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designs, of which he appears to have made no secret : but he remained quiet, and left his cause with God, who stirred up the minds of Nathan the prophet, and Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, to take proper measures for his preservation, and the maintenance of his rights. They communicated Adonijah's move ments to David, whose promptitude and decision entirely defeated this bold enterprise. Though confined to his couch by infirmities, he ordered Solomon to be immediately anointed and crowned, and. declared partner of the throne; thus investing him with a right to punish all conspiracies against the sovereign. This unexpected firmness entirely dispersed the adherents of Adonijah, and he himself fled to the horns of the altar, and besought of Solomon an assurance of his life. Solomon readily granted this, on condition of his future good conduct, and dismissed him in peace. 1 Kings i.

In addition to all this, David adopted another measure, which secured the throne to Solomon against all further attempts. He summoned the

princes and heads of Israel, and, leaving his couch, went to the assembly, presented to them Solomon as their king, and declared the promise of God, that Solomon alone should build the temple, and be established on the throne as his successor. He again gave a solemn charge, both to Solomon and to the people, to be faithful and obedient to the Lord their God. That charge cannot be too often repeated, and enforced on the children of pious parents: "And

thou, my son, [my daughter,] know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, he will be found of thee; BUT, if thou forsake Him, he will cast thee off for ever." 99 1 Chron xxviii. 9. :

After this assembly, more extensive preparations were made to build the temple. The priests and the Levites were called together, and divided into their several courses. In all probability the psalms composed by David were now collected together, and delivered to the priests and singers. 1 Chron. xxiii. xxviii.

When all the preparations were completed, the congregation was summoned a second time. David recorded his own magnificent presents towards the intended building; the heads of the people were invited, and willingly came forward to contribute towards the work; and David, in a strain of the deepest humility and most fervent piety, consecrated these offerings to God, ascribing to Him all the praise, as from Him proceeded both the ability and the inclination to offer, and the condescending grace to accept. How lovely is this example of deep humility, in a venerable saint, just about to cross the threshold of eternity! If we are permitted and enabled in any way to contribute to the cause of God; may we be enabled with equal humility to prostrate ourselves before his throne, and say, "Of thine

own have we given thee; we are unprofitable servants."

After thus solemnly dedicating their offerings to the service of God, a sacred festival was held, at which Solomon was again anointed; and all the princes publicly submitted themselves to him, as they had done to his father. 1 Chron xxix.

At this time, it is highly probable, David composed the 72nd psalm, which both prays for and predicts the peace and prosperity of Solomon's reign, which as typical also of the reign of the Messiah, the Prince of peace.

In the immediate prospect of death, David repeated his charge to Solomon, to be faithful and obedient to the Lord his God. He moreover advised him to be on his guard against Joab and Shimei, who had become the bitterest enemies to the throne of David and his son, and to punish any future treason with death. David's last words are very striking, whether they are the last he spoke by divine inspiration, as the close of his psalms; or words which he repeated in his dying moments, as the expression of his faith and hope, and the source of his consolation. When we come, like David, to a near view of eternity, nothing can support and comfort our minds like a sense of interest in that covenant which is well ordered in all things and sure, and which comprehends the interests of eternity. 1 Sam.

xxii. 1-5.

King David shortly afterwards expired, having

reigned over Israel forty years, and borre the honourable character of, the man after God's own heart. It should, however, be observed that this expression applies rather to David's conduct as a king, than to his personal character, in which there were grievous failures and blemishes. In his government, David uniformly conformed to, and maintained the commandments of God, and never attempted to introduce any innovations of his own.

The Reign of Solomon.

1015 to 975.-1 Kings ii.—xi. 2 Chron. i.-ix. Solomon ascended the throne of Israel under peculiarly favourable circumstances: he was chosen of God to be king, appointed by his father as his successor, accepted by the nobles, and beloved by the people. The first act of his reign was an act of devotion to the God of his father. The ark was now settled at Jerusalem, but the tabernacle, and altar for sacrifices, was at a high place at Gibeon. He therefore convened the nobles, went up to Gibeon, and offered burnt-offerings unto the Lord. While there, the Lord appeared to him in the visions of the night, and offered to grant any request that he might present. A spirit of wisdom and grace had evidently been poured out upon him, for, instead of fixing on the vain and glittering trifles of earth and time, which would have engaged the eager desires of most young people, he asked, that heavenly

wisdom might qualify him for the discharge of his important duties, His prayer was so acceptable to the Lord, that he was immediately endued with the portion he had chosen, viz, wisdom beyond any of the human race; but, moreover, the Lord added to him those things which he had not asked, riches and honours, and length of days. May we, like Solomon, chuse, first, wisdom and the fear of God, and like him we shall find that godliness is profitable for all things. Immediately on his return to the affairs of government at Jerusalem, an occasion occurred which called forth the exercise of his extraordinary endowments. Two mothers appeared before him with a living and a dead child; to the former of which, each laid claim; and as they were alone in the house, there were no witnesses to whom to appeal. The young king, however, devised an expedient, which, by an appeal to the genuine working of maternal tenderness, readily discovered the real mother. He ordered a sword to be brought, and directed that the living child should be divided between the two mothers. To this the pretended mother agreed, as willing to sacrifice the child, so that she might but defeat her rival; but the true mother's bowels yearned towards her child. She was willing to relinquish the possession of it, so she might but save its life. "O my lord," said she, "give her the child, and in nowise slay it." To her the child was immediately awarded; and all the people were satisfied and delighted with the discernment and decision of the king. How often is truth