2. The excellence of faith —
[Admirable were the graces which this woman exercised; yet not one of them was noticed by our Lord : he overlooked them all ; and noticed that only which was least apparent, and which every one else would have overlooked, namely, her faith. He knew that this was the root or principle from whence all her other graces sprang. It was this that led her so to honour him ; and therefore he determined to honour it. And must not that be excellent which he so highly regarded, so studiously searched out, and so eminently distinguished?
But what is it that he here assigns to her faith ? it is nothing less than the saving of her soul : he passes by all her other graces as having no weight or influence whatever in her justi- fication before God, and specifies her "faith" as that which " saved" her. Is it possible to bestow a higher commendation on it than this?
If it be asked, why faith is thus distinguished above all other graces? we answer, it is because faith unites us unto the Saviour, and interests us thereby in all that he has done and suffered for us : but this cannot be said of any other grace whatever ; and therefore, though every other grace adorns the soul, no grace but faith will save it.
Let us all seek to attain right sentiments on this most im- portant point, and pray with the Apostles, " Lord, increase our faith."]
m John iii. 16.