A Cluster of Grapes Taken out of the Canaanite Womans Basket, Sermon 8
Sure Grounds that Chriſt will bee kinde at laſt. The Eighth 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.
THat all Perſons, Conditions, Affairs, are expoſed to alteration and change, is a truth no leſs ſweet in ſome reſpects, than bitter upon others. Indeed, my Beloved, upon ſome accounts it is our miſery that wee are mutable, but withall, upon other accounts it is our happineſs, that things ſhall not (as wee ſay) ſtand alwaies at one ſtand. This preſent ſeaſon, though it bee ſharp and cold, an alteration will follow, and a warmer ſeaſon will come. Our very bodies, though ſometimes weak, yet a change doth come, and wee are rendered ſtrong. And as it is thus with us in corporals, ſo, bleſſed bee God, it is thus with us in ſpirituals. Though for a time wee may lye under the wrath of man, and the frowns of God, yet a change will come; for God hath ſaid, Hee will reſtrain the wrath of Man, as it is, Pſal. 76.10. and for his own anger hee will take it away, ſo hee promiſeth, Hoſea 14.4. Though for a time this Woman of Canaan was under the frowns of Chriſt, though hee ſeemed to take no notice of her, yet behold what a change is here, hee that before would not anſwer her a word, doth now anſwer her many words, and many comfortable words. Hee anſwered and ſaid unto her, Oh Woman, great is thy Faith, bee it unto thee even as thou wilt. Wee are now come to the laſt thing in the ſtory of this Woman of Canaan, and that is the conſideration of that concluſion, that Jeſus Chriſt doth here make with her. And you may remember the Obſervation wee did draw forth the laſt day, was this, Viz.
Doct. That all thoſe who truly come to Chriſt, ſhall in the iſſue finde his Carriage to bee ſweet and gracious, however at the firſt it may ſeem rough and ſtrange.
Wee did then open the Point, and did go a good way in the confirmation of it. There were onelyonly two things which I ſaid I would ſpeak to in the Amplification of the Doctrine.
Firſt, To ſhew you wherein Jeſus Chriſt would appear ſweet and gracious in the end, howſoever hee may carry it at firſt to poor ſouls.
Secondly, Whence this ſhould come to paſs.
Now, for the firſt of theſe, Wee told you wee need go no further than the inſtance of the Text. And wee did then indeavour to ſet out the kindneſs of Jeſus Chriſt to the Woman of Canaan. Now here are many words to ſet it forth.
Firſt generally, Hee anſwered and ſaid, Oh Woman, great is thy Faith.
Secondly particularly, Bee it unto thee even as thou wilt. And then,
Thirdly, Hee doth particularly grant her particular requeſt that ſhee had made. And from that hour her Daughter was made whole. I did then ſpeak to thoſe diſtinctly.
Two Objections there lye againſt this inſtance, which being cleared up, wee will come to the Reaſons of the Point.
Object. 1. The firſt Objection was this; But this inſtance of the Woman of Canaan ſeems to bee ſo rare, that it doth not concern us.
To that wee ſaid two things.
Anſw. 1. That all Goſpel-inſtances of Grace (I intend not inſtances of miracles, and extraordinary favours) are perpetual examples for after ages. And,
Anſw. 2. This kindneſs of Chriſt to the Woman of Canaan, was not upon any perſonal, or particular account, but upon a general account, namely, her Faith. But there is another Objection to bee cleared up, and that is this.
Object. 2. But though this example bee not ſo particular as to ſhut us out, Yet
Secondly, There are ſome things in it ſo extraordinary and ſpecial, as that wee cannot look for the ſame things in our caſes. To this I ſhall ſay two things.
Anſw. 1. That however, ſome things indeed here may bee extraordinary, (and ſo not to bee expected) yet as to the MAIN of all things, wee may expect the like. This is certain, that thoſe favours that God hath ſhewn in any one age, to any of his children, though they might have ſome particular circumſtance, wherefore wee may not expect the ſame, yet in the general, (and by proportion) wee may expect the ſame. As in the inſtance of Joſhua, The Apoſtle makes the kindneſs of God to Joſhua, a general example, in Heb. 13.5. Bee content with ſuch things as yee have, for hee hath ſaid, I will never leave thee nor forſake thee. Now wee cannot expect in a particular way, as Joſhua did. In like manner, the ſame Apoſtle in the ſame place, doth argue from David, in verſ. 6. And though wee cannot expect ſome rare circumſtances, as David did, yet as to the main, wee may ſay, The Lord is our helper: So though poſſibly wee may not expect ſome particular circumſtances of the kindneſs that this Woman of Canaan had; yet as to the main wee may bee certain to have the like.
Secondly, However wee may not meet with all the particular Acts of kindneſs from Chriſt, that this Woman had; yet, there are uſually theſe three things wherein wee ſhall certainly finde Chriſt to deal ſweetly with us at laſt, however hee may deal with us at firſt. Or, There are three Demonſtrations, wherein the Lord will demonſtrate himſelf to bee kinde to you at laſt, however hee may carry it at firſt.
Firſt, At laſt the ſoul ſhall finde this, that hee will not abſolutely, and peremptorily reject the poor ſoul. Poſſibly thou wilt not finde ſo clear an entertainment, ſo comfortable an aſſurance, as this Woman had; I but this thou ſhalt finde, that Jeſus Chriſt will never abſolutely caſt thee off; hee will never peremptorily deny thee, or caſt thee off. It is very remarkable, hee did not peremptorily ſend the Woman away; though hee did not anſwer her, yet hee did not bid them ſend her away. And this thou ſhalt finde, that though Chriſt may not ſeem to anſwer, yet hee will not abſolutely deny; though hee may ſay, It is not meet thou ſhouldeſt have mercy, yet hee will not deny chee mercy. That ſpeech is an eternal Truth, in John 6.37. Him that cometh to mee, I will in no wiſe caſt out. I remember an expreſſion that wee have in the Prophecy of Iſaiah, which I think is miſtook, and therefore I ſhall mention it. Iſa. 50. at the beginning, Thus ſaith the Lord, Where is the bill of your Mothers divorcement, whom I have put away? &c. The meaning I take to bee this, That though God did as it were ſeparate Iſrael from himſelf for a while for ſin, yet hee did not divorce them; hee did never give them ſuch a bill, as upon the account of which they might conclude I am divorced. And that which I gather from it, is this, that at laſt the ſoul ſhall not bee able to produce a bill of divorcement from Jeſus Chriſt. No, ſoul, whoever thou art, take this for a certain comfort, Chriſt will not wholly caſt thee off, hee will not at laſt bid thee bee gone, though at firſt hee may not preſently entertain thee. This is one thing.
And then ſecondly, Howſoever Chriſt may deal with thee at preſent, for thy comfort, yet at laſt hee will inſure thee of everlaſting ſalvation. Poſſibly now hee will not give thee bread (ſo much as thou wouldeſt have) but yet hee will abſolutely ſave thy ſoul, and have mercy upon thee to all eternity. Therefore, this is that Chriſt ſaith, in John 6.39. This is the will of him that ſent mee, That of all which hee hath given mee, I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up again at the laſt day. There lies this for certain, At the laſt day, Jeſus Chriſt will raiſe up all thoſe that come to him. Now this is ſpoken not of a bare corporal reſurrection, but of a reſurrection to life. It is ſpoken of ſuch a reſurrection, as is peculiarly the portion of true Beleevers. Chriſt will at laſt raiſe up all Beleevers to life, and glory, albeit hee may not ſeem to carry it in this life to the poor ſoul, as it deſires. So that is a ſecond thing which wee may conclude in the general, about Chriſts kindneſs to us, however in ſome particulars hee may not deal with us as with others.
A third thing wee ſhall bee ſure to finde at laſt, is this, That Jeſus Chriſt will give us ſomething ſufficient to ſupport us, though not, it may bee, to ſatisfie us in all our deſires. Howſoever the Lord may ſeem to put us off for a while, and make as if hee would not give us a Morſel; yet ſecretly hee will give ſupports to the ſoul, as in Pſal. 138.3. In the day when I cried, thou anſweredſt mee; and ſtrengthenedſt mee with ſtrength in my ſoul. Secret, ſufficient ſoul-ſtrength, ſhall certainly bee given in by Jeſus Chriſt, however hee may carry it at firſt; at laſt the ſoul ſhall bee able to ſay, All the while Chriſt did frown upon mee, I had ſome ſecret ſupports given: So that though the example bee rare, and though ſome things in it bee extraordinary, yet in theſe three particulars every ſoul at laſt, ſhall finde Chriſt will carry it kindely, however at firſt hee may carry it ſtrange.
To come now to give an account of the Reaſons of the point. There are many Reaſons, which (if need were) wee might dilate upon. I ſhall onelyonly name theſe four or five.
The firſt Reaſon whence it comes to paſs that Jeſus Chriſt will deal thus kindly at laſt, Is taken from God the Father. My Beloved, that ſame Will, Command, and Commiſſion which Jeſus Chriſt hath received from the Father, and which hee is careful to obſerve, is the great reaſon of this Carriage of Jeſus Chriſt. I pray mark it a little, Chriſt coming into the world, hee comes not onelyonly as our Saviour, but as his Fathers Servant; and this hath an influence upon the heart, and upon the hand of Chriſt in all his carriage to us. This, i. e. That hee comes as the Fathers Servant, and becauſe God the Father will have him do thus, and thus, therefore to bee certain hee will do it. As for inſtance, doth Jeſus Chriſt come into the world to dye for ſinners? what is the ground of it? becauſe God the Father hath given him in Commiſſion ſo to do: So, will not Chriſt break the bruiſed Reed, nor quench the ſmoaking Flax, as it is propheſied hee will not, Iſa. 42? Why this is the Reaſon, becauſe hee is his Fathers Servant, as it is there, verſ. 1. and God hath charged him that hee ſhall not break the bruiſed Reed, &c. And ſo in this particular, Jeſus Chriſt will at laſt deal kindly with all that truly come unto him, becauſe this is the will of him that ſent him. This is particularly the reaſon, in John 6.37, 38. (a Scripture that you may look upon as the foundation of your Faith, but I wiſh you did well underſtand what you did build your Faith upon) All that come to mee, I will in no wiſe caſt off; What is the reaſon? Mark the 38. verſ. For I came down from Heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that ſent mee. When you act your Faith upon Jeſus Chriſt for his kindneſs, I pray look to God the Father likewiſe, and this will further ſtrengthen your Faith. The poor ſoul is ready to ſay, why ſhould Jeſus Chriſt receive mee? why ſhould Jeſus Chriſt carry it kindly to mee? what is there in mee? nothing. But there is another ground, there is the will of him that ſent him; there is the Fathers will. God the Father deals well with us for Chriſts ſake; and Jeſus Chriſt deals well with us for the Fathers ſake. So that now my Beloved, when the poor ſoul goes to Jeſus Chriſt, you may imagine that God the Father ſaies thus, Son, deal well with that ſoul, it is my will that thou ſhouldeſt not caſt him off. Indeed in this place, Chriſt doth intimate that hee doth carry himſelf according to his Commiſſion. The Commiſſion that was given to Chriſt, it was the ground of this whole carriage of Chriſt. But here is the Commiſſion, Chriſt hee ſhall not give childrens bread to Doggs; yet if Doggs will come to him, and lye at the Fathers door, it is the will of his Father that hee ſhould not caſt them off.
Secondly, The innate kindneſs and tenderneſs of the heart of Chriſt, is the reaſon of this truth; that hee will deal well at laſt, though hee ſeem to carry it ſtrange at firſt. My Beloved, the Lord Jeſus hath that perſonal renderneſs in himſelf, that if his Father ſhould never have wiſhed him, nor willed him to deal thus kindly with poor ſouls, his own bowels would have put him on to it. Indeed the bowe's of Chriſt are ſo tender, that the tendereſt love is ſet out by the bowels. When Paul would have the Philippians to know how much hee did love them, and long after them, ſaith hee, (Phil. 1.8.) I long after you in the bowels of Jeſus Chriſt.
My Beloved, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt hee hath tender bowels, and becauſe of that it is that hee doth deal tenderly with poor ſouls that come to him. What is the particular nature and notion of bowels in the Scripture? it is this; For a perſon to bee moved at laſt, by the ſenſe of a perſons miſery, though at firſt hee may ſeem to ſtand off. You have many notable inſtances of this. That of Joſeph, what was it which made Joſeph deal kindly at laſt, though hee did deal roughly at firſt? In Gen. 43.30. His bowels yearned within him, and that made him to ſpeak kindly to his brethren. O my Beloved, The Lord Jeſus is full of bowels; hee doth pitty many times, when hee is not ſpoken to, as in Luk. 7.13. It is ſaid there concerning a Woman, that Chriſt had compaſſion on her, hee was troubled, for his bowels did yearn towards her. The Lord Jeſus having therefore ſuch tender bowels, thence it comes to paſs, that though at firſt hee may carry it ſtrangely, yet at laſt hee will carry it kindly. This poor Woman of Canaan, once the Lord ſeemed to ſpeak harſhly to her, but his bowels did yearn, and upon that account hee dealt well at laſt.
The third Reaſon in a word is this, Chriſt will carry it thus well at laſt, becauſe in a ſenſe hee is very fearful, and therefore very careful, that none do periſh in a good way, at leaſt through his neglect. My Beloved, Chriſt is fearful of the periſhing of poor ſouls, eſpecially in a good way, and moſt eſpecially through his neglect. Sinners, look about you, if you will rebel, and run away from Chriſt, and wander from him, and periſh, Chriſt cares not; but if thou haſt a heart to look towards God, if thou goeſt after Jeſus Chriſt, and crieſt to him, hee is very fearful leſt thou ſhouldeſt periſh in ſuch a good way. Iſa. 57.16. Saith God there, For I will not contend for ever, neither will I bee alwaies wrath: for the ſpirit ſhould fail before mee, and the ſouls which I have made. If Chriſt ſhould carry it tough alwaies, the ſpirit of the poor creature would fail. If ſo bee you will wander in the high waies from Chriſt, then the ſpeech of the Prophet may bee made good, in Iſa. 51.20. Thy Sons have fainted, they lye at the head of all the ſtreets, as a wilde Bull in a Net; they are full of the fury of the Lord, the rebuke of thy God. Yea, but if you come to him, that cries after you in the ſtreets, (as it is, Prov. 1.) If you lye not ſtill, but come at his cry, and upon his call, then will hee pour forth his Spirit on you (as in that place hee promiſeth, Prov. 1.23.) If you periſh in your own neglect to come, ſo it is; but if you come, Chriſt will not let you periſh at his doors. Oh no; The Lord Jeſus will never bee a Dives; a poor Lazarus at Chriſts door, ſhall never periſh there; never did any that lay knocking, and begging for mercy there, go away and periſh for the want of it.
Fourthly, The Lord Chriſt will bee thus kinde at laſt, That hee may ſtop the mouths of all thoſe that are ready to ſpeak hardly of him. My Beloved, if Chriſt ſhould alwaies carry it ſtrangely (eſpecially when the ſould carries it humbly) ſoon you would hear that ſpeech of the man in the Parable; I knew thou wert a hard Maſter. But God is reſolved that never ſhall there bee a witneſs brought againſt him of his hardneſs. This Woman of Canaan might have been brought in as a witneſs againſt Jeſus Chriſt, if (after all this) hee ſhould have caſt her off: but God will bee true, and all men lyers; Hee will bee kinde at laſt to confure that report, and reproach, which Satan and unbeleef are ready to caſt on him, truly I may ſay, Chriſt will bee kinde for his own credir. That none may ſlander him, hee will, and muſt bee ſweet at laſt.
Fifthly and laſtly, Chriſt hath a particular deſign to deſtroy the work of the Devil. Now my Beloved, upon this account it is, that hee will deal kindly at laſt; for if Chriſt ſhould not at laſt deal well with thoſe that truly come to him, the deſign of the Devil would not bee deſtroyed. I build the foundation of this reaſon upon that Scripture, in 1 John 3.8. For this purpoſe was the Son of God manifeſted, that hee might deſtroy the works of the Devil. When a poor ſoul comes to Chriſt, and is roughly dealt withall, the Devil hath a three-fold deſign upon that ſcore.
Viz. One deſign is upon the ſoul it ſelf, to lead the ſoul to deſpair.
Another deſign is upon other ſinners, to diſcourage them for ever, from comming to Jeſus Chriſt.
And a third deſign (which though laſt in execution, is firſt in intention) and that is to caſt a diſgrace upon Jeſus Chriſt. If this poor Woman ſhould have been ſent away, and not been dealt kindly withall, The Devil would have ſaid, now deſpair, now no body go to him, &c. How doth Satan ſay, it is in vain for you to pray, to beleeve, Nay, though you worſhip him, hee will not regard it?
Now mark it, the Lord is reſolved to deſtroy the deſigns of Satan, and that Satan may never proſper in theſe deſigns, Chriſt will carry it well at laſt, however hee may carry it ill at firſt. Doth Satan ſay, it is in vain to wait? No, it is not in vain to wait, for the Woman of Canaan waited, and was accepted; doth Satan ſay, go not to Jeſus Chriſt, hee will not receive you? Yes, then ſay thou, and thou, O ſoul (every one that is not reſolved to hearken to Satan for his own ruine) wee will go, hee will receive us at laſt; doth Satan ſay, hee is a hard Maſter? ſay no, hee will deal kindly at laſt. Well, to come to the Application, indeed the prime, and the proper Uſe of this point is but one, and that I ſhall principally ſtand upon; but I ſhall add another, though briefly.
Uſe, The prime Uſe of this Point is but one, Namely, for the comfort and the refreſhing of all thoſe, who, it may bee, are in the ſame condition that the Woman of Canaan was. Who is there among you, that feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his ſervant, that walketh in darkneſs, and hath no light? Let him truſt in the Name of the Lord, and ſtay upon his God. Iſa. 50.10. What ſoul is there that hath found a want of Chriſt, and hath had a deſire after Chriſt, and hath been a great while waiting upon Chriſt, and hath not had your deſires ſatisfied; bee of good comfort, though the Lord tarry long, hee will come at laſt. The Lord that ſeems to carry it rough at firſt, at laſt, in the iſſue will carry it kindly. Therefore bear up your hearts, it may bee your iſſue is not yet come, and no marvel if Chriſt do not ſpeak. Poſſibly you are but in the Treaty (as I ſpake in the Explication the laſt day) or it may bee you are not yet fully come, nor do really, and rightly cloze with Jeſus Chriſt. For certain, if that were, hee would bee kinde unto you according to your hearts deſire. It is a full and everlaſting ſpeech of comfort, that, that you have in Job, Job 8.20, 21. Behold God, will not caſt away a perfect man, neither will hee help the evil-doers, till hee fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoycing. Thou doſt lye before Jeſus Chriſt, and hee ſeems to reject thee; I but know, That hee will not caſt thee away, till hee hath filled thy mouth with gladneſs. No, though at preſent hee may ſeem to carry it ſtrange, yet in the iſſue hee will carry it well. Becauſe I would clearly hold forth this, I ſhall ſpeak my thoughts by two or three ſteps.
There are two things I would ſpeak to all you, who, it may bee, are in the condition of the Woman of Canaan.
Firſt, Beware how thou thinkeſt thy estate too ſtrange, and how thou inquireſt after the cauſe of it too far.
Secondly, Bee confident of this, how ſtrange ſoever thy caſe bee now, the concluſion ſhall bee very ſweet.
Firſt, Beware how thou thinkeſt thy ſtate too ſtrange, and how thou inquireſt after the cauſe of it too far. Was there ever ſorrow like to my ſorrow? and was there ever ſoul like to my ſoul? ſaith the poor ſoul, &c. and what is the matter, that I have knockt, and knockt, till I am weary of knocking? Oh what is the cauſe! &c. bee not too curious in looking after the cauſe; poſſibly there may bee a reaſon that at firſt you may not ſee, but you may ſee it hereafter. As Chriſt ſaid to Peter, What I do thou knoweſt not now, but thou ſhalt know hereafter, John 13.7. Hereafter thou ſhalt know why the Lord did keep thee from childrens bread ſo long, and it may bee (by the way) it was to bring down thy proud ſtomach; hereafter the Lord will ſatisfie thee, but at preſent know, that no new thing hath happened to thee, others have lain as long as you.
Secondly, Bee confident of this, how ſtrange ſoever thy caſe bee, the concluſion ſhall bee very ſweet. My Beloved, the Lord Jeſus cannot ſhut up his bowels, the Lord Jeſus cannot alwaies refrain himſelf, Iſa. 63.15. Where are the ſounding of thy bowels, and of thy mercy towards us, are they reſtrained? That paſſage in Pſal. 42. is remarkable, though David was very ſad, yet ſaith hee, in verſ. 8. The Lord will command ſalvation for mee, and yet I ſhall praiſe him. And verily at laſt, you ſhall ſee the goodneſs of the Lord in the Land of the Living; hee will command and create comfort for you. I but ſaith the ſoul, though David might ſay ſo, what is that to mee? ſtill I ſay remember it is to thee. All that take hold of the Covenant of Grace, that God made with David; God makes with them the ſure mercies of David (as it is in that precious Promiſe, Iſa. 55.3.) But however mark the example wee are upon, conſider the Woman of Canaan; and when you conſider the whole ſtory of her, you may bee confident at laſt Chriſt will deal kindly with you. Minde (above, and beſides what wee have ſaid) Three things in this ſtory, to comfort your hearts, that however Chriſt may deal harſhly at firſt, yet in the end hee will deal kindly.
Firſt, You cannot bee further off from Jeſus Chriſt, than the Woman of Canaan was.
Secondly, You cannot bee dealt withall worſe, than the Woman of Canaan was. But.
Thirdly, Though wee ſhould grant, you ſhould bee further off than the Woman of Canaan was, and dealt withalt worſe than ſhee was, yet there is hope in Iſrael for this thing.
Firſt, You cannot bee further off than the Woman of Canaan was. My Beloved, There were no people viſibly ſo far from the Covenant of Grace, and ſo much out of the Commiſſion of Chriſt, as the Canaanites, and the Samaritans, and yet it is obſervable, you have two great inſtances, the one of a Canaanite, and the other of a Samaritan, that Chriſt muſt deal well withall. In John 4. It is ſaid of Chriſt, That hee muſt needs go thorow Samaria; and what was it for, but to bring home a poor Woman of Samaria? now a Samaritan was far off from Chriſt, and ſuch a one as ſhee was very far from Chriſt; yet the Lord at laſt muſt deal kindly with her. And ſo this Woman of Canaan, ſhee was far off from Jeſus Chriſt, ſhee was a Woman of Tyre and Sidon, yet ſhee came to the Lord, and the Lord dealt well with her.
Secondly, Conſider this for your comfort; Christ cannot deal worſe with you, than hee dealt with the Woman of Canaan. I beſeech you in the Lords preſence (you that have been under any darkneſs, clouds, or trouble) tell mee, did ever the Lord ſpeak to you, as hee did to this Woman? when you ſaid, Jeſus, thou Saviour of ſinners, have mercy upon mee, did hee ever ſay, I was not ſent, but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael? when in the anguiſh of your ſpirits, you did turn into a corner, and lay in the duſt grovling and crying for a crumb of comfort, did hee ever tell you, It was not meet to give you childrens bread? yet you ſee Chriſt ſaid ſo to this Woman. Indeed I think Chriſt never dealt with any (all things conſidered) ſo ſeemingly ill, and rough, as with this woman: Certainly you cannot bee worſe dealt with, yet at laſt you ſee how well ſhee ſpeed. But then,
Thirdly, Suppoſe, ſuppoſe that you bee further off from Chriſt than the woman of Canaan was; and that you have been dealt withall worſe, than the woman of Canaan was; Yet there is hope in Iſrael concerning this thing. Why, what hope? there is this hope, that the Lord will create a new thing in the world. It is often uſed in the Prophets that expreſſion; among others I ſhall now minde you onelyonly of one. In Iſa. 43.18, 19. Saith the Lord there unto his people, Remember yee not the former things, neither conſider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing, &c. As if the Lord ſhould ſay, My people, look back to the daies paſt; do not you remember former things? happily they may ſay, wee remember old experiences, but ours is a new caſe; wee remember what thou didſt in the daies of old, but our caſe is worſe than theirs; Behold (ſaith God) A new thing I will create; and what is that new thing God will create? Why the Beaſts of the field ſhall honour him, &c. Time was when the Virgin Daughter of Sion did honour him; time was when Iſrael followed him thorow the wilderneſs; I but now God will create a new thing, The Beaſts of the field ſhall honour him. My Beloved, there is very much in this, viz. in the Creating-power, and the Creating-mercy of the heart of God. Suppoſe never was any ſo far off, nor never any ſo dealt withall, yet the Lord will create a new thing in the world: So that I ſay, it may much comfort the hearts of all thoſe that are in the condition of the Woman of Canaan, that the Lord will deal well at laſt, however hee may deal at firſt.
Object. But now my thinks I hear the poor ſoul ſay, But I am not like the Woman of Canaan; were I as the Woman of Canaan, then I ſhould hope the Lord would deal well with mee, but I am not as ſhee. Why how is that?
Anſw. I have not that Grace as ſhee had, I have not her Prayer, her Humility, I never worſhipped the Lord, as the Woman of Canaan did, I never was ſo broken, as the Woman of Canaan was. I ſhall give two Anſwers.
Firſt, If you bee not ſo humble as the Woman of Canaan, think of it now to bee as humble as ſhee was. But yet I tell you in the
Second place, It was not the Woman of Canaan's Humility, nor her Patience, nor her Prayer, not the Worſhipping; but the Woman of Canaan's Faith, upon which the Lord did all. And I take it to bee an undeniable truth, that that Grace unto which all kindneſs is ſhewed, is the Grace of Faith. True, Humility is good, and ſo is Humiliation; and the Lord give us our meaſure; but yet I ſay, the great Promiſe is not to Humility, nor to Humiliation, but to Faith. Woman, great is thy Faith.
Object. I but then ſecondly, ſaith the ſoul, But I have not the Woman of Canaan's Faith; If I had her Faith, I ſhould think the Lord would deal well with mee. It is ſaid, the Woman of Canaan had a great Faith, but the Lord knows I have but a little.
Anſw. I have anſwered already this, and ſhewed, That it was not to the meaſure of the Grace, but to the Grace it ſelf that Chriſt did this. Therefore I ſay, as often as you read the ſtory of the Woman of Canaan, comfort your hearts with theſe words; do as the Prophet Habakkuk, chap. 2. verſ. 1. I will ſtand upon my Watch-Tower, and obſerve what God will ſay, for the viſion will speak at laſt. So ſay I to the Sons and Daughters of the Woman of Candan; Go upon your Watch-Tower, and obſerve, the viſion will ſpeak at laſt. I ſhall hint to you that ſpeech, in Iſa. 54.6. The Lord hath called mee as a Woman forſaken, and grieved in ſpirit, and a wife of youth, when thou waſt refuſed, ſaith thy God. The Lord hath called thee (truly it was his anger, and wrath that was upon her, and yet hee had called her as a Woman refuſed.) Poor heart, thou art as a woman grieved in ſpirit, yet the Lord is kinde.
Object. I but you will ſay, That is a Promiſe made to thoſe who once were in the heart of Chriſt, who once were married to the Lord, and afterwards ſeem to bee ſeparated.
Anſw. 1. That is true; and therefore by the way, if there bee any of you that once were married to the Lord, and by your ſins are ſeparated, bee of good comfort, the Lord doth ca…l thee.
But ſecondly, Though the ſixth verſe speak to one that was once a Wife; yet the firſt verſe speaks to one that was never a Wife. Sing O barren, thou that didſt not bear, for more are the children of the deſolate, than the children of the married Wife. So that mark it, put it either way, thou that once waſt married to Chriſt, and thou that waſt never married, there is a ſong of praiſe for you. Whoſoever you are that come to Jeſus Chriſt, whether it bee your firſt coming, in the day of converſion from an unregenerate eſtate, or ſecond coming, in the day of your return from a backſliding eſtate, I ſay, which ſoever it is, if you come, Chriſt will bee kinde unto you. I will conclude. And two words I ſhall ſpeak.
Firſt, Know, It is abſolutely impoſſible that it ſhould bee otherwiſe, but that Chriſt ſhould deal well with you at laſt. You know the Apoſtles expreſſion, Heb. 6.18. That by two immutable things, in which it was impoſſible for God to lye, wee might have ſtrong conſolation, &c. When you have the Lords Word, and the Lords Oath; when you have the Lords Promiſes, and many Experiences; It is impoſſible now that God ſhould fail; here are immutable things. You have the Experience of this Woman of Canaan, and you have the Experience of many thouſands, beſides, the Promiſes, and Oath of God, and Chriſt: ſo that I ſay, it is impoſſible that it ſhould change, and bee otherwiſe. It cannot bee but that Chriſt ſhould deal well at laſt with thoſe that come unto him. I ſay again (and Oh remember it) it cannot poſſibly bee otherwiſe.
Secondly, It is very probable your comfort may bee nearer than you are aware of. Poſſibly thou wilt ſay, It was never worſe, never further off. Bee it ſo, upon this account thou wert never nearer to comfort. My Beloved, it is a certain Truth, When wee are ready to give up hope, and ready to periſh, that is the time of our refreſhing and reviving. Poſſibly now thou doſt think thou art at the worſt, the Lord may be ready to deal kindly with thee. When did the Lord reveal this kindneſs to the Woman of Canaan? when? after hee had ſpoken worſt of all. Hee had ſaid, It was not meet to give childrens bread to Doggs, and preſently after this word, hee ſaith, Bee it unto thee even as thou wilt. It may bee the Lord tells thee, It is not meet to give thee bread; now bee of good comfort; now hee calls thee Dogg, and is ready to beat thee off; a thouſand to one if hee do not give you childrens bread. Indeed this I obſerve as a particular thing in the ſtory of Joſeph; when was it that Joſeph brake out in his kindneſs to his brethren? See in Gen. 45.1. Then Joſeph could not refrain himſelf, &c. When? truly when Judah had told him ſuch a ſad ſtory, in chap. 44. verſ. 18. As if Judah ſhould ſay, My Lord, great man, what ſhall I do if thou do not let Be…amin go? &c. Then Joſephs heart melted. Happily thou art brought to this queſtion, Lord, what ſhall I do? Lord, I have waited, prayed, cried, and Oh Lord, what ſhall I do? why bear up thy heart, now thou art near ſinking, the Lord may reveal himſelf to thee, as hee did to the Woman of Canaan. Well, that is the firſt, and the proper Uſe, To comfort thoſe that are in the Woman of Canaans condition. I ſhall add but one word of Exhortation.
If it bee thus, that the Lord Chriſt will deal thus kindly at laſt, however hee carry it at firſt, Then let the ſame minde bee in you, that was in the Lord Jeſus. This you know is a great Rule, That wee ſhould bee followers of Chriſt. Wherein ſhall wee bee followers of Chriſt?
Firſt, Carry it thus one to another.
Secondly, Carry it thus to Jeſus Chriſt.
Firſt, Carry it thus one to another. If ſo bee through frailty, you have carried it too roughly one to another hitherto, carry it kindly now. Bee not of a rough ſpirit irreconcilably; It is time for Beleevers to lay aſide their bitterneſs, which hath been their ſin, and ſhame, many years. Oh that whatever unbrotherly, ungoſpel-like carriage hath been amongſt Saints (and too much hath been) may now at laſt end. Let us in this imitate Chriſt, to carry it well at laſt, for a long time wee have carried it harſh and ill. And in particular caſes between one Relation and another, one friend and another, bee as Chriſt, ſweet and kinde in the cloze, what ere you are, or have been at firſt.
Secondly, And eſpecially, Carry it ſo to Jeſus Chriſt. There is never a one of you but have carried it very ſtrangely to Chriſt at firſt; the Lord help you to carry it well at laſt. Have not you carried it to Chriſt, as Chriſt carried it to the Woman of Canaan? The Woman of Canaan called, but hee would not anſwer; Chriſt comes to you, and calls you, but you will not anſwer; Chriſt calls you, you will not hear; Young man (ſaith Chriſt) turn to mee; it is not meet for mee to do ſo (hath the young man anſwered) I will not caſt my youth and ſtrength on a doting, diſgraced way, as many do; ſo have your hearts ſaid too often. And ſo for old, and rich, and great ones, how oft have they put off Chriſt with no anſwer, or at beſt with a delatory one? I may ſay to you all, that many a time, after many a call, and in many a caſe, you have dealt unkindly with Chriſt. Well, but however, though you have carried it ill to Chriſt heretofore, yet pray carry it well at laſt. I ſhall allude to a ſpeech, in Matth. 21.28. Chriſt ſpeaks of two Sons of a certain man, and hee came and ſaid to the firſt, Go work to day in my Vineyard, hee anſwered and ſaid, I will not: but afterwards hee repented, and went, &c. The Lord Chriſt ſhews in that parable how ſome, yea many deal with him. Hee calls, and commands the poor ſoul; hee ſaith to the ſinner, Go to work, leave off ſin, but the ſoul returns anſwer, No, I will not: Oh this is naughty carriage; yet now if wee recall our ſelves, and ſay as hee ſaid at laſt, I go, (But afterwards hee repented and went) This will bee doing good at laſt; and however our former carriage hath been, Chriſt will accept and count this well, and ſay, Here is good carriage; So then O ſoul take this word to thy ſelf; And if thou haſt dealt unkindly with Chriſt, and notwithſtanding great wooings, great means, abundance of favours beſtowed upon you, yet thou wouldest not repent: Oh yet afterwards repent and do it And this is to draw out holineſs, at well as comfort, out of the ſtory of the woman of Canaan. And truly that is my deſire, that wee ſhould thus improve this example, not onelyonly to Faith and Comfort, but alſo to Holineſs and Obedience; and that in this particular, of being like-minded unto Chriſt, not onelyonly to others, but eſpecially to Chriſt himſelf, to deal well with him now at laſt, for as much as wee have dealt ill with him many a day.