wont to Gibeon with "o.11 the congregation," in very great etate, to seek tho Lord there, nud there he offored abundant sacrifices (ver. 6), And God responded to his act of piety by seeking him, by coming to him and making him a gracious and generous offer, Without any state, in lowliest obscurity, we may repair to the quiet and solitary place, and there seek God; and thore, too, he will seek us and manifest himself to us, and he will bless and enrich us also. There is an unfailing and a large responsiveness in "him with whom we have to do.'' II. TrrAT GoD HAS MANY WAYS OF ACOESS TO HIS CHILDREN. (Ver. 7.) In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon "in a dream by night" (1 Kings iii. 5). At other tim..s he appeared to his servants in a vision in their wakeful hours (Exod. iii. 2; Isa. vi. 1). Our Lurd was seen by the Apostle Paul under circumstances that were unique (Acts ix.), and subsequently he manifested himself in other ways to his servant. God has access to ue-his children-in many ways. At any time he I!'lay "lay his hand upon us;" he may make known his will to us, It is our wisdom to expect it; it is our duty to pray and to look for it. III. THAT SOLOMON SHOWED A DEEPER WISDOM THAN ANY HE ASKED GoD TO GIVE HIM, He asked for" wisdom and knowledge" (ver. 10); and the wisdom be asked for was cleverness, penetration, political sagacity, subtlety of mind to read the thoughts of men, readiness to see at once what was the expedient policy to adopt, range of human learning. All this was valuable, and much to be desired; but all of this together was not wisdom of so deep and precious a kind as that shown by Solomon in making the choice he made. To ask for that gift which would enable him to fill well the sphere in which Divine providence had placed him,-this was better than all possible intellectual equipments, No learning, no talent, no genius, is of such value and importance as the ipirit of fidelity. Everything else without that will leave life a failure and make man a guilty being. But to be possessed with the spirit of faithfulness, to be supremely desirous of taking the part and doing the work to which God has calleJ. us,-this is the true success, and this will end in well-being of a pure and lasting kind. IV. THAT WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED TO MAINTAIN AND EVEN TO ENLARGE THE HERITAGE WE HAVE RECEIVED. (Ver. 8.) Solomon evidently felt deeply impressed, if not oppressed, with the thought that his father, David, had left a very great and serious charge in his hands, and he was rightly anxious that it should be well maintained. It becomes us, as members of a family, as citizens of the nation, to consider what we have inherited from those who have gone before us-from their labours and sufferings and prayers, and to ask ourselves what we are about to do to guard and to strengthen, and, if it may be so, to enlarge and enrich that precious legacy. V. THAT IF WE BEEK THE BEST WE SHALL FIND MORE THAN WE SEEK. (Vers. 11, 12.) Solomon's happy experience of God's graciousness is very far indeed from being singular. We may all participate here. If we seek rightness of soul with him we shall find it, and not only that, but a profound and most blessed. peace of mind as well. If we seek purity of heart, we shall find what we seek, and happiness beside. If we seek the good of others we ehall secure that end, and we shall at the same time be building up our own Christian character. Pursue the very best, and with the best of all will come that which is good, that which is not the highest, but which we shall be very glad to have and to enjoy.-C.
. V,er. 7.-God's offer to the young. "What a splendid and enviable position!" we are mclmed to say ; "one removed from ours by the whole breadth of fortune. How utterly unlike the conditions under which we find ourselves to-day I" But is it so? Is there not, on the other hand, quite as much of comparison as of contrast between the posi&ion of the young sovereign and our own, as we look forward to the future that awaits us? Does not God say to each one of us, " Ask what I shall give thee?" l. THERE IS A NOBLE FUTURE IN FRONT OF us. Only a very small fraction of !Dankind may look for royalty or high rank, for large wealth or extensive power. But it is highly probable that if thie were our lot, we should envy those who, in bumbler sp~eres, were saved the many penalties of prominence and power. And, apart from th1e, there is a very true heritage which is open to us all. More or less at our command are-beginning at the bottom of the scale, and moving upwards: 1, Bodily comforts; and these lowest gratifications are the more worthy and la.sting as they are more pure 12 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [ctt. r. 1-17.