man--the nature and effects of renewing grace--and the temper and
conduct of the delinquent when he was reproved by the prophet_? From a
consideration of these we may derive the most probable solution of the
question, or judge what was probably the state in which David was
found by Nathan.

It may be proper to premise,

I. That good men, while in this state of imperfection, should be
surprized by temptation into sins, and even heinous sins, is neither
new nor strange. Many instances occur in the history of the saints
recorded in the scriptures. "Aaron, the saint of the Lord," and Moses,
whose general character was that of "a servant, faithful in all God's
house," were both seduced into sins of such enormity that they were
excluded the land of promise, in common with rebellious Israel. Among
New Testament saints similar lapses are observable. Even the apostles
forsook the Savior, and fled when Judas led forth the hostile band to
apprehend him; and Peter, when under the influence of fear, with oaths
and imprecations "denied the Lord that bought him!" The habitual
temper of these good men could not be argued--from these sudden acts.
Neither is judgment to be formed of others, except by observing the
general tenor of their lives. Strong and unexpected temptations may,
and often do, seduce the best of those who remain in the body and
retain the weakness of fallen creatures yet on trial.

II. There is something in each one's constitution which predisposes to
certain sins. To every person there is a "sin which most easily besets
him"--from which he is liable to stronger temptation than from other
sins--and temptation to such sins may rise from concurring
circumstances, above its natural state, and become almost invincible.