raging before, his answer is much more fo: if she was put hard to it when he said nothing, how much more fo to hear him fay, I am not fent, but to the loft sheep of the house of Ifrael? To which the not belonging, he feems to intimate, that she was without his commiffion, one with whom he had nothing to do, and who if miferable, muft for all him, continue fo.

Chrift here fpeaks of his perfonal ministry and miffion, which was the privilege of the circumcifion or people of the Jews, Rom. xv. 8. He indeed came into the world, not for the Jews only, but for the Gentiles alfo: but, as an apo-. ftle, he was firft to publish the gofpel to them, and fo were his difciples after him.

He does not deny that he was sent as a Redeemer to more; but that, as an apostle or minifter in the days of his flesh, he was not fent, but to the loft fheep of the houfe of Ifrael. The Jews were to have the firft offer of gofpel grace, and to them Chrift came as his own, though they, his own, received him not.

This he here intimates, but in fuch a way as feems to leave the poor creature that cried after him, no profpect of relief.

He was able to fave, and fent for that end; but it was to the loft fheep of the house of Ifrael, of which number he was none, and fo left to conclude herfelf without help or hope.

How amazing a thing was this! This poor foul was not only driven back by her own mifgiving thoughts, but even by Chrift's words, I am not fent, but unto the left sheep of the koufe of Įrcel.

But

But what Chrift's commiffion was fhe did not stand to difpute, nor yield to scruples against her own neceffity and duty. She was fure fhe needed his falvation as much as any her diftrefs was great, and fo was his God grace. power and might do by his Chrift what he pleased; but this was only left her to do, to cry after him, and caft herself upon him, and never give over till the obtained her request. Upon this ground, after two repulfes, he came and worshipped him, faying, Lord help me, ver. 25, which leads on to another difficulty: for,

3. When her requeft is renewed, Chrift feems to answer it with reproach and contempt: ver. 26. But he answered and faid, It is not meet to take the childrens bread, and caft it to dogs.

It was a common faying among the Jews, that themselves were the children of God, and all the reft of the world dogs: and Chrift here speaks of, and to her, as one that was fo reckoned.

How strange a word is this to drop from the mouth of Chrift, the meek and merciful Saviour, one seemingly reproaching a poor creature as a dog when applying to him for help? How low will God fometimes humble those whom he refolves to raise?

Who would not have expected that now fhe fhould fink under the rebuke, and no more renew her fuit, when even her importunity did but feem to drive her farther off from the favour she begged.

But that which feemed to cut off all hope, The now improves as a ground of claim: fhe owns the charge, and pleads from it. Truth, VOL. II.

e

Lord:

Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table: as if she should say, The dogs belong to the family; and though they are not allowed to fit at the table, as children, they may yet creep under it: the feaft is for the children, but there may be crumbs for the very dogs. In thy house there is bread enough, and to fpare whilft others are admitted to the fulleft entertainment. I beg a crumb, which may be well fpared even to a dog, and the children have never the lefs. But this leads to the

II. As having fpoken of the trial of this woman's faith, I come to confider how it was dif covered, and worked through all.

Chrift fpeaks in the clofe of the text with admiration, O woman, great is thy faith. And it discovered itself to be fo, in that though Christ was filent, she did not drop, but continue her fuit in that when he fpake fo as to feem to exclude her out of his commiffion for help, the paffed over the doubts she could not answer, and inftead of difputing, adored him, and prayed to him ftill: and in that, that by mentioning the low esteem the Jews had of her, and all like her, reckoning them but as dogs, she humbly let pafs the indignity, and turned that which feemed moft against her into a plea for obtaining the mercy fhe came begging to him for.

1. Tho' Chrift was filent fhe did not drop, but continue her fuit.

When Chrift came into thofe coafts of Tyre and Sidon, he went into a private house, as not willing to have it known where he was: but the having notice of his being near to where fhe

dwelt,

dwelt, fearches after him, and having found the great Physician, might be ready to conclude, it was one half of the cure. But opening her cafe, and crying to him, Have mercy upon me, O Lord, my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. Her expectation is disappointed; he gives her never a word, but rifes up in filence, and goes away, as it were turning his back upon her and her requeft. Tho' fhe throws herself at his feet, begging for mercy; instead of relief, she can get no anfwer, but is firft difregarded, and then left to stay, if the pleased, where fhe was but fhe will not thus be put off. The eternal Word would not speak to her; the wisdom of the Father would not answer her; the compaffionate Jefus would take no notice of her; the heavenly Physician would not yet help her but all this does not difcourage or fink her. If he leave the house, she will follow him if her request, at its first delivery, be flighted, it shall be repeated with greater earneftnefs, and fent after him: Send her away, for she crieth after us, say the difciples of her.

:

How does the earnestness of this Heathen in crying after Chrift, reproach the ignorance and ingratitude of the Jews, who generally made light of him; and invite all that hear it, to admire her faith thus discovered, and the grace of God in general wherever it works. Faith enabled her to read an argument Chrift's filence, and by it the continued her fuit. Though he anfwered her not a word, it is not faid, he heard her not a word; and whilft the Lord's ear is open, the believer fees reafon and encourage

ment to pray. Chrift's filence, to faith hath this language, Pray on ftill: tho' the petition is not presently granted, it may be received; and therefore should be presented.

It may feem ftrange indeed, that God, or Christ should be filent to the cries of their people, and fometimes long defer to answer; confidering his titles and perfections, and the kind declarations of his word: but faith will teach the foul to fetch arguments, even for all this, to continue the fuit.

God is a God hearing prayer, that to him all flesh may come and his deferring to answer, is no proof that the request of any is not heard, or a reafon that they fhould prefently grow ftrange to him. His arm is not shortened that he cannot. fave, nor his ear heavy that he cannot hear; and if flesh and sense will thence fay, Why then am I not presently relieved? Faith will fay with more reafon, Why then should I not continue to cry and wait? He knows the afflictions of his people, and hath a special affection for them; and faith affures the foul that he knows when it is best to appear in their favour. The trials of the prefent life are well enough confiftent with our Father's love, and often the effects of it; and he hath ends worthy of himself in all his dealings with us, which if we know not now, we shall know after a while.

He hath faid, Call upon me in ble, and I will deliver thee, &c. not exprefly limited the time,

the day of trou

But as he has faith will tell

us, that it shall be in the fittest season, of which

his