II. How much we owe to God for his providential restraints —
David expresses his obhgations to God for de- livering him from this temptation —
[A servant of Nabal, fearing the effects of his master's message, informed his mistress of the whole transaction ; bear- ing testimony at the same time to the kindness and integrity of David's conduct : and Abigail immediately adopted the most prudent methods of pacifying David's resentment. Without loss of time she took a liberal portion of the provisions that had been prepared for the feast, and went with them herself to meet David. Happily she met David in the way ; and by her consummate address completely disarmed his wrath, and averted the calamity which would have speedily ruined her whole family. Instantly David recognized in her the divine interposition ; and, whilst he blessed her for her advice, he blessed God for sending her to obstruct his bloody and vin- dictive purposes. It is worthy of observation, that David took scarce any notice of her liberality which supphed his present wants, but fixed his whole attention on the deliverance which he had experienced from his own relentless fury : and well might he bless God for that interposition, whereby he was preserved from the blackest crime he could have perpetrated, and possibly too from the penal consequences of it to all eternity.]
And have not we also reason to adore our God for similar restraints ?
[Let us reflect on our past experience, even in relation to revenge. Have we never had our minds so irritated and in- flamed, as to feel a readiness to avenge ourselves? And are we sure, that if a murderous instrmnent had been at hand, we shoidd not have used it? Have not others yielded to that temptation, who were to all appearance as little exposed to it as we: and can we be certain that a little further provocation would not have produced the same efl^ect on us?
But let us inquire also in reference to other sins. Have criminal desires never risen so strong in our hearts, that we have owed it rather to some providential restraints, than to our own abhorrence of iniquity, that they were not actually fulfilled ? We have witnessed often enough the falls of others : and to whom must we ascribe it if we ourselves have not fallen in like manner? Must we not say with the prophet, *' Thou, Lord, hast wrought all our works in us*^?" Truly, if we would call to mind the various temptations which we have
"= Isai. xxvi. 12.