icers sent word that they would leave the
city if he would let them go with their men. But General Grant sent
word, "No, nothing but an unconditional surrender!" Then they sent
word that they would go if he would let them take their flag with
them. But the answer was, "No, an unconditional surrender." At last
the beleaguered walls were broken down, and the city entered, and then
the enemy made a complete and unconditional surrender. Well, it was so
with Naaman, he got to that point when he was willing to obey, and the
Scripture tells us, "To obey is better than to sacrifice."

OBEDIENCE.

So he goes down to the river and takes the first dip, and as he comes
up, I can imagine him looking at himself, and saying to his servant,
"There, there I am, no better than I was when I went in. If
one-seventh of the leprosy was gone, I should be content." Well, down
he goes a second time, and he comes up puffing and blowing as much a
leper as ever; and so he goes down again and again, the third, fourth,
fifth, and sixth time, with the same result, as much a leper as ever.
And the people standing on the banks of the river probably said, as
they certainly would in our day, "Why, that man has gone clean out of
his mind." So when he comes up the sixth time, he looks at himself,
and says, "Ah, no better. What a fool I have made of myself. How they
will all laugh at me. I wouldn't have the generals and aristocracy of
Damascus know that I have been dipping in this way in Jordan for all
the world. However, as I have gone so far, I'll make the seventh
plunge." He has not altogether lost faith, and down he goes the
seventh time, and comes up again. He looks at himself, and shouts
aloud for joy. "Lo, I am well! My leprosy is all gone, all gone! My
flesh has come again as that of a little child. I never knew such a
thing. I never felt so happy in all my life. I thought I was a great
and a happy man when I accomplished that victory; but, thank God,
praise God, I am the happiest man alive!"

So he comes up out of Jordan and puts on his clothes, and goes back to
the prophet, and wants to pay him. That's just the old story, Naaman
wants to give money for his cure. How many people want to do the same
nowadays? Why, it would have spoiled the story of grace if the prophet
had taken anything. You may give a thank-offering to God's cause, not
to purchase salvation, but because you are saved.

The prophet Elisha refused to take anything, and I can ima