of nature, a thorough understanding of all the properties of matter and of mind, or a profound skill in tongues, for which he prayed, but for that wisdom which would enable him to discharge the duties of his station for the glory of GoD and the general good. And this should be the aim of every man, let his rank in life or his pursuits be what they may. All knowledge that is not calculated to promote the divine honor, and the benefit of our fellow-creatures, if not injurious, is at least useless. A man may possess a very accurate acquaintance with books and with the sciences, he may have his head filled with the lumber of learning, and know all the events of history, yet with all this reputation of wisdom he may be a fool, because what he possesses is not applied to a single useful purpose. Let the conduct then of Solomon be a lesson of imitation to young persons, to study nothing without having a beneficial object in view; and let all their desires, prayers, and pursuits, be directed to this end, “how they shall best serve God in their generation.”

The choice of Solomon met with the divine approbation, and his wish was not only gratified, but to the promise of the most extensive wisdom was added that of riches, honor, and length of days. No man ever lost by asking for divine instruction. The submission of our will and reason to the counsel of GOD is honoring him in the fullest sense, and we are assured that "those who honor him he will honor." Solomon asked only for the influence of the divine Spirit to instruct him in the arduous employment of governing a mighty nation; and as his request resulted from a pure wish to serve God and to do good, he received, in addition to his prayer, blessings which, if he had supplicated, would not perhaps have been granted him.

When this great solemnity at Gibeon was ended, Solomon returned to Jerusalem, where he also publicly officiated in the great services of religion, a practice which could not but tend to produce the most beneficial effects upon the people.

The pre-eminent wisdom of the young monarch soon became celebrated, and one remarkable circumstance occurred which displayed his quick discernment and profound judgment in the strongest light. Two women who lived together were each delivered of a son, but in the night one of the infants died, on which the mother took the corpse and laid it beside the other woman as she slept, taking away the living child in its stead. This occasioned a violent contest between the women, and the matter was laid before the king, in whose presence each maintained her right to the living child. As there were no evidences to support the claim of either, the king ordered that the child should be divided between them. This dreadful sentence so operated upon the feelings of the real mother, that she readily relinquished her pretensions in favor of her rival rather than witness the slaughter of her child. By this artifice Solomon discovered that she was the mother, and instantly caused the child to be delivered unto her. Justly therefore was the fame of his wisdom spread among the nations, and happy were the people that had such a prince to rule over them. He was not only careful to administer justice faithfully and indiscriminately, as well to the poor as to the rich, but he studied to preserve his dominions in peace, and by his care and wisdom" silver and gold became as plenteous at Jerusalem as stones, and cedartrees as the sycamore-trees that are in the vale for abundance." 2 Chron. i. 15.

By an attention to commerce he greatly enriched his subjects, and acquired powerful allies. The principal of these was Hiram, king of Tyre, a prince who possessed a most noble and liberal mind: for

instead of entertaining any jealousy of Solomon's rising greatness, he assisted him in his views, and permitted the Tyrians, then the most famous shipwrights and mariners in the world, to build him ships and to navigate them. The king of Israel, being determined to fulfil his father's last solemn injunctions, of building a magnificent temple to the glory of GoD, communicated his intentions to the king of Tyre, requesting that he would provide him a person qualified to superintend the work,

together with proper laborers, and such materials as were necessary. Hiram complied with the wish of his neighbor; and this structure, which never had a parallel, was prosecuted with eagerness, and consecrated in the most solemn manner. On that great festival Solomon appeared with distinguished glory, as the conductor of his people's devotions; and the prayer which he pronounced at the dedication of the temple is an inimitable composition, being fervent, pathetic, solemn, and humiliating. It is the lowly language of a sinner bowing himself to the dust in the presence of his Creator, and acknowledging that the greatest of his performances is unworthy of the divine notice.

The glory of GoD filled the house, and the fire from heaven consumed the victims that were offered upon the altar.

What a happiness is it to see men of exalted station fulfilling the duties of religion, and setting a pious example to their inferiors and dependants! But every one has the same duties to perform, and the same example to set, let his sphere of action be ever so narrow, and his place in life be ever so humble. When Solomon dedicated the temple, and renewed the covenant with the LORD, all eyes were upon him, and it was to be expected that in the subsequent part of his life he would conform to the declarations which he had made in the presence of all his people.

For a long time indeed he continued faithful to GOD, and experienced in an abundant measure the divine favor upon himself and his kingdom. His name was known far and near, and so great was the renown of his wisdom, that the most exalted personages came from distant parts for the pleasure of his instructive conversation. Among these the most remarkable was the queen of Sheba, whom our LORD calls "the queen of the south." Luke xi. 31. Her journey seems to have been very great, but the fame of this extraordinary prince was such that she readily undertook it, bringing with her "a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones; and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart." 2 Chron. ix. 1, &c.

We cannot but admire the ardent love of wisdom which could animate this princess to such a degree as to induce her to leave her own dominions to visit a country of strangers. It is plain, from what our SAVIOUR says, that "she came to hear the wisdom of Solomon," and should therefore rise up in judgment against that generation who would not hear him; that the intent of her journey was not to gratify an idle curiosity on matters of speculation, but to satisfy her mind on the most important points of religion. Well, therefore, did she merit the encomium bestowed upon her by the REDEEMER; and well might he adduce her example as a reproach to that unbe lieving generation, who neglected to hear or to profit by the words of life delivered by him who was greater than Solomon. And will not this excellent queen equally appear as a witness against those who, in the full blaze of gospel light, wilfully shut their eyes against the truth, and will not receive the instructions of the King of righteousness, which are "able to make them wise unto salvation ?" With what eagerness did this pious woman undertake a perilous journey to gain some information respecting the things of God, and yet, when eternal life is brought home to us, when saving grace is tendered for our acceptance, when the Mediator solicits us to be happy by yielding up our souls to him as an acceptable service, we renounce his overtures, and turn a deaf ear to his entreaties. Let the case before us, and the application which our LORD made of it, make a deep impression upon our hearts, and lead us with all humility and anxiety to the feet of the REDEEMER, where, like Mary, we may learn the lessons of heavenly wisdom, and receive the consolations of eternal life.

The greatest part of Solomon's reign was truly glorious; but we are now to consider him as sullying his reputation, and that too at a period of time when the passions, one should have thought, would have been subdued, and when the principles of piety would have become habitual. His marriage with Pharaoh's daughter, which appears to have been in the early part of his life, has been considered by some writers the occasion of his declension from the paths of religion and virtue. But this is not likely, for it is only said in the account of his apostacy that "he loved many strange women, together with [or besides] the daughter of Pharaoh, who was his lawful wife." 1 Kings xi. 1. These women he collected from the neighboring nations, and by them he was enticed to the most shameful acts of idolatry. Now it is not said that Pharaoh's daughter had any concern in perverting the heart of her husband from the true God. On the contrary, the cause of his rejecting the truth was his "love of MANY women;" and thus