with our ears. And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemest to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? for thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever; and thou, Lord, art become their God. And now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee. For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee; for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it; and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever."

It was not long after this prophecy that Solomon was born to David: and he was selected to be

the son of David who was to build the house for God. David was now growing old; and when near death, he thus energetically addressed the throne of glory, and the Lord of Hosts.

But Mamma, God said that he would build a house for David, and that David's son should build a house for God. What, did God build a house on earth, Mamma?

That is the house of which I told you, my love, which was not built with hands. This was the grand covenant; it was the house for the second Adam, made in the likeness of sinful flesh,-the blessed Zion; but more of this building I will tell you hereafter: I must first advert to the last words of David, and his charge to Solomon on his deathbed. The holy Psalmist thus poured out his soul, full of glory, before God.

"The spirit of the Lord spake by me,
And his words were in my tongue.

The God of Israel said, the rock of Israel
Spake to me, He that ruleth

Over men must be just, ruling in the

Fear of God. And he shall be as the

Light of the morning, when the sun riseth,
Even a morning without clouds;

As the tender grass springeth out of the earth,
By the clear shining after rain.

Although my house be not so with God,

Yet he hath made with me an

Everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure.
For this is all my salvation, and all my desire,
Although he make it not to grow."

What did David mean by a covenant, Mamma? It was an agreement made by God; and being full of mercy, it was called the covenant of grace. And what, Mamma, is the meaning of grace ? It signifies favour or kindness bestowed, and therefore means the favourable influence of God on the heart by his Holy Spirit, changing it from darkness into light, and therefore disposing our hearts to repentance, and obtaining for us forgiveness of sins. This covenant was the greatest act of grace that can be possibly conceived, not only to David, but to the world. As you perceive David says, that although his house was not with God, that is, though his own children would sin against God, and God forsake them; still God made with him an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure, which was his salvation, and ours, and the world's. This was to be effected in the house that was made for David by God, and not by hands, with which, my love, you shall be made acquainted by and by. Besides, David said, my child, that the Ruler, signifying the King of Israel, must be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, even a morn

ing without clouds: meaning he must be free from all sin, and as full of glory as the rising sun; that he must rise into the world with light and glory, without a cloud, without a spot.

But, Mamma, you said that every man arose in the world, or was born into the world, with sin. Yes, my child; but the second Adam is referred to, who was

"The light of the morning,

Shining into perfect day.”

"As the tender grass springeth out of the earth,
By the clear shining after rain.”

"He that ruleth over men must be just."

Shewing, my love, holiness in the strictest accep tation of the term.

A trial was now to be made of Solomon, to shew how just and holy he would be; for he was chosen by God, as the son of David, to build God's house, and to be a type of the second Adam. But David, my love, shortly after these gracious visitations, was called to leave this earth of sorrow. On his deathbed, he sent for Solomon: "I go the way of all the earth," said David to his son: "be thou strong, therefore, and shew thyself a man ; and keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments,

and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself; that the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel."

David shortly after this died, having reigned over Israel forty years, and his son Solomon, king of Israel, sat upon the throne.

Shortly after being established in his kingdom, he visited Gibeon to offer sacrifices to God. There the Lord appeared to him in a dream by night, and inquired of him if there was any thing he desired of God; when Solomon replied: "Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David, my father, great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father, and I am but a little child. I know not how to go out or come in."

Was Solomon only a little child, Mamma?