David was very sorry when he heard that Absalom was killed: and he must have been still more sorry to think what a wicked son he had been. Instead of behaving with proper respect to his father, and doing all he could to help and comfort him, this young man raised an army, and tried to have himself made king. But he was punished, by his untimely death, for the wickedness which he had committed; and it is very certain that all those will be punished who behave undutifully to their parents, as he did.

We are commanded to honour our father and our mother; and if we do not obey this command, either our days will be embittered in this world, or we shall suffer for our misconduct in the next.

We see here, too, that a fine person is often a snare to those who possess it. It leads them to seek admiration; and they are induced by those who flatter them to do that which is not right. Let us

not, then, pray for beauty or for strength, or be vain if they are ours; but let us rather pray God to give us a heart to love him, and to live diligently according to his commandments. Let us be humble and modest, sober and diligent; and then we shall be beloved by all good men, and beloved also by God, our Father in heaven.

THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON.

(1 Kings iii., iv. 29-34, x.)

WHEN David was dead, Solomon his son reigned in his stead. Soon after he was made king, God appeared to him in a dream by night, and offered to give him whatever he should ask. Now Solomon knew that it would be a difficult thing to govern so great a people as that of which he was king, particularly as he was but a young man, and had not had much experience. He therefore

prayed God to give him an understanding heart, that he might know how to govern his people, and to discern between good and evil.

God was pleased with Solomon because he had prayed thus; and he told him that, because he had not asked for a long life, nor for riches, nor for the life of his enemies, but had asked for wisdom and understanding, therefore he would give him a wise and an understanding heart, and that he would also give him the riches and honour for which he had not asked.

Accordingly, God gave Solomon abundant honour and riches, and such exceeding wisdom, that people came from a great distance to hear him speak, and to converse with him. One instance in particular shews us how wisely he judged, in deciding the disputes of his subjects. The case was this:

One day there appeared before him two women, one of whom said that they

two lived together in the same house; that to each a child had been born, and that three nights afterwards the child of the other woman died-upon which she took the living child of her who was sleeping, and put her own dead child in its place. The other woman denied

this, and said that the living child was hers; so, to find out the truth, Solomon commanded his officers to bring a sword, and to divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

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One of the women was willing that the child should be divided; but the other (the one who had brought the complaint) cried out in despair and agony, "O my Lord! give her the living child, and in nowise slay it." This earnest desire to save the life of the infant shewed clearly that she was, as she declared, the mother of it, and accordingly, Solomon delivered the child to her.

Solomon has said, in the Book of Proverbs, which he wrote, (iv. 7,) "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom, and with all thy getting get understanding." He has also said, (iii. 15,) that "She is more precious than rubies, and all the things that can be desired are not to be compared unto her." "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace."-Ver. 17.

Let us strive, then, to gain wisdom by listening to the counsels of wise men, by reading good books, and by carefully reflecting on what we hear, and read, and see. Let us lay up the precepts of wisdom in our hearts, and never suffer ourselves to turn aside unto folly. Let us never follow bad examples, but strive to grow in wisdom as in stature, and remember how glorious a reward is promised to those who persevere unto the end. Let us patiently continue in welldoing; and then we shall receive a crown of rejoicing at the last day.