genuinely rejoice with those who rejoice-that rarer thing, even, than to weep with those who weep! And, after bestowing her lavish Eastern gifts, can return to her home, alike_ wiser a~d happier. Amid all the dim light of knowledge, and dimmer l!ght of relig10n, of f1utb, and of love, we cannot doubt that we have an example 10 this woman of sotne of the best qualities possible to human nature; of a large mind, a noble and pure heart, of generous apprehensions of faith and love, and of-in one word- a graciousness that cometh only from above. IV. THE CHIEF LESSONS OF THIS HISTORY FOR OURSELVES. The history is referred to by our supreme Teacher himself (Matt. xii. 42; Luke xi. 31). His powerful reference t-o it is to point us to a lesson for good and timely example and imitation. 1. We ar6 to seek ; to seek earnestly; to seek simply, purely, and without envy; to seek with labour and fatigue, with patience and faith, with strong expectation and love unfeigned ; and to seek, with full, ungrudging gift, his wisdom, his knowledge, his surpassing and most real splendour, and his solution qf all our hard questions. The very existence of the example declares and pronounces its claim upon us. Its look, its tone, its matter, all speak forth its meaning. 2. But we are pointed, not merely to a kindly lesson and attractive example, but to a forcible warning. For if we will not follow, do not follow, the Queen of Sheba, her example will follow us, even to the pursuing of us, to the great judgrnent! She will condemn us, whose expectation, and effort, and interest, and liberal generosity were all inflamed by the fame of Solomon, while all the fame of Christ fails to waken our zeal. Hearts are cold. Effort is feebleness itself, or even as nought. Patience is intolerable. Fatigue cannot be contemplated. Gold must be hoarded, and Christ and heaven must be lost; while she, of dim ages and dim know- ledge, and but most broken rays of revelation, shall, because she used them to the best, rise up in the judgment and condemn those whose privileges and opportunities were immense, immeasurable! Warning and lesson both are pressed upon us by the " Greater than Solomon,'' the infinitely greater! Who will not wish to eschew the condemnation of which be is here warned? Who will not be guided and attracted by the lesson which is here offered to him?
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-12.-" Solomon in all his glory." Nothing so strikingly illustrated the glory of Solomon as the visit of the Queen of Sheba, coming from "the uttermost parts of the earth to hear bis wisdom," conferring great gifts upon him and receiving valuable presents in return (see Matt. xii. 42). We have, among many tbings- L lsRAEL FULFILLmG ITB FUNCTION, viz. magnifying the Name of the Lord. One great end, the great end of its existence as a nation, was to bear witness to the Name e.nd character of Jehovah. By the wisdom and the energy combined with the piety of Solomon, this was being accomplished. The works of the Lord were known and celebrated even in remotest lands. II. GoD FULFILLING HIS woRD TO ms SERVANT SoLOMON. He promised him wealth and honour, inw;much as he had asked for something better than these (see eh. i. 11, 12). In this most gratifying episoc'e Solomon must have felt that the promise made him at Gibeon was graciously redeemed. So shall we find also. To those that seek first the kingdom of God he ensures all needful earthl.v good, and they may count contiaeutly that be will make good bis word (see Matt. vi. 33). III. THE TRUE BLESSEDNESS OF POSSESSION-TO COMMUNICATE. Solomon had great knowledge, large faculty, much penetration, as well as extensive worldly wealth. He probably had some enjoyment in the consciousness of their possession. But he found a better and wiser use of them in communicating to others. When he enlightened the mind (ver. 2) and enriched the hands (ver. 12) of the queen, he was then and tbu1:1 experiencing the true excellency of possession. It is not as we are able to retain, but as we succeed in employing and in impartin:2: our wealth, whether of truth or treasures, that we are really and truly rich (Acts xx. 35). IV. THE WORTH OF wrsDoM. The queen was no doubt partly prompted by curiosity to see the magnificence of Solomon; but what largely induced her to take that long, tedious, expensive journey was her desire to learn what" the w\s11 man" qould teacb oH. 1x. 1-81.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 11.3