of that solemnity, and of the reverence, and holy transports, which must have filled the hearts of those who assisted at it.

It is likely, that on taking up the Ark, they made use of the usual form of words.

Let GoD arise, and let His enemies be scattered; let them also that hate Him, flee before Him, &c.

When they approached the temple, we may suppose they sang as follows:

*

O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.

For the LORD is a great GOD, and a great king above all gods.

In His hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is His also.

The sea is His, and He made it and His hands formed the dry land.

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.`

For He is our GOD, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand: to-day if ye will hear His voice,

Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My work.

Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, for they have not known my ways.

Unto whom I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest.

* Psalm xcv.

When

When they reached the gates, it is likely the following Psalm * was sung.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD He is GOD; it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His

name.

For the LORD is good; his Mercy is everlasting and His truth endureth to all generations.

As soon as they had deposited the ark, we may ima. gine, that the whole choir of musicians brake forth into joyful strains, like the following † :

O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD -all the earth.

Sing unto the LORD, bless his name: shew forth His salvation from day to day.

Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people.

For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

· Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

* Psalm c.

+ Psalms xcvi, and cxxxvi;

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; bring an offering, and come into his courts.

O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him all the earth.

Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth : the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved; He shall judge the people righteously.

O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the GOD of gods: for His mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the GOD of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever, &c.

At the conclusion of this pious thanksgiving, we may suppose the LORD graciously shewed His acceptance of his people's services by agloriousCLOUD, like that which their fathers had been taught to acknowledge as a manifestation of his DIVINE PRESENce. It certainly must have been a most awful, as well as affecting sight, to behold such a visible token of the favour of the GREAT CREATOR.

SECTION XLI.

SOLOMON'S PRAYER AT THE DEDICATION OF THE
TEMPLE.

From 1 Kings, Chap. viii, ix. 2 Chron. Chap. vi.

THEN said Solomon, The LORD hath said, that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

But I will build an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever.

And the king turned his face and blessed the whole congregation of Israel and all the congregation of Israel stood.

And

And he said, Blessed be the LORD GOD of Israel who hath with His hands fulfilled that which He spake with his mouth to my father David, saying,

Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be ruler over my people Israel.

But I have chosen Jerusalem that my name might be there, and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD GOD of Israel.

But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:

Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins he shall build the house for my name.

The LORD therefore hath performed his word that He hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD GOD of Israel.

And in it have I put the ark wherein is the covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel.

And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands.

For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold of five cubits long and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel,and spread forth his hands towards heaven.

And

And said, O LoND GOD of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven, nor in the earth which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:

Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.

Now therefore, O LORD GOD of Israel, keep with thy servant David, my father, that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law as thou hast walked before me.

Now then, O LORD GOD of Israel, let thy word be verified which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.

But will GOD in very deed dwell with men on the earth! behold, heaven, and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built?

Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my Gon, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:

That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night upon the place whereof thou hast said, that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth towards this place.

Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place; hear thou from thy dwelling-place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.

If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in thine house;

Then