It is easy therefore to understand, how any of these children of God might be moved from his own stedfastness, and yet the great truth of God, declared, by the apostle, remain stedfast and unshaken. He did not _keep himself_, by that grace of God which was sufficient for him. He fell, step by step, first into negative, inward sin, not _stirring up the gift of God_ which was in him, not _watching unto prayer_, not _pressing on to the mark of the prize of his high calling_: then into positive inward sin, inclining to wickedness with his heart, giving way to some evil desire or temper. Next, he lost his faith, his sight of a pardoning God, and consequently his love of God. And being then weak and like another man, he was capable of committing even outward sin. 8. To explain this by a particular instance: _David_ was born of God, and saw God by faith. He loved God in sincerity. He could truly say, _Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth_ (neither person, nor thing) _that I desire in comparison of thee_! But still there remained in his heart that corruption of nature, which is the seed of all evil. He was [45]_walking upon the roof of his house_, probably praising the God whom his soul loved, when he looked down and saw _Bathsheba_. He felt a temptation, a thought which tended to evil. The Spirit of God did not fail to convince him of this. He doubtless heard and knew the warning voice. But he yielded in some measure to the thought, and the temptation began to prevail over him. Hereby his spirit was sullied; he saw God still; but it was more dimly than before. He loved God still; but not in the same degree, not with the same strength and ardor of affection. Yet God checked him again, though his Spirit was grieved; and his voice, though fainter and fainter, still whispered, “Sin lieth at the door; look unto me, and be thou saved.” But he would not hear. He looked again, not unto God, but unto the forbidden object, ’till nature was superior to grace, and kindled lust in his soul. *The eye of his mind was now closed again, and God vanished out of his sight. Faith, the divine, supernatural intercourse with God, and the love of God ceased together. He then rushed on as a horse into the battle, and knowingly committed the outward sin.