home, while the ark, Joab, and the army remained in tents in the open field.(6) He was detained another night; when David made him drunk,(7) waiting to see what effect that might have. It was still the same; Uriah, like many other drunken men, was resolved not to go home. *2 Sam. xi. 2. ** Ver. 4. *** Ver. 6. **** Ver. 8. (5) Ver. 9. (6) Ver. 11. (7) Ver. 35. David, finding him so obstinate, altered his plan of operations, and determined then to get rid of him for ever. To which intent, he sent him back to the camp, with a letter to the general. "And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the fore-front of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten and die."* This instruction was accordingly complied with;** and then Bathsheba, like another Abigail, was taken into David's seraglio.*** Nathan the prophet read David an arch lecture upon this subject;**** and he, who took care not to disagree With his best friends, bore with the reproof, and humbled himself accordingly. This complicated crime committed by David is universally allowed; but people think so little for them selves, that even _this_ would be qualified, were it not found ready condemned to their hand in the relation of it. This crime is given up too, as the _only stain_ in David's character: but the circumstances of it will not permit this to be granted, abstracted from any consideration of the man. For, though a generally good man may, in a sudden start of any of the passions, lose government of himself so far, as to violate conjugal fidelity, or perhaps suddenly to kill another; yet a deliberate scheme, including _two_ such crimes, can be concerted only by a _bad heart_. It is also to be remarked respecting his famous repentance of this black transaction, that he shewed no tokens of relenting until it was extorted from him by artifice! and that even then, though he mourned his crime, he never entertained a thought of relinquishing future commerce with the woman so wickedly obtained, but kept her until he died! and altered the regular course of succession, in favour of a son he had by her.(5) It is hoped the supposition may be allowed, that the noise this righteous affair made, might be one motive for Joab's desiring David to come and partake some of the honours of the campaign:(6) an opportunity of which he prudently laid hold: but--fatal was his presence wherever he appeared. * 2 Sam. xi. 15. ** Ver. 17. *** Ver. 27. **** Ch. xii. 1. (5) Kings i. 13. (6) 2 Sam. xii. 27, 28.