which to convey tho stones for Cheops' pyramid; and seven millions more men were nee<lod to build the pyramid itself (Birch,' Egypt,' p. 35; Budge 'The Dwellers on the Nilo,' p. 68). (2) 'fheir orders-labourers, wood-cutters, ove:seers, chief officers. So society on a larger scale is organized. The principle of division of labour is of end- less application, " So work the honey bees ; Creatures that by e. rule in nature teach The a.et of order to a peopled kingdom." (' King Henry v.,' act i. BC. 2.) (3) Their station: "strangers in the land" (ver. 17); i.e. descendants of the unexter- minated Canaanites (eh. viii. 7, 8; 1 Kings ix. 20-22). These had David also appointed to be stone-cutters (1 Chro_n. xxii. 2). 2. The securing of materials. In addition to the stores gathered and given by his lately deceased father-gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, precious stones (1 Chron. xxix. 2-:-5)-Solomon required cedar, fir, and algum trees out of Lebanon. Found nowhere m Palestine except Lebanon, the cedar was a rapidly growing, high-reaching, widespreading, and long-living tree, whose beautiful white wood was much prized for architectural purposes (eh. iii. 5; 1 Kincrs vi. 15 ; Jer. xxii. 14). 'l'he fir, often mentioned in connection with the cedar (Isa~ x_iv .. 8; x~xvii. 24), w~s a "choice". and "g_oodl,r" tree, whose wood ~as used for bu1ldrng ships (Ezek. vu. 5) and makmg musical rnstrurnents (2 Sam. Vl. 5), ancl was now to be employed for flooring, ceiling, and doors in the temple (1 Kings vi. 15, 34). '!'he alguru, probably the red ~andalwood, fetched along with gold and precious stones from Ophir (eh. ix. 10, 11; 1 Kings x. 11) by Solomon's and Hiram's fleets, and here inaccurately said to have grown in Lebanon, was used by Solomon for making pillars for the temple and the palace, as well as harps and psalteries for singers. These different sorts of timber accordingly Solomon sent for from Hiram, his father's friend and his own (ver. 3). 3. The obtaining of a skilled artificer. This also he courteously solicited from Hiram, whose subjects were the "artists" of the day (see homily on • The two Hirams '). Both requests were accompanied with a promise of generous support to the workmen and the artist (ver. 10), and both were frankly honoured. Learn: 1. The highest glory of a king (or private person) is to seek the glory of God (John viii. 50). 2. Great undertakings, especially in religion and the Church, should be gone about with deliberation, and only after due preparation (Luke xiv. 28). 3. The meanest service in connection with God's house is honourable (Ps. lxxxiv. 10). 4. The value of friendship (Prov. xxvii. 10). 5. Humble thoughts of self the best preparation for acceptable service of God (2 Cor. iii. 5). 6. The talents of unbelievers may be legitimately employed in the service of the Church, seeing that "gifts" are from God, no less than" graces" (Job xxxii. 8). 7. The Church should honourably requite those who aid in her undertakings, since "the labourer is worthy of his hire" (Luke x. 7; 1 'l'im. v. 18).-W. Ver. 9.-" .A wonderful great house." I. lTs BUILDER. The temple of Solomon was constructrd by Solomon the son of David; the temple of the Christian Church by Jesus, David's Son, but also David's Lord, the Only.2Begotten of the Father, whose name is "Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace" (Isa. xiv. 13; Heb. iii. 3). II. lTs MATERIALS, The temple of Solomon was fashioned out of gold, silver, precious stones, etc. ; the temple of the Christian Church out of lively stones, or believing and regenerated souls (1 Pet. ii. 5). III. lTs BITE. The temple of Solomon stood on Mount Moriah, where Jehovah had appeared to Abraham and afterwards to David, its walls reaching down to and rising up from the solid rock; the temple of the Christian Church rests upon the immovable rock of Christ's Person (Matt. xvi. 18; Eph. ii. 20), in whom the clearest and fullest revelation of the Father has been made to men (John i. 18; xiv. 9). IV. lTs OONBTRUOTION, The temple of Solomon.' had two apartments-a holy place and a holy of holies, the former for the worshipping priesb, the latter for the wor- shipped God; the Church of Jesus Christ has only one chamber, the separating veil being done away, in fact rent in twain, by the sacrifice of the cross (Matt. :a.xvii. 51; H .. h. x. 20). 30 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [orr. u. 1-18.
V. ITs ADORNMEN'l'B. The temple of Solomon was radiant with gold and silver and decorations of carved work; the Church of Jesus Christ is rendered beautiful by the inward grac,es of the Spirit (Ps. cxlix. 4; 1 Pet. iii. 3). ,I. 1TB PROPORTIONS. 'l'he temple of Solomon was, after all, but a small structnrn • the temple of the Christian Church is a spacious house of many mansions (Joh~ xiv. 1). VIL ITS USES. The temple of Solomon was designed e.s a habitation for Jehovah's symbolic presence; the Church of Jesus Christ is a habitation for Jehovah himself through tbe Spirit (Eph. ii. 22). Learn: 1. The glory of the Christian Church. 2. The superiority of the gospel dis- pensation. 3. The nobler privilege of New Testament believers.-W.