But the petition in our text is still more deserving of attention,
II. As suited to us —
Imminent as David's dangers were, they were not to be compared with those to v/hich we are ex- posed—
[David's enemies might be eluded, intimidated, vanquished: but those with which the soul of every sinner is encompassed can never be eluded, never be overcome.
Sin is a deadly foe, that seeks to destroy every child of man. It lies in wait for us, to allure, to deceive, to ruin us. It clothes itself in specious array : it comes with a friendly aspect : it bids us fear no harm: it tells us, " We shall have peace, though we yield to its fascinations'^." But it is no sooner committed, than it is registered in the book of God's remembrance, and will come forth at a future period as a swift witness against all whom it has deceived. From man it may be hidden : and even by those who have committed it, it may be forgotten : but " it hunts the wicked man to overthrow him^;" and though it do not imme- diately seize the sinner as its prey, " it will be sure to find him outV' a"d, like a millstone about his neck, to sink him into everlasting perdition".
The law of God also follows with its curses all who have transgressed its commands ''. It is inexorable. It is a creditor that cannot be satisfied, or appeased. It will take the sinner by the throat, saying, " Pay me that thou owest : " and, when we cannot discharge our debt, " it will listen to no intreaties, but will cast us into prison, till we have paid the uttermost farthing." God himself appealed to his people of old respecting this : " My words, and my statutes, which I commanded njy servants the
prophets,
» Matt. xiii. 58. " John xi.-lO. '' Ps. Ixxxi. ]0.
'•2Cor. vi. 11 — 13. "^Deut. xxix. 19. 'Ps. cxl. II.
' Numb, xxxii. 23. " Jam. i. 14, 15. " Gal. ill. 10.