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 would have been offended 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."

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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 the mercy of God he saved us. "96

Together with her humility, her PERSEVERANCE is also to be observed. She had been enabled by the providence of God to learn that a Deliverer was to come into the world, and that Jesus was that Deliverer. She addressed him, 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 • Tit. iii. 5.

5 Eph. ii. 12.

must be the basis of all real and persevering faith : Truly this man was the Son of God."

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But the Deliverer is silent: answereth not a word. Still she crieth after him. His disciples intercede, that she may enjoy the mercy so bountifully 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 “humble” him, "and prove him, and know 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, that "every one that asketh, receiveth ;" let the Christian imitate the importunity of this Canaanitish woman," continue instant in prayer," and "ask in faith, nothing wavering." Let him not "cast away his confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry."

7 Deut. viii. 2.

8

Heb. x. 35-37.

LECTURE LXXI.

A MULTITUDE SUPPLIED WITH FOOD.

MATT. XV. 29-39.

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.

The Lord's purpose, when for us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was not the relief of the perishable body, but of the immortal soul. He did not come to annul the original sentence which Adam's sin had brought upon the world; when the offended Creator said, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the

1

ground." Man, even Christian man, has the same. wants, and the same need of labour to supply them, as heathen man.

It does not often happen that these wants are forgotten, whatever else is left neglected. Commonly there was reason to reprove those who thought of nothing else like those to whom the Lord said, "Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles," and therefore were persuaded that I "have the words of eternal life: but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled." "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you." "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"

This was the language which the Lord saw most frequent occasion to use. And so it would be if he were to return to this world again. He would not find many who had neglected their temporal wants for their soul's sake; or even forgetting this world in order to prepare for that which is to come. The fault is all the other way. Some plead the cares of a family, which leave them no time for the duties of religion. Others have a business which demands their attention, even though it be the Lord's day: that precious portion of life which God has especially set apart, and devoted to the "one thing needful " for man. The parable is too truly realised, which describes this: "He that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful." In comparison

1 Gen. iii. 19.

2 John vi. 26.

3 Ch. xiii. 22.

of those who are "careful and troubled about many things" which "perish in the using," how few choose the good part which Mary took, who "sat at the feet of Jesus, and heard his word!" 4

Here, however, was an unusual case. The multitude had been so attracted by our Lord's discourses as to continue with him now three days, and have nothing to eat: whatever they brought with them, was expended. They were astonished at his doctrines: for "he taught them as one having authority; not as the scribes" who had been used to teach them, "making the word of God of none effect through their traditions," and affording no nourishment to the soul.

So Jesus called his disciples, and said, I have compassion on the multitude. Not the same compassion which he expressed towards the Jewish people, because they "fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep without a shepherd."5 Not the same compassion which he felt towards Jerusalem, when, as he drew near to the city, he wept over it, and said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes." These were words of far deeper compassion, which related to the souls of men, and reached into eternity.

Still he had compassion on the multitude, and was not insensible to the demands of the body. He knew that it has demands, for he himself was in the body. He himself had been wearied; he himself

• See Luke x. 39.

6 Luke xix. 41.

5 Matt. ix. 36.

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