ed object. In all respects, as a shepherd, prophet, priest, warrior, and king, we can trace the lines of perfect resemblance. David conquered Goliath the enemy of Israel, when the hearts of all men failed for fear; Thus did our spiritual David, when even the armies of heaven shunned the contest, encounter the adversary of our salvation, endure the wrath of Divine justice, and bring in complete deliverance for us. The great enemy of mankind, possessed of gigantic faculties, and armed at all points, threatened us with certain destruction; but Jesus, who was "made lower than the angels," divested himself of his celestial glory, "emptied himself and became of no reputation ;" and in our nature, met and vanquished the arrogant champion, by inflicting on him a mortal wound in the head, agreeably to the express words of the first prophecy upon record.

It would be an easy and a profitable employ to pursue the parallel between David and the Messiah farther, by tracing the shepherd youth through all the marvellous incidents of his life, amidst storms and persecutions, to the promised throne, and in connexion therewith to mark the humiliation, the sufferings, and exaltation, of the "king of Zion," till his church shall be established in perfect glory.

SOLOMON.

Born Anno Mundi, 2971; died 3029.

IT is a mortifying reflection, that wisdom and holiness do not always meet in the same person. Men whose intellectual qualifications were of the first magnitude, stand exposed to perpetual reproach for acts of weakness which would disgrace the uncivilized inhabitant of the forest, unacquainted with the precepts of revelation, and the rules of social life. This establishes, beyond question, the truth that'

man is in a degenerate state, fallen from original righteousness, and incapable, by the exertion of any powers of his own, to attain a knowledge of God.

In the life of Solomon, we see all that human wis dom can possibly do towards enriching the mind, or sanctifying the heart. In him it will appear that the most vigorous intellect is incapable of resisting temptation, and that the greatest extent of knowledge will not cleanse that moral corruption, or clear away that spiritual darkness, which debases the soul of every man born into the world.

This celebrated monarch was the son of that Bathsheba whose charms allured David to commit the foulest actions of his life. He was born in the year of the world 2971, and the expectation of his father concerning him was strongly raised by this prediction: "Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be SOLOMON, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. He shall build an house for my name, and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever." 1 Chronicles xxii. 9, 10.

Though this prophecy was fulfilled in the person and reign of Solomon, yet it is manifest that a greater than Soloman is here. The declaration had a reference to the son and successor of David; but it was only verified fully in the Prince of Peace, who gives spiritual and eternal rest unto his people, who is the only-begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth, and who is now perfecting that glorious edifice, the church of God, of which he is himself the chief corner-stone.

Upon the birth of Solomon, the prophet Nathan was sent to David to inform him that the Divine favour rested upon his son, who also received the distinguished appellation of Jedediah, "or the beloved of the Lord." 2 Samuel xii. 25.

Concerning his infant years and education, we know nothing; but it cannot be supposed that the child of so much promise was neglected by such a father as David. We have, indeed, seen much to censure in that great man's conduct towards his other children, particularly Absalom; but from Solomon's early piety and prudence it is to be presumed that he profited much by his father's instructions.

When David found that his dissolution was near, and that a conspiracy was formed to place his son Adonijah on the throne, he caused Solomon to be invested with the royal robes, and resigned to him the sceptre in the presence of all Israel.

Several persons were put to death at the beginning of his reign, but there appears more of stern necessity than severity in these executions. Solomon acted by the counsel of his father in cutting off those men whose crimes had long merited punishment. In the administration of justice upon these traitors and murderers, he also gratified the inclinations of his people, and established the peace of his kingdom.

The early part of his reign was uncommonly brilliant; "for the Lord magnified him exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been before him on any king in Israel;" and the ground of this eminent favour was, "that he loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father."

Shortly after his accession he held a solemn festival before the tabernacle at Gibeon. There, in the presence of all Israel, the young king paid his devotions to the Most High; and so acceptable was this service, that the same night a voice from heaven promised him whatever he should desire. The magnitude of the offer did not raise any improper desires in the mind of Solomon. He had no wish for enlarged dominions, extensive conquests,_great riches. or a long life of glory and pleasure. To aspiring and active monarchs these would have been

the first objects; and even young persons in a far inferior station would, on such a proposal, immediately have fixed their wishes upon wealth, renown, or pleasure. But Solomon had a higher ambition, and was only desirous of being truly a great king, by doing good to his subjects, and by being able to administer judgment to them with justice. "Give me now," says he, "wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people that is so great?" The petition of Solomon cannot be too seriously weighed and admired. He rightly judged, that in praying for such a degree of wisdom as was necessary to the better government of his people, he was not only supplicating a blessing for himself, but for them. The nature of that wisdom which he desired is also worthy our notice. It was not depth of scientific knowledge, a minute acquaintance with the hidden powers of nature, a thorough understanding of the properties of matter and 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 Divine glory and the good of his fellow-creatures: and this should be the aim of every man, let his rank or pursuits be what they may. All knowledge that is not calculated to promote the Divine honour and the benefit of our fellow-creatures, if not injurious, is at least useless.

The choice of Solomon met with the Divine,approbation; and to the promise of the most extensive wisdom was added that of riches, honour, and a long and prosperous reign. No man ever lost by asking for Divine instruction. The submission of our will and reason to the counsel of God, is honcuring him in the fullest sense; and we are assured that they who honour him he will horour." Solomon asked only for the influence of the Divine spirit to instruct him in the arduous employ of government; and as his request resulted from a pure wish to serve Gon, and to do good, he received, in addition to his prayer,

Р

66

blessings, which, if he had supplicated, would probably not have been granted.

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

The pre-eminent wisdom of the young monarch soon became celebrated; and one remarkable cirstance 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 as her own. This occasioned a violent contest, and the matter was laid before the king, in whose presence each maintained her right to the living infant. As there was no evidence 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 favour of her rival, rather than witness the slaughter of her child. By this artifice Solomon discovered he parent, and instantly caused the child to be aelivered 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 wise management "silver and gold became as plenteous at Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees as the sycamore trees that are in the vale for abundance."

By an attention to comnierce he greatly enriched his subjects, and acquired powerful allies. The principal of these was Hiram, king of Tyre, a prince of a most noble and liberal mind; who, instead of en