were not nnacqnainted with luxmy (note on ver. 2), and. the journey through the " great and terrible wilderness " would subject this lady to many discomforts. Camel-riding is very tiring ; desert-travel profolmdly wearisome. Whatever comforts her " very great train " might be able to procure her, nothing could alter the blazing sun overhead, the burning sands beneath, or the utter desolation and monotony of the desert. Those who have made the journey to Sinai will have some idea what the daily life of this party was like. (3) Its perils. " Perils of the wilderness" (cf. Psa. xci.; Deut. viii. 15), and "perils of robbers" alike. Her course lay through the land of Ishmael, whose "hand was agninst every man," nnd she carried with her large treasure-a tempting bait to the rapacious Bedouin. True, she had an armed escort, but that would not exempt her from dangers. Nor wore these " perils by the way" all. She had left her kingdom without its head. An insun-ection might be fomented against her (Luke xix. 14), or a usurper might snatch her crown. And all this was (4) undertaken by a woman. True, she was an Arabian, and therefore presumably hardy and patient, but all the same the sex of the traveller increases our admiration, especially when we consider the estima- tion in which women have generally been held in the East. And she was a queen, and left a court, left her fragrant country, '' .Araby the blest," to plod painfully and slowly o-ver the desert reaches, till she came to the " city of the vision of peace." IL THE PURPOSE OF THIS UNDERTAKING. Many sovereigns have left their homes at the head of "a very great train'' both before and since her day, but with what dii!erent objects in view. They have swept across continents-the Rameses, the Shishaks, the .Alexanders, the Tamerlanes of history, but not for wisdom. Theirs was no peaceful or kindly mission. Some, like Peter the Great, have visited foreign courts for the sake of advancing the commerce, &c., of their country. Some, like the Persian Shah recently, have travelled far to see the wonders of the world, and to taste of its pleasures; but she came to "prove Solomon with ha.rd questions," to " commune with him of all that was in her heart,'' to " reason high Of providence, foreknowledge, will, and fate, Fixed fate, freewill, foreknowledge absolute." It is clear that to her " wisdom" was " the principal thing," and she brought gold and rubies (Job xxviii. 18 ; Prov. iii. 15; viii. 11) to obtain it. She is like the "merchantman seeking goodly pearls." She has found one pearl of great price, and she will give all that she has to possess it. True, she saw the wonders of Solomon's court, but she came to hear his wisdom. She envied his courtiers, not l•ecause of their places, palaces, &c., but because they stood before him (ver. 8) and heard his words. And our Saviour has said that this conduct will condemn the men of His gener- ation. It were easy to show how. But it ,,.ill be more to the point if we consider how it may condemn the men of our own time. 1. Christ ia "more (1TAEiov) than Solomon." Solomon was the wisest of men ; Christ was" the wisdom of God." Solomon, a great king; Christ," King of kings ancl Lord of lords " (Rev. xvii. 4). Compare the Song of Solomon with the Beatitudes ; the Proverbs with the Sermon on the Mount; Solomo~•s end and Christ's death. We should not dare to compare them had not He done it before. 2. Christia June. No need to cross deserts or continents to find Him. " Say not in thine bes.rt, Who shall ascend into heaven ? (that is, to bring Christ down from above)," &c. (Rom. L 6, 7). And say not, "True, He was present in those Galilean synagogues, in those streets of Jerusalem, but He is not here." His own words affirm the contrary (Matt. :xxviii. 20; xviii 20, &c.) He is present everywhere. •' One Spirit, His Who wore the pla.tted crown with bleeding brows, Fills llJl.ivers&l nature." But more especially is he present in His Church, His word, His saora.ments. 8. Christ hae come from the utterrnoat parts of the world to us. It ie not we who OR, X, 1-18.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 207
bn.ve to leave a killgdom. He ho.s left His that he may " appoint unto us a, kingdom." " Thy Father's home of light; Thy rainbow-circled throne, Were left for earthly night, For wanderings se.d o.nd lone."