baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand ?" Notwithstanding the advantages that the disciples had enjoyed in having such a teacher, notwithstanding the different modes of instruction which he had adopted, they were still inapt to learn, they were still chargeable with ignorance as to his usual way of conveying instruction by similitudes; they were still chargeable with unbelief, after having witnessed the miraculous supply, furnished to five thousand, out of only five loaves; they were still chargeable with forgetfulness; yet it appears that the Eternal expects his disciples should understand, as well as see, and hear, and partake.

We have other instances of the dulness of the disciples; nor do I remember that Jesus Christ anywhere commends them for their faith. He reproves them"Oh ye of little faith," on more occasions than one. When they came to Jesus apart from the multitude, and inquired why they could not cast the devil out of the lunatic," Jesus saith unto them, Because of your unbelief." But, without multiplying instances, these remarks may tend to shew that where much was given, as it regards means, but little was obtained in return as the result of those means; and, to use the language of men, we should be inclined to think and to say that Jesus must have been disappointed in the very tardy advances that his disciples made in spiritual attainments; while, on the contrary, it is matter of surprise that others manifested very eminent faith, while destitute of the means and advantages that the disciples enjoyed; and some, perhaps, without ever having heard the gospel preached by Christ: his fame had reached their ears, and that probably was all that many who believed on him had for the foundation of their faith.

I have been led to make these remarks respecting the disciples, as a contrast to the eminent faith discovered by the woman of Canaan in the following narrative." And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David. My daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away, for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."

In St. Mark's gospel it is said, "The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation," who heard of him; notice that! The woman was a Pagan, but, living near Galilee, she heard of the fame of Jesus, "which was noised abroad." She was not an attendant on his ministry, and, probably, she had never witnessed the performance of a miracle; and in that case her faith was the more remarkable." She cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David." The blind men, who sat by the way-side begging, put up a similar petition-" Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David;" but though the petitions were similar, and, doubtless, offered with faith in the saving power of God, equally efficacious, yet there was a delay in the answer of one petition, while the other was immediately complied with. The circumstances

of these cases were equally worthy of the miraculous interference of the Son of God; the plea in one case was, "Lord, that we may receive our sight;" in the other, "My daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." In the one case, Jesus stood still and called them; in the other, "he answered her not a word." In the one case, he wrought an immediate cure; in the other, he observed a mysterious silence. What must have been her fears when the compassionate Saviour declined any answer? Think of a mother's feelings under such circumstances; a mother who was pleading for the recovery of a beloved child, who, hearing of the disinterested love of the compassionate Jesus, had put herself out of the way; had taken a journey, commenced in hope to find him; and having found whom she sought, her mission had apparently terminated in a cold rejection of her suit; she had received a forbidding repulse-" he answered her not a word." Oh, this must have gone to her heart; such a reception, from such a Saviour! Where were the compassions of him on this occasion who is described as love—" God is love;" more ready to hear than we are to call upon him. "Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." This was an appalling silence, that would have put any man or woman, not possessing genuine faith, to their wit's end: feelings of deference and respect to the Saviour's will, as manifested by his silence, might have prevailed with some of us, if placed in a similar situation with this woman; and these feelings might have pervaded her bosom, for she was not wanting in modesty; but her troubles stimulated her to try again, even at the hazard of incurring the anger of him who had repulsed her. She still felt "my daughter is grievously vexed with a

devil," and she was determined that the Saviour should feel it too. Was ever the Saviour silent before at an appeal for mercy? as if she had said, "It is hard for me to see the sufferings of my child day by day, 'tis easy for thee, O Lord, thou son of David,' to perform the cure." "But he answered her not a word." His disciples, it seems, then came forward on her behalf. We may suppose, from the relation of this event by St. Mark, that she came to Jesus when he was in the house, and fell at his feet; but here he took no notice of her; and, according to the account of St. Matthew, Jesus soon left the house, and she followed him on the way; then," his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away, for she crieth after us." This appeal of the disciples called forth a reply from him who was the desire of all nations; but was it such a reply as the daughter of one of the Gentile nations desired to hear? She was praying-" Have mercy, O Lord, thou son of David;" mercy she implored; and she appealed to him whose mercies were proverbial, rendered so by the Psalmist David, whose son he was: "Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord;" "His tender mercies are over all his works ;" and now, an appeal being made to him to verify this declaration, how does he meet it?

The prayer of his disciples was as the prayer of the angel of whom we read in the prophet Zechariah : “Then the angel answered and said, O Lord of Hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem, and And the Lord answered the on the cities of Judah?

angel who talked with me with good words and comfortable words." But how did he meet the appeal of the woman of Canaan, when backed by the entreaties of his disciples? Was it with good words and comfortable words? He answered and said, "I am not

sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Oh, reader, this was a hard saying; this second repulse must have spoken daggers to a maternal heart. Are we not wondering where were the boasted compassions of the Saviour? Where was his tenderness towards a poor afflicted praying creature? Did he not care what became of her? Did he not feel for the grievous vexations that her daughter was suffering? Were none to share his sympathies but those who claimed kindred with that rebellious house?-the house of Israel? But how did this poor woman receive this second repulse? The reply was calculated to make her think there was no mercy for her; for if, indeed, Christ was only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and she knew she was not of that house, whatever might be her faith it would avail her nothing; her case was hopeless! And did she thus lay it to heart? Was she content that her daughter should perish, and a Saviour so nigh? One able to save? Oh no; she still felt "my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil," and she was determined that the Saviour should feel it too. She knew she could but perish. She believed him to be the promised Messiah, the Son of God; and therefore, if she did perish, it should be at his feet. Oh, that we could all feel this! Oh, that with unfeigned humility, and an unwavering faith, we could all prostrate ourselves at Jesus' feet. Reader, what think you would be the result? Would he spurn us from his presence? Would he repulse us with, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel"? I beseech you, try him; try him, hoary headed sinner; try him, youthful sinner. He is a merciful and gracious High Priest; notwithstanding, he may give you one or two repulses to try your faith. Young and old, come unto him; come unto