1imilar spirit, nnd bringing untold miseries upon them. What oppression, strife, and other deadly fruits grow out of this "root of bitterness" (Exod. xiv. 5) I VII. A RUINOUS TENDENCY IN RELATION TO MAN HIMSELF. (Dan. iv. 28; Prov. :xvi. 18.) "Pride wishes to dethrone God. Pride takes occasion from virtue itself. Pride was particularly odious in David, who was exalted from so lowly a state. His pride was accompanied by falsehood; for he had protested his humility in the psalm11 which he made for all the people to sing. David was a just man; but this was a reason why God should punish him more severely. For it is certain that the sins of the children of God are more deserving of condemnation than the sins of reprobates and slaves of the devil. These only offend their master, but those do outrage to their Father; these are only rebel subjects, but those are unnatural children and barbarians; these only abuse the gifts of nature, hut those profane miserably the gifts of grace. And how much more abominable is Judas than Pilatel Be not surprised, then, that when David, who was complete in a thousand graces, committed the crime of felony against him, the Eternal could not suffer such an indignity without punishing him severely" (Du Bose, in Vinet's •Histoire de la Predication').-D. Vere. 3, 4 (1 Chron. xxi. 3, 4).-(THE ROYAL COUNCIL-CHAMBER.) Unheeded remcn- ,t,·ance. This was not the first time that Joab remonstrated with David (eh. iii. 24; :xix. 6); but his manner was now very different from what it had been before; arising, perhaps, from his recollection of the consequences of his former rudeness (eh. xix. 13), and his fear of the displeasure of the king, whose authority was fully restored. His remonstrance appears to have been made in a. council of the captains of the army (eh. :xxiii. 8), to whom the king declared his purpose, and by whom Joab's objection to it was supported (ver. 4). As often happens in other instances, it was : 1. Greatly needed, on account of a sinful and dangerous course about to be pursued. (1) Men of the .most exalted position and excellent character sometimes go astray from the ri11;ht path. (2) The error of their way is often perceived by others, when they are blind to it themselves. (3) One of the principal means of preventing their continuance therein is to reason, expostulate, and remonstrate with them concerning its real nature and probable consequences (Ps. cxli. 5). 2. Pr<Yperly offered. (1) By those to whom the matter is one of just concern. Joab was captain of the host; and, although a man of depraved character, he possessed a. sound practical judgment, and hau rendered great services to the nation and the king. (2) From sincere conviction. "No man is so wicked but that sometimes he will dislike some evil, and it will be abominable (1 Chron. xxi. 6) to him" (Guild). (3) On reasonable grounds. It can neither increase the number of the people (which is with God) nor the power and honour of the king (already supreme, 1 Chron. xxi. 3), and it will be "a cause of trespass." "Why doth my lord," etc.? " There are many who can give good counsel to others, for the avoiding of some sins, who in grosser trespasses have not grace to take good counsel themselves" (Matt. vii. 3). ( 4) In a right spirit; devout, loyal, humble, and courteous. 'l'here is nothing to indicate that Joab was actuated by sinister motives; and the event justified the wisdom of his counsel. 3. Impatiently received, and imperfectly con- sidered; it may be because of: (1) Distrust of the person from whom it comes. "Let none look who gives the counsel, but what it is; and, if good, not to reject it for him who gives the same." (2) A determination to have one's own way; and the wish to show independence of and superiority to other persons. (3) Dislike to the nature of the advice itself, and indisposition to abandon a course on which the heart is set. 4, Resolutely re;'ected and wholly overborne. "The word of the king prevailed," etc. His persistency in his purpose, after the remonstrance, (1) increases his responsibility, (2) aggravates hie guilt, (3) consummates his transgression. "And Joab and the captains went out from the presence of the king," reluctantly to fulfil their commission; and it was only when it was well-nigh accomplished (1 Chron. xxvii. 24) that he became aware of his sin and folly. "Men seldom accomplish to good purpose those services in which they reluctantly engage; and God does not generally allow those whom he loves the satisfaction which they sinfully covet" (Scott).-D.
Vere. 5-10 (1 Chron. xxi. 5-8).-(THE ROYAL BED-CHAMBER.) An awakened conscience. 'l'he taking of the census occupied over nine mouths; and during this time 614 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [CR, XlUV, 1-26,