The history of the woman of great faith Recorded by Saint Matthew, ch. 15. v. 22. &c. and by Saint Mark, ch. 7. 24. where three very strong encounters are beaten back by her vnmatchable faith. Treatised and expounded for some help to the weake in faith. By Robert Horn, a Minister of Iesus Christ.

She besought him: Or according to S. Matthew, Cried vnto him.

IN these words, wee haue the manner of this womans petiti∣on, and in the words following, the matter; for the manner she besought Christ, not coldly, but by crying vnto him. Christ called not to her; She cried to him: so strōgly did her faith work. Com∣mon beggers when they would haue an almes, will cry for it: but this cry was of an other nature, & stirred vp another way: euen, by the renewing of the holy Ghost, shed on her abundantly or rich∣ly through Christ, Tit. 3.5, 6. and this made her to crie in the Spirit, * 1.1 as well as with tongue and voice. By this meanes, shee was strong in faith, & strong in prayer: and so wee learne that powerfull faith causeth power∣full

prayer. Iacob was a man of singular faith; therefore hee made strong and preualent prayer, Gen. 32.26.28. Moses one that saw God face to face, was a great beleeuer: and he al∣so is said, to make crying pray∣er, when no voice was heard, Exod. 14.15. Hanna (likewise) prayed with a troubled spirit, but in no voice of words; her faith spake, her tongue said nothing, 1 Sam. 1.12.13. and the Prophet that had within a fire of faith, brake forth into a flame of words; he beleeued, and (there∣fore) could not but speake, Psal. 116.10. Ichosaphet prayed pow∣erfully; his faith had made him a good Oratour, 2 Chr. 20.6, 7, 8, 9, 12. Daniel in the cap∣tiuitie, was not behinde him: his feruent faith gaue him a hot breath in prayer, Dan. 9.2, 3, 5, 19. and zealous prayer (such as Elijah made) is called by S. Iames the prayer of faith, Iam. 5.15.17,

18. the reasons. * 1.2 Prayer is a fruit that groweth vpon the stalke of faith, called therefore (as was said) the prayer of faith: and therefore what the tree of it is, such is the fruit, of more or lesse earstnesse, as wee more or lesse beleeue. Therefore, as our faith is, so are our prayers; warme faith, hot prayer; litle faith, small prayer; no faith, no prayer: they increase or decay together. Secondly, they that haue faith with power, are more spirit than flesh: which none are, but they that haue the spirit in a good measure, which is the spirit of grace, and of supplications, Zechar. 12.10. and then how can they but make strong pray∣er, that haue the spirit of prayer? all that haue faith with power, haue this power: and (therefore) powerfull faith, powerfull pray∣er: for this faith is resembled to fire, and vnto life: the greater fire, the greater heat; the more

of life, the stronger motion.

The vse is for the right triall of our faith: * 1.3 where we may iudge of it by our prayers; they that pray coldly, haue but a weake faith or small fire within: but they that (otherwaies) are of great faith, runne a spirituall descant (with Daniel) in their prayers, Dan. 9.19. their heart is prepa∣red; and they are not as the dull and sloathfull in their deuotions, that need a rowsing vp. The Prophet Dauid in his one and fiftie penitentiall Psalme did often change words: it was not to shew his eloquence, but to testifie, as his great fault, so his great faith: which he shewed by tossing this way and that: or, (as (a sicke man in bed) from one side to another, Psal. 51.1.2.7.9.10, 11, 12. so Gods chil∣dren in distresse: as they haue faith to beleeue, so they change phrase in their complainings: otherwaies, with Baals Priests,

though wee put neuer so much wood about the Altar of our prayers, no fire from heauen fal∣ling vpon them, wee may crie loud enough and long enough, and haue no answere, more then they had. 1 King. 18.23.26.29. But if we haue faith; we will pray with Elijahs Spirit, and not cold∣ly, by putting wood, where no fire will take. v. 36 38. For, the Spirit (if we haue it) will, by our faith, put fire vnto our words, & make them to smoke into hea∣uen, and this is to pray as Elijah did, whose sacrifice God kindled from aboue. Hence appeareth (that they want faith, who onely out of custom) salute God in their formall prayers; where, they poure out great Hypocrisie, but no prayer in Spirit & truth; and thus, they giue God the time of the day in some cold good morrow, who bid him be gone all day after: and, at night, when they should make him the keeper

of the house, they doe not once speake vnto him in prayer, to be neare, by driuing away all euils that may hurt, in case of his ab∣sence from their help and prote∣ction.

Somuch for the manner, the matter of the Woman peti∣tion followeth, out of Matt. 15.22. in the combat it self, or the issue. v. 28.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Doct.
• * 1.2

  Reasons,
• * 1.3

  Vse