A Cluster of Grapes Taken out of the Canaanite Womans Basket, Sermon 7
Chriſt will bee certainly kinde at laſt. The Seventh SERMON.
Matthew 15. verſ. 28.
Then Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto her, O Woman, great is thy Faith: bee it unto thee, even as thou wilt, &c.
YOu have ſometimes ſeen, or at leaſt heard, of a poor beggar, who hath long lain, and loudly cried at the gate of ſome great perſon, and yet never liftened to, never let in; but anon it may bee the Maſter of the houſe himſelf hath opened the door, and ſpake to the man kindly, and dealt with him very comfortably; how was the face of this beggar lightened, how was his heart refreſhed! juſt ſo, Nay, greater than ſo was the heart of the Woman of Canaan cheared, when our Lord anſwered and ſpake unto her the words that I have read. Shee had as it were lain long, and cried loud, and begged hard, and no anſwer, but now at laſt the Lord anſwers, and the Lord anſwers ſweetly, Oh Woman, great is thy Faith: bee it unto thee even us thou wilt. The laſt day wee came to this verſe; in it I told you wee had the laſt particular of the ſtory of the Woman of Canaan, which holds forth the bleſſed concluſion, which our Lord doth make with this poor Woman. After I had hinted and reſolved three queſtions, I told you there were three particulars, which in an eminent manner are remarkable in this place.
The Firſt, wee did diſpatch then, and that was this, The Grace which did carry on, and carry out this poor Woman in all this addreſs, it was her Faith. And thence wee noted this Doctrine.
Doct. That it is onelyonly Faith which can carry the ſoul thorow all difficulties and diſcouragements in the way to Chriſt. OnelyOnly Faith.
Remember it Sirs, ſome of you have a little knowledge, and others of you have a great deal of Profeſſion; ſome of you talk much, and the pooreſt thinks (it may bee) as well of himſelf, as hee that ſaith moſt; but remember, whatever you know, talk, or think, nothing will carry you to Jeſus Chriſt but Faith; you may have fine words, and good wiſhes, but alaſs, wording, and wiſhing is not coming to Jeſus Chriſt. Why this Woman had other gifts, and other graces; ſhee had much humility, and ſhee had much patience, and ſhee had a fine gift of prayer, &c. yet it is not ſaid, Woman, much is thy patience, or great is thy love, ſtrong are thy prayers, but oh Woman, great is thy Faith, &c. Wee did open the point at large, and preſſed it upon you in the Application in divers particulars, which I ſhall not add unto, or repeat. OnelyOnly I beſeech you, my Beloved, let this abide upon your hearts; ſtreng then Faith. When you come to dye, you will then ſee a need of Chriſt (if you do not now) and if you have not a living Faith, you cannot have a living Chriſt, and then is your ſoul dead before death. Faith is another kinde of thing than the world is aware of; wee hardly know the notion now, but wee ſhall never bee able to know the preciouſneſs of it, as indeed it is precious, but by the experience of it: Now the greateſt experience of Faith is ſeen in that bleſſed buſineſs of going to Chriſt. In that wee have this experience of the uſe, power, and price of Faith, that whatever wee have, and pretend unto, nothing but ſincere, ſingle Faith, will carry us unto Jeſus Chriſt. But I proceed.
The ſecond thing (which indeed is the principal thing) is this. The kindneſs of Chriſt now to this Woman. You ſee his commendation of her Faith; well now, mark his condeſcenſion to her; how much doth Chriſt condeſcend to this poor Woman? hee condeſcends to talk with her; commends her Faith, and complies with her wiſhes to heal her Daughter, &c. Oh bleſſed condeſcenſion! The Obſervation from the whole will bee this,
Doct. That however the Lord Jeſus may deal at firſt, with poor ſouls that come to him, in the iſſue hee will deal very kindly.
Or if you will, wee ſhall expreſs the Obſervation to prevent miſtakes thus,
That all thoſe who truly come to Chriſt, ſhall in the iſſue finde his carriage to bee very kinde, howſoever at firſt it may ſeem very ſtrange.
You ſee the Doctrine lies full in the words; wee have opened in the ſtory already, how ſtrangely Chriſt did carry it at firſt to this poor Woman; but how ſweetly doth hee carry it at laſt? Sorrow and weeping may bee for a night (ſaith David, Pſal. 30.5.) but joy comes in the morning. Oh my Beloved, it may thunder and lighten, and bee tempeſtuous in the beginning of the day, and yet it may prove a fair ſun-ſhiny day after. Firſt coming to Chriſt may have clouds, and darkneſs, but the latter part ſhall have light and life. This point is very comfortable, certain, and clear in this inſtance. It is comfortable in all its branches; and it is certain in its bottoming (this example being a ſure bottom to build the Doctrine upon.) And you will ſee it clear alſo, if you will but minde the terms in which I expreſs it. Now there are two terms I keep in the Point, that I would deſire you to minde.
The firſt relates to the perſons that are conſidered in this Point. And the
Second relates to the thing it ſelf.
The firſt relates to the perſons that are conſidered in this point. And they are all thoſe that truly come to the Lord Jeſus. My Beloved, there are two ſorts of perſons who live under the ſound of the Goſpel, that I cannot think upon but with a ſad heart. The one are thoſe who never ſo much as pretend to go to Jeſus Chriſt. Notwithſtanding all Chriſts tenders of himſelf, notwithſtanding all their own need of him; upon no account, one or other, do they ſo much as pretend to go to Jeſus Chriſt. Some are enemies, and oppoſire to very profeſſing of coming to Jeſus Chriſt.
Secondly, There is another ſort that pretend to go, but go neither rightly nor truly; They do not truly come to the Lord Jeſus; you have a type of both theſe, and their miſerie, Matth. 22. in the parable of the Wedding. There were ſome that would not go to the Wedding-ſupper, and there was another hee went, but hee went without his Wedding-garment; why now, how did the Lord deal with them? for the one it is ſaid, in verſf. 7. Hee ſent, and miſerably deſtroyed them with his armies. And for the other, It is ſaid, hee found him out, and caſt him out into utter darkneſs. Therefore minde it, all you that have heard of Jeſus Chriſt, all you that talk of Jeſus Chriſt, if you do not go at all, or if you do not go aright, this point doth not concern you: I do not ſay Chriſt will deal well with you; alaſs! you deal ill with him, and hee will deal ſadly with you. It is onelyonly thoſe that truly go to Jeſus Chriſt, that this point deals withall. The Woman of Canaan came to him truly, and ſhee came to him rightly alſo; ſhee came to him (as appears here in this ſtory) as to the Meſſiah, the Son of David; and ſhee comes with great humility (ſhee worſhips him) with great reſolution (ſhee would not bee put off) but above all ſhee came with a good Faith; and this Woman ſo coming, though the Lord dealt ſtrangely with her at firſt, yet hee concludes kindely with her at laſt.
The ſecond thing I put in the point is, That in the iſſue, and at laſt, Chriſt will deal kindly with them that rightly come to him. I do not ſay, at firſt hee will do it; (No, at firſt hee may ſeem to bee ſtrange) but at laſt, in the iſſue, hee will bee kinde. Chriſt will not preſently, it may bee, grant our requeſt, but in the iſſue hee will. I will open it thus.
There is a Threefold Iſſue, or end, in which all that come to Chriſt ſhall experience his kindneſs.
The firſt is, the Iſſue of the Act of comming it ſelf.
Secondly, The Iſſue of our whole life. And,
The third is, The Iſſue and End of all things.
Now in one of theſe three Iſſues, all that come to Chriſt ſhall finde him deal kindely with them.
Firſt, In the Iſſue of the Act of coming it ſelf. I pray mark this, Coming to Chriſt is an action made up of many ſteps; wee do not at once come to Jeſus Chriſt. There is the Agreſs, Ingreſs, and Pr…reſs in every going.
The Agreſs, or Addreſs to it.
The Ingreſs, The firſt ſetting upon it.
And then the Progreſs, The going on in it.
Poſſibly when thou doſt firſt ſet up a reſolution of going to Chriſt, hee will not come in and give thee an anſwer; poſſibly when thou haſt ſet thy foot in the way, and gone a good way, hee will not come and ſpeak kindly to you; but by that time you are come up to Chriſt fully, then you ſhall finde Chriſt will deal kindly with you. The ſoul doth not at firſt fully come up to Chriſt; it is a great while ere the ſoul doth fully come off from fin, ere the ſoul doth fully come out of Satans power, ere hee doth fully come up to the propoſals of Jeſus Chriſt. Now, do not wonder if Jeſus Chriſt do not deal kindly with you, till the Iſſue of the whole Act; but in the Iſſue of the Act, when it is compleated, then you ſhall finde him deal kindly with you. You are now, it may bee (poor ſoul) treating with Jeſus Chriſt, and as it is in a treaty of peace between differing ſtates, there are ſome preliminary treatments, all is not preſently concluded as ſoon as it is preſented. There are demurs, and debates, and there are ſeeming breakings off, and departures; no compleatings, but as it were for a while complementings: It is ſeldome ſeen, that at firſt all things are fully concluded upon; But when the Treaty is perfected, then you have the ſound of Trumpets, and the noiſe of Drums, and all the expreſſions preſſions of joy that may bee. It hath been ſaid of old, that comming to Chriſt it is a Marriage Act, and ſo indeed it is. Now there are not compleat Acts of kin…neſs, till the whole Marriage bee conſummate; Therefore, though Chriſt may carry it ſtrangely at firſt, yet in the Iſſue, when the Marriage is conſummate, then you ſhall finde Chriſt complying, and ſhewing himſelf kinde.
Secondly, There is (that which wee call) the Iſſue of our life. And my Beloved, at Death, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt will ſmile upon many a ſoul, who have gone ſoftly in the bitterneſs of their ſpirits all their daies. Mark the juſt man, and behold the perfect man; For the end of that man is peace, Pſal. 37.37. Though you have clouds, and darkneſs upon you all your daies, and though Jeſus Chriſt doth ſeem to carry it roughly to you, through the whole courſe of your pilgrimage; yet when you are actually going into the good Land, then you ſhall ſee Joſhuah going before you. Many that have had fears and terrours all their life time, yet at the end of their life, when they have been going out of the world, they have had joy, and comfort. The ſtory of Mris. Drake is known, ſhee had many terrours, much ſadneſs, no ſmiles from Chriſt all her daies; till at laſt, when ſhee came to dye, a little before her death, Chriſt dealt ſo kindly, that ſhee went out of the world in an extacy, and raviſhment of ſpirit, full of peace, and full of joy; triumphing in the Lord; ſo that in the Iſſue of our time and life, wee ſhall finde Chriſt kinde, however hee is at firſt to us. But then
Thirdly, Or elſe in the Iſſue of all things. When all things ſhall bee wrapt up, by a final End and Iſſue put to them, then Chriſt will ſhew himſelf kinde, however ſtrange hee did ſeem to carry it to poor ſouls before. You read of a day (in Mal. 3.17.) in which the Lord will make up his Jewels, and then you ſhall return, and diſcern between the righteous and the wicked, &c. And Matthew 25. there Chriſt ſpeaks very ſweetly, when the Lord ſhall ſay to thoſe on his right hand, Come yee bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdome prepared for you, &c. Then hee ſhall ſay to this poor man, and woman, thou didſt mourn after mee all thy daies, thou didſt wait upon mee all thy life, and though I ſeemed to carry it ſtrange, thou wert ſincere; Come yee bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdome prepared for you, &c. I do obſerve that this carried up the heart of Job, in Job 19. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and hee ſhall ſtand at the latter day upon the Earth, and then in my fleſh I ſhall ſee him, &c. This Text in Job is worth its weight in Gold upon many accounts. That, that Jeſus Chriſt that is now at the right hand of the Father, Job many thouſand years ago ſaid, hee ſhould know upon the Earth, and though hee ſet him up as a mark to ſhoot at then, yet hee knew at laſt hee would deal kindly with him. Well then, I pray put all together; Perſons truly comming to Chriſt, in the Iſſue, either of the Act of coming, or of their Lives, or of all things, ſhall finde this to bee a certain Truth, that Chriſt will deal ſweetly with them, however now hee may ſeem to carry it ſtrangely. And (my Beloved) I ſhall not need to bring any other inſtance to prove it, than this inſtance in the Text. Never was any ſo ſtrangely dealt withall, as the Woman of Canaan, and yet what a bleſſed Iſſue doth hee make with he…? Oh Woman, great is thy Faith, bee it unto thee even as thou wilt, &c.
There are onelyonly two things that I aim at in the explication of the point. And,
The firſt is to ſhew you wherein the kinde cloſe of the Carriage of Chriſt in the Iſſue ſhall appear to poor ſouls, however at firſt hee may carry it ſtrangely. And
Secondly, The ground of this. Wee ſhall begin with the firſt; And I ſhall out of this inſtance of the Woman of Canaan, ſhew you how kindly Chriſt will carry it at laſt, in the Iſſue, though hee carry it roughly at firſt. Pray obſerve this ſpeech, Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto her, &c. I remember in the book of Ruth, when Boaz had eſpied Ruth, and talked of her to his ſervants, hee ſpake to her himſelf, in verſ. 8. and what ſaith ſhee, in verſe 10. Shee fell upon her face, and bowed her ſelf to the ground, and ſaid unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou ſhouldeſt take knowledge of mee, ſeeing I am a ſtranger? It was a marvelous act of kindneſs, that Boaz ſhould take knowledge of her to speak to her. Juſt ſo mee thinks it was here; Chriſt at firſt talks to his ſervants of this Woman, hee did not ſpeak at firſt to her, but to the Diſciples of her. But now, although before the Lord did not ſeem to take knowledge of this Woman, yet I ſay, now the Lord is ſo kinde, as hee turns to her, and takes notice of her, and hee ſpeaks exceeding kinde to her. Oh Woman, great is thy Faith, bee it unto thee even as thou wilt, &c. Let us open it a little.
Here are three Parts.
Firſt, Oh Woman, great is thy Faith.
Secondly, Bee it unto thee even as thou wilt.
Thirdly, At the ſame hour her Daughter was made whole.
Firſt, Hee anſwered and ſaid unto her, O Woman, great is thy Faith. My Beloved, wee muſt open this by degrees; and it is very much which is here contained. For,
Firſt of all, Hee anſwered and ſaid unto her. O bleſſed kindneſs! that Jeſus Chriſt that before anſwered her not a word, hee now opens his lips, and vouchſafes to ſpeak to her. David, who knew what an act of kindneſs this is, ſets it forth, both in the Negative, and in the Affirmative. Negatively, ſpeaking of his enemies, in Pſal. 18.41. They cried, but there was none to ſave them; even unto the Lord, but hee ANSWERED THEM NOT. And Affirmatively, ſpeaking of himſelf, in Pſal. 118.5. I called upon the Lord in diſtreſs; the Lord anſwered mee, and ſet mee in a large place. Oh my Beloved, it is an act of kindneſs that Chriſt will ſpeak. Let not my Lord bee angry, ſaith the ſoul, do but ſpeak to mee. Oh it is mercy and kindneſs, when the Lord breaks his ſilence, and doth but ſpeak to us. Why now Chriſt you ſee ſpeaks to the Woman. And it is ſaid, Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto her, hee anſwers his Diſciples before, about her, but did not ſpeak to her; now hee ſpeaks to her. Remember you not the expreſſion, in Cant. 8.13? Thou that dwelleſt in the Gardens, the Companions hearken to thy voice: cauſe mee to hear it. Oh, ſaith the poor ſoul ſometimes, Bleſſed Lord, thy Companions hear thy voice; Angels that wait upon thy Throne, they hear it; and the Saints in the Sanctuary, they hear it; and I am without knocking, Lord let mee hear thy voice. Here is the firſt ſtep, that hee vouchſafes to ſpeak to her.
Secondly, Hee ſaith unto her, Woman, &c. how ſoft is this language? Now hee doth not ſpeak to her in a rough manner, but Woman. My Beloved, you know what is ſaid of Job; Then the Lord anſwered Job out of the whirlwind, who is this that darkens words of wiſdome, without knowledge? Job 38.1, 2. But behold the Lord hee anſwers in a ſtill voice, hee ſpeaks as a man to a woman. By Beloved, had the Lord ſpoken louder, it may bee it would have broke her; the Lord will ſpeak to poor ſouls in a ſtill voice. I remember a prayer of Job, Job 13. about verſe 20. OnelyOnly do not two things unto mee: then will I not hide my ſelf from thee, withdraw thine hand far from mee; and let not thy dread make mee afraid, &c. And it is worth our conſidering, becauſe it will open what wee are upon; hee doth as it were capitulate with God, and hee makes but one Article, Let not thy dread make mee afraid; As if Job ſhould ſay, Lord, if thou wilt but take away thy dread, if thou wilt not ſpeak in thy Majeſty, as a great God, then ſpeak Lord. That this is the meaning, appears by Elihu his interpretation of it, in Job 33. about 6, & 7. verſes. Behold, I am, according to thy wiſh, in Gods ſtead: I alſo am formed out of the clay. Behold, my terrour ſhall not make th…e afraid, neither ſhall my hand bee heavy upon thee. Job was afraid to hear God ſpeaking (as wee ſay) in high language; and therefore deſired God to forbear it. Why you ſee, Chriſt doth here forbear high words, hee now ſpeaks to this woman in a low, and loving manner, even as a man to a man, or a woman to a woman; Hee anſwered and ſaid unto her, Woman. Without doubt this familiar word, and way of ſpeaking to this Woman, did much chear her heart; and ſhee might hereupon ſay (as Ruth did to Boaz, when hee ſpake familiarly to her) ſaith Ruth in the ſtory, Ruth 2.13. My Lord hath comforted mee, and hath ſpoke friendly unto mee. It is much mercy that Chriſt will give us an anſwer: But it is much more mercy, that hee will give us a ſoft anſwer. You know the ſtory of Eliah, God ſaith, hee would ſpeak to him, but hee came in a whirlwind before hee came in a ſoft anſwer; but Eliah was a ſtrong man, and could bear what wee cannot. If Chriſt ſhould not ſpeak to a poor heart in a ſtill voice, but in a whirlwind, alaſs, it would over-power the ſoul; Therefore it is that Chriſt ſpeaks as a man to his friend, yea, as a Father to a childe; ſo you know hee did uſe to ſpeak. Daughter, bee of good chear; Son, bee of good chear. And thus wee finde it in other places, the Lord ſpeaks friendly, Zach. 1.13, And the Lord anſwered the Angel that talked with mee, with good words, and comfortable words. If Jeſus Chriſt do not ſpeak at all, or if hee do ſpeak, yet if it bee not comfortable words, wee count it ſtrange and harſh; and ſo it is, and may bee (as wee have ſhewed at firſt) But ſtill know now for all this, whatever hee ſaith at firſt, yet at laſt hee will ſpeak comfortable words.
Thirdly, Chriſt condeſcends yet, and ſpeaks more kindly; for, hee owns, acknowledgeth, and commends this poor Womans Faith. Mark it, Oh Woman great is thy Faith. Why here is our third ſtep. The Lord Jeſus eyes and owns her Faith, and that is a great act of kindneſs. Poor ſoul! Thou lyeſt at the feet of Chriſt, thou ſayeſt, I have deſire, but no hope; I have fear, but no faith (thou that art full of fears) yet the Lord will call thee (for all that) Releever, hee will ſpy out, and acknowledge thy Faith, and call thee a Daughter of Abraham, as here, Woman, great is thy Faith. It is the kindneſs of Chriſt, hee will eſpy our gold, under much droſs; our little coal of fire, under many embers; Chriſt will do for us, as for the Church of Philadelphia, Rev. 3.8. ſaith Chriſt, Thou haſt a little ſtrength, and haſt kept my word; Or as hee ſaid in that ſame chapter to Sardis, A few Names are among you. O how doth Chriſt ſpeak to this Woman now at laſt! Mark it, and ſee, is not the language altered? Chriſt at firſt ſpake to her as a Woman of Canaan, calls her upon that account (as ſome call Turks and Infidels) Dogg; but now hee ſpeaks to her as a Daughter of Abraham (for ſo are beleevers called, in Gal. 3.7.) ſaith the Apoſtle, Know yee therefore, that they which are of Faith, the ſame are the children of Abraham. In this ſpeech, Chriſt tells her in effect, Shee is an Iſraelite. Once it was (poor ſoul) a ſtranger, an enemy, a Canaanite, a Hittite, ſuch were the words in which Chriſt at firſt did as it were ſpeak to thee. Well, but yet ſtay a little, and thou ſhalt hear Chriſt ſpeaking in kinder language, hee will yet call thee Son, Daughter, Saint, Friend, in a word, no more a Canaanite, but at laſt Chriſt will ſpeak to thee as an Iſraelite; and ſay of thee, as of Nathaniel, Behold an Iſraelite, in whom there is no guile. I Pray minde it, it is an admirable diſcovery (this) how kinde Chriſt will carry it at laſt. Whatever ſin hee charges in a ſpirit of conviction at firſt, yet alwaies at laſt hee will acknowledge our Faith, I ſay, our faith, and love, and whatever is good in us. I appeal to you (O experienced ſouls!) are not you afraid to own your own faith? One while your unbeleeving fears, another while the humble working of your hearts, will not let you ſee your own Grace; I but you have a kinde Chriſt that will take notice of it, and own it; though thou bee a Canaanite in thy firſt addreſs, and in thine own account (and Chriſt may ſeem therefore to deal harſhly with thee) yet ſtill (I ſay) in this hee will at length bee kinde, and ſhew it in eyeing and acknowledging any good, every Grace that is in thee. But I proceed unto the next thing here in Chriſts ſpeech.
The fourth, which is, Great is thy Faith. Hee doth not onelyonly own, but honour her Faith. Oh my Beloved! what an act of kindneſs is this commendation of Chriſt? Praiſe is a fruit of love, a ſign of love; why my beloved. Jeſus Chriſt will deal ſo kindly, that hee will praiſe you at laſt. Hee doth now praiſe this poor Woman, whom hee ſeemed to ſleight before. And though Chriſt may at firſt ſeem to ſleight and deſpiſe us, yet at laſt hee will not only own, but honour us. And this is certainly his kindneſs. How kindly did hee deal with the poor Woman, in Luk. 7? hee was entertained by a Phariſee, and had large entertainment, yet how doth hee turn himſelf to the Woman, and how kindly did hee deal with her? Hee commends not the Maſters Feaſt, but the Womans Faith. Nay, hee ſeems to reproach the Phariſee that invited him, and to exalt, and honour the poor ſinner that came unto him. Her Love and Faith are very much praiſed by Chriſt there, (verſ. 46, 47, 50.) Oh Sirs, that Jeſus Chriſt that you go unto, truly, however at firſt hee may ſeem not to own you, much leſs to honour you; at laſt hee will both own, and honour you. Look as Jeſus Chriſt will deal ſeverely with painted Sepulchres, Hypocrites, ſo hee will deal ſweetly with ſincere Beleevers. That is one part of this kinde ſpeech, wherein our Lord deals very kindly, though at firſt hee ſpake to her harſhly.
The ſecond part is, Bee it unto thee even as thou wilt. Wee may ſay of theſe words, as one of the Antients ſaid of ſome others; They are wonders, and not words. Oh how doth the Lord condeſcend in kindneſs now to this poor Woman of Canaan, when hee ſaith, Bee it unto thee even as thou wilt. Once hee ſaid, I am not ſent but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael. Once hee ſaid, It is not meet to take the childrens bread, and give it to Doggs, But how well is the world mended with this poor creature? Now the Lord doth not hint, that hee was not ſent to her; but hee calls her beleever. Now hee doth not tell her, ſhee ſhould not have childrens bread; but now hee bids her take what ſhee would. Once it may bee (poor ſoul) Jeſus Chriſt ſaid this to thy conſcience, Thou art a Rebel, (deſerving no mercy) at another time it may bee hee ſaid this; Thou art a filthy perſon (and not yet prepared for mercy) I but at laſt Chriſt will no more mention guilt or filth, but hee will ſay to thee, Rebel, There is a pardon; And to thee, polluted ſinnet, There is purging and cleanſing; yea, hee will ſay to thee, poor ſoul, There is Mercy, All Mercy, Any Mercy; what thou wanteſt, what thou wilt, there it is, &c. As it is in this expreſſion here to this Woman of Canaan. I will open this too, in two or three ſteps. Bee it unto thee even as thou wilt.
Firſt, How fully doth the Lord spenk to this Woman? Pſal. 81.10. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Woman, take to the full as much as thou wilt; As if our Lord Chriſt ſhould ſay, Woman, Thou art a poor Woman of Canaan, and art in want; and I have a rich Treaſure; it is unſearchable; go to the Mine, take what thou wilt. Woman, I ſee thou art a poor hungry ſoul, and I am Manna, and bread from Heaven, come to mee, and take as much as thou wilt. Woman, thou haſt made but one Petition, but I ſee more in thy heart, take what thou wilt. My Beloved, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt hee gives like himſelf, very largely to poor creatures; Hee ſatiſfies their ſouls even to the full. David at laſt could ſing ſuch a ſong as this is, Pſal. 103.3. Bleſs the Lord, Oh my ſoul, who forgiveth all thine iniquities: who healeth all thy diſeaſes, &c. You that lye hungring at the gate of Chriſt, and cry, bread Lord, a Morſel Lord, yea, a C…umb Lord; Chriſt will ſay, There is a whole Loaf, bee it to thee as thou wilt. It was the ſpeech of a dying Saint, that lived long full of ſorrow; I am now as full of joy as my heart can hold. See Zach. 9.12. Turn yee to the ſtrong hold, yee priſoners of hope; even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee. Good now minde it (poor ſoul) it may bee Jeſus Chriſt may ſhut thee up in priſon, yet there thou wilt bee a priſoner of hope; I but what ſhall you have at laſt? Hee will render double unto thee. All the Lords children at laſt, they ſhall have double: So it was with Joſeph, hee had hard uſage at firſt, caſt into priſon, &c. but at laſt hee is out, and Governour of all the Land. At laſt Chriſt will deal with you all, as hee dealt with Joſeph. The Lord Jeſus will deal with a bountiful hand, full, heaped up, running over. That is the firſt thing. But then,
Secondly, Bee it unto thee EVEN AS thou wilt; It relates to the Manner eminently, as well as to the Matter. As thou wilt; that is, in ſuch a manner as thou wilt. When David came up to Araunah, to have the threſhing-floor, and cattel for a ſacrifice, hee would have them ſo, and ſo; And Araunah ſaid to him, Do what ſeemeth good unto thee, 2 Sam. 24.22. And there is very much in that; The Lords people have their hearts many times ſet upon the manner of their mercy. Deal bountifully with thy ſervant, as thou uſeſt to do unto thoſe that love thy Name, (ſaith David) in Pſal. 119.132. The poor ſoul that lies at the feet of Chriſt, would have mercy, and have ſuch mercy as his Lambs have, that lye in his boſome. Thomas, hee would have a ſign from the Lord, and hee would have ſuch a ſign, John. 20.25. and in verſ. 27. Chriſt condeſcends to him; but a little to open this. One while the ſoul will have Love, I, and it muſt bee immediate Love. Let him kiſs mee with the kiſſes of his mouth, Cant. 1.2. It was a very elegant, and holy alluſion of Bernard, (and therefore I ſhall mention it) There is the kiſs of the foot of Chriſt, and of the hand, and of the mouth of Chriſt, i. e. There are ſeveral ſorts of kinde expreſſions; now the Spouſe ſpecifieth what kinde of Love-expreſſion ſhee would have (as ſometimes the ſoul doth, and may do) ſhee would have, not the kiſs of the feet, but of the mouth, and Chriſt gave it her, as ſhee intimates, verſ. 4. Minde it then, One while thy ſoul will have immediate Love-Tokens, and the Lord will give you as you will. Another while the ſoul cries out, as David in Pſal. 35.3. Say thou unto my ſoul, thou art my ſalvation, &c. The childe will have bread, and it will have it upon the Mothers lap. Another while the ſoul is ready to ſay, Shew mee a token for good, that thoſe that hate mee may ſee it, and bee aſhamed, Pſal. 86.17, 18. Oh my Beloved, what infinite love is it in Jeſus Chriſt, that hee ſhould condeſcend ſo low, as to give us not onelyonly what wee will, but as wee will! That expreſſion is very full, in Pſal. 145.19. Hee will fulfil the deſire of them that fear him. The ſoul hath what hee will, and juſt as hee will have it, his whole deſire. And ſo Jeſus Chriſt will do; and therefore bear up your hearts, you that come to Chriſt, hee may deal harſhly with you at firſt, but hee will let it bee as you will at laſt.
Thirdly and laſtly, Bee it unto thee. Chriſt is very poſitive, very peremptory, hee ſpeaks as one reſolved to do. The Lord Jeſus doth not ſay, I will think of it, or I will take it into conſideration, and it may bee it ſhall bee ſo; but hee is poſitive, Bee it unto thee even as thou wilt.
Two things there are that I eye in this expreſſion, Bee it unto thee.
Firſt, It is a Commanding word.
Secondly, It is a Creating word.
Firſt, It is a Commanding word. Bee it unto thee.
The Lord doth as it were command, and ſay, Woman, I have commanded that it ſhall bee ſo. In Pſal. 42.8. Saith the Pſalmiſt there, The Lord will command his loving-kindneſs in the day time, and in the night his ſong ſhall bee with mee. The poor ſoul, while it is in the world, it muſt deal with means, as well as with grace; and the ſoul is ready to ſay, will the means give out? Juſt as the poor petitioner that deals with a Lord, but hee deals likewiſe with ſome of the Officers, though the Lord grant his requeſt, yet hee doubts whether hee ſhall get it our of the Officers hand; why, ſaith hee, I have commanded it.
Remember, and rejoyce in this hint, O poor heart! who hopeſt Chriſt is free, but doubteſt what means may do. Poſſibly thou haſt ſaid this, I have good hope the Lord will ſpeak kindly to mee, but will the Ordinances give it out too? why, ſaith God, I have commanded it, it ſhall bee ſo; Bee it unto thee.
My Beloved, Jeſus Chriſt at laſt will ſay, I command every Ordinance, every Creature, every word thou readeſt, that it bee to thee as thou wilt. Time was at firſt, that Chriſt carried it ſo, as nothing did ſubſerve you, or yeeld unto you any reſpect; but when the Lord is reconciled, at laſt hee will command all to bee yours. Time was, when no Man, Means, Creature, Ordinance, had any commiſſion to ſmile on you, or ſpeak well to you, and then it was ſad; But at length Chriſt will give a word, ſend a Commiſſion to all, and command them, ſaying, Bee it ſo and ſo to ſuch a poor ſoul, as it will, as it wiſheth.
Secondly, As there is a Commanding, ſo there is a Creating Power in the Word; and that is much. Beleever! Beleever! though the Lord carry it at firſt like a man aſtoniſhed, hee will create mercy at laſt. As in the Creation of the world, God ſaid, Let there bee light, and there was light. &c. So in Iſa. 57.7. ſaith God, I create the fruit of the lips, peace. The Lord that creates light out of darkneſs, peace out of trouble, ſweet out of bitter; Hee will create for thee; bee it light unto ſuch a ſoul; ſuch a ſoul wants light, and there is light created for him; ſtrength, bee thou created for him, &c. I remember the Apoſtle Peter doth exhort Beleevers, as their laſt refuge, to eye the creating power of Chriſt, and act Faith upon him, not onelyonly as a Redeemer, but as a Creatour. In 1 Pet. 4.19. Saith hee, Commit the keeping of your ſouls to him, in well doing, as unto a faithful Creatour. Soul, if Creating Mercy can help you, bee confident Chriſt will put it forth at length; there ſhall bee another fiat, another let there bee, this or that, for ſuch a ſoul, and that with creating influence in it. And oh! how kindly doth Chriſt carry it now at laſt, that hee commands all, and will create (rather than fail) comfort for this poor Woman, Bee it unto thee even as thou wilt. Thus have wee in Chriſts ſpeech to this Woman ſeen (as in a glimpſe) what his laſt dealings will bee with thoſe that come to him; And is not this enough to confirm your hearts, that at laſt Chriſt will bee kinde, however hee is at firſt? But I proceed to the other thing here in Chriſts Carriage to this Woman.
Thirdly, Her Daughter is made whole the ſame hour. Poor Creatures, you are full of unbeleef, and I muſt ſay to you, as John ſaid, Theſe things are written th…t you might beleeve. Chriſt will deal ſo well with poor ſouls, that at laſt hee will give them their deſires to the full. And that which may bee their requeſt, in an eminent manner, more particularly, will the Lord Chriſt give them that. I pray mark it a little thus. The ſoul wants many mercies, wiſhes all, but it hath ſome particular pinch for the preſent, &c. Now that ſhall bee given in to the ſoul. You have a fine expreſſion to import the condeſcention of God to particular mercies, in Pſal. 21.2, 4. Thou haſt given him his hearts deſire; and haſt not with-holden the requeſt of his lips. Hee asked life of thee, and thou gaveſt it him, even length of daies for ever and ever. Why my Beloved, you that wait upon the Lord, and truly come to him, know and remember, however hee carries it, as if at firſt hee will grant nothing, yet at laſt hee will grant every thing; and in particular, that Mercy, that particular ſpecial Mercy, which thy heart is drawn forth to mention before the Lord. Oh, ſaith the ſoul, I would have all ſin dead, but let this ſin dye. Now the ſoul ſhall have his this thing; In this thing the good Lord bee merciful to mee; why the Lord will in that thing bee kinde. Let the ſoul ſingle out its particular requeſt! Oh in this matter, in that childe, in this cauſe, &c. And hee ſhall finde Chriſt at laſt will come down to that very thing. But I ſhall ſpeak to this in the laſt Sermon by it ſelf, therefore I will not urge it here. OnelyOnly now put all together, and tell mee if the point bee not certain, That Chriſt at laſt will deal very kindly with ſouls that truly come to him: however at firſt hee may ſeem to deal harſhly. What could the poor ſoul wiſh more than ſhee had? hee ſpake kindly; now hee doth what ſhee will, and as much as ſhee will; now her Daughter ſhall bee whole in a moment, &c. This is all I ſhall ſay for the demonſtration of the point. There are ſome Objections to bee anſwered, I ſhall at this time mention one.
Object. I but will the ſoul ſay, This is a particular example; and particular examples they are not foundations for general concluſions. Here is a Woman of Canaan, and the Lord deals well with her, what is this to mee? For,
Anſw. Beloved in the Lord, know this, That every example of Goſpel-grace, is not ſo particular, but that it is a general pattern. All this was written that wee might beleeve. And you know what the Apoſtle ſaith, in that ſame, Rom. 15. and the beginning; Theſe things are written for our learning, &c. Do not ſay, This was a Woman of Canaan, and I am a poor other kinde of creature; Know, this was written for thee. In 1 Tim. 1.16. ſaith Paul there, That in mee firſt Jeſus Chriſt might ſhew forth all long-ſuffering, for a pattern to them▪ which ſhould hereafter beleeve on him to life everlaſting. If the Woman of Canaan were alive, ſhee would ſay, I was a pattern for thee; ſhee would ſay, Chriſt dealt thus with mee firſt, to ſhew how hee would deal with other poor creatures afterwards. Let this bee an anſwer. But then the
Second Anſwer is this, The account upon which ſhee had this grace, it was not particular, but common. A particular thing, with a particular account, is too ſtreight to bee made a general Rule, but a particular example, upon a general account, may bee made a general Rule; remember that. Now this mercy was given to her, not upon any perſonal, particular account, but upon a general account; what is that account? Woman, great is thy Faith. Shee hath this mercy, not as a Woman, nor as a Woman of Canaan, nor as ſo and ſo ſpeaking, but as a Beleever. Now upon this Reaſon, Becauſe the Lord dealth thus with her upon the account of Faith; where-ever there is true Faith, the Lord will deal thus. It is the particular argument of Rom. 4. The Apoſtle proves, that Abrahams Juſtification was a general type to others. How doth hee prove it? becauſe it came to him by Faith. The ſtrength of the Argument lies thus, Abraham was not juſtified as ſuch a man, upon any perſonal account, but becauſe hee was a beleever; and therefore hee argues, that all beleevers ſhould bee juſtified as hee was. Therefore do not ſay, it was a particular example, it is a pattern, and it is upon a general account.
There are onelyonly two words of Application I ſhall make at preſent.
Firſt, I will gather one terrible Conſequence from all this conſolatory diſcourſe. And,
Secondly, I ſhall gather one Rational Caution from the whole.
Firſt, I ſhall gather a terrible Conſequence from all this. When mercy is preached, and comfort is held out, wee have many ſnatch for it, that have nothing to do with it. And while I would comfort a Son or Daughter of Abraham, I would not ſtrengthen the hands of any in ſin; Well then, ſinners, hear, and fear; Look about you (as I uſe to ſay) for certainly, As Jeſus Chriſt will deal kindly with thoſe that truly come to him, at laſt: So hee will deal exceeding terribly with thoſe, who notwithſtanding all his good carriage, carry it ill to him. If Jeſus Chriſt, (Man or Woman) will deal well with that ſoul, that did tarry long, becauſe it tarried out to the end, then hee will deal ill with thee (whoever thou art) who notwithſtanding all his good carriage to thee, dealeſt perverſly with him; though hee wooes you, and beſeeches you now, yet at laſt hee will deal terribly with you; at laſt there ſhall bee two in one bed, the one ſhall bee taken, and the other left. Verily, my Beloved, Look as mercy and kindneſs will oblige the heart of Chriſt to bee kinde to waiters, and commers at laſt; ſo the juſtice and wrath of Chriſt, will, as it were, ingage Chriſt to bee dreadful to Rebels, and impenitent ones at laſt. Husband! thy Wife came to Chriſt, and waited on him long, Chriſt will in the iſſue bee kinde to her; But thou ſtandeſt it out ſtill, art a Rebel to this day, Oh tremble to think what Chriſt will do at laſt. Hee will judge, and condemn, and deſtroy thee upon whom hee hath waited long, and who yet at laſt wouldeſt not come in.
The Jews are a ſad example of this terrible Conſequence that I am upon. The poor Canaanites that Chriſt dealt ſo ſeverely withall (all the Prophecies of the Meſſiah were ſealed books to them, &c.) at laſt in the fulneſs of time Chriſt comes, and hee ſpeaks mercy to the Gentiles; but how doth hee deal with the Jews? the Jews that hee had been kinde to, becauſe they came not in, hee turns away from them to the Gentiles.
Now therefore I beſeech you look about you, Chriſt hath been dealing well with you many a day, beleeve it, the Lord will deal harſhly with you that ſtand it out, and deal ill with him. As hee will bee merciful at laſt to the home-commers, ſo will hee bee cruel (and yet juſt) to you that have, and do ſtand it out to the laſt all your daies. Conſider this then, you that forget Chriſt, leſt the Lamb prove a Lion to tear you in peeces, that yet continue in your ſins and impenitence.
A ſecond word; I beſeech you let mee give you all, one Rational Caution. If the Lord will deal ſo well at laſt, then pray now bee ſo wiſe, as not abſolutely to conclude againſt this Truth. Is there a poor Woman of Canaan before the Lord, that hath had many a frown, and many a hard put off; many a frighting without, and fear within? Beware how you conclude againſt everlaſting mercy; for Chriſt may bee kinde at laſt. That which I would preſs, is in alluſion to the 77. Pſalm, about the 7. verſ. Will the Lord caſt off for ever? and will hee bee favourable no more? &c. I obſerve that good man did never poſitively ſay ſo, but onelyonly hee questions it; and before hee comes to conclude, in verſ. 10. hee ſaith, It was his infirmity. Thou ſayeſt, ſhall I cry, and never bee heard? ſhall I beg bread, and not have a crumb? know, that the Lord that hath a deaf ear at first, will have a hearing ear at laſt. Therefore it is but a reaſonable requeſt, you that are waiting upon the Lord, it is but a reaſonable thing I beg of you; Do not ſay the Lord will never bee gracious. I ſhall inlarge it more hereafter. But my thinks a Queſtion is put now, and I will in a word anſwer it.
Queſt. But what ſhall I do in the mean time? I think the Lord will bee good at laſt, but I ſhall ſtarve in the mean time?
Anſw. Pray look once more into the ſtory of Joſeph, Joſeph carried it very roughly at firſt, but hee carried it well at laſt; but what do they do in the mean time? Why they ſhall have bread to carry them unto their home. The Lord Jeſus is every way Joſeph, before hee doth reveal himſelf, and deal kindly with you, you ſhall have bread to live upon. Though the Lord ſeem to carry it ſtrangely now, hee will do as Joſeph did, Give you bread to ſupport you in your journey. Look into the Scripture, there is bread enough for you. Never did the Lord let any periſh, but hee gave them ſufficient to carry them up; and to ſupport them even in the way, beſide the beſt, and abundance, which is kept till laſt. Therefore lift up thy hanging down hands, and ſtay thy ſoul even at preſent; Jeſus Chriſt will give in neceſſary, ſecret ſupplies, before hee reveal himſelf in the open, ample manifeſtations of his grace. You ſhall (even while in the Journey, and the wilderneſs) have a Viaticum, travelling neceſſaries; and at the end, you ſhall have the full poſſeſſion and inheritance of the Milk and Hony in Emanuels Land. This I have proved, and ſhall next time give you grounds for it.