3. To be humble. In all our commerce with Christ, ftiith must produce a real humility. Faith is most high when the heart is most low: Luke xviii. 11-14, 'The pharisee stood and prayed, saying, God, I thank thee I am not as other men are, &c. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar oft", would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner ! I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other ; for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.' The one challenged a debt, the other begged a favour. Humble supplications to God become us better than proud expostula- tions.
4. To meditate often on the sovereign dominion of Christ, and his power over all things that fall out in the world. To keep us from warping and running to unlawful shifts, God proponndeth his all- sufficiency to our faith when we enter into covenant with him : Gen. xvii. 1, ' I am the Almighty God ; walk before me, and be thou perfect.' He hath power enough to help, defend, and reward us ; we need not seek elsewhere for a protector or paymaster ; the word of his provi- dence is enough. He can heal our diseases, supply our necessities, or bless a little, as he did the pulse to the captive children : Dan. i 15, * Their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.'
SERMON UPON MATTHEW XV. 21-28.
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into t7te coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a ivoman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying. Have mercy on me, 0 Lord, thou Son of David ; my daughter is grievously vexed ivith a devil. But he ansiuered her not a luord. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her aivay ; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and icorshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to dogs. And she saith, Truth, Lord : yet the dogs eat of the crumbs lohich fall from their masters table. And Jesus answered and said unto her, 0 woman, great is thy faith : be it unto thee even as thou ivilt. And her daughter loas made whole from that very hour. — Mat. xv. 21-28.
We come now to the second instance of a great and grown faith ; this ought to be considered by us. In the centurion we had an instance of a reasoning faith, now of a wresthng faith — faith wrestling, with grievous temptations, but at length obtaining help from God. We ought to consider this for these reasons —
1. Because Christ pronounceth it to be great faith, and so proper for our imitation, ' 0 woman, great is thy faith.' It is the foith of a woman ; a woman not proselyted or embodied with the visible people of God at that time ; a woman whose faith is approved and commended by Christ. And surely this should provoke every christian heart to be furnished with a like faith.
2. To instruct us that the life and exercise of faith is not easy, but will meet with great discouragements. We must reckon of trials, and iirepare for them. They that leap into profession, and do not count the charges, will soon find their rash confidence disappointed. They may meet with rebukes from men. David's enemies said, 'There. is no help for him in God,' Ps. iii. 2. Or from mistaking friends, as those that would not have Christ hindered in his passage : Mark x. 48, ' Many charged him that he should hold his peace ; but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me ! ' But this woman seemeth to be checked and disappointed by Christ himself, who at first answereth her not a word, and then seemingly defeateth her
166 SERMON UPON MATTHEW XV. 21-28.
confidence. To wrestle, not only with temporal discouragements, but disappointments of our hope in God, is the sorest trial. The blind man wrestled with the rebukes of men, but she with the rebukes of Christ himself. Yea, here is trial upon trial ; she is put back after a first and second address. Christ, as God, knew the strength of her faith at first, but 5'et he would exercise her faith to the uttermost ; as in another miracle it is said, ' He himself knew what be would do, but this he said to prove him ; 'John vi. 6, ' Whence shall we buy bread, that so great a company may eat.' Christ loveth to try them with whom he hath to do, sometimes the weakness, sometimes the strength of their faith.
3. Because of the success : ver. 28, ' Be it unto thee even as thou wilt ; and her daughter was made whole from that very hour.' When faith is sufficiently tried, Christ can hold out no longer. As Joseph's bowels yearned, and he could not refrain himself : Gen. xlv. 3, ' I am Joseph ; ' so when the strength of faith is sufficiently discovered, Christ cannot continue the conflict any longer ; the believer shall have what he doth desire : Hosea xi. 8, ' Mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together; ' and Jer. xxxi. 20, ' Is Ephraim my dear son ? Is he a pleasant child ? For since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still ; therefore my bowels are troubled for him. I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.' So Isa. xl. 1, 2, ' Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God ; speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and say unto her that her warfare is accom- plished, that her iniquities are pardoned ; for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.' Now it is enough ; let them have their mercies and their comforts.