The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 302

to lay its anxieties before a mighty and compassionate Lord, We cannot be satisfied to come to Christ for ourselves alone; for those dear to onr hearts some true request will be preferred, some petition will be urged. The heart's compassionate impulse the Lord of the heart will not despise. III. FAITH REPULSED AND SORELY TRIED, The langua:ie addreBSCd by Jesus to this woman was certainly unlike what he was wont to address to suppliants. His mission was to Israel; the bread he brought for Israel's sons; Canaanites and all Gentiles were but as dogs, having no claim upon the provision made for the household of the favoured. It is mysterious, yet it is unquestionable, that it seems good to God to "try" the faith of men. So Jehovah had tried Abraham, and so Jesus now tried this poor, pitiable wcma:a. He will try your faith; but misunderstand not his treatment of you. "Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so mnch dread Are big with meroy, and shall break In blessings on yonr head." IV. FAITH TRIUMPHANT. The woman neither resented the Lord's comparison nor did she, disheartened by the reception she met with, turn away without a blessing. She took. the Lord at his word, and followed out his figure. "Be it so; let the bread, the loaf, be for the children; let the doge keep their proper place ; yet, even there, surely there is some provision even for them. There are crumbs, and with these the dogs may be content; for these the dogs may be grateful." Th.is is the way to plead with Heaven. God will have earnestness and persistency and perseverance in prayer. Christ's grace is ever for those who seek, and who seek not fitfully, but resolutely and enduringly. V. FAITH BEOOGNIZED AND REWARDED. Christ was pleased because the applicant cast herself upon his compassion, because she was willing to receive the boon desired upon his own terms. "For this saying go thy way." It was a saying expressing so much humility, so much earnestness, so much faith, that the heart from which it came might not remain unsatisfied, unblest, The evangelist tells, in a way very picturesque and affecting, how, upon her return to her house, the poor woman found tho.t the power had been exercised, that the demon had departed, and that her daughter was healed. Al'PLIOATION, The narrative (1} affords encouragement to offer intercessory prayer; (2) shows the value of humility in our approach to Jesus; and (3) assures 1lll that per- severing faith shall not be unrewarded. Veni. 31-37.-The deaf hear,; the dumb ,peak,. In this incident is much of the dramatic. It could not well be otherwise. Our Lord's teaching was usually by speech, but this was a case in which oral language was needless and useless. Christ accord- ingly employed the language of gesture and action. He thus adapted himself and his ministry to the necessities of this poor man, who was doubly afflicted with privation of hearing and of speech. The condition of the sufferer and the conduct of the Heo.ler are alike symbolical of spiritual facts and suggestive of spiritual lessons. I. A PI0TURE OF THE SINNER'S STATE. 1. Here is an insight into the nature of human depravity. It is a distortion of, a departure from, the proper, the higher, and original nature. Man, in his true bodily constitution, possesses hearing and speech, a.no. in his true spiritual constitution he has faculties which bring him into communion with the Divine. The privation of such capacity by sin is pictured by the state of this sufferer. 2. Here is insensibility to Divine realities, Voices, music, thunder, are all to the deaf as though they were not. So with the sinner; he hears not the tones of the Divine voice; the Word of God is nothing to him-has neither authority nor charm. 'l'he dumb cannot speak or sing; whatever the occasion fur utterance, the occasion appeals to him in vain. So with the sinner; he has no witness to offer to the God of creation, providence, and grace. 3. Here is deprivation of the highest joys. How much of happiness is inaccessible to those who are afflicted with deafness I Nature, art, and friendly voices.have no message for their ears. Aud, similarly, sin closes the approaches of highest spiritual joys to the spiritual nature of the children of sinful men. 4. Here is helplessness and hopelossncsa. It is nnt a pleasant or a flattoring picture; bu~ is it not true ? aoo THE GOSPEL ACCORDING 'l'O ST. MARK, [on. vu. 1-37.