that is written concerning him not one sillable not one letter or small pricke Matth. 5.18 Of this woman Vse 3 the mirrour of a worthy hearer all hearers should learne patience and application in the sharpest reproofe of the word When it rebuketh a sinne they that bee guiltie should turne the edge to themselues confesse a truth and not kicke against the prickes of it Acts 9.5 The Apostle Saint Paul where hee found sinne made an owle of it and follows it with crying out Who shall deliuer mee from this bodie of death Rom. 7.24 He was a persecuter a blasphemer a great sinner and he tells the world with his owne penne that he was so 1. Tim. 1.13.15 But how many will doe so now and giue God the right of his iustice by keeping their sinnes alwayes in sight and by branding hell in their foreheads as the Apostle did rather when they should say truth Sir to the Preacher they rise in his face for speaking but truly and iustly of their sinne The inuersion of Christs Answer followeth Yet euen the dogges eate of the crummes c. HEere the woman as wee heard makes vse of Christs argument and turnes the point of it vpon her selfe For she saith Yet euen the dogges c. as if shee should haue said Though in thy meaning Lord I bee but a dogge or whelpe vnder the table of the children and I presume no higher yet I may gather vp the chippings that fall from the table where the children haue so much What therefore is not denyed to a dogge giue Lord to thy prostrate hand-maid Or thus The table of the children was neuer so sparingly set but that somewhat wold fall ouer to those that waited below I am one that humbly waite below Lord say to thy seruants soule I am thy saluation Psalm 35.3 This may bee the womans answer in more words And here was great faith indeed and with it great humilitie This woman was faithfull and yet humble and so wee see that certaintie of faith may stand with humilitie Indeed Doctr. 1. foolish presumption will be answered with nothing though it haue nothing to say and be brought to a stand where true faith goes forward though limpingly as vpon stilts For it belâ—ues beyond reason of letter and aboue hope vnder hope Rom 4.18 Abraham the patterne of faith was humble enough when hee drew neare to God Genes 18.27 And Daniels three companions in the captiuitie were not conceited of themselues when yet they could say to the king The God whom we serue will deliuer vs. Dan. 3.17 And blessed Mary might be the seruant of the Lord and the mother of Christ too who bore him in her faith as surely as in her bellie Luk. 1.38 Also hee greatly trusted in God who yet could say Lord my heart is not hautie nor my eyes loftie Psal 131.1 And Iehosaphat that strongly reposed on God said that hee could not tell what to do or that he had neuer an eye vpon himselfe but his eyes were toward the Lord 2. Chro. 20.12 Thus true faith hath roome enough for humilitie The reasons Reasons To doe what we are commanded to doe vpon a promise is not pride but obedience Now we are commanded vpon a promise to beleeue and therefore we may beleeue and be humble Ioh. 3 16.27 Beggers are humble enough and yet importunate such a beggar is faith which hath nothing but what it seekes and gets abroad Psalm 40.17 and therefore as a beggar it speaks with prayer and humbly by petition Vse is first for confutation of Papists Vse 1. who call true confidence in God proud presumption Their tenent is that none can without an arrogant spirit beleeue the certaintie of their owne saluation But we see the contrary in this humble and prostrate woman and verily whosoeuer trusteth most in God hath the least opinion of his own worth So this woman passing others in faith went before them in a low conceit of her selfe But they who say that it is pride and arrogancie to trust in God for saluation hold it no pride to trust in themselues for it Hence the vulgar which are of their teaching say that they hope to be saued by their good meanings and their good deeds The second vse is Vse 2. for the triall of our faith for the humbler in the opinion of â—ur selues the stronger in faith The more we trust God the lesse we trust our selues though neuer so full of good works Iob was a painfull workman in the Law yet saith that if God should contend with him or pose him hard hee could not answer him one of a thousand Iob 9.3.14 Dauid confesseth as much Psalm 148.2 which is that no flesh if the winde of iustice blow vpon it can stand in Gods sight for so in his sight shall none that liueth bee iustified Could there bee better men then these two and of better faith and yet how humble in all that they did So the returning Prodigall had great confidence in his father yet cast himselfe below a sonne and thought himselfe not worthy to sit with the Hindes except his father were so pleased I herefore hee faith I am no more worthy to bee called thy sonne make me as one of thy hired seruants for vnworthy to be so except thou make me so Luk. 15.19.21 To bee short how many more faithfull then this woman and how many more humble Therefore the denials of Christ were but as so many strong windes to cause the flame of her faith to rise vp higher But here further the woman speaking of some crummes or fallings from the table of the children intimates that it was a full table a table that ranne ouer and where was no want but exceedings rather And here learne that the Iewes diet in time of the Law was no spare diet Doctr. 2 but a table running ouer to the Gentiles Naaman the Syrian Luk. 4.27 the widow of Sarepta Luk. 4.26 the woman of Samaria Ioh. 4.28 the Centurion in Saint Matthew Matth. 8.5.6.7.8 Iob in Vz Iob 1.1 and this woman here were all fed though not with the whole loafe yet with crummes from the childrens table And crums were good fare in the hunger-bitten land of the ignorant Nations Though God then but dropped vpon them yet in the Gospell and when the Iewes would not come to the Kings wedding dinner Matth. 22.9 10. they had a plentifull raine of grace which was shed vpon them abundantly Tit. 3.6 and then the hall was set round with guests It is sure then that God euer kept a good table a table well appointed for all that would come The reasons Reasons It is for his greater glory for that house-keeping is much commended where is no want But God spares for no cost where his guests come willingly if they want not a stomacke they shall want for no meat for hee that is rich in abundance of all heaneuly treasures will serue them of all
also exhorts a differring people such as wee are to seek the Lord while he may be found Esa 55.6 implying that they may seek and not finde him as when they seek in their day not his or as Esau sought him with late repentance Hebr. 12.17 he was a good man of God who delayed not time but made haste to keep Gods commandements Psal 119.60 In this way wee must runne v 32. saluting none that may stay vs as Christ said to the seuentie in a case of like haste Luc. 10 4. Here no acquaintance must stop our way or vs and we must be feruent in spirit seruing God Rom. 12.11 For they that are hote vpon a thing will not be long in doing it The reasons Reasons we shall not then lose our labour for our work is with the Lord who loueth a cheerefull that is present giuer 2 Cor. 9.7 on the contrarie and when wee come off so heauily what thanks for what we grudgingly for go 1 Cor. 9 17. a readie minde commends the seruice and if there be a willing minde it is accepted 2 Cor. 8.12 Secondly the edge of a good mood is soone turned if it strike not vpon the present occasion our metle is like yron where if we strike not while it is hote what working vpon it and so what working of the minde to God while we let it coole by putting off to do seruice Yet a little sleepe and yeta little slumber and what will bee next but deep securitie and no awaking Pro. 6.10.11 and so not fit to day vnfitter to morrow Besides there are many lets in our selues and stoppes offered by others in our purposes of well-doing The corruption of times the baits of euill fellowship the temptations of Satan the course of this present world lying wholly in wickednes the custome of sinne with the like rubbes to goodnes all these offer to put shakles vpon our feete when wee set them in the way of Gods commandements if then wee giue them the start of the time against vs by the sinne of delay what hope that cuer wee shall bee brought forward to any true purpose of amending our wayes and our doings Ier. 7.3 26.13 3ly occasion which is bald behinde and the seasons of time once lost are not in our power more then a bird which we haue let flie and there is no calling in of time when it is farre out and gone therefore wise men will and Christians must redeem it by doing good while they may Eph. 5.16 Gal. 6.10 He that obserues the wind shall not sow Eccles 11.4 that is he that puts off the seed time for euery chāge of weather or rising of windes shall lose his hope and so shall he and that of a better haruest that obserues the winde of delay in things to be done presently The vse is for the reproofe of those who Vse 1. hauing long heard of Christ haue not for all that taken vp one foot toward him by repentance in a new creature rather who like Antipodes to his saluation goe contrary to him not obseruing any thing that hee hath commanded or his word teacheth To such hee may say as once to the obdurate Iewes yee will not come to Mee that ye may liue Ioh. 5 40. For as the bidden ghests in the Gospel they absent themselues by carnall delayes Luc. 14.18.19 20. or if they come it shall bee when they can finde nothing els to do then rather to catch then to bee caught as if they had lost their right eare with Malcus Luc. 22.50 Their Adders care will not be charmed with any perswasion to obedience Psal 58.4.5 they rather go to see then to heare Matth. 11.8 and if they make any haste they make no good speede Peter and the other Disciple ranne to Christ whom yet they thought to bee dead in the graue Ioh. 20.4 and shall Christians make no haste a signe of no good will to him whom they know to bee aliue in his word and gloriously liuing in heauen but in such matters men straine courtesie their betters shall go before in other matters none shall haue the start of them their betters or equals But Vse 2. must there be no putting off in Gods scruices then our repentance which is a seruice of God must be speedy And here we must follow and do after the counsel that the Angell gaue to Lot it was to flie for his life Gen. 19 17. it concernes vs more for not our bodily life but life of soule and body is that which wee must looke vnto in our flight to repentance where wee must make speede and not put off to get an eiectione firmae against Intruders vpon the Lords inheritance in vs that is against sinne and Satan the strong men that haue so long kept the palace Luc. 11.21 we lose no opportunitie when wee would graft or sow or stock vp and shall wee lose those sweete opportunities of time which God hath giuen into our hands for the stocking vp of sinne and the grafting of good things which after may grow in vs to trees of righteousnes shall wee not sow grace in the spring of youth when the time is but put off to the reape-time of sickenesse before death when time shall bee no more our Sauiour biddes vs to striue to enter while the gate of heauen hath some though a straite passage and is somewhat open though not wide-open Luc. 13.24 and therefore not to tarie till it bee altogether shut vp with these words depart ye workers of iniquitie v. 27. let vs then with a speedy hand graft the word in our hearts sow seeds of grace in our liues and haue the instruments of stocking vp ready that no root of bitternes spring vp to trouble vs. Hebr. 12.15 of ten virgins fiue were called foolish for neglecting time Matth 25.1.10.11 let vs therefore walke circumspectly as wise not as those fooles that knew not their time Eph. 5.15 Coloss 4.5 The occasion of the conference that which was in the Woman her selfe followeth in two things as in what she did and what she said And fell at his feet the woman was a Greeke a Syrophenician c. THis woman being come and hauing entred the presence she deliuered her petition lower than vpon the knee to Christ for she fell at his feet and with a crying tongue besought him to be good to her in her daughter or to shew mercy to two in one Quest But was she an Israelite one brought vp with Moses or taught in the Law that did this Answ It followeth shee was a Greeke a Syrophenician by nation that is as hath beene said a stranger in that regard by Greeke the Euangelist meanes a Barbarian in respect of Israel as Gal. 3.28 not borne in Greece properly taken for she could not be a Syrian and so but in Phenice of Syria and by a common receiued name a Cananite as Matthew writes if shee had beene bred in religion it had not
vâ— quiet hearts and say why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou â—o vnquiet 〈◊〉 me yet hope in God Psal 42.11 43.5 after they must turne in to God 〈◊〉 bleeding heart and 〈◊〉 weeping eyâ—s and say with Hezechiah in his lamentable song O Lord I am opressed vndertake for mee or ease mee Esay 38.14 At any hand hauing faith in God they may not for any thing distrust his saâ—uation Abraham would not giue his saluation for last though hee was to offer vp that earnest of it that God had pledged to him in Isaac the feed of promise Gen. 22.3 Rom. 4 18. The Apostle S. Paul was perswaded and this must bee our resolution that neither death nor life nor Angels the euill you must thinke for the good will not can or shall separate vs â—s it could not him from the loue of God which is in Christ â—esu our Lord Rom 8.38.39 the same â—postle would not giue away his saluation because so great a sinner but takes faster hold because Christ came to saue sinners of which â—ee was chiefe 1 Tim. 1.15 so the father of the child that had a dâ—mbe spirit though of little faith when hee came to Christ for hee said If thou canst doe any thing â—elpe vs yet hee would not lose euen that little saith which hee had but crying with teares said Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeloofe Marke 9.22.24 Iob would beleeue euen beyond death for though the Lord would kill him he would trust in him Iob 13.15 Iob knew by his saith that hee that takes away life is able to make to liue hee knew the cup of despaire to be the cup of death and did feare it as much as man would to drinke poyson And thus we see that wee must maintaine our saluation against all obiections of Satan the litterall Scripture or our own misjudgements for so did this woman a woman of excellent faith who had many sore skirmishes which shee endured being scarce warme in the Gospell a very cold blast began in her face welcom'd her to Christ her Physicion seemingly gaue her ouer the courteous Sauiour answered nothing and when he spake it was no better than if he had said nothing the Disciples entreated forâ—â—er but to no purpose and Christ said speaking to the eare tha◠〈◊〉 might doe nothing for 〈◊〉 et this woman would haue no nay for reposing on Christ in the generall promise she doupted not but hee would make good what hee had spoken though she knew not how and she had reason for it for God wil not go from his word he wil neuer denie himselfe 2 Tim. 2.13 the reasons why Christians must beleeue nothing in barre to their saluation are For first Reasons it is an iniurie to God who hath decreed it whose promises are all yea and in him Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 Secondly it is a wrong done to the sufficiencie of Christs bloud that was the price in their redemption 1 Pet. 1.19 And thirdly it teareth the seale which the spirit hath set vnto their saluation for after they beleeue they are sealed with the holy Spirit of promise Eph. 1.13 a second reason they that cast away their hope for saluation and cast not anchor there doe wilfully damne themselues hauing neither the life of repentance in them nor the new life of one borne to God Christians must not doe so and true Christians will not Thirdly they must beleeue the word that saith Whosoeuer beleeueth that is with repentance and in a holy life shall not perish Iohn 3.16 Now beleeuing so and being such how can they beleeue against their saluation and not discredit the word that saith otherwaies A reproofe of their too great feare Vse 1. who hauing lined orderly in the Gospell and hauing been sorry with a godly sorrow where they failed or did otherwaies do for all this in their feare ioyne with Satan to put out their name where God hath writen it who hath written it in the booke of life to whom I say bâ— the word of the Lord that they should rather labour their owne comfort and reioyce that their name is there Luke 10.20 Phil. 4.4 Obiect but they will say how shall we be assured that our names are written in heauen if we knew it wee should bee glad indeed Answ I answer doe ye loue the brethren that is the godlie and doe yee know that yee loue them this is a token and well fare a good token that yee haue passed from death vnto life 1 Iohn 3.14 doe yee hate sinne and loue righteousnesse though yee doe the euill ye would not and not the good yee would it was a principall Apostles case Rom. 7.19 the seed of God is in you and yee grow into heaven 1 Iohn 3.9 Doe ye sâ—â—ue to the pâ—ritâ—cation of heart and 〈…〉 your hope is authenticall for as hee that hath this hope must purifie himselfe as God is pure 1 Iohn 3.3 so hee that doth so may well hope with a seeing hope to bâ—e sâ—ued Dâ—e yâ—e ascend vp by staires in your sâ—lues to the election of God and can yee finde the steps of it in your effectuall calling in the Gospell in your holy conuersation in it also in your spirituall Sonneship which is your adoption in Christ can ye truely say that yee are called that yee are sanctified that ye are Sonnes and so iustified ye are Gods elect ones and shall most surely bee glorified Rom. 8.30 yee know the commandements but doe ye worke at them dayly in your obedience by killing sinne and quickening grace if ye doe these things ye shall soiourne with God in his temple on earth and dwell with him in his glorious Temple in heauen Psals 15.1 and further doe yee make your calling and election sure 2. Pet. 1.10 it is sure in God but doe yee make it sure to your selues by infallible signes and true effects of grace if yee can doe so your saluation is sure enough though neither signes nor effects bee free from weaknesse for what hath perfection here but sinne finally doe yee beleâ—ue the generall promise in the word with true though imperfect application hee that will bee saued must beleeue in the Sonne of God to his saluation Iohn 3.16 and hee that so beleeues knowes himselfe to be vnder the generall promise and one in the generall pardon comprehended and therefore dâ—res to applie it as particularly as if hee saw his owne name written in it for so euery Prisâ—ner at the barre when any generall pardon is out will bring it home to himselfe in his owne particular case Now what common Prisoners at mans barre doe shall not beleeuing and truely humbled Prisoners in sinne doe before the barre of Ichouah or will euerie malefactor condemned in barre of iudgement pleade the generall pardon for himselfe and shall a iustified that is pardoned sinner doe lesse and not make the generall promise to belecuers particular to himselfe this is too much feare and