he answered him from heaven by fire, the well-known token of Divine approbation; and the Lord commanded the angel to sheath the sword.

It is one of the truest properties of a real saint, to improve every providential hint, every circumstance he meets with in life, even his errors and his sins, into some wholesome lessons for the time to come. This David does. Charmed with the Lord's merciful acceptance of his sacrifice at mount Moriah-for there was the threshing-floor of Ornan-he said (in the beginning of the next chapter), "This is the house of the Lord God." He begins immediately to prepare for the temple, which his son Solomon was to complete; and this spot of ground, on which his offering was accepted, was that on which the temple was afterwards erected. It perpetuated, indeed, the memory both of David's sin and of the plague; but to an humble soul that would be no grief. David would, doubtless, rejoice that the Lord's grace and goodness were commemorated thereby.

If I have dealt pretty largely in recounting and remarking on this history, it should be remembered, that doctrine and exhortation are heard from Sabbath to Sabbath on the general subjects of the Gospel, and, therefore, historical instruction may, at times, afford a useful variety. Moreover, I willingly would use any method to induce both professors of religion and careless persons to read and at

a bare text.

tend to something more of the Scriptures than I am certain that the duty of reading the Scriptures is far less observed than it ought to be. Some persons, of a religious turn in some degree, are contented to continue shamefully ignorant of the Sacred Book; and careless persons neglect it altogether. It is not a flash of conviction now and then, or a warm motion of the animal spirits, that makes a Christian. No: he is one whose delight is in the law of God, and who meditates therein day and night: he is the solid Christian: he brings forth fruit in season, and his leaf shall not wither, and whatever he doth shall prosper. He may, and he too often does, stumble and slide, as David; but the principle of Divine life, nourished perpetually by the Holy Spirit conveying sap into his soul through the Divine word constantly read and studied, remains in him, and he rises again and again. You see this in David, a true child of God; who is not an angel, but a sinner, in a state of infirmity and imperfection here on earth, but redeemed by the blood of Jesus, and renewed in the spirit of his mind; humbled under a sense of his sins, yet trusting in his God, from a settled knowledge that he has of his goodness. Hence he chooses to fall into his hands altogether, and trust himself to His conduct who brings good out of his evils, and improves and ripens him more and more for glory. Be not discouraged, though you ought

to be humbled, under a sense of your evils, ye who fear the Lord and know his grace. Go on to believe, to love, to be resigned to his government and will; and your latter end, like David's, notwithstanding all your trials, shall be sweet and glorious.

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SERMON XXVI.

THE FALL OF SOLOMON.

1 KINGS xi. 4.

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

How are the mighty fallen! What is man! how soon, how easily, does he yield to temption, even after the most exalted attainments of holiness, and the brightest and most comfortable manifestations of Divine grace! If there were such a thing as security from the power of temptation in any circumstances, one should think Solomon, the wise; Solomon, the highly favoured of the Lord; Solomon, the son of the man after God's own heart; who, in his own and in his father's case, had tasted so much of the goodness of God; that he would surely never forsake the Lord. But he fell! and fell in the foulest manner of any saint recorded in Scripture. It is not pleasant, but it is useful, to take notice of these things: the carelessness of too many from whom better things should be expected, and their easy security,

as if it were not possible for them to fall, though they never had so firm an establishment in grace as Solomon, makes it highly fitting that these things should be attended to. It is not your entertainment, but your profit, that is to be sought. I shall, as briefly as possible, first, state the case of Solomon's fall before you, and also from what a height he fell; and then, secondly, deduce four practical inferences from the subject. And may that God of the everlasting covenant, who puts his fear into his people's heart that they may never depart from him, alarm our hearts and quicken our souls with the wholesome cautions, "Be not high-minded, but fear;" Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall!"

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1. Of Solomon, the son of David, it is said, from his infancy, that the Lord loved him, and that he loved the Lord. When he was asked by his gracious God, what he desired, he shewed, indeed, like a true child of God, that his taste was divine and excellent. He asked no worldly things; but he asked wisdom: and the Lord gave him wisdom, and riches too, above all men on the face of the earth. For forty years, till his old age at least, did he reign the delight of mankind. Had we seen and known by experience the wisdom of his government and conduct, we should have been amazed beyond expression to think that he should ever become an idolater. He was honoured, too, to build that glorious edifice to