3. That, if we would obtain mercy, we must sub- mit to the terms imposed upon us —
[The Gibeonites accounted it no great matter to cede their cities, and to spend their days in servitude, seeing that their lives were spared. And shall we think much of sacrificing any temporal interests, or of performing any self-denying duties, when we have reason to hope that God has spared the life of our souls? What if we be called to give up father and mother, and houses and lands, for Christ's sake ; should we not " ac- count them all as loss for Christ ? " What if we be menaced with cruel torments and death for his sake ; should we not say, " None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto me, so that I may but fulfil his will, and finish my course with joy?" Had the Gibeonites demurred, they had lost the benefit conferred upon them : and so shall we, if we refuse to comply with the terms assigned us ; for " whoso loveth his life, shall lose it." If we look for mercy at the hands of Jesus, all that we have, and all that we are, must be the Lord's. Our whole life must be a life of self-denying obedience. Hear this then, ye Gibeonites, who desire a covenant of life and peace : these are the terms, and only these, that can ever be allowed you. But know ye this, that though they may appear hard to flesh and blood, they are not really hard : on the contrary, the service of God is perfect freedom ; and it is " better to be a
1 Isai. lv. 3. m Jer. xiv. 22.