11. But if concerning us men thou wilt have
other examples also set before thee The Benedictine has,
“But if thou wilt I will set before thee other examples also of
our state? Come on to the blessed David.”, come on to the
blessed David, and take him for an example of repentance. Great
as he was, he fell: after his sleep, walking in the eventide on
the housetop, he cast a careless look, and felt a human passion.
His sin was completed, but there died not with it his candour
concerning the confession of his fault. Nathan the Prophet came,
a swift accuser, and a healer of the wound. The Lord is
wroth, he says, and thou hast sinned 2 Sam. xii.. So spake the subject to the reigning
king. But David the king Bened. “The king,
the wearer of the purple.” was not indignant,
for he regarded not the speaker, but God who had sent him. He was
not puffed up Bened.
“blinded.” by the array of
soldiers standing round: for he had seen in thought the
angel-host of the Lord, and he trembled as seeing Him who is
invisible Heb. xi. 27.; and to the
messenger, or rather by him in answer to God who sent him, he said,
I have sinned against the Lord 2 Sam. xii. 13.. Seest
thou the humility of the king? Seest thou his confession?
For had he been convicted by any one? Were many privy to the
matter? The deed was quickly done, and straightway the Prophet
appeared as accuser, and the offender confesses the fault. And
because he candidly confessed, he received a most speedy cure.
For Nathan the Prophet who had uttered the threat, said immediately,
The Lord also hath put away thy sin. Thou seest the swift
relenting of a merciful God. He says, however, Thou hast
greatly provoked the enemies of the Lord. Though thou hadst many
enemies because of thy righteousness, thy self-control protected thee;
but now that thou hast surrendered thy strongest armour, thine enemies
are risen up, and stand ready against thee.