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legacy that David bequeaths to his heir, is the care of piety: he himself had found the sweetness of a good conscience, and now he commends it to his successor. If there be any thing, that, in our desires of the prosperous condition of our children, takes place of goodness, our hearts are not upright. Here was the father of a king, charging the king's son to keep the statutes of the King of kings; as one that knew greatness could neither exempt from obedience, nor privilege sin; as one that knew the least deviation in the greatest and highest orb is both most sensible and most dangerous. Neither would he have his son to look for any prosperity, save only from well-doing.

After the precepts of piety, follow those of justice, distributing in a due recompence; as revenge to Joab and Shimei, so favour to the house of Barzillai. "Thou knowest what Joab did to me." The sovereign is smitten in the subject; neither is it other than just, that the arraignment of mean malefactors runs in the style of wrong to the king's crown and dignity. How much more dost thou, O Son of David, take to thyself those insolences which are done to thy poorest subjects, servants, sons, members here on earth! No Saul can touch a Christian here below, but thou feelest it in heaven, and complainest. Barzillai had showed David some kindness in his extremity; and now the good man will have posterity to inherit the thanks. How much more bountiful is the Father of mercies, in the remuneration of our poor unworthy services! Even successions of generations shall fare the better for one good parent.

The dying words and thoughts of the man after God's own heart did not confine themselves to the straits of these particular charges, but enlarged themselves to the care of God's public service. As good men are best at last, David did never so busily and carefully marshal the affairs of God, as when he was fixed to the bed of his age and death. Then did he load his son Solomon with the charge of building the house of God: then did he lay before the eyes of his son the model and pattern of that whole sacred work, whereof, if Solomon bear the name, yet David no less merits it. He excites the princes of Israel to their assistance in so high a work: he takes notice of their bountiful offerings for God's service he numbers up the Levites for the public service he appoints the singers and the musicians to their

stations; the porters to the gates that should be: and now, when he hath set all things in a desired order and forwardness, he shuts up with a zealous blessing of his Solomon and his people, and sleeps with his fathers. Oh blessed soul, how quiet a possession hast thou now taken, after so many tumults, of a better crown! Thou, that hast prepared all things for the house of thy God, how happily art thou now welcomed to that house of his, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens ! Who now shall envy unto good princes the honour of overseeing the businesses of God and his church, when David was thus punctual in these Divine provisions? What fear can be of usurpation, where they have so glorious a precedent.

Now is Solomon the second time crowned king of Israel; and now in his own right, as formerly in his father's, sits peaceably on the throne of the Lord. But envy and ambition, where it is once kindled, may sooner be hid in the ashes than quite put out. Adonijah has laid a new plot. It was the eastern and the Jewish fashion, that a king's widow should marry none but a king. The crafty rival dare not either move the suit to Solomon, or effect the marriage without him; but would cunningly undermine the son, by the suit of that mother whose suit had undermined him. The weaker vessels are commonly used in the most dangerous suggestions of evil. But it is an injurious weakness to be drawn, on any by-respects, to the furtherance of faulty suits of unlawful actions.

Solomon the son of Bathsheba rises from his chair of state and sets her on his right hand, not so remembering himself to be a king that he should forget he was a son. No outward dignity can take away the rights and obligations of nature, but in the acts of magistracy, all regard of natural relations must give way.

Solomon was too dutiful to check his mother, and too wise to yield to her. In unfit supplications, we are best heard when we are repelled. Thus doth our God many times answer our prayers with merciful denials: and most blesses us in crossing our desires.

The policies of wicked men befool them at last: this intercession hath undone Adonijah, and, instead of the throne, hastens his grave. Joab and Abiathar still held with Adonijah; their hand was both in the claim of his kingdom,

and in the suit of Abishag. There are crimes wherein all are principals, such as this of treason.

The news of Adonijah's death and Abiathar's removal cannot but affright Joab. Fond Joab, hadst thou formerly sought for counsel from the tabernacle, thou hadst not now needed to seek to it for refuge! if thy devotions had not been wanting to that altar, thou hadst not needed it for a shelter. It is our foolish presumption to look for protection where we have not cared to yield obedience.

Even a Joab clings fast to God's altar in his extremity, which in his prosperity he regarded not. The worst men would be glad to make use of God's ordinances for their advantage. But God has no sanctuary for a wilful homicide. He must repay blood to Amasa and Abner. It is not in the power of all our deserts to buy off one sin, either with God or man: where life is so deeply forfeited, it admits of no redemption.

Vengeance against rebels may sleep, it cannot die; a sure, though late judgment attends those that, like Shimei, dare lift up either their hand or tongue against the sacred persons of God's vicegerents. How much less will the God of heaven suffer unrevenged the insolences and blasphemies against his own Divine majesty! it is a fearful word, he should not be just, if he should hold these guilt

less.

Solomon worships God by day; God appears to Solomon by night. Well may we look to enjoy God, when we have served him the night cannot but be happy, whose day has been holy. The night follows the temper of the day; and the heart so uses to sleep, as it wakes. Had not the thoughts of Solomon been intent on wisdom by day, he had not made it his suit in his dream. Solomon was a great king, and saw that he had power enough; but he found that royalty, without wisdom, was no other than eminent dishonour. There is no trade of life whereto there belongs not a peculiar wisdom, without which there is nothing but a tedious unprofitableness; much more to that highest and busiest vocation, the governing of men. Could we but first seek the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, all earthly things should be superadded to us. Had Solomon made wealth his boon, he had failed both of riches and wisdom; now he asks the best, and speeds of all. They are in a fair

way of happiness that can pray well. No marvel, if Solomon, returning from the tabernacle to the ark, testified his joy and thankfulness by burnt-offerings, and peace offerings, and public feastings: the heart, that has found in itself the lively testimonies of God's presence and favour, cannot contain itself from outward expressions.

God likes not to have his gifts lie dead where he has conferred them. Israel shall soon witness that they have a king enlightened from heaven, in whom wisdom did not stay for heirs, did not admit of any parallel in his predecessors. The allwise God will find occasions to draw forth those graces to use and light, which he hath bestowed on man. Two women come before young Solomon with a difficult plea. Not more justly than wisely did Solomon trace the true mother by the footsteps of love and pity; and adjudge the child to her that had yearned at its danger. Even in morality it is thus also: truth, as it is one, so it loves intireness; falsehood, division. Satan, that hath no right to the heart, would be content with a piece of it; God, that made it all, will have either the whole or none. From Bp. Hall.

THE DIVINE LOVE.

WE should meditate on God's goodness and love, especially if hereunto be added the consideration of God's favour and

good will towards us; nothing is more powerful to engage our affection, than to find that we are beloved. Expressions of kindness are always pleasing and acceptable to us, though the person might be otherwise mean and contemptible; but to have the love of One who is altogether lovely, to know that the glorious majesty of heaven has any regard to us, poor miserable worms of the dust, how should it astonish and delight us; how should it overcome our spirits, and melt our hearts, and put our whole soul into a flame! Now, as the word of God is full of the expressions of his love towards man, so all his works do loudly proclaim it; he gave us our being, and by preserving us in it, renews the donation each moment of our life. He has placed us in a rich and well furnished world and liberally provided for all our necessities, he rains down blessings innumerable from heaven upon earth, and causes the earth to

bring forth our provision. He gives us food and raiment, and while we are spending the productions of one year, he is preparing supplies for us against another. He sweetens our lives with innumerable comforts; the eye of his providence is always upon us, and he watches for our safety when we are on our beds, overcome by the fatigues of the day, in the depth of sleep, neither minding him nor ourselves. But lest we should think these testimonies of his kindness less considerable, because they are the easy issues of his almighty power, and do not put him to any trouble or pain, he has taken a more wonderful method to endear himself to us, he has in the Son of his love testified his affection to us, by suffering as well as by doing; and Christ because he could not suffer in his own nature, has assumed ours. Yes, the eternal Son of God clothed himself with our infirmities, and left the company of those innocent and blessed spirits, who knew well how to love and adore him, that he might dwell among men, and wrestle with the obstinacy of our rebellious race, to reduce them to their allegiance and felicity, and then to offer himself up as a sacrifice and propitiation for them. I remember one of the poets thus expresses himself: "That the God of love had shot all his golden arrows at him, but could never pierce his heart, till at length he put himself into the bow and darted himself straight into his breast." This does in some way illustrate God's method of dealing with men; he had long contended with a stubborn world, and bestowed many a blessing upon them, and when all his other gifts could not prevail, he at last made a gift of himself, to testify toward them his affection, and to engage theirs.

The account which we have of our Saviour's life in the gospel, does, from the beginning to the end, present us with the story of his love; all the pains that he took, and the troubles that he endured, were the wonderful effects, and uncontrollable evidences of it. But oh that last, that dismal scene! Is it possible to remember it, and question his kindness, or deny him ours? Here, here it is, dear reader, that we should fix our most serious and solemn thoughts, "that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith, that we being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ which passeth

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