In what parts of the Bible do we read of the peaceful kingdom of Christ?

What spirit must you have now, if you hope to enjoy the blessings of that kingdom hereafter?

Repeat the words of Christ to his disciples, when he gave them the blessing of peace?

THE BROOK CHERETH

AND THE MOUNT CARMEL..

WE must pass over several years in the history of Canaan and the people of Israel. During those years Solomon's reign ended, and a great change took place in the kingdom. I told you that the latter part of Solomon's reign was less glorious than the former part of it; why was this? It was because Solomon, in his old age, was tempted to forsake God, and to worship the idols of the heathen nations around.

Was it not strange that a wise man, like Solomon, should fall into so foolish a sin as idolatry? Yes; but this just shows us what man's heart is by nature; the heart, I mean, of every one of us. We are all by nature foolish, as well as wicked. And though some people may be wise and learned in the knowledge of this world, yet, unless God himself teach them, they cannot become wise in eternal and heavenly things-"wise unto salvation." And even after people have been taught, by the Holy Spirit, to love and serve God, as Solomon had been, if they forget to watch and pray, they will surely fall again into sin and folly. So it was with Solomon. He forsook God for a time, and then God left

him to himself, and he fell into these grievous and foolish sins. This was sad, indeed, after his long and happy reign; but before his death we cannot doubt that Solomon repented, and that he sought and obtained pardon, and had God's blessing and favour again. But punishment followed his sin. It was the transgression of Solomon, and of his people too, which caused the change which took place in the kingdom after his death. God said he would take away ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel from Rehoboam, Solomon's son, and give them to another man. This man was named Jeroboam. He was the first king of Israel; that is, of the ten tribes, apart from the two tribes of Judah and

Benjamin.

The kings of Judah

were all children or descendants of David, according to God's promise; but the kings of Israel were taken from many different families; and wicked men very often got possession of the crown by murder and bloodshed. All the kings of Israel were wicked; they forsook the true God, and worshipped idols. But, though many of the kings of Judah also were wicked, yet there were some among them who followed the example of David and Solomon, and had God's favour and blessing.

It was during the reigns of these kings of Israel and Judah, that most of the prophets lived whose writings we have in the Bible. Some of these prophesied in Israel,