C.M.
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 eye on Bathsheba once fixed,
With poison filled his soul;
He ventured on adultery next,
And murder crowned 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 God he little thought.
5
He neither would nor could repent,
No true compunction felt;
Till God, in mercy, Nathan sent,
His stubborn heart to melt.
6
The parable held forth a fact,
Designed 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 owned his sin and prayed,
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.
