things began to be troubled. There are whips laid up against the time of Solomon's foreseen offence, which are now brought forth for his correction. On purpose was Hadad the son of the king of Edom hid in a corner of Egypt from the sword of David and Joab, that he might be reserved for a scourge to the exorbitant son of David. God would have us make account, that our peace ends with our innocence. The same sin, that sets debate betwixt God and us, arms the creatures against us. It were pity we should be at any quiet, while we are fallen out with the God of peace.

1 Kings xi.

But in the midst of the horror of this spectacle, able to affright all the sons of men, behold some glimpse of comfort. Was it of Solomon, that David his father prophesied; Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand? If sensible grace, yet final mercy was not taken from that beloved of God: in the hardest of this winter, the sap was gone down to the root, though it shewed not in the branches. Even while Solomon removed, that word stood fast, He shall be my son, and I will be his father. He, that foresaw his sin, threat ened and limited his correction; If he break my statutes, and keep not my commandments, then will I visit his transgression with a rod, and his iniquity with stripes; nevertheless, my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithful ness to fail; my covenant will I not break; nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth.

Behold, the favour of God doth not depend upon Solomon's obedience: if Solomon shall suffer his faithfulness to fail towards his God, God will not requite him, with the failing of his faithful ness to Solomon: if Solomon break his covenant with God, God will not break his covenant with the father of Solomon, with the son of David: he shall smart; he shall not perish. O gracious word of the God of all mercies; able to give strength to the languishing; comfort to the despairing; to the dying, life! Whatsoever we are, thou wilt be still thyself, O Holy One of Israel; true to thy covenant, constant to thy decree: the sins of thy chosen can neither frustrate thy counsel, nor outstrip thy

mercies.

Now I see Solomon, of a wanton lover, a grave preacher of mor tification. I see him quenching those inordinate flames, with the tears of his repentance. Methinks I.hear him sighing deeply, be twixt every word of that his solemn penance, which he would needs enjoin himself before all the world; I have applied my heart to know the wickedness of folly, even the foolishness of madness; and I find more bitter than death, the woman, whose heart is as nets and snares, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall be delivered from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

Solomon was taken as a sinner; delivered, as a penitent. His soul escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers; the snare was broken, and he delivered. It is good for us, that he was both taken and delivered; taken, that we might not presume; and, that we might not despair, delivered. He sinned, that we might not sin; he recovered, that we may not sink under our sin.

But, Oh the justice of God inseparable from his mercy! Solomon's sin shall not escape the rod of men. Rather than so wise an offender shall want enemies, God shall raise up three adversaries unto Solomon; Hadad the Edomite, Rezon the king of Aram, Je roboam the son of Nebat; whereof, two were foreign, one domes tical. Nothing but love and peace sounded in the name of Solomon; nothing else was found in his reign, while he held in good terms with his God: but when once be fell foul with his Maker, all

hings began to be troubled. There are whips laid up against the ime of Solomon's foreseen offence, which are now brought forth for is correction. On purpose was Hadad the son of the king of Edom hid in a corner of Egypt from the sword of David and Joab, that he might be reserved for a scourge to the exorbitant son of David. God would have us make account, that our peace ends with our innocence. The same sin, that sets debate betwixt God and us, arms the creatures against us. It were pity we should be at any quiet, while we are fallen out with the God of peace.

But in the midst of the horror of this spectacle, able to affright all the sons of men, behold some glimpse of comfort. Was it of Solomon, that David his father prophesied; Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand? If sensible grace, yet final mercy was not taken from that beloved of God: in the hardest of this winter, the sap was gone down to the root, though it shewed not in the branches. Even while Solomon removed, that word stood fast, He shall be my son, and I will be his father. He, that foresaw his sin, threatened and limited his correction; If he break my statutes, and keep not my commandments, then will I visit his transgression with a rod, and his iniquity with stripes; nevertheless, my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithful ness to fail; my covenant will I not break; nor alter the thing that is gone out of my mouth.

Behold, the favour of God doth not depend upon Solomon's obedience: if Solomon shall suffer his faithfulness to fail towards his God, God will not requite him, with the failing of his faithfulness to Solomon: if Solomon break his covenant with God, God will not break his covenant with the father of Solomon, with the son of David: he shall smart; he shall not perish. O gracious word of the God of all mercies; able to give strength to the languishing; comfort to the despairing; to the dying, life! Whatsoever we are, thou wilt be still thyself, O Holy One of Israel; true to thy covenant, constant to thy decree: the sins of thy chosen can neither frustrate thy counsel, nor outstrip thy

mercies.

heart

Now I see Solomon, of a wanton lover, a grave preacher of mor tification. I see him quenching those inordinate flames, with the tears of his repentance. Methinks I.hear him sighing deeply, betwixt every word of that his solemn penance, which he would needs enjoin himself before all the world; I have applied my to know the wickedness of folly, even the foolishness of madness; and I find more bitter than death, the woman, whose heart is as nets and snares, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall be delivered from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

Solomon was taken as a sinner; delivered, as a penitent. His soul escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers; the snare was broken, and he delivered. It is good for us, that he was both taken and delivered; taken, that we might not presume; and, that we might not despair, delivered. He sinned, that we might not sin; he recovered, that we may not sink under our sin.

But, Oh the justice of God inseparable from his mercy! Solomon's sin shall not escape the rod of men. Rather than so wise an offender shall want enemies, God shall raise up three adversaries unto Solomon; Hadad the Edomite, Rezon the king of Aram, Je roboam the son of Nebat; whereof, two were foreign, one domes tical. Nothing but love and peace sounded in the name of Solo mon; nothing else was found in his reign, while he held in good terms with his God: but when once he fell foul with his Maker, all

things began to be troubled. There are whips laid up against the time of Solomon's foreseen offence, which are now brought forth for his correction. On purpose was Hadad the son of the king of Edom hid in a corner of Egypt from the sword of David and Joab, that he might be reserved for a scourge to the exorbitant son of David. God would have us make account, that our peace ends with our innocence. The same sin, that sets debate betwixt God and us, arms the creatures against us. It were pity we should be at any quiet, while we are failen out with the God of peace.

1 Kings xi.