instrumental to the destruction, rather than to the welfare, of each other —
[What evil may not a head of a family bring on the mem- bers ; a ruler on his subjects ; a minister on his people ! or what may not they suffer through the misconduct of those over whom they are placed ! Let this connexion be duly considered; and, whatever station we are called to fill, let us determine, through grace, that we will perform the duties of it, every joint supplying its utmost aid for the edification of the whole body". And let us be more ready to take blame to ourselves, than to cast it on others. More particularly, let us watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation ; and that Satan may not be permitted to get advantage against us. Thus shall we be blessings to the community, and to the Church of God ; and shall through the great Sacrifice be accepted of God in the eternal w^orld.]
o Eph. iv. 16.
1 Kings ii. 44. The Lord shall return thy ivickedness upon
thine own head.
FEW parts of Scripture have given more occasion for the cavils of infidels, than that which relates the close of David's life, and the commencement of Solo- mon's reign. Those who delight in disparaging the characters of all the most exalted saints, represent David as dying under the influence of a vindictive spirit ; and Solomon as beginning his reign with most flagrant acts of cruelty. But both the one and the other of these saints may be vindicated in what they did ; yea rather their conduct must be highly ap- proved, if only we view it in a proper light. Some indeed have vindicated David's advice, by saying, that though he had sworn to Shimei that he should not be put to death for his offence, Solomon was not bound by his oath. But I answer, that David was as much bound by his oath not to procure the death of Shimei through the instrumentality of another, as he was not to put him to death with his own hand. The true way of vindicating both David and Solomon in reference to all the seeming acts of severity which were recommended by the one and executed by the other, is by viewing them as acts of retributive justice. It is in that light that Solomon himself speaks of the execution of Shimei ; and he even represents the punishment as inflicted not by himself only, but by God also.