29.
David s Fall.—2 Sam. xi, 27.
1 How David, when by sin deceived,
From bad to worse went on !
For when the Holy Spirit s grieved,
Our strength and guard are gone.
2 His eyes, on Bathsheba once fix d,
With poison fill d his soul ;
He ventured on adult ry next,
And murder crown d the whole.
3 So from a spark of fire at first,
That has not been descried,
A dreadful flame has often burst,
And ravaged far and wide.
4 When sin deceives it hardens too ;
For though he vainly sought
To hide his crimes from public view,
Of C4od he little thought.
5 He neither would nor could repent,
No true compunction felt,
Till C4od in mercy Nathan sent,
His stubborn heart to melt.
6 The parable held forth a fact,
Design d his case to show;
But though the picture was exact,
Himself he did not know.
7 " Thou art the man," the prophet said :
That word his slumber broke ;
And when he own d his sin and pray d,
The Lord forgiveness spoke.
8 Let those who think they stand, beware,
For David stood before :
Nor let the fallen soul despair,
For Mercy can restore.
