Therefore you shall observe in Christs answer to the Woman of Canaan, in her earnest prayer, in her coming to Christ, her fighting and striving against the Devil, her tenderness to her Daughter, her holding out so long as she did; all this Christ looks over: But when he comes to give his censure of her work, of her carriage, Oh Woman, great is thy faith, saith he. That was it that set a great price upon her work: Matth. 15.26, 27.1 ⟨p. 81⟩So, take the most excellent, the greatest work that can be performed, GOD sets them at no higher a price then he finds faith in them; he weighs them by that: so much faith as is in them, so far he accepts them, so far he regards them. Look in Heb. 11.2 you shall find many glorious works set down. All the great works that Sampson did, all the works that David did, the works that Gideon did, the works that Baruc did, the works that Moses did, and so along, you shall see there, that there was nothing in all these works that was regarded, but their faith: all is imputed to faith. And therefore, when you go about any thing, labour to see faith set you awork; and know, that as much faith as there is in any work, so much GOD regards it, and no further. Jacob had done many good things, that pleased GOD, yet GOD, when he would put a mark of his favour upon him, when he would call him Israel, when he would change his name, it was for that great work of faith, when he prayed all night, when he would not give over, when he would not let him go, when he prevailed with God by faith; now, saith God, thy name shall be called Israel. (As if he should say) Now I will put a name of honour upon thee. Why so? Not because there was more in that work, simply considered, as it was a work: but because there was more faith in it. And it must needs be so: for GOD doth ⟨p. 82⟩not as men do, who accept the giver for the gift. (If a man come to you with a great gift, you will accept his person for it.) But GOD accepts the gift for the givers sake:3 though the gift be never so small, if the giver be such as believes in him; if his affections be right, if he do it out of a right ground; that is, if he do it out of a ground of faith, he is accepted, whatsoever it be. Indeed, otherwise, whatsoever we do, we may call it by our own name;
Therefore you shall obserue in Christs answer to the Woman of Canaan, in her earnest prayer, in her comming to Christ, her fighting and striuing against the Diuell, her tendernesse to her Daughter, her holding out so long as she did; all this Christ lookes ouer: But when he comes to giue his censure of her worke, of her carriage, Oh Woman, great is thy faith, saith he. That was it that set a great price vpon her worke: Matth. 15.26, 27.1 ⟨p. 81⟩So, take the most excellent, the greatest worke that can be performed, GOD sets them at no higher a price then hee findes faith in them; he weighes them by that: so much faith as is in them, so farre he accepts them, so farre he regards them. Looke in Heb. 11.2 you shall finde many glorious workes set downe. All the great workes that Sampson did, all the workes that Dauid did, the works that Gedeon did, the workes that Baruc did, the workes that Moses did, and so along, you shall see there, that there was nothing in all these workes that was regarded, but their faith: all is imputed to faith. And therefore, when you goe about any thing, labour to see faith set you aworke; and know, that as much faith as there is in any worke, so much GOD regards it, and no further. Iacob had done many good things, that pleased GOD, yet GOD, when he would put a marke of his fauour vpon him, when he would call him Israel, when he would change his name, it was for that great worke of faith, when he prayed all night, when hee would not giue ouer, when he would not let him goe, when hee preuailed with God by faith; now, saith God, thy name shall be called Israel. (As if he should say) Now I will put a name of honour vpon thee. Why so? Not because there was more in that worke, simply considered, as it was a worke: but because there was more faith in it. And it must needes be so: for GOD doth ⟨p. 82⟩not as men doe, who accept the giuer for the gift. (If a man come to you with a great gift, you will accept his person for it.) But GOD accepts the gift for the giuers sake:3 though the gift be neuer so small, if the giuer be such as beleeues in him; if his affections be right, if he doe it out of a right ground; that is, if he doe it out of a ground of faith, he is accepted, whatsoeuer it be. Indeed, otherwise, whatsoeuer we doe, we may call it by our owne name;
- 1Mat. 15.26, 27.
- 2Heb. 11.
- 3God accepts the gift for the giver.God accepts the gift for the giuer.
