VJ. 'J'HEBl'l 19 A DIBTURDJNO FOROE IN' OERTAIN' PABl!ION8 BY WHIOH BEASON, THE WJI,L, AND SPIRITUAL INSTINOTS ARE WEAKENED, It is a. psychological fact that a.II emotion affects the exercise of the pure reason for the worse. le is in the experience of men that such passions RB were aroused in David by tho sight he witncs.~~d from the roof of his house, more than any-except, perhaps, those involved in drnnkenncHB -<listurb or cripple the action of reason and of the will. Of course, they weaken the 11piritual instincts in proportion as they find scope. Thus the powers which may be considered as the guardians of purity, the foes of ~vii, are not in their normal condition, nnd consequently the chances are, unless somethmg happens to prevent such an issue, that the unhallowed feelings will gain further ascendency. In this we see that tho perfect man is attainable only in Christ. The triumph of spiritual religion in our nature is coincident with the most perfect development of that nature. Hence, also spiritual power among men is dependent on inner purity. ' VII. WHEN ONCE THE BEIN 18 GIVEN TO BUCH PASSIONS, THE FALL HAS TAKEN PLACP: IN ESSENCE. When David saw and looked on her, with a certain thought in his mind and feeling in his heart, he had virtually done the deed of which we have a. record. In the spiritual sphere, thought and desire are tantamount to deed. The one is but the fuller form of the other. Sin lies in intent and purpose, whether it be actualized in outward fact or not. Hence our Lord's strong words (Matt. v. 27, 28). The mystery of David's sin really lies in the creation within himself of the base feeling indicated in the terms of ver. 2. All that followed was a development of this (Jas. i. 14, 15). It is a question whether Christian people have, as a rule, recognized the solemn truth taught by Christ and seen in David's case. The seventh commandment has a bearing on the daily mental life. VIII. AN INWARD FALL BRINGS ON BPmlTUAL DARKNESS, LOSS OJ' SELF-RESPECT, WITH FURTHER ENFEEBLED BEASON AND WILL-POWER. Such an inward fall as David's on the roof of his house at once brought a cloud between him and his God, caused him to feel that he was e. degraded man, and placed him, in that abandoned mood, under weaker safeguards against the growth of the evil passion. Unless a sudden and sharp repentance-a shocked cry to God for special help-came forth, there was no hope of his being the same man as formerly. Every hour during whlch the intrusive evil passion retained e.scendency only hastened his final overthrow. Men so circumstanced become blind and stupid; they know their degradation, but are under a spell by whlch it becomes greater; consequences suggested in feeble or strong tones by the reason are not considered ; the will, lately crippled for good, now goes over in full strength to the side of evil. Facilis descens'IJ,S A.verni. The particular passion may vary in the different deeds of evil which occasionally shock the religious world, but in every case there is a gradual decline, and it is only the last few stages of it which form the subject of surprise among men. Not murder as seen in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth,' nor fraud as seen in occasional modem revelations, nor youthful excesses as when the parent's heart ls broken, are sudden in origin. A series of mental and moral changes precede that which attracts the notice of men e.nd forms the occasion of a social condemnation. GENERAL LESSONS, 1. 'l'he fidelity of Scripture writers may be referred to as evidence of Divine inspiration. The cool impartiality with which the best king of Israel is represented as having fallen into the vilest of sins, and this without note or comment, is certainly not of man. 2. Moral causes are deepest and most wide-reaching in the sphere of human life; the change here indicated in David's moral condition was of pernicious influence ever after on his rule, his court, his private life, and the general prosperity of the kingdom. 3. The season of great prosperity in temporal affairs, and of elevation in religious privilege, should, on account of the peril it brings, be a. season of keenest and most earnest watchfulness. 4. So powerful are the inferior propensities of human nature, even in the case of most favoured men, that it is possible for them to sweep away in their outburst the reputation built up on the best purposes and actions; and hence the importance of e. most jealous guard against everything in appetite, sigb.t, and 1ound, the.t may develop their power. 5. Seeing the extraordinary extremes of human experience in the life of David, we me.y note and weigh well the undeveloped possi- bilities for good or evil, for joy or pain, for usefulness or harm, that lie within the scope of every human being in the future state, even more than in this. 6. Feminine obtrusiveness. even when no danger is aotually perceived in it, may all the time be 272 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [en. xr. 1-27.
operating on eome one for evil; and hence the duty of the moRt guarded modesty or manner and pel'l!onal e.ppearanoe. We do not fully estimate the he.rm done to buman t.hought and feeling by the ocular impressions produced by certain forms of dress Bml hearing. 7. It is good to have leisure from toil, but much grace is needed to use leisure l!O that in it the tempter may not gain power over us. 8. The dangers of eventide leisure are conspicuous, especie.lly to the young and to the ardent. 9. It adds to the guilt of a man if, being in a position of e.uthorit.v or influence, he exercises his official influence to gain power over others for purposes of evil.