the temple than they would have gained by the mightiest conquests over the nations of the earth. Had Solomon gone forth, as did the Kings of Egypt and Assyria, at the head of thousands of warriors equipped for war, and had he won battle after battle, and then returned to Jerusalem laden with the spoils of vanquished foes, his name would have been far less illustrious in the annals of his country than it is, now that he is known as the King of Israel, whose reign was one of peace. Alas! that Solomon's history should be sullied as it is with sin and crime. But, wise as he was, and brilliant as was the early part of his career, he was subsequently led astray from the path of rectitude: "For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father." (1 Kings xi. 4.) Such is the instability of human nature! And the consequences of Solomon's fall who can calculate? Out of it sprang evils which he never thought of,—the division of the kingdom, the spread of idolatry,, the conquest of Israel by the Assyrians, and of Judæa by the Babylonians, and the total destruction of the temple he had built. What a warning is his fall both to the young and to the old! How loudly, as we contemplate these facts, do Solomon's own words fall upon our ears: "If sinners entice thee, consent thou not!" Solomon, in the earlier part of his reign, was, as we have observed, an eminent type of Him who now sits upon the throne of David, and of whose dominion there shall be no end. He is the true Solomon, "the Prince of Peace;" and under His government blessings are scattered on the race He has redeemed, richer and more abundant than the world ever knew. His advent took place when the nations of earth were comparatively at rest from war. "No war or battle's sound Was heard the world around: The idle spear and shield were high up-hung The hooked chariot stood Unstain'd with hostile blood; The trumpet spake not to the armed throng; And Kings sat still, with awe-full eye As if they surely knew their Sovereign Lord was by." And still He lives and reigns, and before Him every knee shall bow; for God has promised Him the Heathen for His inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession. How much happier are we who live under His government, and share in the blessings of His grace, than were even the subjects of Solomon, of whom the Queen of Sheba said, “Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom!" Let us honour Him, obey Him, love Him; and the privilege of seeing Him in His glory will ultimately be ours. London: R, Needham, Printer, Paternoster-Row. "But to outweigh all harm, the sacred Book And sift her laws-much wondering that the wrong CA WORDSWORTH. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY J. MASON, 14, CITY-ROAD; And still He lives and reigns, and before Him every knee shall bow; for God has promised Him the Heathen for His inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession. How much happier are we who live under His government, and share in the blessings of His grace, than were even the subjects of Solomon, of whom the Queen of Sheba said, “Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom!" Let us honour Him, obey Him, love Him; and the privilege of seeing Him in His glory will ultimately be ours. London: R, Needham, Printer, Paternoster-Row. |