I. That good men, while in this state of imperfection, should be surprized by temptation into sins, and even heinous sins, is neither new nor strange.  Many instances occur in the history of the saints recorded in the scriptures.  “Aaron, the saint of the Lord,” and Moses, whose general character was that of “a servant, faithful in all God’s house,” were both seduced into sins of such enormity that they were excluded the land of promise, in common with rebellious Israel.  Among New Testament saints similar lapses are observable.  Even the apostles forsook the Savior, and fled when Judas led forth the hostile band to apprehend him; and Peter, when under the influence of fear, with oaths and imprecations “denied the Lord that bought him!” The habitual temper of these good men could not be argued—­from these sudden acts.  Neither is judgment to be formed of others, except by observing the general tenor of their lives.  Strong and unexpected temptations may, and often do, seduce the best of those who remain in the body and retain the weakness of fallen creatures yet on trial.

II.  There is something in each one’s constitution which predisposes to certain sins.  To every person there is a “sin which most easily besets him”—­from which he is liable to stronger temptation than from other sins—­and temptation to such sins may rise from concurring circumstances, above its natural state, and become almost invincible.  Nor will any person who reads the history of David doubt to what particular sin he was naturally most disposed.  Neither are we insensible how one sin prepares the way for another, and strengthens temptation to it.

David’s sins on the occasion before us were complicated and exceeding sinful.  But we know how he was seduced to the first, and how the others followed of course.

Respecting the state in which he was found by Nathan we may judge,

I. From his general character.  This is so well known, that the bare mention is almost sufficient.  The scriptures teach us that he was pious from his youth.  When Samuel was sent to anoint him, sufficient intimation was given that his heart was right with God.  When Elijah, the first born of Jesse palled before the prophet, pleased with his appearance, he supposed him to be the man whom God had chosen to rule his people—­“Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him"’—­but God refused him with this declaration, “The Lord seeth not appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”  David’s after life justified the preference then given him.

No person acquainted with his history as contained in the sacred records, will scruple his general devotedness to the service of God.

Should doubt arise, we may refer to the charter given of him by the pen of inspiration, about half a century after his death.  “David did that which was right in the sight 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.” *