of the ground. In the kingdom of Solomon, through the influences of his wisdom, good men were encouraged, righteousness flourished, and the land enjoyed tranquillity. In the days of Messiah, the fruit of the Spirit of righteousness, and the fruit of righteousness, was 'abundance of peace.' He was the true Melchisedek,' or 'King of righteousness,' and therefore the true Solomon, the King of Salem, the Prince of peace.' And his peace is to endure when the moon shall have ceased to vary her appearances, and when a period shall be put to all sublunary vicissitudes.

8. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth, or, land.

As applicable to the kingdom of Solomon, this verse describes the extent and limits of the promised 'land;' if it be interpreted of the wide-extended empire of Christ, that empire knows no bounds, but those of the earth' itself. The Hebrew word s is often used for both, and as the dominion of Solomon represented that of a greater than Solomon, both are comprehended in the same words. And it is observable, that when the prophet Zechariah foretells the advent of the King of Sion,' in great humility, 'meek, and riding on an ass,' he describes the extent of his kingdom in these words, dominion shall be even from sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.' Zech. ix. 9, 10.

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His

9. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust.

Distant nations submitted themselves to the scep

tre, and prostrated themselves before the throne of Solomon, foreshowing the conversion of the Heathen world (in the figurative language of prophecy, frequently styled, 'the wilderness') to the gospel, and the lowly adoration to be made by penitent sinners, at the footstool of the King of glory. They who take not the advantage of the day of grace, will feel the rod of his power in the day of vengeance, when his enemies' shall be subjected to him; when death himself shall be destroyed; and dust shall be the serpent's meat.' Isa. lxv. 25; Gen. iii. 14.

10. The kings of Tarshish, and of the isles, shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

This verse suggesteth to our meditation several curious and interesting particulars, all tending to one and the same end. As, 1. The munificent presents and immense treasures brought to Solomon from Tarshish, and the isles of the Gentiles. 1 Kings, x. 22, &c. 2. The coming of the queen of Sheba from the south, with her gifts and acknowledgments to Jerusalem. 3. The offerings made by the eastern magi, as the first fruits of the Gentiles, to the Saviour of the world. And, lastly, the accession of the nations to the faith, (even these isles of the Gentiles,') bringing their glory and honour into the city of God. See Isa. xlix. lx. Rev. xxi. 24.

11. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him;

all nations shall serve him.

It is said, 2 Chron. ix. that all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom; that he reigned over all the kings, from

the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt; and that they brought unto him horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands. The dominion of Christ is universal; and it will appear to be so at the last day; when, before men and angels, he shall prove his claim to the title, 'King of kings, and Lord of lords.'

12. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth: the poor also, and him that hath no helper. 13. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. 14. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence; and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

These three verses, considered as describing the just and merciful administration of Solomon, need no exposition. As prophetical of Messiah's reign, they may be thus connected with the context, and paraphrased-The kings and the nations of the earth shall accede to the church of Christ, induced so to do by the fame of his mercy, no less than by that of his majesty. They shall hear of the great deliverance wrought by him for the poor in spirit, who make their prayer unto him, confessing their sins, and acknowledging the inability of any creature, in heaven or earth, to recover them from their lost estate. These he shall spare and pardon, and save from sin, and from death, and from hell. He shall, for this purpose, break the snares and destroy the power of their great oppressor, the devil; and so dear shall their blood be in his sight, that he shall shed his own for it; after which, arising to a new and immortal life, he shall accomplish the eternal redemption of his servants.

15. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of

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the gold of Sheba; prayer also shall be made for him continually, and daily shall he be praised.

As Solomon's reign was long and prosperous, that of Messiah is everlasting and glorious: as the rich brought presents to the one; so the nations offered up themselves, their possessions, their souls and their bodies, to the other: as the former was continually 'prayed for,' and blessed by his subjects, who owed peace and plenteousness to his government; so, with regard to the latter, prayer is made ever in the church, for the increase and consummation of his kingdom; and 'daily is he praised,' by his people, for all the riches of grace, for all the comforts of the Spirit, and for all the hopes of glory, which they possess, and enjoy, through him.

16. There shall be an handful of corn in the earth, upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

It is here foretold, that in the days of Solomon, wonderful shall be the fruitfulness of Judea; of the country in corn, by which the city is supported; and of the city in people, who, by their numbers, constitute the strength of the king. The fruitfulness of the country was to be so great, that from an 'handful of corn,' and that sown on the most barren spot, the top of a mountain,' should issue a produce, the ears of which would shake' and wave in the winds, like the woods of Lebanon;' while in the city a fresh progeny of Israelites was still springing up, and advancing to maturity, like the unnumbered blades of grass, in a field which the Lord hath blessed. See 1 Kings iv. 20, &c.

Such, under the reign of King Messiah, was the amazing increase of the word,' when sown in hearts barren before; such the astonishing multiplication of citizens in the Christian church as it is written, Acts, vi. 7: 'And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly.' So let it be, blessed Lord, wheresoever thy gospel is preached, throughout the world.

17. His name shall endure for ever; his name shall be continued, Heb. propagated, as long as the sun and men shall be blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed.

The person and kingdom of Solomon have been used all along as a channel, through which to convey a most illustrious prophecy concerning those of Christ. But here the type seems to be wholly absorbed in the great antitype. · His name,' his saving name, shall indeed endure for ever, propagated,' with the faith, through all the generations of men, while the sun,' another of his representatives, shall continue to maintain his station in the heavens, and to diffuse his light upon the earth. In him, as it was promised to Abraham, shall all the true children of Abraham be blessed' with the blessings of eternity; all nations shall call him 'blessed,' as they are taught to do in the remaining verses of this exalted composition.

18. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. 19. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. Blessed, therefore, be thou, O Lord Jesu! for