Olney Hymns (1840)/Book 1/Hymn 29

29.
David's Fall.—2 Sam. xi, 27.

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 eyes, on Bathsheba once fix'd,
With poison fill'd his soul;
He ventured on adult'ry next,
And murder crown'd 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,
Design'd 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 own'd his sin and pray'd,
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.