ſtir up thy ſelf to take hold of God; and keep thy hold, having taken it. Pray, if thou canſt but a little, and go again, and pray the ſame words again and again; Chriſt himſelf did ſo; Three times hee prayed in the ſame words, Mat. 26.44. Bee not aſhamed if thou want variety of expreſſion. A few words prevail with God and Jeſus Chriſt. Therefore I ſay, Pray alwaies; however Chriſt carry it, caſt not away thy Prayers, but continue in it; ſo this Woman did, and wee muſt do likewiſe. But
Thirdly, Bee reſolute in your Faith. And pray let mee mark this by the way, Though ſhee doth not ſay, Lord, I beleeve, yet ſhee did beleeve. The Woman was acting the Grace of Faith all this while, and ſhee acts it very reſolutely, ſhee ſpeaks as one beleeving him to bee the Meſſiah, as one whoſe onelyonly hope and help was in him, and as one that did cleave and adhere to him. Our Lord Jeſus witneſſeth to the Womans Faith. verſ. 28. It was ſtrong and reſolute; ſhee did beleeve, and was acted and upheld (as I ſhall ſhew hereafter) by Faith in all this addreſs. A Faith ſhee had, and a Faith ſhee expreſſed really, though it is not expreſſed literally, as to the terms; yet it is evident as to the Truth of it, that ſhee did beleeve; ſo do you. Beleevers are ready to think that in time of trouble, it is a time to pray, and to hear, but not to beleeve, &c. Thou thinkeſt thou mayeſt cry after Chriſt, and wait upon Chriſt, I but thou ſhouldeſt beleeve in him, Iſa. 50.10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that walketh in darkneſs, and hath no light? let him truſt in the Name of the Lord, and ſtay upon his God. So Job, I wil truſt in him though hee kill mee. That act of Faith I am now preſſing, is Truſting; and I pray minde it what kinde of Faith I preſs in this particular; It is a Truſting Faith. Job did truſt, and hee that feareth God, muſt truſt in him at all times; yea in the dark. And truly this word or term Truſt, doth very fitly ſet forth the thing I intend to preſs you in this particular unto. Now that you may a little underſtand it, conſider that there are four words in the Scripture, that ſet forth the great Myſtery of Beleeving.
There is firſt, The general word Faith. I beleeve, Lord, help my unbeleef.
Secondly, There is the particular word of Hope. Hee hopeth.
Thirdly, There is a particular word of Knowledge, which is as much as Aſſurance. I know whom I have beleeved. And
Fourthly, There is this word Truſting. And now what is the nature of Truſt. A man that beleeves, hath a pretty deal of light of God, but hee that hopes, hath a little more; hee hath more that knows; but what hath hee that truſts? I ſhall give it you in this ſimilitude: One comes to another, Sir, I know you can help mee, pray help mee, pray help mee; ſaith hee, I cannot do it, or I will not do it. The other replies, but I beſeech you Sir do it; undertake it for mee, I pray promiſe mee. The other returns No, I will undertake nothing, I will promiſe you nothing. The man returns again, but yet I will commit it to you, I pray conſider it, I will leave it with your goodneſs, and though you will not ſay you will do it, yet Sir I will truſt in you. So, thou goeſt to Chriſt, and hee will not hear thee, hee turns away, and ſaith nothing; after all thy cries, hee ſeems ſilent; thou art left without aſſurance, and without viſible hope. Now ſay, Lord, I leave my caſe, my ſoul with thee. I will yet relye upon thy grace, and although thou wilt not give mee in a particular promiſe, why yet Lord I will truſt in thee. Oh truſt to his Omnipotent Arm, that hee can do it, and becauſe of his Tender Compaſſion, and Rich Free Grace, truſt in him, that hee will do it; and this is that which Chriſt takes very well at our hands, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whoſe minde is ſtayed on thee, becauſe hee TRUSTETH in thee, Iſa. 26.3. When all fails, Hope and Heart fails, and Chriſt ſeems to ſpeak contrary, Cry out, Yet Lord, I will truſt in thee. To draw up my ſelf to a cloſe of this Uſe. I beſeech you all often remember the Woman of Canaan, conſider her Carriage, and this point which I have been preſſing from her practice; and in your condition ſtrive to have her Carriage, eſpecially in the exerciſe of thoſe three things, viz. Humility, Prayer, and Faith. Beſides what in the former Sermon I opened, which I ſhall not now repeat. For onelyonly this is that I would preſs, viz. have ſuch a good carriage in all things. You know what is the particular occaſion wherein Chriſt and you trade, or have to do upon any account. Bee thy caſe what it will, or Chriſts carriage bee as hee pleaſeth (croſs, or kinde, as wee ſpeak) ſtill know, you ought to ſtudy and ſtrive to demean your ſelf holily. However the Lord carries it to you, your duty and wiſdome is to carry it well to him.
Queſt. I but you will ſay, This is very hard, how ſhall I do it?
Anſw. I told you indeed it is a hard Copy, but wee muſt indeavour to write it. And bleſſed bee God, the Copy is written in great letters, ſo that wee may with the more eaſe ſee it, and imitate it.
Queſt. But how ſhall wee do it?
Anſw. Take but theſe Three things.
Firſt, If ever you would imitate this Copy, Bee ſure that you take heed of thoſe perſons, that will ſhake your hands while you are a writing. Oh Sirs, when you are to copy out the great Copy of the Woman of Canaan,
1 Away from the Devil.
2 Away from Carnal Reaſon. And
3 Away from fleſh and blood. Theſe will ſhake your hand. The Devil will put on Job to curſe God, Satan will ſuggeſt a thouſand things to a ſoul in the Woman of Canaans condition. Mark, ſaith hee, hee doth not hear thee, thou doſt not belong to him. Mark, hee gives thee a terrible anſwer, hee is rather a Judge than a Father: So, for carnal reaſon, and fleſh and blood (I will put them both together) they will riſe; what, muſt I bee called Dogg? muſt I bee put off, as I muſt not have a crumb? But if ever you would carry it well, take heed of thoſe that will hinder you; if you hearken to thoſe, they will but ſhake thy hand, and make thee rather blotthy Copy-book (as wee ſay) and onelyonly make a few ſcrawls (as boies, when ſome jogg their hand) inſtead of writing by thy Copy. Bid the Devil ſtand further off. If you reſiſt (James tells you) Hee will flee. Shake off carnal reaſon, minde not what that judgeth, or ſayeth, of Chriſts carriage to thee. Eye thou thy leſſon, and regard not any that would hinder thy learning of it; that is one thing. But then,
Secondly, If ever you would write well by this Copy, I pray often look upon your Copy. Wee ſee that children do miſtake, becauſe they do not often look upon their Copy. It is no ſhame to learn of a good Woman; it may bee you begin at firſt to think of the Woman of Canaan, but you do not read thorow; you ſhould again and again look over, look thorow and thorow this Example; content not thy ſelf with once reading or hearing; repeat the ſtory again. Remember the Doctrine a ſecond and a third time. Hee takes a Copy beſt, who eyes it moſt; and that ſoul will beſt imitate this Woman of Canaan, who reflects upon, and conſiders her Example often.
Thirdly and Laſtly, Strengthen your hands as much as may bee. My Beloved, a cold hand ſhall I ſay, or a cold heart, will write but very poorly: if you do not warm your hearts with ſome other good conſiderations, you will not write well. I will give you one general warming heating word to conſider, that you may write after this Copy, that you may carry your ſelves thus well. As long as you have a heart to carry; Nay, but to indeavour to carry it well to Chriſt; Chriſt cannot carry it ill to you. In this ſenſe I tell thee, if thy indeavours beehumbly and heartily to carry it well to Chriſt; Chriſt cannot carry it ill to you. I read once it is ſaid of Chriſt, viz. John 4.4. That hee muſt needs do ſuch a thing, hee muſt needs go thorow Samaria. There was a poor Woman of Samaria hee muſt bring home. And it is ſaid, in 2 Tim. 2.13. If wee beleeve not, yet hee abideth faithful, and cannot deny himſelf. Truly, there is a muſt in ſome things upon Chriſt; and there is a cannot, which may ſafely bee ſpoke of the Lord Jeſus. Hee muſt bee kinde, and hee cannot deny himſelf in that. After our humble holy waiting hee muſt ſpeak; and hee cannot conceal his grace from thoſe that (as this Woman) addreſs themſelves to him; And therefore it is certain (and warm thy fingers, hand and heart (that thou mayeſt write the better) with this conſideration) that while you carry it thus (as I opened) unto him; Hee cannot continue ſtrange to you, but muſt, and will appear as you expect and deſire. Remember it, and rejoyce in it; I ſay unto you from my Maſter, that albeit the Lord Chriſt may delay, and demur, yet at laſt hee will ſpeak to us, and do for us. I need not ſend you to any man, but onelyonly to women, to aſſure you of this, who are upon record in Scripture, as preſidents for this purpoſe. I intreat you to remember, that there are three Women in the New Teſtament to whom Chriſt ſhewed much mercy, though at firſt hee ſeemed not to minde them.
The one is in Luk. 7.37. One that is called a ſinner, ſhee came and ſate down at his feet, and wept, but hee did not ſeem to minde her.
The other is the Woman that had the bloody Iſſue, in Luk. 18. And the
Third is this Woman of Canaan. Here are three Women, whom Chriſt at firſt did not ſeem to minde, yet hee dealt with them very well at laſt; And, Bee yee comforted in this confidence, Hee will deal as well with you, as ever hee did with them. Chriſt is ſtill the ſame in love and kindneſs; Oh that wee could bee the ſame with this Woman of Canaan in her carriage! And thus I have done with that particular, viz. how the Woman did behave her ſelf; hereafter wee ſhall ſee how ſhee ſped, and what was the happy Concluſion of all.