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And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Å A bod eth

IT is a circumstance worthy of notice in the Sacred Historians, that, in their accounts of the servants of God, they record their vices as well as their virtues: they represent them in their real character, and attempt neither to palliate their faults mor to exaggerate their excellencies. The history of David is, in this respect, remarkable. He is represented, on the one hand, as zealous in the service of God, attached to his worship, in no instance giving way to idolatry, the prevailing sin of the times, and as honoured for these qualities with the high title of "the man after God's own heart." On the other hand, his character is described as stained with some gross offences &

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and both these offences, with all their aggravations, and the exemplary punishment which followed them, are faithfully recorded.

These sins of David, to which the words of my text refer, and the effects which followed them, are the subjects I would propose for our consideration on the present occasion; in order to which, I shall examine in detail several parts of his history.

I. The circumstances of David previous to his fall deserve our attention.-For several years he had been in a state of great trouble. Even his life had been often endangered. He was hunted by Saul like a partridge upon the mountains, and compelled to take up his residence in the caves of the desert. But it was not in this state of trial and affliction that he offended.

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During this period, we see him exercising, in a remarkable degree, the faith, the resignation, the humility, the patience, the meekness of the servant of God. But now God had brought his troubles to a close. He had bestowed on him, first, the crown of Judah, and afterwards that of Israel. He had blessed him with prosperity on every #ide, and had given him "the necks of his enemies." For some years he had been the most powerful monarch in that quarter of the world.

These were his circumstances when he fell. Now it would be too much to affirm, that these circumstances were the direct causes of his sin. They may, however, have tended indirectly to it, by inducing that state of the heart in which it is least qualified to encounter temptation. Such is often the effect of prosperity. It cherishes a worldly and sensual taste. It indisposes the soul for self-denial, watchfulness, and humility; graces not called into exercise in prosperity. It relaxes our application to the Throne of Grace; for where there is a fulness of enjoyment, there is likely to be little ardour in prayer; where the soul is satisfied with earthly blessings, it does not aspire to such as are spiritual and heavenly. Perhaps prosperity thus operated upon David. Perhaps he had become less watchful, less fervent in secret prayer, less afraid of sin, more vain, more confident, more disposed to the enjoyment of sensual pleasures. And thus temptations, not formidable in adversity, at once overwhelmed the soul disordered and enervated by prosperity."

Surely this statement may teach us to recognize and lament the depravity of human nature. The very mercies of God are made the occasions of sin. Such is man, that he would probably be less guilty if God were less compassionate. This statement also may serve to reconcile us to the

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afflictions which prevail in the world. Perhaps the removal of these might tend, more than any other cause, to the increase of sin; and thus, in the end, to the final increase and aggravation of misery. dou?

II. Consider, next, the peculiar temptation which is suffered to present itself to David, and the way in which he encountered it.-This, my brethren, is a world of trial. Christ himself was tempted; and it is in the order of Divine Providence, that no one should wholly escape it, Temptation indeed has its uses, as well as its dangers. Perilous as it is, the Lord can and will overrule it for good, to those who humbly and devoutly call upon him. But let us follow David through his trial. The temptation arosea temptation sudden and great. Now then was the trial, in what manner he would act; and doubtless there had been times innumerable when this servant of God would at once have fled from the temptation, and thus have broken its spell. He would have "resisted the devil," and the "devil would have fled" from him. But now, alas! he gives way to the seduction. He calmly descends from his palace with a determination to bring the evil of his heart into act, and to perpetrate the crime which the tempter had suggested

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to him. This we may conceive to have been the turning point in David's career Novman "can altogether resist the approach of unsolicited - temptation. No man can, perhaps, entirely prévent such temptation laying hold of the imaginaBut to parley with it this is And it is in this, cim its being that the guilt of sin consists.

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tion and feelings.

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Thus, in the case of David, "lust conceived, and brought forth sin." The anointed of the

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Lord" is "taken in the snare of the ungodly,' and goes "like an ox to the slaughter, not considering that it is for his life." doos 919ɗt

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Oh! had David paused but for one nidment; had he retired awhile to deliberated upon his conduct; had he but put up coneuprayer for Divine help; had he passed on even to the duties of his kingly office, so as to divert his thoughts into a different channel; the snare might have been broken, and he have escapedo. But, alas ! goDavid his left a melancholy monument of what - the best man may become when he forsakes his

God, and when his God, in consequence, abanerddons him bertkhu-c. king and adia anɔqə tod-Joe as i mogu idquoad HE IS NO. Sila no 6950 III. Observe, thirdly, the state of David after 35 his first sin, and his progress to new offences.ProWhat must David have felt after the perpetration

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