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that animal.

"Yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall “from their master's table." As if he had faid, "O Lord Jefus, allow me to receive the crumbs which the children carelessly let fall; there is enough and to fpare; let me partake of the fcraps; in the greatness of thy bounty, in the rich profufion of thy beneficence and grace, fpare me this one mercy, grant me only this one bleffing, the life of my child, the falvation of my foul. This is but a crumb falling from the wonders of thy love." Was there ever faith like this? Was there ever patience, humility, perfeverence and duty like this woman's.?

The compaffionate Redeemer appears now no longer able to contain himself; he feems as tho' he was vanquished and overcome; he relinquifhes the conteft, and yields the victory. Behold, O chriftians, the ftrength, power, and conquering im. portunity of faith! See the frowns fcattered from the Saviour's brow, the lowering clouds diffipated from his face, lo, the God of love, grace and mercy appears; his countenance gathers its wonted (miles. With what pleasure and delight does he look upon this happy woman, tho' full of pain, anxiety and fear, and floods of tears gufhing from her eyes, and perhaps, still looking for a more tremendous fentence than any The had yet heard; he addreffes her in the foul enrapturing language of praife and commendation. And could words more tender, friendly and compaffionate flow from a Saviour's lips? Then Jefus anfwered and faid unto her, O woman, "great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt." Her extatic joy now exceeds her forrow. Heretofore in all her difficulties and troubles, fhe retained the power of fpeech whether the fainted in raptures we are not informeed, but lan. guage failed her, fhe speaks no more. No words are left her; her heart was too full to exprefs her gratitude. Thus joy fometimes is more overcoming than forrow. Tho' the was of the heathen nations of Canaan, yet fhe approved herself a

true daughter of Ifrael, who like a prince had power with God and prevailed. Hitherto Chrift had fhrouded his face, and treated her with a degree of roughnefs, but now he gathers her with everlasting kindness; he takes her in the arms of his love, fmiles upon her, and manifefts himself her beloved and her friend. Few can read the hiftory of Jofeph's discovering himself to his brethren, without fhedding tears at these words, "I am Jofeph, thy brother, come near unto me." What are our feelings when Christ acts this precious part to the believ er, faying, "I am Jefus thy fa iour, thy beloved, thy friend; put all thy confidence in me; place all thy hopes for time and eternity upon me." Efpecially when he adopts the language he did to his spouse: "Thou art all fair, my love, there is no "fpot in thee. Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, "with me, from Lebanon; look from the top of Amana "from the top of Shenir and Hermon." Take a Pisgay view of the promised land, of heaven and all the rich and shining glories thereof, and all this is yours by a divine covenant of unchangeable love.

A few reflections must conclude these pleafing meditations.

First, let this doctrine encourage, fupport and comfort believers, who labour under many troubles, trials and perplexities. In all your difficulties go to Jefus. If he relieves you not, depart not from him. If he anfwers you not, cease not your prayers and cries. If he feems to withdraw from you, follow after him with greater zeal and importunity. This was the ruin of Saul; when God withdrew from him and anfwered him not, he betook himself to a witch and to Satan. When Chrift replies to you as being unworthy, as being great finners, as being exceedingly brutish in his fight, own it, and fay, truth Lord; yet plead for the crumbs that fall from the table of his grace, which he grants to creatures as bafe and unworthy as you.

Secondly, let these things awaken guilty finners to flee to the Lord Jefus. If you have not a daughter grievously vexed with a devil, you have worse. Your fouls are poffeffed by him, you are in his fnares, and he is leading you on to eter nal deftruction. You are all polluted and unclean, in a loft and miferable condition. Up, efcape for your lives to the mountains of fafety, or you must perifh with Sodom in everlafting flames.

Thirdly, let those who have defires to draw near to Chrift, to hold communion with him and obtain bleffings from him, fet the example of this woman of great faith before them. Addrefs him with decency, propriety and fortitude, faying, have mercy on us, O thou son of David. Cry after him, fall down before him, worship him, pour out your whole fouls in this folemn and all comprehenfive petition," Lord, help us." Remember the man fick of the palfy; when he could get access to Chrift no other way, he was let down thro' the roof of the houfe. Let no obstruction impede our way to the Saviour. Surmount every difficulty; caft yourselves at his feet; lay hold upon him; let him not go until you obtain a blessing to your fouls, until you obtain the bleffing of eternal life.

Fourthly, a few words to those who entertain the profpe&t of fitting down to the fupper of our Lord, fhall close the subject. Confider your wants, and look to Jefus for the fupply of them. Do you want the healing of a blind mind, or a hard heart? Do you want covering to your naked fouls? Christ is a physician all fufficient for these purposes. Take no denial from him; fill your mouths with arguments. Take refuge in his tender bofom; resign yourselves to him. Receive him into your hearts, and rejoice in him. Is he not 'weetly whispering to fome while I am fpeaking, "Rife up

"my love, my fair one and come away.

For lo, the winte " is past, the rain is over and gone." O that he may fay to many fouls at his feast, “O man, O, woman, great is thy faith."

SERMON XXVIII.

The advantages, and fome of the properties of faith.

Matt. xv. 28. Then Jefus answered and faid unto her, O woman, great is tby faith.

WE have already confidered the hiftory of this remarkably believing woman of Canaan. She was a person of pre-eminent piety. It may with propriety be here faid, as in another inftance of one out of the vifible church, to wit, Cornelius a Roman centurian of Cefaria, "Of a truth, God is no respecter "of perfons, but in every nation, he that feareth him, and "worketh righteoufnefs is accepted with him." Although our Lord fixed upon and principally praised and recommended the faith of this excellent woman, yet there were other graces which fhone with a confpicuous luftre in her whole conduct upon this occafion. In this affair fhe exhibited a group of the most fhining virtues of the gofpel; fuch as profound wisdom, deep humility, genuine meckness, patience, perfeverance in prayer, fortitude, &c. How did her wisdom appear in the whole of her behaviour, in her management of this

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