(Eccles. xii. 13•. Compare him with Samson; show how the indulgence of passion destroys kingliness. Even such sin wa.s not beyond pardon. It would have been wel for Solomon had he returned to God, as his father bad done (see Psa. li.) II. Evn. COMPANIONSHIP (ver. 2). The Israelites were often warned against marriage wit.b the heathen. At times ordinary internationo.1 intercourse was for- bidden. Instances are given in which disobedience to this law of severance brought ten-ible effects. Some compn.nionship is essential to man. The hermit must be a Tery imperfect Christian. J olm the Ba1)tist was in the wilderness, but Christ, whom we follow, was ever found in the haunts and homes of men. Yet under the new dispensation the wise choice of companionship is insisted on, and pronded for. The twelve apostles were associated together, as well as separated from others ; and in their work they went fort-h by two and two. The Apostolic Church presents a beautiful picture of fellowship (Acts ii.) His amono-st the wise- hearted and devout that we are to :find our fi-iends. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers." The importance of this to the young, whose characters are not yet formed. Hence responsibility rests on parents, who can encourage or hinder acquaintances, and on young people themselves. He must have something of Christ's wisdom and strength, and must be animated by His motives, who, like Him, would be safe and useful amongst " the publicans and sinners.'' III. ExTrtATAGANCE. The wealth of Solomon was enormous. The treasure saved for him by Dand seemed inexhaustible, and the tribute from other peoples (x. 25), tl.Je monopolies granted by the king (x. 28, 29), the importation of gold from Opbir (ix. 281, &c., brought immense revenues. The king was proportionately ex- travagant. See the accollllt given of bis palaces, his gardens, and bis retinue. No country could long bear such a strain. Increased taxation was necessary, and this was one of the causes of the break-up of the kingdom under Rehoboam. Show in modern life the temptations to extravagance and ostentation; the injury caused by these sins to a nation; the moral periUJ to which the extravagant are exposed ; the diminution of help to God's cause and to God's poor. IV. OPPRESSION. He appears to have copied the Pharaohs not only in magnifi- cence, but in disregard for human suffering. The Canaanites were reduced to the p0sition of helots; multitudes were torn from their homes to fell timber in the forests, or hew stone in the quarries. Even the Israelites had to do forced labour. llings have responsibility to their people, as well as the people to their kings. God's laws were Tiolated by Solomon (Exod. xxii. 21; xxiii. 9). Show from history the Nemesis of oppression. Indicate manifestations of the spirit of tyranny in business, in homes, schools, &c. V. IDOLATRY. Solomon erected temples to A.shtoreth, Milcom, and Chemoeh. Pescribe the idolatries specified. All idolatry sternly forbidden. The cultus of these deities hideously cruel, dark, impure. Heathenism degrades man and dis- honours God. Show the steps which led Solomon to the commission of such egregious sin. (1) He wcu broad in his views, far advanced from the traditional' knowledge of the age, and often conversed with wise men of other creeds. Slowly he lost bis sense of the pre-eminence of the truth revealed to him. He saw what was true in other systems, but meantime lost his horror at what was false in them. This one of the special perils of our age; point it out. (2) He wished all thatwaa connected with him to reflect his own magnificence. It was not enough that his wives and concubines should be at liberty to worship their idols ; they must do it a;plendidly, if at all, for hie glory was concerned in their acts. (3) He would please and attract surrounding nations. This partly for commercial ends, chiefly for personal glory. Base motives lead to false policy, and false policy prepares for pational ruin. CoNcLusroN.-1. The possibility of ruin to those whose rt'ligioua adlvantages 1111'6 8reatest. 2. The retribution heavier in proportion <U the offence i,s aggravated by neg- lected wan-ning.-A.. R.
Vere. 9-13.-Solomon'e Fall. The d.ark omen that maned the brightness of ctr. XL 1-18.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 281