25. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

26. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

27. And she said, Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table.

28. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

The account of this miracle has at first a different appearance from most others. Commonly Jesus granted his mercy almost before he was entreated: as soon as he saw the multitude, he took pity on them, and healed their diseases. But this miracle seems an exception. The woman comes, entreating that her daughter may be restored. Instead of immediately receiving what she desired, she is at first repulsed; repulsed in words which look like harshness. I am not sent, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. It is not meet to take the chil dren's bread, and to cast it to dogs. At last, however, we perceive the reason of this unusual delay. O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee according as thou wilt. It was to try her faith; to exhibit her faith; and to show the reward of faith. For his own satisfaction it could not be necessary to prove her faith. "He knew what was in man:" and foresaw the event of the trial. The case resembles that of Abraham, when "God tempted" him, and commanded him to sacrifice Isaac his only son. The obedience of Abraham, like the obedience or disobedience of every living man, was foreknown to him. But nothing could

have exhibited that faith to us, except his really issuing the command, and Abraham's actually complying with it.* Jesus also, in the present instance, might have granted this woman's request at once. But then neither his disciples at the time, nor they who have since believed through their word, would have seen the importance and the reward of faith. The example of this woman is set forth as a specimen of approved and successful faith, wherever the gospel is made known.

The answer was given to her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. This is, then, exactly the answer which we desire. Be it unto thee even as thou wilt. That we may receive the answer, we must possess the qualification. Great is thy faith. It was this faith which obtained mercy. We desire the mercy: let us show the faith.

Her faith is marked by two particular characteristics HUMILITY and PERSEVERANCE.

First consider her HUMILITY. She hears the answer, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. The "adoption pertains" to the Israelites: you "sinners of the Gentiles," are "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of promise." A spirit like that of the Pharisees might have been offended

Compare Deut. viii. 2. "Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or

at this saying and even a less arrogant spirit might have asked, Is this he who is "meek and lowly of heart," who offers rest to all the heavy laden ?" This woman, however, answered not again, except in the gentlest terms of meekness and submission. Truth, Lord. I feel that I have no claim that I am "less than the least of all thy mercies:" but in thee all fulness dwells: thou canst bless all, even us "that are afar off," and yet leave none unsatisfied of those that "are nigh."

Let the same meek and humble spirit be found in every Christian heart. It was the spirit of the accepted publican; it was the spirit of the penitent on the cross; it was the spirit of St. Paul, who owned himself "the least of all the apostles, who! was not meet to be called an apostle ;" it will be felt by all, who rightly understand the truth, that "not according to works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved

us."

This woman

Imitate also her PERSEVERANCE. must have been enabled by the providence of God to learn that a Deliverer was to come into the world, and that Jesus was he. Her address is, O Lord, thou Son of David; the known title which described him as Lord, to be God; as Son, to be man; as the Son of David, to be the Messiah who "should come." Such must be the basis of all real and persevering faith: "Truly this man was the Son of God."

But the Deliverer is silent: word. Still she crieth after him.

tercede, that she may enjoy the

answereth not a

His disciples inmercy so boun

tifully bestowed on others. Still unsuccessful, she approached nearer, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me! Once more repulsed, she perseveres, and her suit is obtained.

So there may be many things which it may be proper for a Christian to ask, but which our Lord may not at first see fit to grant. He may choose to "prove" him, to "see what is in his heart," before he permits him to rest from the assaults of Satan, from the motions of sin which are in his members or before he fills him with that "joy and peace in believing," which is certainly not possessed in an equal degree by all who are, nevertheless, equally reconciled to God, and beheld by him with favour.

Instead of complaining, as if this contradicted the assurance, 66 every one that asketh, receiveth;" let the Christian imitate the importunity of this Canaanitish woman, and "continue instant in prayer." "Only let him ask in faith, nothing wavering."

29. And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

30. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:

31. Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

32. Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

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33. And his disciples say unto him, Whence should are have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a maltitude?

34. And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

35. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the

ground.

36. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks; and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

up

37. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.

38. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

39. And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

Our blessed Lord, by the compassion with which he relieved the bodily wants of the people, has left a perpetual evidence of his mercy and of his power. Surely all may expect to "receive of his fulness,” when they dwell on this example: surely he who refused to let the multitude depart fasting, lest they should faint on their return, will not send " "empty

away" any one soul which “ hungers and thirsts after righteousness,”