"Not only do they breathe through every part a divine spirit of eloquence, but they contain numberless illustrious prophecies, that were remarkably accomplished, and that are frequently appealed to by the evangelical writers. David, in the spirit of inspiration, uttered his oracles with the most lively and exact description. He expressed the whole scheme of man's redemption, the incarnation, the passion, the resurrection and ascension of the Son of God, rather as a witness than a prophet."* In the earlier ages, we are told, the Book of Psalms was much more the familiar companion of religious persons and families than it is now; they committed them to memory; they sung them at their meals; they enlivened their social hours, and softened the fatigues of business." But the example of our Saviour and his apostles is the conclusive sanction for the singing of psalms in divine worship. Hence the christian church has adopted the practice as a part of its worship, and these sacred hymns are, indeed, admirably calculated for every purpose of devotion."

Let us now return to our story, from which I have thought it proper to digress for a few moments, to give you in this place, some notion of the importance of the Book of Psalms-for an ample exposition you will read the works of those eminent writers, who have thought them worthy of a separate commentary.+

Scarcely had the good king David descended to the grave of his fathers, when the factious movements of Adonijah forfeited the conditional protection which Solomon had engaged, and made it expedient to sacrifice his life to the tranquillity of the kingdom; and to depose Abiather, * Gray's Key to the Old Testament, &c.

+ Horsley, Gray, Horne, and others.

his confederate, from the priesthood, and banish him to his private estate in the city of Anathoth, whence you will remember he had escaped to David on the inhuman butchery of the priests by Saul. Joab, also in the conspiracy, hearing of these decided measures, became alarmed for his own safety; and, conscious how often he had deserved the heaviest penalty of the law, betook himself to the horns of the altar for refuge. Resolving to avail him self of the sanctity of the place, and refusing to come forth at the command of the king, he was there put to death, that the guilt of his crimes, especially the murder of two innocent men, might be averted from the house of Solomon and the nation of Israel.* Shimei, the noted rebel, was then called before the king, and commanded to build himself an house in Jerusalem, and confine himself to that city the remainder of his life-which should certainly be taken, on the day that he should pass the brook Kidron. Benaiah, an officer of great conduct, a faithful servant of David, who had hitherto commanded the little army which had resorted to him in his exile, was promoted to the chief command in the place of Joab, and Zadok was made highpriest in the room of Abiather.

Every threatening cloud now dispersed; and the sun

* No opportunity ought to be neglected, in our degenerate day -however insignificant the monitor-when the most atrocious of all crimes, that of murder, not only escapes the notice of the laws, but is beheld without horror-defended by argument and even dignified with the name of an honourable satisfaction-of reiterating the remark, that the Supreme lawgiver admitted of no satisfaction for the life of a murderer: but allowed in his case even the sacred altar to be violated, should he presumptuously seek refuge in that place. See Exod, xxi. 14. and Numbers xxxv. 30. 31.

shine of harmony at home, and peace abroad, beaming auspiciously on the head of Solomon, no impediment stood in the way of commencing his great work. But before he began, we observe, he collected all the principal people of Israel, and went up to "the high place" at Gibeon, and offered a thousand burnt offerings.

MRS. M. All the heathen nations, building their altars on elevated grounds, the Hebrews early fell into the same practice-hence the altars of both, were often denominated, "their high places."

CATHERINE. This offering of Solomon brings other instances of similar irregularity to my recollection. If the altar before the Ark was the only legal place of offering, how were they justified in sacrificing in Gibeon, or in any other place?

MRS. M. When David brought the Ark to Jerusalem he prepared a temporary habitation to receive it-the tabernacle, with the altar, being left at Gibeon, and Zadok and other priests to attend the ministration, it was then lawful to sacrifice in both places. In other instances where the law appears to you to have been violated, you will find a special command to have been given for offering in the specified place. Whilst the Ark was at Shiloh, on several occasions, the people were assembled at Mezpeh to "consult the Lord," which was to be done by the priest presenting himself before the mercy seat, with the Urim and Thummim on his breast. At Mezpeh the people might, perhaps assemblé more conveniently than at Shiloh, which being in their view, from the former, the priest might readily communicate between them. So you see, when

the scriptures are examined, they will not fail to remove every fancied objection.

That the sacrifices of Solomon at Gibeon were acceptable, is demonstrated by the extraordinary favour he received at that place. The Majesty of Heaven appeared before him in a dream, and asked what should be given to him. "Give me," replied the modest prince, "wisdom and knowledge that I may go out and come in, before this people, for thou hast made me king over a people, like the dust of the earth in multitude." "Because thou hast not asked riches or honour," continued the celestial vision"nor the life of thine enemies, nor long life for thyself, behold-wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee, and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days."

The subsequent display of Solomon's transcendent powers, evinced the ratification of this promise of Divine illumination. He was not much above twenty years of age at this time, yet the uncommon sagacity he displayed in the decision of a cause which came before him in the beginning of his reign, excited the admiration of the public, and laid the foundation of the title he acquired, that of the wisest of men!

Two women, having each a child, lived together in one house. In the night, one of the infants died; and when its death was discovered in the morning, the mother accused her inmate of having overlaid her own child, and substituted it for her living son, whilst she unconsciously

slept. The infants were nearly of an age, and both so very young, that distinguishing features might hardly be detected by a common observer. The contest was obstinate both refused to relinquish the living child-and the cause was brought before the king. Solomon, well knowing that maternal feeling would at once decide the question, proposed to settle the claim, by dividing the living child between them-and the impostor acquiesced! But the mother, in an agony of horror, exclaimed: “ 0 my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it !"

Give her the living child," said the wise king, pointing to the agitated mother, "and in no wise slay it :"-she is the mother thereof.

Shimei, the noted reviler of David, observed the terms of his pardon about three years: at the end of that time, he pursued some runaway servants to Gath, and returned again to Jerusalem, where he was immediately put to death; having foolishly incurred the execution of a sentence, which he had himself sanctioned.

: King Solomon, now the undisputed monarch of his own powerful realm, and the master of tributary kings, made several alliances with others, particularly the king of Egypt, whose daughter he married; and with Hiram, king of Tyre, the friend of his father David, who supplied him with timber and with skilful artisans for the building of the temple. The dominions of Solomon contained no such timber as the cedar and cypress of Lebanon. He therefore contracted with Hiram for trees to be hewn in the mountains, and floated on the sea, to Joppa,* the nearest port to Jerusalem. More than one hundred and seventy thou

* Now called Jaffa,