Lord. Solomon began his course as the chosen heir or the beloved kin"," ma"nifiecl exceedingly in the sight of all Israel," etc. (ver. 25), receiving the subjection° of all within the kingdom, from the court to the peasantry (ver. 24); he enil.ed his career with no little disapproval in the hearts of those who lamented his spiritual defection, and with no little alienation on the pa.rt of those who groaned under the exactions of his magnificence. Let us regard the lowly as those whom God may have fitted and destined for rank and power; lot those who are exalted by birth and circumstance remember that there is a downward as well as an upward path in estimation and influence. 11. THAT BRILLIANCE IS WORTH LITTLE IN COMPARISON WITH SOLID WORTH. David's reign would compare ill with that of his son in respect or biillia.ncy. His pa.laces, his retinue, his table, his exchequer, his navy, the outward grandc,urs of his reign, were but slight and insignificant in comparison with those of Solomon. But the contribu- tion of David to the unity, consolidation, religious truth, moral excellency of his people was immeasurably greater than that of his brilliant son. In all that is desirable to look back upon at the end of life or from the" other side the river," David's work was better and nobler far. Far more to be desired the life that adds to the virtue, godliness, strength, stability of the community than the one which flru;hes beams of brightness that fade with the passing day. Better far than any amount of "royal majesty " is the influence for good which lives in human hearts when ours are still in death, and which tells on human lives when ours are closed for ever. Ill. 'l'HAT PASSING INCONSISTENCY IS LESS TO BE DREADED TJIAN CONTINUOUS DECLINE. We still look back with unfeigned regret on the lamentable inconsistencies of Davi,!; but these were bitterly repented of, and heartily repudiated by himself, and were for- given by God. Unme3$urably worse was the steady spiritual decline of Solomon, which took him down from the heights of holiness to the deep and miry places of ungodlines~ and vice. Best of all, the day wherein the sun shines serenely from morning till evening; but better far the day on which the storm sweeps swiftly by and leaves the heavens clear, than that which begins with a brilliant morning, but passes into a clouded noon, and ends in a starless, drenching night. Strenuously and patiently should we strive against" the one dark hour which brings remorse," for that leaves a long, deep shadow on the path of life; but with still more devout and determined energy must we contend against "the sin that burns into the blood," for it is that which decides our destiny, which "will brand us nfter of whose fold we be." lV. 'l'HAT DIVINE WIRDOM IS LOFTIER THAN BUM.AN PRUDENCE, and the service of example thnn that of painful warning. Solomon's writings are not without many passages of sacred import, but the strain of them is rather human than Divine. They teach us rather how to adjust ourselves to our human relations than how to abide in the favour and rise to the resemblance of God. But David's psalms bear the mark of a Divine hand; they breathe throughout the inspiration of God; they take us up to the throne of the heavenly King; they help us toward the possession of his likeness. Solomon, in his most fascinating work (Ecclesiastes), warns his readers from the perilous snare by recounting his own sad experiences. He says to us continually, "Be not as I was; shun the path I trod, that you share not the fate l suffer." But David, in hi~ immortal songs, invites his readers to a-ccompany him 11long the path of life, to resorl with him to the throne of grace; he pours out of a full heart tl:.e devotion, gratitude, and sacred joy of which his pages are full, and says for ever to the Church of God, "Walk with me in the way of wisdom, drink with me the waters of lifo; let us par- take, together, the truth which is sweeter than honey and the honeycomb; let us gather, together, the heavenly treasure which will make richer than the fine gold of earth, which will make 'rich toward God,' even rich for evermore."-0,
Vers.1-5.-David'sfurther addre88 to tlte congregation. David gives an explanation at the commencement of this chapter why he himself had prepared so much for the house of God, viz. that Solomon himself was as yet young and tender, and the work was great. But David assigns the true reason why the work was great, viz. that the house was "not for man, but for the Lord God." It is true that the house was " great one, and that the work was great in a natural point of view. llut all suet thoughts are lost or sink behind that which alone makes anything great-tho Lonl THE FIRST BOOK 01<' 'l'HE CHRONICLES. [cH. x.x1x. 1-30.