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THE WOMAN OF CANAAN.

"THERE is something very remarkable in the picture we have to look at to-day, my dears," said Mrs. Ross; "I wonder if you will find it out!"

The children looked at the picture. "It is a poor woman," said Ellen, "who is asking something very earnestly from Jesus."

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Well, there is nothing very strange in that. But what is he doing?"

"He is turning away, mamma, as if he would not speak to her."

"And is that not strange? Do you ever remember Jesus refusing to help any one who asked him before?" "No, mamma."

"Never. This is the only time we ever hear of his seeming to be unkind, and not willing to help."

"And what was the reason?" said Harry. "Was she very wicked?"

"I do not think that was likely to be the reason. He never thought any too

wicked: he was kind and merciful to the greatest sinners. But we must read about it. Ellen, read here."

"Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon."-Matthew xv. 21.

"I must show you this place on the map. It was just on the borders of the land of Israel. And I must explain one thing to you. The Jews, you know, or 'the house of Israel,' as they are often called, were the chosen people of God, to whom the promises of the Messiah were first given. They were the only people who had his true law and worship among them. They looked down very much on all the other nations of the world, the Gentiles, and many of them were very unwilling to believe that the Messiah was to save both Jews and Gentiles alike. Christ, when he was in the world, preached only to the

Jews; but he told his disciples that they were to go to all nations, and carry the Gospel everywhere. And yet it

seemed difficult even for them at first to believe this. Now, you will understand better some things about this woman, and her story."

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."Matthew xv. 22.

"You see she was not a Jewess, but a woman of Canaan. She came from one of the nations who were in the Holy Land before God brought the Israelites there, and who, he said, were to be destroyed, because they were so very wicked. They were not all killed, but the Jews despised and hated very much those that remained of their children."

"Mamma, what does that mean, her daughter being vexed with a devil?" "It was a very terrible affliction, which came upon some people in those

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days.

The devils were allowed to take hold of men's bodies, to live in them, as it were, and torment them with dreadful pains, and take their reason away. We often read of Jesus 'casting out devils;' for when the poor sufferers were brought to him, he would bid the evil spirits depart at once. They were quite subject to him. The poor woman's daughter was sorely afflicted in this way; and oh, what a grief that would be to the mother's heart! She had often heard of Jesus, and how he could make the evil spirits obey him but he was far away: she could not leave her poor child, or take her so far with her. I daresay she often prayed that he might come to her country, and oh how happy she would be to hear that he was really come so near!"

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"Did Jesus come just for her, mamma?"

"I have no doubt of it, my love. He knew all things. He knew all the case of this poor mother and her child; and we do not hear of his having gone there

for any other reason.

call him?"

What does she

"O Lord, thou son of David."

"This shows that she believed in

him as the true Messiah.

She was a

believer, though not a Jewess.

us hear what he did."

But let

"But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us."-Matthew xv. 23.

"He answered her not a word; not even said he was sorry for her affliction ! Oh how strange that is; how unlike the loving, tender Saviour! I suppose she went on entreating him; for the disciples at last beg him to answer her, and send her away: they did not like her crying after them. Then read what he replied to them."

"But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."-Matthew xv. 24.

"What did that mean, mamma?" “It meant that he only came for the Jews, and therefore she had no right

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