gence of the plot, and being interested for Solomon, whom the king intended as his successor, communicated it to Bethsabee, advising her to go immediately to the king, and remind him of his promise in favour of her son. She readily followed his instructions, and while she was yet speaking to David concerning his successor, the prophet came in, as if by chance, and respectfully begged to know if it was by David's will that Adonias had been called to the throne?

Alarmed at the question, David gave immediate orders for his son Solomon to be anointed and enthroned. The High Priest, Sadoc,* and Nathan the prophet, lost no time in

executing this order. The ceremony was solemnly performed in Gihon,† and Solomon, by sound of trumpet, was proclaimed king, before any of the adverse party had the least suspicion of it. Adonias at once saw that an end was thus put to his schemes; his partisans abandoned him to save themselves, and he, as a suppliant criminal, fled to the altar as his only refuge. Solomon pardoned him for what was past, and promised that no harm should befall him so long as he remained within the bounds of duty.

*At this time there were two High Priests in Israel. Abiathar, the son of Achimelech, who had thrown in his lot with David as a fugitive (see p. 217), was appointed by David to the office of High Priest on his accession to the throne. At the same time, Sadoc also, who had been appointed in the reign of Saul, continued in office.

This was the valley which skirted the west of the city of Jerusalem. See Note, p. 230.

Meanwhile David was fast hastening towards his end; Abisag, a comely virgin in the bloom of youth, was chosen to nurse and to comfort him. Perceiving that the time of his dissolution was drawing nigh, he called to him his son Solomon, and gave him such instructions as seemed necessary for his future conduct in the government of the realm: he recommended to him a religious observance of the Law, as it is written in the book of Moses, fidelity in his duty to God, and equity in the administration of justice amongst his subjects; he moreover gave him a solemn charge to build a Temple to the Lord God of Israel, telling him that he himself had already prepared materials, workmen, and money for the work which, notwithstanding the earnestness of his desires, he had not been permitted to undertake; he concluded with a special charge to watch with vigilance over the doings of Joab and Semei, after which he slept with his forefathers, in a good old age, full of days, and riches, and glory, and was buried in his own city, which henceforward became the burying-place of the kings of Juda.

Semei at first experienced great lenity from the new king, but, at the end of three years, his disobedience drew down upon him the punishment which had been long due to his former insolence. As for Joab, the innocent blood of Amasa and Abner had for many years cried for vengeance against him. His conspiracy with Adonias against the present king, at last called down the stroke which the late king had suspended during his own life. For, once more, after the demise of his father, Adonias had renewed his pretensions to the throne, and had demanded Abisag in marriage. Solomon saw through his designs, and at once cut off his pretensions by depriving him of life.

Soon afterwards, Almighty God appeared to Solomon in a dream, and promised to grant him whatever favour he should ask. Solomon turned his thoughts upon the favours which both his father David and he himself had already received from the hand of God, and reflecting on the dignity to which he had been raised, he saw that great prudence would be needed for the good government of so great a kingdom, and therefore begged of God to grant him wisdom. His choice proved him worthy of the gift he asked. God

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was pleased with his petition, and to a wisdom immeasurably greater than had ever yet been granted, or that ever should be granted, to any man besides, He added riches and glory surpassing all that had been possessed by any king before.

By the example of this wise prince, Christians are instructed as to what should be the object of their preference and esteem. Riches, honours, and the pleasures of life may well attract the desires of an idolator, or of an infidel, who knows no other happiness beyond that which affects his senses; but on a Christian, who realises the dignity of an immortal soul, those transient objects make no lasting impression. Taught from his earliest years that he has been created not only to serve, but to possess the God whom he adores, he aims at the attainment of riches, honours, and glory, infinitely more excellent than any this world can give. He aspires to the kingdom of Heaven; he studies the virtues that must gain him his Creator's love, and entitle him to a crown which no rust shall ever tarnish, and no time consume. To seek the kingdom of God and His justice, is the perfection of true Christian wisdom; and true wisdom is the source of every other good gift that descends to us from the Father of lights.

A.M. 2991.] Decision of Solomon.-3 Kings, iii. [A.C. 1013.

Solomon immediately began to display the talents with which God had blessed him: especially on one occasion he gave a specimen of his wisdom, which excited the admiration and gained the esteem of all his subjects. Two women of evil fame came before him to beg of him to decide a matter in dispute between them. "This woman and I," said one of them to the king, "dwell in the same house, where each of us within the space of three days was delivered of a male child. She unfortunately happened to smother hers in the night, as she lay asleep. She arose silently out of bed, stole from me my babe, leaving her own dead child in the place of it. In the morning when I awoke, I arose intending to give my infant suck, and to my surprise, found a dead child by my side. I fixed my eyes upon the breathless body, and considering it more diligently when it was clear day,

I plainly saw that the infant was not mine." To this the other woman replied, by charging her with a malicious falsehood, and claiming the living child as her own. They both continued for some time to dispute the matter with equal vehemence, each strenuously denying what the other as strenuously affirmed. Nothing could be collected in favour of one side more than of the other; no information could be gathered from any witness; the occurrence had happened in a private house, and under the cover of a dark night.

To discover the truth under such perplexing circumstances, required the sagacity of a Solomon, who, by his conduct on this occasion, showed himself possessed of a wisdom which saw into the secrets of all nature, not only with

respect to plants, trees, and animals, as the Scripture testifies of him, but also with respect to men, by diving into the deep recesses of the human heart, and disclosing the hidden movements of a mother's love. The king having sent for a sword, ordered the child to be divided in two, and half to be given to the one woman, and half to the other. The pretended mother stood silent on hearing the sentence, while the other, melting into tears of tenderness for her helpless infant, earnestly cried out, "I beseech thee, my lord, give her the child alive, and do not kill it." This plainly was the voice of nature, proclaiming her to be the true mother of the child. Solomon therefore ordered the child to be delivered to her.

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The decision gave universal satisfaction, and all Israel marvelled at the wisdom of the king.

Disputes must inevitably happen when men are influenced. by different principles, and have a different interest to pursue, and in such disputes a difference of conduct will soon appear, similar to that which appeared between the two mothers in their claims to the surviving child. The man who is blinded by jealousy or self-love, often attributes to his neighbour the very evils of which he himself has been the cause; he cares but little what disturbance he may cause, so long as he either gains his own ends, or prevents the claim of his rival from being established; the good Christian, whose principle is charity, is as moderate in his proceedings as he is steadfast in urging his just claims. Void of animosity, he pursues his right, that justice may be done; but when that right can no longer be insisted upon without injuring the innocent, he abandons the pursuit, and consoles himself in the testimony of an upright conscience, for whatever loss he may be obliged to suffer.

END OF THE FOURTH AGE.