the rich " fool/' and die at last without Christ and with- out hope. (Luke xii. 20.)
We see J in the third place, that Christ' s people are often less gracious and compassionate than Christ Himself.
The woman about whom we are reading, found small favor with our Lord's disciples. Perhaps they regarded an inhabitant of the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, as un- worthy of their Master's help. At any rate they said, " Send her away."
There is only too much of this spirit among many who profess and call themselves believers. They are apt to discourage inquirers after Christ, instead of helping them forward. They are too ready to doubt the reality * of a beginner's grace, because it is small, and to treat him as Saul was treated when he first came to Jerusalem after his conversion. ^^ They believed not that he was a disciple." (Acts ix. 26.) Let us beware of giving way to this spirit. Let us seek to have more of the mind that was in Christ. Like Him let us be gentle, and kind, and encouraging in all our treatment of those who are seeking to be saved. Above all, let us tell men continually that they must, not judge of Christ by Christians. Let us assure them that there is far more in that gracious Master, ■ than there is in the best of His servants. Peter, and James, and John may say to the afflicted soul, " Sendher away." But such a word never came from the lips of Christ. He may sometimes keep us long wating, as He did this woman. But He will never send us empty away.
We see, in the last place, lohat encouragement there is to persevere in prayer, both for ourselves and others.
It is hard to conceive a more striking illustration of