herd to dress for the wayfaring man * that was come unto him, but took the poor man's lamb and dreffed it for the ❝ man that was come unto him!"

The cafe was drawn up with great judgment and beauty - the feveral minute circumstances which heightened the injury truly affecting and fo ftrongly urged, that it would have been impoffible for any man with a previous fenfe, of guilt upon his mind, to have de-, fended himself from fome degree of remorfe, which it muft naturally have excited.

The ftory, though it fpoke only of the injuftice and oppreffive act of an-i other man yet it pointed to what he had lately done himself, with all the circumftances of its aggravation

and

withal,

withal, the whole, was fo tenderly addreffed to the heart and paffions, as to kindle at once the utmost horror and in

and

dignation. And fo it did, but not against the proper perfon. In his tranfport he forgot himself -his anger greatly kindled against the manhe faid unto Nathan, "As the Lord "liveth, the man that hath done this દ thing, fhall furely die, and he fhall "reftore the lamb fourfold, because he "did this thing and because he had no pity."

ἐσ

It can scarce be doubted here, but that David's anger was real, and that he was what he appeared to be, greatly provoked and exasperated against the offender: and, indeed, his fentence against. him proves he was fo above measure... For to punish the man with death, and,

ob

oblige him to restore fourfold befides, was highly unequitable, and not only difproportioned to the offence, but far above the utmoft rigour and feverity of the law, which allowed a much fofter attonement, requiring in fuch a cafe, no more than an ample reftitution and re compence in kind. The judgment however, feems to have been truly fincere and well meant, and bespoke rather the honeft rashness of an unfufpicious judge, than the cool determination of a conscious and guilty man, who knew he was going to pafs fentence upon himself.

I take notice of this particular, becaufe it places this inftance of felf deceit, which is the fubject of the difcourfe, in the strongest light, and fully demonstrates the truth of a fact in this great man, which happens every day amongst ourfelves,

felves, namely, that a man may be guilty of very bad and difhoneft actions, and yet reflect fo little, or fo partially, upon what he has done, as to keep his conscience free, not only from guilt, bur even the remoteft fufpicions, that he is the man which in truth he is, and' what the tenor and evidence of his life demonftrate. If we look into the world David's is no uncommon cafe fee fome one or other perpetually copying this bad original, fitting in judgment upon himself hearing his own

we

cause, and not knowing what he is do ing; hafty in paffing fentence, and even executing it too with wrath upon the perfon of another, when in the language of the phophet, one might fay to him with juftice," thou art the man.” mod

Of

Of the many revengeful, covetous, falfe and ill-natured perfons which we complain of in the world, though we all join in the cry against them, what man amongst us fingles out himself as a criminal, or ever once takes it into his head that he adds to the number?- or where is there a man fo bad, who would, not think it the hardest and most unfair imputation to have any of thofe particular vices laid to his charges q

If he has the fymptoms never fo ftrong upon him, which he would pronounce infallible in another, they are indications of no fuch malady in himself.

He fees

what no one elfe fees, fome fecret and flattering circumftances in his favour, which no doubt make a wide difference betwixt his cafe and the parties which he condemns.