But most significant is the fact, that those tragedies complete
themselves by the sin and shame of David's one virtuous and famous
son. Significant truly, that in his old age Solomon the wise should
love strange women, and deserting for their sakes the God of his
fathers, end as an idolater and a dotard, worshipping the
abominations of the heathen, his once world-famous wisdom sunk into
utter folly.

But, it may be said, the punishment of David's sin fell on his sons,
and not upon himself.

How so? Can there be a more heavy punishment, a more bitter pain,
than to be punished in and by his children; to see his own evil
example working out their shame and ruin? But do not fancy that
David's own character did not suffer for his sin. The theory that
he became, instantly on his repentance, as good and great a man as
he was before his fall, was convenient enough to certain theologians
of past days; but it is neither warranted by the facts of Scripture,
nor by the noble agonies, however noble, of the 51st Psalm.

It is a prayer for restoration, and that of the only right and true
kind: 'Take not thy Holy Spirit from me;' and, as such, it was
doubtless heard: but it need not have been fulfilled instantly and
at once. It need not have been fulfilled, it may be, till that life
to come, of which David knew so little. It is a fact, it was not
fulfilled in this life. We read henceforth of no noble and heroical
acts of David. From that time forth--I speak with all diffidence,
and merely as it seems to me--he is a broken man. His attitude in
Absalom's rebellion is all but imbecile. No act is recorded of him
to the day of his death but what is questionable, if not mean and