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V. We come, finally, to notice the dreadful consequence of this transgression.-Where God forgives, he does not always wholly spare. He may, so pardon the sin as not to inflict upon the sinner eternal condemnation, and yet punish him severely. And such was the case of David: Besides the wound his soul had sustained, and which, perhaps, might never afterwards be entirely healed, we find the remainder of David's life barassed by perpetual sorrows. He had acted perfidiously to his servant; and his own son acts perfidiously to him. He had committed adultery with Uriah's wife, and Absalom committed adultery with his wives; David indeed secretly, but Absalom in the sight of the sun. He had exposed Uriah to the sword of his enemies; and behold he himself is driven from his throne before his enemies, and his palace is defiled with blood. Indeed, from that time the "sword departed not from his house: "but violence, and dissension, and blood,i rendered the remainder of his life wretched: so that the inhabitants of Jerusalem, acquainted with his sin, would doubtless discover the hand of God in his calamities, and say,-“ This hath God wrought," for they would perceive that it was his work. bus *% tot big at pw blond qu Lap mob of ad

Having thus passed through the several stages

of this affecting history, I shall begin conclusion, to found upon it a few practical observations?<»>

1. In the first place, it may teach us to guard against declension in gruce, and watch against temptation. If temptation is urgent, my brethren,

flee from it, and think of the fall of David. Alas! where is the man that may say, "I shall stand,” when David fell? Indulge no presumptuous security. He who at any preceding period should have predicted the fall of David, would have been charged, perhaps, with predicting impossibilities. Alas! ours strength is in the consciousness of our weakness, and in earnest prayer to God for help and support. Let no man rely upon his early virtues David the inspired Psalmist fell.Voor m -2. Aisecond lesson to be learned from the fall of David, is that of charity and tenderness in judging of those who fall.-Call them not, my brethren, as the world are too apt to call them, hypocrites. David was no hypocrite-but David fell. And where is the man, who, if solicited by strong temptation, and unrestrained by Divine grace, might not fall to lower depths than David? morale et boD SS Finally, let us beware of employing the fall of David as a plea for sin, and of presuming that such a restoration as his to favour and holiness will be granted to ourselves. Before we

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can build upon the hope of a restoration such as his, our circumstances must be those of David. To sanction such hopes, we should resemble him in his zeal and love, in the prayers by which we have supplicated, and the songs by which we have glorified, our God. And, even then, have we any security for pardon, any promise of mercy, any right to expect that a prophet should be sent to rouse us to a sense of our condition? Was such a restoration due to David? Is God bound or pledged to bring the sinner back who wilfully departs from him? Nor is this all: should the pardon be granted, as in the case of David, and the restoration to God take place, consider, if your restoration resemble his, it is no unqualified blessing. His All the billows of the Divine indignation seemed to pass over him. The arrow of God pursued him. The "iron entered into his soul."

sorrow was acute.

Thus, whatever encouragement the story of David may supply to the real penitent, (and to him, blessed be God, it does give encouragement), it affords none to the sinner who, presuming upon the Divine mercy for restoration and pardon, daringly violates the Divine commandments.

In a word, the whole of this history exactly harmonizes with every other part of the Sacred

Record. It displays to us the fallen and destitute condition of man-his his exposure to temptationhis rapid progress in sin, if left to himself-his immeasureable obligation to God, if restored and saved-and, finally, the unchangeable character of God as a hater even of that sin which he may ultimately pardon.

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306

SERMON XIX.

ON THE GRADUAL PROGRESS OF EVIL. LA

JAMES iii. 5.

19110

Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

THE design of the proverbial expression which the Apostle here uses, is to intimate the impor tance of little things, which are apt to be despised and neglected, as being of little or no conse quence; whereas, in the end, they are productive of the greatest effects. It is a great point of wisdom to know how to estimate little things. Of those which are evidently great, every one can see the importance: but true wisdom looks at these great objects before they have arrived at their full size. She considers, that it is principally in this earlier state that they come under the power of man, and can be arranged, modified, increased, or extinguished at his pleasure; whereas, in a more advanced stage, they

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