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.

Lord helpe me,

THat which this Woman prayed for in expresse termes, was the dispossessing of her daughter vexed, as we heard: but more is included, as his hand of helpe to the saluation of both: for, what can bee lesse intended, by such a faith as shee had: be∣sides, the next venie, giuen and auoided, shews as much: and so it is as much as if shee had said: whether I be a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or no, this is sure that lost I am, and in no possibilitie to returne, except thou (Lord) seeke thy seruant; which is the case of my daugh∣ter also: O (therefore) seeke and helpe vs, or bee mercifull vnto me, and throw out my daugh∣ters deuill: so much is not ex∣prest,

but vnderstood; and so farre her prayer of faith carried: the point is, Christ is helper to those that seeke him by faith: therefore is hee called the Saui∣our of those that trust in him, Psal. 17.7. and so much is con∣fessed by Dauid in his Psalme of complaint, where hee saith: Our fathers trusted in thee, they trusted, and thou didst deliuer them, Psal. 22.4. and (so) wee see, where faith is leader, deliuerance will not bee farre behinde: when God was readie to take away the rebuke of his people; Esa saith, that men should say, this is the Lord, we haue waited for him, and he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saue vs, Esa 25.9. when all strings faile, this will hold, which the Apostle trusted vnto, as to a sure one indeed; I know in whom I haue beleeued, 2 Tim. 1.12. as much as if hee had said, if the worst come, bee whom I haue trusted with all, will be my sure keeper: the same

Apostle laboured, that is labou∣red worthy he, and (yet) was re∣buked: howbeit, trusting in the liuing God, it was no trouble to him, for hee knew that God, in whom he trusted, would bee his Sauiour at the last, 1. Tim. 4.10. And thus it is plaine, that Christ (the Lord) is helper to all that seeke him by faith: the reasons; the promise 〈◊〉〈◊〉 made to such, Mat. 11.28. & who euer were confoun∣ded that trusted in him, Psal. 22.5. Secondly, his readines to help in such cases, doth promise no lesse: for, euen when men scarce dare trust him; as in the exam∣ple of the Leper that worshipped, Matth. 8.2, 3. he pardoneth the ••nfirmitie of their faith, and bel∣peth them: how much more when they trust him with all? euen men in whom there is not a drop of that goodnesse, which in God is sea-full, will not faile those that trust in them. Third∣ly, (therefore) all places of re∣fuge

were figures of Christ, and fingers to him: and hee takes a∣way all refuge, that in trouble, he may bee the refuge of all that trust in him.

The vse is for instruction, tea∣ching that if in our troubles we be not deliuerered, the fault is in our selues: and this, because we trusted vnto our selues too much, & trusted not in God that would haue saued vs: or we waited not on him in obedience, and with faith, but made too much haste, not tarrying the time till hee would come to comfort vs: and what maruell that wee perish from the saluation of God, when we runne out, and in nothing keepe the path of life?

An admonition (therefore) to Christians, with this Christi∣an Cannanite, to wait for Gods goodnesse and truth in the way of faith, with repentance: for, God must see our amendment, if we will see his saluation; if we

will haue helpe from him, wee must doe reuerence to him: and we must bee as this woman was, strong in patience, and nothing in our selues, if wee will reape fruit from our patience, and bee somewhat in him. This woman, as low in heart as in bodie, wai∣ted for Christs helpe, & (after one replie more) had it with aduan∣tage: so sure it is, that the poore shall not alway be forgotten, nor their expectation perish for euer, Psal. 9.18.

Christs third replie, that which cut indeed, followeth.

Notes

• Doctr.
• Reasons.
• Ʋse 1.
• Vse 2