Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/287

 Love of  our  enemies. Even  as  God  forgave  David  his  sin,  so  did David forgive  those  who  sinned  and  rebelled  against  him. “Forgive us our  trespasses,  as  we  forgive  them  that  trespass  against  us.”  He  who forgives from  his  heart  is  like  unto  the  merciful  God. There is  something noble,  nay,  something  divine,  in  forgiving  and  forgetting.

Pride, the source  of  many  sins.  The  great  sins  of  which  Absalom was guilty  sprang  from  pride. The beauty  of  his  person  and  especially of his  hair  made  him  vain  and  conceited. Being the  most  beautiful he wished  also  to  be  the  first  man  in  the  kingdom. He therefore  rebelled against his  royal  father,  and  led  his  people  into  a revolt  which  cost many thousand  lives.

The value  of  virtue.  Do  you  like  Absalom ? No ? and why  not ? He was  a handsome  young  man,  behaved  very  politely  and  courteously to the  people,  and  knew  perfectly  how  to  say  nice  and  pleasant  things; so why  do  you  not  like  him? Because he  had  a false,  bad  heart,  and was a flatterer  and  a hypocrite. So you  see  that  however  handsome and pleasant  a man  may  be,  if  he  has  a proud,  bad  heart,  he  is  neither loveable nor  worthy  of  respect,  but  on  the  contrary  hateful  and  despicable in  the  eyes  of  God  and  man. It is  only  virtue  which  can  give real worth  to  a man.

David, in  crossing  the  brook  Cedron  in  sorrow  and  tribulation, in his  ascent  of  Mount  Olivet,  in  his  patient  forbearance  when  outraged and insulted  by  Semei,  and  his  triumphant  entry  into  Jerusalem,  presents a very striking  figure  of  Christ.

David is  the  model  of  a truly  penitent  man. Though he  was  a king,  he  humbly  accepted  Nathan’s  reproaches and contritely  confessed  his  sin. Are you  ashamed  to  make  a sincere  confession  of  your  sins? He, an  Israelite,  bitterly  repented and bewailed  his  sin:  you  are  a Christian,  but  where  are  your tears of  repentance? This very  day  say  one  of  the  penitential Psalms as  a prayer!

Keep a guard  on  your  eyes;  they  are  the  windows  of  your soul. Drive any  bad  thought  from  your  heart  at  once. Say: “Away with it!”  and  pray  for  help. Nathan s words  to  David:  “The  Lord has done  good  to  you:  why  have  you  done  evil  in  His  sight?” apply to  you  as  well  as  to  David.

Has your  mother  ever  shed  tears  on  your  account? Have you ever  injured  or  grieved  or  seriously  irritated  your  father? In what way  do  you  most  grieve  your  parents? Have you  truly repented of  all  sins  committed  against  the  fourth  Commandment? Has your  conduct  towards  your  parents  improved? Do you  obey them at  once  and  without  arguing; or  is  it  only  when  they  scold and are  angry,  that  you  obey? Children, I wish  for  everything that is  most  good  for  you; that  everything  may  be  well  with  you