Now David beholds a worthy object of his love in peaceful poffeffion of the throne of Ifrael-now does he charge him to keep the commandments of GOD, to take heed to the ftatutes, and walk in the ways of the Almighty. The dying prophet exhorts the youthful monarch to exemplary holinefs-he admonishes him to pay due allegiance to the King of kings he gives him the weighty charge of building the houfe of GOD-he lays before the eyes of his fon the model and pattern of that facred work, the merit of which belongs to David, no lefs than to Solomon. David bestows the gold and filver for this holy ufe-an hundred thousand talents of gold-ten times as much filver-brafs and iron beyond all weight. David excites the princes of Ifrael to give their affiftance-takes notice of their bountiful offerings-numbers the Levites, and fets them their respective tasks. Even the fingers and musicians

are

are appointed to their office by the fweet pfalmift of Ifrael. And when all things are in their defired order, and due ftate of preparation, he bleffes Solomon and his people, and fleeps with his fathers. O happy foul, how quiet poffeffion haft thou taken, after fo many tumults, of a better crown! Thou, who didft prepare all things for the house of thy GoD, how art thou welcomed to that more glorious tabernacle, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens !

AGAIN is Solomon crowned the fovereign of Ifrael-now in his own right, as formerly in his father's, he fits upon the feat of David. He loves the LORD, and is loved by Him in return. The wicked are taken away from before the king, and his throne is established in righteousness.

As yet the high places, on which ftood a variety of altars, were frequented F 4

both

both by the people, and the king. Before he builds the temple at Jerufalem, Solomon goes up to Gibeon. There was the allowed altar of JEHOVAHthere was the tabernacle, though the ark was in the city of David. The young monarch, defiring to begin his reign with GOD, offers on that altar no lefs than a thousand facrifices.

How sweet is the repofe of innocence and piety! The night cannot but be happy, if the day hath been holy. Solomon lays him down to fleep; and lo, he fees Him who is invisible, and hears the voice of a merciful GOD, "Afk me "what I fhall give thee." We cannot be fo liberal to ourselves as by our oblations to the Author of all good. Though the cattle on a thousand hills are his own, he graciously accepts the freewill-offering of his fervant. And art thou lefs bounteous, O GOD, to thy poorest worshipper under the gospel,

than

than thou waft to the prince of Israel? Thou haft faid, "Whatsoever ye "fhall ask the Father in my name, I "will give unto you." Let thy merciful ears be ever open to the prayer of thy fervants-and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to afk fuch things as fhall please thee!

THERE needs no time for deliberation-the waking thoughts of Solomon had been intent on WISDOM. His heart was fo filled with the love and admiration of that heavenly gift, that it fastened at once on the grace it had longed for. "Give thy fervant an understanding

heart, to judge thy people." Had not Solomon been already distinguished for wisdom, he would have been lefs fenfible of its value-he would not thus have preferred it in his defires-he would not have esteemed it the pearl of greatest value in his diadem.. "When I per

"ceived that I could not otherwife ob

"tain her, except God gave her me,

(and that was a point of wisdom alfo to know whofe gift fhe was) I prayed " unto the LORD and befought him, " and with my whole heart I faid, O God

of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, give "me Wisdom that fitteth by thy throne." Solomon well knew, that royalty without wisdom would be only pre-eminence of infamy-that life itself would be tedious, and power unprofitable.

THE king of Ifrael awakes, and finds that his dream was divine and oracular. Illumination is fhed over his heart-he feels that God hath given him a new foul. No wonder, that on his return from the tabernacle to the ark he testifies his joy and thankfulness by burnt-offerings, and peace-offerings, and public feaftings. The heart which is filled with a fenfe of the prefence and favour of GOD, betakes itself with eagerness to these outward expreffions of gratitude.

"GOD