have a lovely instance of disinterestedness in Mephibosheth, the son of Saul. When David fled from the face of Absalom, Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, took his master's asses laden with provisions, and went with them to David ; reporting that his master was now gratified with the hope of David's death, and of his own restoration to his father's throne. David, in consequence of this, gave to Ziba all his master's property. But on David's return to Jerusalem, Mephibosheth went to meet him ; and told him how deeply he had sympathized with the banished monarch, and how scandalously he had been traduced by his servant Ziba. Upon this, David so far re- called his former grant to Ziba, as to order that Mephibosheth and Ziba should divide the property between them. Upon which, Mephibosheth, forgetting all the injuries he had sus- tained from Ziba, replied, " Let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house1." Here we see how all his own personal interests were swallowed up in a sense of love to David, and in a joyful participation of David's happiness.
Such is the duty of every true Christian. For St. Paul, speaking to those Corinthians who contended for their own rights, and carried their contests into a court of law, tells them that " there was utterly a fault among them ;" and then says, " Why do ye not rather take wrong, and suffer your- selves to be defraudedk?" As for carrying this yielding spirit to excess, we are in no danger of that: our danger is, the not carrying it far enough : for it is impossible not to see, that, in the whole of our Saviour's life, he never shined more bright than " when, being led as a lamb to the slaughter, he opened not his mouth1;" and when he was treated with every species of cruelty upon the cross, he prayed and apologized for his murderers, " Father, forgive them ; for they know not what they dom."]
But, notwithstanding the hatefulness of pertinacity in general, there are seasons,
II. When it becomes a virtue of prime necessity —
A firmness of character is indispensable in the true Christian: and he must be absolutely " immoveable11,"
1. When otherwise the obedience of Christ would
be violated —
[Not our actions only, but " our very thoughts also, are to be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ0."
1 2 Sam. xix. 30.
k 1 Cor. vi. 7.
1 Isai. liii. 7.
m Luke xxiii. 34.
n 1 Cor. xv. .r>8. D 2
° 2 Cor. x. 5