The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 266

time11 who, by reaBOn of his affiuenoe, oombined with a certain habit of body, farea 1mmptuously every day, does not, while he is getting into the practice of so doing, reflect on t.he JJOl'l!ible effect of ell thia, in daya not far distant, upon hl11 animal ten- dencies in a certain direction, and his corresponding moral safeguards. There can be no question that the physical, mental, and moral habits of life of a polygamollll house- hold are such as would furni11h good soil for a sensual temptation, which, in the case of a man nne1uly absorbed and preoocupied in mere secularitiee, would be still more perilous. Many a religious man is weak from sources similar to this. Our Lord even warned his apostles, aft.er they had had the benefit of hie teaching for two years, to take heed lest Rt &ny time their hearts be" overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this lile" (Luke xxi. 34). . Ill. LEISURE SUPERVENING ON GREAT ACTIVITY BRINGS THE WEAKER BIDE OP NATURE Il.'TO PROIIJNENCE. The protracted exertions of years had now issued in a. compact kingdom and internal order. Saul's family was csred for. Administration wae organized and labour divided (eh. viii. 14-18). The war against the Syrians was in the hands of a powerful force, under a llkilful general. David, in Jeruealem, had leisure unknown in former yean;. Now it is a fact in the history of human nature that, when great energies cease to be in demand, and the force of life no longer goes out in its v.onted volume in its ordinary course, then the feelings and tendencies which, mean- v.hile, have been unconsciously generated by slowly formed habits of social life, are apt to take more prominence, and find less resist.a.nee, in consequence of the probably impaired power of the spiritual element (see division I). It is well known among young men t.hat more moral falls oocnr during seasons of leisure than at any other time. Leisure following on great prosperity requires for it.s safe use more than crdinary wisdom and i;piritua.l. health. Adveraity, though t.a:tlng energy to the utmost, tends to draw the heart nearer to God, so that when there is leisure from it the soul is in a better condition to guard &gainst the evils incident to such a sesson. IV. AN UNCONSCIOUS DBCILINE OF BEA.LITT IN COID[U'NION WITH GOD KAY BET IN ON .A ICAN's OBTAINING .A REOOGNIZED POSITION Ill THE RELIGIOUS WORLD. The subtl«y with which spiritual declension sets in is admitted by all who know anything of religions experience. The best of men are the objects of assault from the powers of darkness, clothed. it may be, as angels of light (2 Cor. xi. 14). Once iet a man, by some subtle insinuation, begin t.o think that now, baving served God so many years and written such useful and sincere uttenmces of his experience, he has a distinctly recognized position,-then, in that very thought, there is an element of danger. From that honr watchfulness may be less keen, routine may set in, and grey hairs may come" here and t.here upon him" while he "knoweth it not n (Hos. vii. 9), Undoubtedly David had anained such a recognized position in the religious world. His people would accord it; a.nd. in the ceu&tion of strain in civil and political exertions, he might, in a.n nn,,"WlMed hour, especially if tbelower feelings (see division II.) began to put forth their force, ind~ in self-eomplacence. Communion with God might continue in full Conn, but it.s origiDal intense reality would have pasi;ed away. Herein, perhaps, is the secret of tile decline of religion in many a (lTJ,(111,(},am professor. There are in the Church not a few who have left t.o them only " the form of godliness." V, 'G.IIDl:B THE CO.IIDITIOIIIB TIID'S F.AB OOIIBIDERED DISTINOT BUGGEBTIONB OOHE THBOUGB ~ BE!ill!S YrrH DOUBLE FOBCE, There are conditions under which Bllgl!estiODS through the eye, ear, or animal paasions fall as powerless as snow on the 111ulid rock. The real power of a temptation throngh the senses lies in the state of mind whicn we are in at the time. David had probably seen beautiful women many a time ciuririg his exile, arid while king in Jerusalem; but the healthy, well-guarded spirit was 'llD.!lurt by the sight. Beauty anywhere is., to a healthy spiritual nature, an object of pure &dmimtion as a work: of God. It waa becauae David wu not his old aelf that t:WS l!ight wa& as fuel to a smouldering flame. It takeii but little to create radical ~ aDd CCIDlIDOtiom, u eeen in chemistry, when the primary elements of things 11rt: orooght i.Dtu oontact; and liO is it when ceJtain elemental conditions of the moral IIl8ll and his awrow:,dings are conc.erned. Joseph was pure and spiritually heulthy wkn the wggestion of evil came upon him, and it only produced a. recoil (Gen. :uxix. Es, &J, Great strell i8 laid on this in the Bible. "To the pure all things are pur11," "Keep tb.7 heart with all diligenee; for out of it are the issues of life," en. u. 1-27.) THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 2il