this trutli^ than we have in this passage. The prayer of this afflicted mother at first seemed entirely unnoticed : Jesus " answered her not a word." Yet she prayed on. — The saying which by and bye fell from our Lord's lips sounded discouraging : " I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Yet she prayed on, " Lord, help me." The second saying of our Lord was even less encouraging than the first : " It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to the dogs." Yet ^^ hope deferred" did not '^ make her heart sick." (Pro v. xiii. 12.) Even then she was not silenced. Even then she finds a plea for some ^' crumbs" of mercy to be granted to her. And her importunity obtained at length a gracious re- ward. " 0 woman, great is thy faith : be it unto thee ' even as thou wilt." That promise never yet was broken, "Seek and ye shall find. (Matt. vii. 7.)
Let us remember this history, when we pray for our- selves. We are sometimes tempted to think that we get no good by our prayers, and that we may as well give them up altogether. Let us resist the temptation. It comes from the devil. Let us believe, and pray on. Against our besetting sins, against the spirit of the world, against the wiles of the devil, let us pray on, and not faint. — For strength to do duty, for grace to bear our trials, for comfort in every trouble, let us continue in prayer. Let us be sure that no time is so well-spent in every day, as that which we spend upon our knees. Jesus hears us, and in his own good time will give an answer.
Let us remember this history, wJien ive intercede for others. Have we children, whose conversion we desire ?