Classic Poem

PARABLE LXII.

The Woman of Canaan

When Jesus did from thence depart
To Tyre, and that Sidonian mart,
Behold, a Canaanitish dame
From the same coasts directly came,
‘O Lord, thou son (it is most sure)
‘Of David, father of the poor,
‘Thy mercies on my daughter show'r,
‘Now in the fiend's vexatious pow'r.’
But he reply'd not to her speech.
Then did the twelve the Lord beseech,
Dispatch that woman to her own,
For after us she makes her moan
I am not sent, he answ'ring said,
But to the sheep from Israel stray'd.
Then fell she meekly at his feet,
‘Lord Jesus! help me, I intreat.’
But he return'd, ‘It is too dread
‘To give the dogs the children's bread.’
And she again, ‘'Tis true, O Lord;
‘But then ev'n dogs have their reward,
‘Which is the scraps and crumbs of all
‘That from their master's table fall.’
Then Jesus in conclusion saith,
‘O woman, mighty is thy faith!
‘Thy suit is heard.’—And it befell,
That at the word the maid was well
?Our Lord's original intent
Was for the Jews salvation meant,
The first fruits of his wond'rous plan,
Then all the nations, man by man,
But Abr'ham's seed, the good and great,
Had satan made adulterate,
To thwart the Lord's peculiar grace,
And introduce the heathen race.
This Jesus grudg'd in a degree,
In zeal for tribe and family.
But yet determining for good,
He in this case the fiend withstood
Observe we here the woman's praise,
So humbly apposite of phrase,
Our end we gain, and wrath defeat,
When once our answers are discrete.