over their nakedness; where the fact, by any póssible construction, will bear an excuse. But since whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, and that it has pleased the wisdom of God, for that end, to leave so many of their failings upon record, as mirrors to represent to us our common frailties, and as monuments and marks to warn us of those rocks on which others have been shipwrecked; we surely never can be blamed for taking notice of them, and for making the best use we can of them to our spiritual advantage.

His fear, then, and anxiety, lest he should perish one day by the hands of Saul, though he had God's promise to outlive him: his deep dissimulation with and before Achish; especially when he tendered his service to him in the wars: his rash vow to destroy Nabal and all that belonged to him; who, though he had acted with that churlishness which is so common to the covetous and unthankful, yet, in strictness, had done him no wrong: his double injustice to his loyal subject Mephibosheth (and therein also his forgetfulness of Jonathan his old and trusty friend) first, in giving away all his lands upon the bare suggestion of a servant, even to the false informer himself, without the least examination of the matter; and then, in restoring to him but half again, when he knew the suggestion to be false: his fond affection to his ungracious son Absalom; in preferring his life even to his own safety and the

:

public good, and in bearing his death with so much unmanly impatience his lenity and indulgence to his other son Adonijah; to whom he never said so much even as Eli did to his sons, Why hast thou done so? his carnal confidence in the multitude of his subjects, when he caused them to be numbered: These (and perhaps some other) sinful transgressions, which do not occur at present to my memory, are registered against David, as well as the murder of Uriah. Yet, as if all these were nothing in comparison of that one; that one ALONE is mentioned by the Holy Ghost by way of exception, and so inserted as an exception in that glorious testimony which we find given of him in the book of Kings. David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. That is, he turned not aside so foully, so contemptuously, so presumptuously, in any other thing, as he did in the matter of Uriah. All his ignorances, and negligences, and infirmities, are passed over in silence: only this great presumptuous sin stands up as a pillar or a monument erected to his perpetual shame, and as a warning to all succeeding generations.

But presumptuous sins, besides a stain in the name and reputation, leave also a sting in the conscience of the sinner. Do you think that David, in all the afflictions that afterwards befel him, and at the apprehension of every sinful oversight into

which he fell, had not with grief and shame a fresh remembrance of the matter of Uriah-as the distress which Joseph's brethren met with in Egypt brought to their remembrance their treacherous dealing with him, which was probably at least twenty years after the thing was done? Indeed, even after their father's death, (which by a probable computation, was nearly twenty years more,) the remorse of the same sin wrought upon their consciences afresh, and perplexed their hearts with new fears and jealousies.

It is of the utmost importance, therefore, that we should learn what may best be done for avoiding and preventing both the sins themselves and their fearful consequences. We must, first, then, seek help from the hand of God, by praying, with David, that the Lord would keep us back. If we be not kept back by the hand of God, we shall soon run into all the extremities of evil, as the horse rusheth into the battle; committing all manner of wickedness with all kind of greediness. This David knew full well and therefore durst not trust his own heart too far; but being jealous over himself with a godly jealousy, evermore made God his refuge. His help and blessing, therefore, must be sought by prayer.

But this is not all. We must second our prayers by our own endeavours. Permit me, then, to prescribe the following preservatives against presumptuous sins. 1st. Be resolutely determined never to

do any thing against the clear light of thine own conscience. 2dly. Strive to be master of thine own will. The action was barbarous, but the story is worthy to be remembered of the Sultan Amurath ; who, with his own hand, cut off the head of the beautiful Irene, from no dislike to her, but merely that his nobles (who were displeased to perceive his mind, by doating on her charms, withdrawn from due attention to the affairs of government,) might see, how he could command himself, and conquer his affections. But we need not seek so far for an example; having one more innocent, and of a far better man, in the Scriptures; even David-who, though he had longed with an earnest desire to drink of the water of the well by the gate of Bethlehem, yet, when it was brought to him by three of his captains, would not taste a drop of it, but (in condemnation of the inordinacy of his appetite, which had exposed such worthy persons to the hazard of their lives,) poured it out unto the Lord. 3dly. Beware of engaging thyself to sin. This was the case of Herod, in taking off the Baptist's head. It was against his conscience to do it; for he knew he had not deserved it: nay, he was sorry that he had promised it to the daughter of Herodias. Yet, for his oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. Lastly, Follow the advice of Solomon; by a determined resolution to yield not to temptation: My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. And

boldly say, with David-Away from me, ye wicked, for I will keep the commandments of my God.

Pray

But, when we have done all, we must begin again. When we have resolved and endeavoured what we can, unless the Lord be pleased to set his. fiat to it, all our labour is but lost. As he is the Alpha, so is he the Omega. And as we are to begin with him, so are we to conclude with him. first; pray last. Pray before all; that we may have grace to do our endeavours. Pray after all; that he would give a blessing to our endeavours, that when the world, the flesh, and the devil, shall all conspire to drive us forward to the works of sin, we may, by his grace and blessing, be kept back; and be enabled to persevere in true faith and holiness all the days of our life.