the type of the true Peaceful and the true Perfect, of whom it is written, "A greater than Solomon is here."

We read that the result of all these admirable arrangements of his was that Judah and Israel multiplied; that he reigned from the river unto the land of the Philistines; that is, stretching all the way from the Nile to the Euphrates, possessing an amount of empire that had not been covered in the history of Israel before. It also says that the result of his reign was that Judah and Israel dwelt safely.

Now, here is just the idea that ought to be, and that we desire to see realized in every land; that our country shall dwell safely, that no foreign foot shall stain its white shores in aggressive war; that no boom of an enemy's cannon shall be heard, nor smoke of an invader's camp shall be seen within our borders; that every man shall have liberty, and yet be under lawable to transact his business, and do the duties that devolve upon him, and be free from the awful precariousness of those lands where the sower is rarely the reaper, and where man lies down at night armed to the teeth, and uncertain if he shall live to see to-morrow. I often think, when we are tempted to complain in this land that we are taxed heavily, and our taxation is very heavy, that we should then think of the vast advantages we enjoy, we should compare our peace, our safety, our social condition, the concord that pervades all classes notwithstanding incidental grumbling, with the con dition of other countries; we should think of a Queen to whom loyalty has been softened into love, and to whom obedience is not so much duty as delight; we should think of a land too where our officers are peace, and our exactors righteous, we should think of our re

ligious and civil freedom and other great blessings ; and if we sometimes murmur-for it is said it is one of the peculiarities and even privileges of our countrymen to murmur and complain-we should recollect that if we pay much we receive precious blessings in return. The fact is, we are a pampered nation, we do not know our blessings just because they are so common and continuous.

We here also read of the character of Solomon personally as a monarch. "God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore." He asked for wisdom, and God gave it to him, and from the account here given of him he was superior to all his cotemporaries, kings and subjects. He was first of all evidently a first-rate philosopher, for he spoke three thousand proverbs, a mere handful of which we have left, but left because the only legacy that God meant to be continued in his church; and these proverbs, full, every one of them, of the richest and the most precious wisdom, are each an apple of gold in network of silver. He was not only a philosopher, but he was also a poet; his songs, one of which is left, the Song of Solomon, full of beauty, and one or two of the Psalms supposed to be his, are specimens of his poetic power; and what we have are only, probably, a sample of those that God did not see fit to retain. In the next place, he was a very great botanist; for he knew all trees, from the cedar, some of which, supposed to have existed in the days of our Lord, are still standing in Palestine-from the cedar in Lebanon even down to the lowest plant, the hyssop that springeth out of the wall. He also knew all beasts and fowls, in other

words, he was a zoologist, indicating his knowledge of the beasts of the earth; he was an ornithologist, possessing acquaintance with the birds of the air.

He was also master of all that relates to the history, instincts and habits of insects and creeping things-an entomologist and apiarian. "And there came of all

people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom." And yet, as we shall find, with all this wisdom, with a memory that was an encyclopædia, with an intellect acute, dis criminating, penetrating-with an imagination glowing and gorgeous as an eastern sunrise, Solomon was not a happy man. All this secular knowledge did not keep him from sin, nor furnish him with happiness; and we shall find, in the sequel of his history, that secular knowledge, varied as Solomon's, is indeed power, but it may be power to sin, as well as power to do good, and that only sanctified knowledge of God in Christ is true power, and happiness and peace,

We may not despise or undervalue the wisdom of Solomon. But we must never forget a greater than Solomon is here.

1

NOTES.-Princes; or chief officers.-7. Provided victuals; these twelve officers were purveyors, supplying the royal court with provisions from twelve districts.-25. Under his vine, etc. ; denoting security: not confined to towns and fortresses, but equally safe when dwelling in the open country.--26. Forty; or four, 2 Chron, ix. 25-29. Largeness of heart; wisdom, an enlarged mind, unusual abilities and capacity.--32, 33. Of the works here mentioned probably only a part were written; the whole might not be Divinely inspired.

BUSINESS.

CHAPTER V.

HIRAM IN THE WAY OF BUSINESS.

SOLOMON'S ACCEPTANCE OF

HIS TENDER. HIRAM'S EXECUTION OF IT.

WE have seen in the course of our study of the Pentateuch, that the only temple, if such it might be called, in which God's ancient people long worshipped, was a mere tabernacle constructed of skins and linen, and altogether in its material aspect unworthy of the majesty of Him who in that economy had instituted such material things to reflect his praise, and to be the media of his worship. It appears that Hiram, King of Tyre, hearing that peace was restored to Israel, and expecting to make-and very justly and properly so a handsome profit, or as we should call it, a large per centage in the way of business; sent his servants to Solomon, with special offers and estimates, for he had heard by rumour that he reigned in the room of his father. "Hiram was ever a lover of David." Whether he was a lover of David's Lord we have no means of determining, though from an expression in the course of this chapter he seems to have recognized Jehovah as the living and the true God. But if not a lover of David's Lord, he had an admiration of David's heroism, greatness, genius, and personal character. It is recorded of him here as matter of eulogy. As soon as Hiram had communi, cated that he wished to be employed by Solomon, Solomon sent to Hiram and said, "Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God for the wars which

were about him on every side." There were other, and deeper, and much less creditable reasons than these, on account of which God would not allow David to build him a house; but Solomon his son selects the least discreditable which were true, though not the whole of the truth, and therefore he says, On account of the incessant wars in which he was involved he was not allowed to build a house nnto the Lord his God. "But now," says Solomon, "God hath given me rest on every side. And behold, I And behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name. Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants; and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint; for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians." Well, when Hiram received this message, it is said he "rejoiced greatly ;" perhaps from pure motives, perhaps out of commercial considerations: but at all events he rejoiced; and there was nothing wrong in his joy arising from either the one or the other source; and he said, "Blessed be the Lord this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people." This looks as if he recognized Jehovah. Perhaps, with a little selfishness, Hiram thought that something of Solomon's wisdom was seen in the selection of so competent a man as himself to take the superintendence of all his works." And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for;