A Cluster of Grapes Taken out of the Canaanite Womans Basket, Sermon 9
Comings to Chriſt prevails for Corporals as well as Spirituals. The Ninth SERMON.
Matthew 15. the laſt clauſe of verſ. 28.
And her Daughter was made whole from that very hour.
WEE are come to the laſt part of the ſtory of the woman of Canaan; the principal matter wee have already diſpatched; and I ſhall at this time briefly give you an account of theſe words, and ſo end the Diſcourſe. VVithout looking back therefore to any thing wee have formerly delivered; wee ſhall preſently ſpeak to theſe words that I have now read. Theſe words do particularly relate to the Daughter of the Woman of Canaan; and they do hold forth the kindneſs of Chriſt unto a childe, as a return of the Prayer, and Faith of a Parent for a childe. And there is one Note, that in the very entrance into the diſcourſe wee ſhall take up in the general. And that is this,
Doct. That the Prayer and the Faith of beleeving Parents, are very prevalent with the Lord Jeſus on the behalf of children.
My Beloved, little do wee know what our prayers may procure at the hand of Chriſt, for ours. Thou haſt oftentimes laid thy precepts upon thy childe, and that would do him no good; thou haſt oftentimes (in a ſenſe) made thy prayers to thy childe, and that would do him no good; Little doſt thou know what the prayers that thou doſt put up to God may yet effect. Verily, my Beloved, It is our folly and ſin that wee are not more in prayer for our poſterity, than wee are. Many a ſoul-mercy, and body-mercy may bee procured at the hands of Chriſt upon the Parents prayers for the poor children. It is famouſly recorded of Auſtin, that hee was the Son of Prayers, and Tears. Oftentimes I ſay for the ſoul, and body, doth the Parents prayers prevail for the childe. To come to the words in particular, there is no difficulty in the Letter, and therefore wee ſhall not ſtand upon the Expoſition. There are onelyonly three Notes wee ſhall take up. The two firſt more particular; the laſt more general; and therefore that I ſhall ſpend the time in.
Firſt of all, in particular, Here are two Notes that do relate to the perſonal honour and glory of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and upon that account, I ſhall mention them in two Obſervations.
Doct. 1. That Jeſus Chriſt hath power over all diſeaſes, over all diſtempers.
Her Daughter was ſick, yea vexed with a Devil; ſhee praies to Chriſt, and her Daughter was made whole. You know what hee ſaid in the Goſpel, Mat: 8.8. Lord, if thou wilt but ſpeak the word, my ſervant ſhall bee whole, &c. Any diſeaſe is at the command of Chriſt, to go, and to come, as hee pleaſes: So much may wee gather from the Centurions language, Luk. 7.8, 9. That expreſſion, in Mat. 4.23, 24. is full, where it is ſaid, Hee went about healing all diſeaſes, &c. Indeed it is a fine queſtion, Whether in theſe daies Chriſt do cure immediately, as hee did in the times of the Goſpel? That hee can ſo cure is made no queſtion; but whether hee do, is a queſtion; yet this I will ſay, that ſometimes I make no doubt, but the Lord Jeſus doth immediately heal diſeaſes. And it were no ſtretching the Truth to tell you, that more than one, or two, or ſcores of inſtances may bee given of perſons, that have been given over for loſt by man, by no means uſed, nothing done to recover, many who have been yet immediately cured by Jeſus Chriſt. However, it is a certain truth, that all diſeaſes can bee cured by Jeſus Chriſt. And the ſecond Note is this (and I pray minde it.)
Doct. 2. Jeſus Chriſt is not tied to any time to do his work.
The ſame hour her Daughter was made whole.
My Beloved, the Lord Jeſus hee can cure by one word, in one moment. That is a famous ſtory, in John 4.49. You have one there that comes unto Chriſt, and ſaith hee, Sir, Come down ere my childe dye. Hee was afraid that Chriſt could not come away ſoon enough. Mark, ſaith Chriſt, Go thy way, thy Son liveth, and it is ſaid, hee enquired of them the hour when hee began to amend; and hee knew that it was at the ſame hour, in which Jeſus ſaid unto him, thy Son liveth. The Lord Jeſus is not tied to any time for any work. There are two ſad words, which wee may truly ſpeak of the beſt men, and means, which yet can never bee ſaid of Jeſus Chriſt. The firſt word is this, That time is paſt. And the ſecond word is this, That time is too ſhort. But now you can never ſay any of theſe words to Chriſt.
Firſt, Of the beſt men, and the beſt means wee may ſay, time is paſt. Wee often do ſay, and cry out, Oh! If this Phyſician had come at ſuch a time, the childe had been well; and if ſuch means had been taken, the thing had been done; I but now time is paſt; But mark it, though you can ſay thus of men, yet you can never ſay the time is paſt to Jeſus Chriſt. You have a very glorious inſtance of this, in the ſpeech of Martha to our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in John 11.21, 22. Then ſaid Martha unto Jeſus, Lord, if thou hadſt been here, my Brother had not died; but I know, that even NOW, whatſoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Shee doth not ſay, If thou hadſt come, my Brother had lived, but now it is too late; but ſaith ſhee, now I know, that even now, whatſoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. My Beloved, when death is written upon any perſon, and it is too late for men to help, it is not too late for Jeſus Chriſt; time is never paſt to the Lord Jeſus. But then
Secondly, As time is never paſt, ſo time is never too ſhort for Jeſus Chriſt. You may ſay of ſuch men, if they had but time, they might do ſomething; and of ſuch means, if there were time, it might do ſomething. I but you can never ſay, it is too little, or too ſhort a ſpace, or time, for Jeſus Chriſt. In the ſame hour. Jeſus Chriſt can do a great deal of work in a little time. Chriſt who is the mighty God, can do a great work in a day. That is a bleſſed word, in Rev. 18.8. and it bears upon this Notion that I now hint. It is ſaid of Babylon, That all her plagues ſhall come upon her in one day, &c. In one day, why the intireſt of Pride, and Honour, Idolatry, and Perſecution, that ſo many ages were winding up to a height; can this bee deſtroyed in ſo little time? ſhall this bee done in one day? Yes, For ſtrong in the Lord God who judgeth her. A great God, is never confined to any time. Oh my Beloved! bear up your hearts in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; time can no way preſcribe him, hee can do what hee will, and when hee will. But there is one general point that I ſhall take up from the place, and end this diſcourſe. And the general Point is this.
Doct. That faithful coming unto Jeſus Chriſt, doth ſometimes prevail even in Corporal Caſes.
This woman of Canaan came to Chriſt, and ſhee came in Faith; Here is a faithful commer to the Lord Jeſus, and ſhee prevails for her own ſoul, I and ſhee prevails for her Daughters body; ſhee prevails eminently for her own ſpiritual concernments, I and ſhee prevails alſo for her Daughters corporal concernments. That Faith prevails alwaies in ſpiritual concernments, that wee have often opened (and my Beloved, it is a mercy, that if it do not alwaies prevail for our body, yet that it doth for our ſouls) But God hath provided, and doth ſo order it, that ſometimes it ſhall prevail for body and ſoul too.
Indeed going to Chriſt is good for every thing, and they who truly go to the Lord Jeſus, ſhall one day have cauſe to ſing the ſong of David, Bleſs the Lord, Oh my ſoul, who forgiveth all thy ſins, and healeth all thy diſeaſes. You that go to Jeſus Chriſt, you ſhall have cauſe to ſay, Bleſſed bee God, I have ſoul-mercy, and bodily-mercy too. If you look thorow the whole ſtory of the Life of Chriſt, you ſhall ſee this truth. The whole hiſtory of the Goſpel gives us inſtances; that faithful coming to Chriſt, did ſometimes prevail with him for corporal-mercies, as well as for ſpiritual mercies. A double inſtance I ſhall give.
Firſt, An Inſtance of prevailing for our ſelves.
Secondly, An Inſtance of prevailing for others.
Firſt, An Inſtance of prevailing for our ſelves; ſaith the Leper, in Matth. 8.2. Lord, if thou wilt, thou canſt make mee clean. And that of the blinde man (Barthomeus) in Luk. 18.41. ſaith Chriſt, What wilt thou that I ſhall do unto thee? and hee ſaid, Lord, That I may receive my ſight, and his ſight was reſtored to him. Many a time the Lord Chriſt was prevailed withall for corporal mercies.
But ſecondly, As many did prevail for themſelves, ſo they did often prevail for others. As in Matth. 15.30. It is there ſaid, Great multitudes came to him, having with them thoſe that were lame, blinde, dumb, maimed, and many others; and caſt them down at Jeſus feet, and hee healed them, &c. The Lord did many corporal kindneſſes for others. The like to this you have, in Matth. 9.1, 2. They brought to him one ſick of the Palſie, and Jeſus ſeeing their Faith, healed him. But now, here is one Objection againſt this.
Object. But you will ſay, This was true of the times wherein Chriſt lived; Chriſt, when hee was upon Earth, healed Simon Peters wifes Mother of a feavour; and ſuch a ones Daughter, and ſuch a ones Son; but now hee is in Heaven, ſuch things are not to beee expected; ſo ſome do think.
Anſw. For Anſwer, Firſt, If wee ſpeak of his miraculous way of healing, then it may bee ſaid, that miraculous way of healing diſeaſes was a mercy more eminently put forth in thoſe daies, of Chriſts being in the fleſh. But if you ſpeak of the thing it ſelf, healing diſeaſes, curing of bodies, I doubt not but wee may expect the ſame mercy from Jeſus Chriſt now, that they did then. And the Reaſon is, Becauſe there is the ſame ground for Chriſt to ſhew corporal kindneſſes now, which was then. Where the ground of a thing is perpetual, moral, and eternally the ſame in all ages, the ſame things may bee done upon the ſame ground, But, &c. I finde in the Goſpel a double ground, why Chriſt did heal corporal diſeaſes.
The firſt ground was his pitty and ſympathy.
And ſecondly, To fulfil Prophecie and Promiſe; Upon theſe two grounds did Chriſt heal, either upon the grounds of pitty and compaſſion, as a man, or elſe upon the ground of Prophecie or Promiſe.
For the firſt ground you have it, in Matth. 14.14. It is ſaid, Jeſus went forth, and ſaw a great multitude, and was moved with compaſſion toward them, and hee healed their ſick. Compaſſion did move Chriſt, and therefore hee healed them. Now obſerve, Jeſus Chriſt now in Heaven, hath the ſame compaſſions that hee had here on Earth; and that is founded upon his keeping, or retaining of his humane nature ſtill: If Chriſt had not now in Heaven our humane nature, hee would not have had this compaſſion; for you ſhall finde, that the compaſſion that was in Chriſt, it was not built upon his God-head, but upon his humane Nature. And therefore in Heb. 2.16, 17. It is ſaid, Chriſt took not on him the nature of Angels, but hee took on him the ſeed of Abraham; Why ſo? that hee might bee a merciful, and faithful High Prieſt, &c. Hee did therefore take Mans Nature, that hee might have compaſſion. Now this, Jeſus retains for ever, and hee hath the ſame compaſſions now hee is in Heaven, that hee had when hee was upon the Earth.
The ſecond ground is that which I finde, in Iſa. 53.4. compared with Matth. 8.17. I pray minde it (for it is good to know what is the ground of Faith.) In Iſa. 53. Saith the Prophet there, Surely hee hath born our griefs, and carried our ſorrows, &c. This was propheſied of Jeſus Chriſt, that hee ſhould not onelyonly have compaſſion on our ſpiritual infirmities, our ſins, but our corporal; and this was the ground why hee did heal diſeaſes in the time of his fleſh, Matth. 8.17. It is ſaid, Hee healed all that were ſick, that it might bee fulfilled which was spoken by Iſaiah the Prophet, ſaying, Himſelf took our infirmities, and bare our ſickneſſes. Here was the ground why Chriſt did heal then, becauſe it was propheſied, hee ſhould bear our ſickneſſes. Now this Prophecie is an eternal truth. And if in the time of his fleſh hee did ſhew corporal kindneſſes, that that Prophecie might bee fulfilled; hee will now do the ſame, that the ſame Prophecie might bee fulfilled. Even in theſe daies wee may expect, that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, upon our faithful coming to him, ſhould ſhew corporal kindneſs to us, and ours, as well as ſpiritual. One Scripture I ſhall add for the Truth of it, and that is in James 5.14. Is any man ſick among you? Let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, &c. and the prayer of Faith ſhall ſave the ſick, &c. Here obſerve, that faithful prayer ſhall prevail for the ſaving of the ſick: Now a little to clear up this, you muſt know, firſt, that this is to bee underſtood of corporal ſickneſſes; and therefore the very two terms that are here uſed, for ſaving, and ſick, are uſually applied to corporal diſeaſes. I but it is ſaid, this was by virtue of the anointing of the Elders. To this I anſwer, this expreſſion hath been abuſed; But however that this ſalvation doth not depend upon the anointing, will appear, if you obſerve the phraſe, And the Prayer of Faith ſhall ſave the ſick. Hee doth not ſay, the Anointing ſhall do it, but the Prayer of Faith; and further, obſerve, this is a general Scripture concerning all ages, built upon perpetual grounds, and to hold now, as well as then; That coming to Chriſt in Faith, will prevail with him for corporal kindneſſes, both for our ſelves, and others. Wee ſhall add no more for the proof, but give you the Reaſons.
There are five Reaſons whence it comes to paſs, that ſometimes our Lord Jeſus Chriſt is prevailed withall by thoſe that faithfully come to him, incorporal caſes for themſelves, and others.
Reaſ. 1. That the Lord Jeſus may ſhew that hee hath power in this particular. My Beloved, Jeſus Chriſt will ſometimes ſpeak, and do ſuch a word, and ſuch a work, for this reaſon, that it may bee known what hee could do in that caſe. In Matth. 9. and the beginning, Why did hee ſay to the ſick of the Paſſie, Bee of good cheer, thy ſins are forgiven thee? but that they might know the Son of Man hath power on the the Earth to forgive ſins. Beleevers, Beleevers, you ſhall know what your Saviour can do, you ſhall know what a Chriſt you have, and what hee can do in every thing. You think hee can do for your ſouls, you do not queſtion it; hee will make you know, hee can do for your bodies too. That hee may ſhew his power, hee will ſometimes ſhew corporal kindneſſes.
Secondly, That hee may ſhew himſelf to bee the ſame in all ages. My Beloved, poor hearts are too too ready to ſing that doleful Pſalm, Is the Lords mercy clean gone? is his loving kindneſs come to an end? &c. Poor hearts are too too ready to ſay, the Lord did ſuch a mercy at ſuch a time, but did hee not then reſolve to do ſo no more? at ſuch a time the Lord healed ſuch a one, but did hee not end the work then? No, the Lord Chriſt is from everlaſting to everlaſting? thorow all generations, ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 103.14, & 17. verſes. For hee knoweth our frame; hee remembreth that wee are but duſt; but the mercy of the Lord is from everlaſting to everlasting, upon them that fear him: and his Righteouſneſs unto childrens children. That you may know that it is not onelyonly a peculiar mercy to thoſe times, therefore, thorow all generations hee will heal, as hee did then, that it may appear hee is the ſame in all ages. That Text is to bee underſtood of corporals.
Thirdly, The Lord Jeſus will ſometimes ſhew corporal kindneſſes to our ſelves, and others, that hereby hee may ingage us. Oh my Beloved, Jeſus Chriſt doth love to ingage poor ſouls to himſelf; hee loves to lay his fair yoak upon your backs; hee loves to lay the cords of men (of humane love) upon their hearts, to binde them to himſelf. Now corporal kindneſſes do much ingage. The truth is, it is our folly, and Chriſts kindneſs in a myſtery, that a corporal kindneſs works more ſometimes than a ſpiritual, and Chriſt therefore goes that way to work upon us. Wee finde in dealing with children (and the Lord knows ſilly children wee are the beſt of us) that wee do oftentimes more win by an Apple, than a better thing. Oh wee have a good Chriſt that condeſcends to our childiſhneſs, hee will have corporal kindneſſes, becauſe hee ſees they will prevail with us ſometimes, when others will not. How ſtately is that Pſalm, Pſal. 116. Oh ſaith David there, I will love the Lord, &c. What did ingage David? I was in miſery, the ſorrows of death took hold of mee, and the Lord delivered mee, &c. Oh, for the Lord Jeſus to ſhew a kindneſs to our poor carkaſſes, doth ingage much. At ſuch a time I had a childe ſick, a relation ſick, I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord heard mee; I will love the Lord as long as I live.
Fourthly, The Lord doth it, that hee may incourage Faith. Sirs, glorious things (as Doctor Sibbs applied that Scripture) are ſpoken of thee, O thou Grace of Faith! Now this is a great incouragement, when Faith ſhall prevail with Chriſt for body and ſoul too for inward and outward mercies, how is Faith incouraged? Pray will you turn to John 4.53. The kindneſs of Chriſt to the Noble mans childe, whom the Lord did cure upon his Fathers requeſt, mark how it did work upon that great man, Hee enquired concerning the time, and hee knew that it was at the time that Chriſt ſaid, his Son liveth, What follows? then, Himſelf beleeved, and his whole houſe. Why, did not the man beleeve, before Chriſt had cured his childe? Yes, in verſ. 50. it is ſaid, Hee beleeved, but the Maſter that beleeved before, beleeves more, I, and the whole Family beleeved too. Verily Sirs, Faith is marvelouſly incouraged by corporal kindneſſes. What did incourage David againſt Goliah, but this? Thy ſervant ſlew both the Lion, and the Bear: and this uncircumciſed Philiſtine ſhall bee as one of them. Oh, when the Lord ſhall hear us for our poor carkaſſes, this will incourage Faith. Many a perſon hath been wrought upon to come to Chriſt, by the kindneſſes that hee hath ſhewed to others. There is a ſtory of a poor Chriſtian Maid (in the Eccleſiaſtical hiſtories) whoſe Prayer and Faith cured a great Mans childe in a heatheniſh place. The Governour of the place had a childe ſick, and every one was to give ſomewhat to help it, but nothing would do; at laſt a poor captive Chriſtian was asked what ſhee could do; ſhee ſaid, I can pray to my God, and hee can heal; ſhee did ſo, and the childe was healed; and it is ſaid, it was the occaſion to work upon many, to inquire after, and to embrace Jeſus Chriſt, and the Chriſtian Religion. And let mee appeal unto you, have you not known, at leaſt have you not heard of ſome poor wretched creatures, that have been much wrought upon when they have obſerved that God hath heard the prayers of ſuch a Miniſter, of ſuch a poor Chriſtian, when they were ſick, and this hath drawn them on in the way of Faith and Holineſs?
Fifthly and laſtly, Jeſus Chriſt will ſometimes ſhew corporal kindneſſes, that ſo hee may make good all the Promiſes. In 1 Tim. 4.8. Godlineſs is ſaid to have the Promiſe of the Life that now is, and of that which is to come. Why now you know what is ſaid, in 2 Cor. 1.20. That in him all the Promiſes are Yea, and Amen. All Promiſes are made to Beleevers, but the fulfilling of all, doth depend upon Jeſus Chriſt. Now my Beloved, That the Lord may fulfil temporal Promiſes, hee will upon the faithful coming of his ſervants, ſometimes give them temporal mercies. Wee ſhall now come to the Uſe. There are but two Uſes that I would make of this Point.
Firſt of all, therefore, Let this ſerve for a word of Conviction. And,
Secondly, For a word of Inſtruction.
Firſt, It ſerves for a word of Conviction. To convince the folly, and the miſtake of many poor creatures, who think, and ſay, that going to Jeſus Chriſt may bee good for the ſoul, but they cannot tell what it is for the body. Repentance, Faith, real Converſion to the Lord Jeſus, may ſave our ſouls, but they cannot ſee what it will do for their bodies. This kinde of Dutch-divinity is every where, to minde Mammon, and body, beſt, and moſt; and to think Religion is not for any profit or purpoſe in thoſe particulars. But ſee here this folly, and know, that Religion is good for all things. Length of daies are in Chriſts right hand; and in his left, riches and honour. Oh ſouls, learn to ſee, going to Jeſus Chriſt is good, not onelyonly for our ſouls, but for our bodies. You ſhall go to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and have the mercies of Heaven, and the mercies of Earth too. Can the Son of Jeſſe give you Olive yards, and Vine-yards, &c.? Was the ſpeech of Saul, 1 Sam. 22.7. So ſay the men of the world, Do you think to get any thing by being godly? Yes, if the Lord pleaſe, you may get for body, as well as for ſoul, by going to Jeſus Chriſt. The world is mightily miſtaken, that think godlineſs is good for nothing but ſalvation; it is good for this preſent world too. But then,
Secondly, Let it ſerve for an Uſe of Inſtruction, To teach us all whither to go in all caſes, whether ſpiritual or corporal; why, to go to the Lord Jeſus. Whatever thy caſe bee, away to Chriſt; going to Chriſt is good for ſoul, and for body. What is your condition? Say ſome, I am a poor man, and I have a little eſtate, and a great charge, I hope beleeving in Jeſus Chriſt will ſave my ſoul, but what ſhall become of my Family? go to Jeſus Chriſt, hee can give corporal, as well as ſpiritual mercies. Saith another, I am ſick, &c. little do wee know what may bee expected from Chriſt even in corporal caſes. You have a fine ſpeech, in Proverbs 3.16. Length of daies are in her right hand: and in her left hand, riches and honour. Shee is a tree of Life, and ſhee is health to the Navel, and the Fleſh, chap. 4.22. This is ſpoke of Wiſdome, what Wiſdome? why it is ſpoken of Eſſential Wiſdome, Jeſus Chriſt; why, what of Chriſt? it is ſaid, Length of daies are in his right hand; Eternity of Life is a right-hand-mercy for Jeſus Chriſt to give; I but how ſhall I live here? why, In his left hand are riches and honour. You go to Jeſus Chriſt; and ſay, Lord, I have a dead ſoul, dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, Lord, Length of daies are with thee; But thy body is ſick, why go to Chriſt, hee can cure bodies too; and is this onelyonly for your ſelves? No, but for others too; you may go to the Lord Jeſus, not onelyonly for a morſel of bread for thy poor ſoul, but for ſome cure for thy childe.
Object. But may I go to the Lord Jeſus? will the Lord Chriſt accept mee, who come to him upon a carnal account?
Anſw. For anſwer. That Jeſus that hath the mercy of God, to pitty ſouls, hath the pitty of a man to pitty bodies; and humane compaſſions will prevail with him for bodily pitty.
Object. I but will the ſoul ſay, Is there then any hope that I may prevail with the Lord for my ſick childe?
Anſw. My Beloved, I told you in the beginning, That the Prayers and Faith of the Parent will much prevail with Chriſt, for the good of the childe. In Gen. 17. Abraham goes to the Lord, and hee praies for Iſhmael, Oh that Iſhmael might live in thy ſight. That is, that hee might bee the childe of the Promiſe; Hee was a Son of the Fleſh, but not an Heir of the Promiſe; but yet mark what follows, though Iſhmael ſhould not bee the childe of the Promiſe, yet the Lord doth there aſſure Abraham of this, that Iſhmael ſhall bee bleſſed. Iſaac is the childe of the promiſed ſeed, yet Iſhmael ſhall bee bleſſed too. Many a time doth the Lord hear the prayers of his ſervants, even for an Iſhmael, i. e. for a childe, yea a carnal childe; and this is certain, even bad children have many corporal mercies for their Parents ſakes; and wee may expect it.
Object. But wee have known many a Parent that have gone in Faith to Jeſus Chriſt for a poor childe, that never have prevailed. How then can you build us up in this Truth, when wee ſee the contrary?
Anſw. I anſwer, If thou goeſt to the Lord, and prayeſt for a childe, and doſt not prevail, God deals no worſe with thee than hee dealt with thy betters. David, who was a man after Gods own heart, went to God for a childe, and hee prayed hard, but yet the Lord did not hear him. You have the ſtory in 2 Sam. 12.16. David beſought God for the childe, and faſted. &c. And if it bee ſo with you, yet are you as well in this reſpect, as David was; But more fully to anſwer the Objection. I pray mark it, that in that place, there are two things might ſatisfie David, and ſo any in the like caſe.
Firſt, It was not good for David that the childe ſhould live. I make that appear thus; what was the childe that David did deſire might live? you know the ſtory, it was the baſe-begotten childe, which hee got upon Bathſheba. Certainly it was not good for David that the childe ſhould live; had the childe lived, it would have been his Fathers ſhame, &c. When thou goeſt to God to begg the life of thy childe, if thy childe do not live, what is the reaſon? hee may live to bee thy ſhame. Some have begged of God the life of a childe, what ever came of it; God hath given it as a curſe, and the childes life hath been a monument of their ſhame, and a perpetual heart-breaking to the Parents all their daies. (As a good Woman once ſadly ſaid) So that is one thing, it may bee for good to the Parent, that God ſhould not hear prayers for a childes life, and then that may ſatisfie us, if hee do not. But then,
Secondly, Though the Lord did not hear David for the life of the childe; I perſwade mee, Hee did hear David for the ſoul of the childe. I ſhall give you this account of it. Saith David, in v. 23. I ſhall go to him, but hee ſhall not return to mee. Whither is that? not ſo much, I ſhall go to him in my body to the grave, but in my ſoul to God. And my Beloved, that this is intended, doth appear upon this conſideration; nothing but this could have ſo quieted the heart of David, that the childe was happy. Indeed ſome think that the phraſe, I ſhall go to him, is no more, but I ſhall bee dead, as hee is; and they ſay, David did acquieſce in this, that the will of God was fulfilled; and therefore David comforts himſelf in this, I ſhall go to him. But if this had not been to Heaven, it could have been no great comfort. Alaſs! what comfort is this bare thought to a mourning Parent? my childe is dead, and I ſhall dye too. David might have had that comfort in Abſolons death; but here was his comfort, I ſhall go to him, i. e. to glory; the bare grave is not comfort, nor was it to David, but the glory beyond the grave is. And this is that comfort which doth ſtay the heart, I ſhall go to him. Though God did not hear him for his childes life, yet I think for his childes ſoul. So that is another thing to ſatisfie any Chriſtian in this caſe. I ſay, when Chriſt doth not hear prayers to reſtore a childe to life, and health; yet, in this caſe, in particular, go to the Lord Jeſus, you may go, and you may prevail for corporal kindneſſes for them, and if not for their bodies, who can tell but you may for their ſouls? Then, I beſeech you all in the words of the Apoſtle, Phil. 4.6. compared with verſe 19. Bee careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and ſupplication, with thankſgiving, let your request bee made known unto God. My God ſhall ſupply all your need, according to his riches, in glory, by Chriſt Jeſus. Whatever your condition bee, bee not over careful, go to the Lord Jeſus, and hee will ſupply all thy wants, hee will give a pardon to thy ſoul, and a plaiſter to thy body, and to thy childes body too; you may go to Jeſus Chriſt for what you will, in a way of beleeving, and to bee ſure you ſhall alwaies prevail in ſpirituals, and ſometimes in corporals. But there are two queſtions that wee muſt anſwer.
Firſt, But in what caſes may it bee lawful to put Prayer and Faith a working in going to Chriſt for corporal kindneſſes?
Secondly, When may wee hope that wee may prevail with Chriſt for corporal kindneſſes?
Firſt, In what caſes may wee go to the Lord Jeſus, and ſet Prayer and Faith on work for corporal kindneſſes? It is a Caſe of Conſcience, which is not oftentimes touched upon.
Three things I ſhall tell you to regulate you, and then in any caſe you may go to Chriſt, and act Faith for corporal mercies.
Firſt, When the thing is lawful that you ask. There are many things that are not lawful for us to ask. Like Neroes Mother, ask, and ſay, I will have my Son King, though I dye for it. You may not begg of the Lord, that your childe may bee thus great, or thus honourable; but you may begg of the Lord, life, and health, creature accommodations, ſo far as neceſſary, theſe things you may begg, and go to Chriſt for.
Secondly, You muſt look that your spirits bee not inordinately ſet upon the things. When ever thou findeſt thy heart inordinately ſet upon any thing, then do not pray for it. And then,
Thirdly, When you can appeal to Jeſus Chriſt, that the end, for which you begg a corporal kindneſs, it is for his glory, then you may begg it. As David there, in Pſa. 119.17. Deal bountifully with thy ſervant; that I may live and keep thy Word. You may go and ſay, Lord Jeſus, Let my childe live: for what end? that hee may bee a great man, a rich man? &c. No, the Lord will abhor it; But that my childe may live to ſerve the Lord; if that bee your end, you may pray for it. And then,
Queſt. 2. But you will ſay, When ſhall I know, or may I gueſs, that I ſhall prevail with Chriſt? What are the ſigns of the time, and ſeaſon when I may hope I ſhall prevail with Chriſt for mercy, &c?
Anſw. I anſwer, When the frame of your ſpirit, is as the frame of the ſpirit of the Woman of Canaan. I pray mark it a little, what the frame of the ſpirit of this Woman was; Take it in ſome particulars. I will name onelyonly two, viz.
Firſt, Shee had this frame of ſpirit; That though ſhee mentioned her childes caſe, yet ſhee ſeems to minde her own ſoul moſt: And,
Secondly, Shee had this as the frame of her ſpirit, To beleeve for both. Now to urge it in a few words to you.
The firſt frame of her ſpirit was, That though ſhee did begg this mercy for her childe, yet the frame of her ſpirit was principally ſet upon her ſoul. This poor Woman did deſire her Daughters life; but however Lord, bread for my poor ſoul. Oh Sirs, when you can go to God, and ſay, Lord, I would have ſuch a corpotal mercy, but however Lord, ſoul-mercy; when you can deſire a ſick childe may bee made well, but eſpecially an evil heart mended; when your ſoul is ſet moſtly upon your ſoul, and its concernments, then are you in a good frame.
Secondly, This Woman was raiſed up to meaſure of Faith. Indeed ſome great and conſiderate Divines do think, that that Text of James 5. (where it is ſaid, The prayer of Faith ſhall ſave the ſick) is to bee underſtood in reference to a particular Faith. And my Beloved, howſoever, yet let mee tell you, it is not alwaies neceſſary wee ſhould have a particular perſwaſion, yet when the Lord doth intend to anſwer in a corporal kindneſs, hee doth ſecretly, either out of the word, or by providence, hint ſome word that may bring the ſoul to a beleeving frame. Something is preſented to us, which raiſeth up a Faith in us; ſo that when wee are in ſuch a frame of heart, as to minde ſpiritual things moſt, and yet to beleeve, that in a temporal thing God will gratifie us, then may wee expect that wee ſhall not bee aſhamed of our Faith, and that wee ſhall have the particular corporal mercy granted to us. But to end, This is that I would preſs upon the whole; As ever you would have mercy for body and ſoul, go to Jeſus Chriſt. But now there is ſome general word, that I would draw from the whole ſtory. Wee have now diſpatched this whole diſcourſe of the Woman of Canaan. What is there that is upon my ſpirit to begg of the Lord for you, and for my own ſoul, but this? That this ſtory may bee alwaies a good ſtory to us.
Firſt of all, therefore, I ſay, Look about you, that the ſtory of the Woman of Canaan may not bee a ſad ſtory to any. Is there any ſuch as may have cauſe to fear that, you will ſay? Yes; man or woman, whoever thou art, who doſt not faithfully go to Jeſus Chriſt, the ſtory of the Woman of Canaan ſhall condemn you; you have no excuſe to keep you off from going to Jeſus Chriſt, but this Woman will condemn you. Three Excuſes ſome make.
Firſt, Alaſs, I am a poor man, or a poor woman, that have heard but a little of Chriſt, and am but a ſtranger to Chriſt: ſo was the Woman of Canaan. I but ſaith another,
Secondly, I have ſomething elſe to look after; a great family, or a ſick childe, &c. The Woman of Canaan had a ſick childe, but did that keep her from Chriſt? No, that brought her to Chriſt. If that ſpeech had been ſpoke with gravity, that one ſaid upon that in the Parable, Luk. 14.15. Hee might have brought his Wife with him, it had been right enough; you ſhould bring relations with you to Chriſt; do your indeavour to bring children; let not children keep back you.
But thirdly, Alaſs, I cannot tell where to finde Chriſt. It is a marvelous hard thing now adaies to finde a Jeſus Chriſt. Mark what the Woman of Canaan did; The Evangeliſt Mark (who records this ſtory, Mark 7.24.) ſaith, that Chriſt entered into a houſe, and would have no man know it, but hee could not bee hid; for a Woman of Canaan found him out, &c. It was one of the tempting (but the gracious tempting) hours of Jeſus Chriſt. But hee could not bee hid, for a Woman of Canaan found him out. The Lord doth look thou ſhouldeſt finde a Jeſus Chriſt, and never leave looking, till you do finde him. The Woman of Canaan will condemn ſuch as theſe. Let not the ſtory of the Woman of Canaan bee ever a ſad ſtory to you. But,
Secondly, Let the ſtory of this Woman bee a ſweet ſtory alwaies to your spirit. Let it bee a ſtory, as a ſtore-houſe, unto which you may go and fetch ſome comfort in your wants. Who of you have been waiting upon Chriſt many a day, and have not what you begg? go to the Woman of Canaan, and eat out of her basket.
There are three things in the ſtory, that will ſpeak comfort to you.
Firſt, That many ſins, and great unworthineſs, ſhall never finally keep the ſoul from Chriſt. Oh Sirs, you go to the Lord Jeſus, and you knock, but your ſins bolt the door; you cry, but your corruptions cry louder; the woman of Canaan will tell you, I was as bad as you, and the Lord heard mee.
Secondly, This ſtory hath this in it for your comfort, That Prayers caſt back, may have a bleſſed return afterwards. The Lord Jeſus may now ſeem to be dumb, ſo that hee may make thee ſpeak the more. Chriſt you ſee as in this womans caſe was ſilent (as to granting her requeſt a long time) yet you ſee at laſt hee anſwers, and that largely and lovingly. Go to this ſtory for that comfort; were the woman of Canaan alive, ſhee would tell you this experience: A ſoul may have a Prayer returned in mercy, that at firſt was ſeemingly caſt off.
Thirdly, The woman of Canaan will tell you this, That a mercy may come at laſt, of which the ſoul hath no aſſurance. What aſſurance had the woman of Canaan? none, why the woman of Canaan will tell you; I had comfort in the end, though I had no aſſurance; ſouls are much caſt down for want of particular aſſurance; They pray, and hope, but are not aſſured; why what aſſurance had this woman? Nay, had ſhee not the quite contrary? had not ſhe a ſeeming rejection at firſt, and no aſſurance at all? But behold, ſhee hath the mercy, before any previous aſſurance; And ſo may you have; though no aſſurance now, yet poſſibly you may have the mercy deſired very ſpeedily. However learn and remember th…. You may IN TIME have a mercy, of which you have as yet no aſſurance. Thus meditate on this ſtory, and look into it, as I ſaid, as into a ſtore-houſe of comfort in many caſes. To end all, Beloved, (as the Apoſtle James ſaid, You have heard of the Patience of Job, and what end the Lord made with him) ſo ſay I, you have heard of the Practice of the woman of Canaan, and what end the Lord made with her. Let not this ſtory bee forgot, as an old ſtory is, but remember it many a day, yea all your daies. For certainly there is much ſweetneſs and refreſhing which you may gather from this record of the Woman of Canaan.
FINIS.