9r8 Contemplations. Lu. VIII. but left their n~ighbourhood might be a prejudice, they come difgmfed;itlld now A heare, that the1t neerndfe of abode was an uoremovable barre of peace. It was quarrel! enough,that they were Canaanites:God had forbidden boththe Ieaoue,and the lifeofthe native inhabitants. He that cals himfelfc the God ofpeace, pro~laimes himfdfe the God ofHolls: and not to fight where he bath commanded, is to breakc the peace with God, whileswenourilhit with men. Contention with brethren is notmore hatefull to him then leagues with Idolaters. The condition that he bath fer-to oar peace is our poffibility and power. That fals nor within the poffibility of our power which we cannot doe lawfully. B What afmooth tale did thefe Gibeonitestdl for themfelves ~ .ofthe remotenelfe of their Country, the motives oftheir journey, the confultation of their Elders; the ageing of their provifions by the way: that it miglit feem nor onely fafe, but dcferved on their parrs, that they lhould be admitted to a p:ace, fo far fought and pur. chafed wirh'fo mach royle,and importunity.Theircloathes and their tongues agreed together ; and both difagree from the truth. De~eit is ever lightly wrapped up in plaufibiliry ofwords; as taire faces often-times hide much unchaftity. Buc thisguile fped thebetter,becaufe it was clad with much plainneffe:For who wou1dhave fufpeaed,that clouted lhooes,and ragged coats could have covered fo much fubtilty~The cafe feemed fo cleare, that the Ifraelitesrhougbt it needlelle to confult with the mouth ofthe Lord. Their owne eyes and eares were called onely to counfcll; and now their credulity bath drawae them into inconvenience. C There is no way to convince the Gibeonitilb pretences of antiquity, but to have recourfe to the Oracleof God.Had this been advifed with, none of thefe falfe rags had lhamed the Church ofGod: whether in our praaice,or judgemem,this direCtion cannot faile us, whereas what wee takeupon the words ofmen, proves ever ei. thcr light, or falfe wares. The facility of Ifrad had led them into a league,to an oath,for the fafety oftheGibconites:and now within three dayes they find both their neighbourhood and de· ceit. Thofe old fhooes of theirs would ealily hold to cary them back to theic home. The marchofa great .Army is eafie: yet within three dayes the Ifraelires were before their Cities.I•fo•• might now have taken advantage oftheirown words, to dHfolve h!s league, and bave faid; Ye arc come from a farre Country, thefe Cities are necre; Thefe are not therefore the people, to whom we areingaged by our promife, and D oath: And ifthefeCities be yours, yet ye are not your fdves. Erewhile, ye were llrangcrs,now you are Hivites borne,and dwelling in the midft ofCaoaan: we will therefore deftroy thefe Cities ncere-hand,and do you fave your people afarre off. 1t would feeme very qoeftionahle, Whether I•fo•• needed to hold himfdfe bound to this oarh;for fraudulent conventions oblige not;and Ifrael had pm in adirect caveat of their vicinity : yet dare not I of/,•• and the Princes trull to fhifts, for the eluding their oath; but muft faithfully performe, what they have ralhly promifed. Iofo••ts heart wasdeare from any intention of a league with a Canaanite, when he gave his oath to thefc difguifed ftrangm : yet he durft neither rcpeale it himfelfe, neither doe I hearc him fue toE/ea'{ M theHigh-Prieft, to difpenfe with it; but takes himfdfe tyed to the very ftria words ofhis oath, nor ro his owne purpofe. His E tongue had bound his heart and hands, fo as neither might ftirre 1 left while he was curious offalfilling thewill ofGod, he fhould violate the oarh of God. And ifthe Gibeonites had not known thefe holy bonds indiffoluble, they neithe(had been fo importunate to obtaine their vow, nor durft they have trufted it being obtained. If either dilpcnfation with oaths, or equivocation in oaths, had been known in the world,orat Ieaft approvcd,thefe Gibeonites had not lived, and Ifrad had llain them withoudin: Eitherlfraelwanted skill ; orour re!ecvers, honelly. The multitude oflfrael, wheathey came to the wals ofthe(e foure exempted Cities,itchedto be at the fpoile1Notout ofa defire to fulfill Gods commandement,but to enrich themfclves, would they have falne upon thefe Hivites ; They thought all loll that fell befides their fingers. The wealthy City ofJericho was firft altogether interdided them ; thewals and houfes either fell,or muft be burnt;the men & cartel I . killed;
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