<lemanded of men in our days who inYestigate natural phenomena. Insto.nces abound of travellers who have lnid down life, ns did Franklin and Livingstone, in jom·neys of discovery; of sm·geons and physicians who have run person1tl risk to learn Ly cruci1tl experiment a means of cure; of scientific discoverers who have sacrificed time and effort to make sm-e of one fact, or establish one lnw, &o. In contrast with all this bow small the effort to win true riches, to know· essential truth. l\Iany are content with hearsay evidence. The queen of Sheba WILB not. At 1tny cost she would see and know for herself. Perhaps it was with some remem- brance of her visit that Solomon wrote Prov. ii. S-5 : "If thou criest after know- lenge, 11,nd liftest up thy ,oice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, aml searcliest for ber as for hid treasures; then thou sbalt underst1tnd the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God." Compare this with the paraLle of the merchant seeking goodly pearls (Matt.. xiii. 45, 46). See also Col. ii. 8. II. HER CONFESSION EXPRESSES THE FEELING OF THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO ONE GREATER THAN SOLOMON. "The half was not told me" (vers. 6, 7). St. Paul speaks of " the unsearchable riches of Christ; " of " the excellency of the knowledge of Christ," &c. In proportion as men really know Him, and live near Him, doe■ He appear more winsome and worthy. Cite the utterances of such men as Bernard, Wesley, &c. Their words fall from our lips in song, yet they seem extravagant to us on our low level of religious life, and at our sad distance from Christ. Such bursts of praise we may use as tests of our devotion. Christ bas not changed, but too often His people see Him from afar. A:ny one who is living near the Lord can say, "The half was not told me" of Thy love and glory. III. HER OFFERING SUGGESTS THE PRESENTATION WE SHOULD MAKE TO OUR KING. Read ,erse 10. Draw out the parallel between this and the coming of the Magi (Matt. ii.), when they fell down and worshipped the child Jesus, and opened their· i;i:easures and presented to Him gifts-gold and frankincense and myrrh. "Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion, Odours of Edam and offerings Divine; Gems of the monntain, and pearls of the ocean, Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine 7 "Vainly we offer each ample oblation; Vainly with gifts would his fa.vonr secure; Richer, by far, is the heart's adoration ; Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor." See Isa.. i. 12 ; Psa. xl. 6, &c. IV. HER ENTERTAINMENT REMINDS US OF THE WELCOME GIVEN BY OUB LORD, 1. Like Solomon (ver. 8) Christ answer-a owr questions. He knew His disciples "were desirous to ask Him," so they needed not even to frame their questions. Un- spoken prayers are beard. 2. LikeSolomon (ver. 5) ChristrevealsHisglory. The transfiguration, the last talk with the apostles, the apocalypse, &c. 8. Like Solomon (ver. 18) Christ loads us with benefits. Pardon, peace, strength, joy, &c.-of greater worth than gold and precious stones. These material, those imperishable. Let the ewrMstness of this queen rebuke owr sloth and unbelief. " The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall con- demn it : for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, a greater than Solomon is here" (Matt. xii. 42).-A. R.
EXPOSITION. CHAPTER X. 14-29. ticnlars of his wealth e.nd magnificence, SOLOMON'S WEALTH, POMP, A.ND POWER.- some of which are related here because they The visit of the Queen of Sheba, in itself awere the products of the voyages of that same striking proof of the fame and greatness of fieet which had been the means of acquaint- Solomon, is followed by a description of hising the queen with Solomon and his glory. reve11ues, his throne, and various other par. Ver. 14.-Now the weight of gold that OR. x. 14-29.J THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 211