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SERMON XV.

"The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them; for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here."-LUKE XI. 31.

The occasion of these words, was a request-or rather a demand-made by certain Jews on Christ, to show them a sign from heaven whereby they might certainly know that he was the Messiah.

They had indeed seen many signs-they had seen him raise the dead, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, but, they require something more. It must be a sign from heaven, by which they probably meant something like the glorious manifestation on Sinai. Unreasonable men! they had signs and wonders such as were never given before, and such as, perhaps, never will be given again—but it is not enough. Foolish men! they would fain see sights and hear sounds, before which their fathers trembled and quaked, and from which they earnestly entreated to be delivered. But our Saviour answered, "This is an evil generation; they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the son of man be to this generation." He reproves the impenitent by the example of the Ninevites, who "repented at the preaching of Jonas ;" and the unbehieving by the example of the queen of the south, who

"came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon." "May we, instead of demanding further evidence of Christianity than the wisdom of God has seen fit to give, make it our care to hear and obey, and diligently improve the light we have received."

In discoursing upon the words of our text, we shall first notice those particulars in which the conduct of the queen of the south condemns the generality of men and secondly, the points of encouragement which the narrative contains to those who earnestly seek the wisdom from above.

I. We are to notice the particulars in which the queen of the south condemns the generality of men. It has, unhappily, always been true of the great body of mankind, that they have been contemners of God and despisers of their own souls. In the days of Noah "God looked upon the earth and behold it was corrupt." "Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."* "Rivers of waters run down mine eyes," says David, "because they keep not thy law."+ And our Lord testifies that, in his time "few entered into the strait gate." Alas! this is no less true still. Whilst civilization is extending, whilst the arts and sciences are perfecting, and human learning is pursued with unparalled avidity, Christianity advances with comparatively tardy steps; the science of true godliness is little known or studied, and the "wisdom that comes from above" holds but a secondary place.

We beseech you seriously to consider this fact; for, the idea once entertained that most are in the right way, is a deadly opiate to the soul. We at once conclude ourselves to be of the number without any evidence, and, of course, relax all exertions or anxiety, and "settle on our lees;" whereas, if we apprehended the contrary fact, it might tend

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to excite in our souls a wholesome alarm, lest the queen of the south should rise up in judgment with us and condemn We remark—

us.

1st. The faith of this woman will condemn many. She heard the report and believed it: not indeed all she heard, but enough to determine her to undertake the journey. But "who hath believed our report" concerning a greater than Solomon? It is in vain that any pretend to believe "the record that God has given of His Son," unless, like this queen, it has drawn them to the subject of the testimonyunless they are brought to Christ. She came to see for herself, so must we. It is not enough to know Christ by the hearing of the ear, we must see him, and look upon him, and handle him; we must "taste that the Lord is gracious "— i. e. there must be an application to him, that gives the soul an experimental knowledge of his mercy, truth and power.

It will not satisfy the true believer simply to hear. His language is, "Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us." That is, he will earnestly solicit, that the work of redeeming love may be more and more made known in its grace and efficacy to his soul; and that he may experience more fully the sanctifying and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit; that the beauty of holiness, and the joys of salvation, may be within him. Such a faith has the testimony and seal of God to its truth; all others, the "queen of the south will rise up and condemn."

2d. She came without an invitation. She knew not what her reception would be;' whether he would permit a Gentile stranger to enter into his presence-much more to hear his wisdom and learn of him. But she ventured upon

Ps. xc. 16. 17.

his goodness. She knew it was a part of true wisdom and goodness to condescend to those of low estate; she therefore resolved to try; she could but be refused.

Now, no ifs, and buts, and peradventures, stand between you and Christ. Every barrier is removed; every wall of separation is broken down; no doubt remains as to your reception. By commands, by promises, by entreaties, by instances of condescension, he labors to bring you to himself. What return do you make? Is it so that he has called and ye have refused? then, indeed, shall "the queen of the south rise up in judgment and condemn you;" for, upon a mere report-without any encouragement-"she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon;" but ye "turn away from him that speaketh from heaven."

3d. She came in opposition to many difficulties:

A woman-burdened with the affairs of a nation-at an immense distance-must have seen many real difficulties, and might have feared a host of obstacles; but, neither the feebleness of her sex, the business of the government, nor the greatness of the journey, were sufficient to appal her soul. She encountered, and encountering, surmounted them all. With her, "wisdom was the principal thing; therefore she was determined at all hazards to "get wisdom."

Where is resolution like this? Nay-less will suffice; for no such obstacles lie in your way. "Hearken, oh, daughters, and consider!" Delicacy of sex is no impediment, it is rather favorable to the obtaining of true wisdom. No sacrifice is demanded but such as is for your interest to make. No tedious pilgrimage is to be performed, before you can reach the palace of our Solomon. "Say not in thine heart, who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above :) or, who shall descend into the deep?

(that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But, the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart."* You need not go from place to place to seek Christ. "Lô! He is with you." Yea, "Behold! He stands at the door and knocks :" He sues for admittance; all that He asks is that you should open to Him, then will He enter and regale you with His grace and glory. There "He stands until His head is filled with dew ;" and you, perhaps, are making your excuses and thus putting contempt on the Lord who bought you. No wonder, if, at the last day, He should put greater honor on a Gentile queen than on such Christians. "Them that honor me, I will honor."

4th. She came under many uncertainties. He might be dead; or, she might not escape the hands of marauders, the pestilential winds, and the various dangers that infested an Arabian desert; or, if she should, she might not at last be compensated for all the difficulties she had encountered.

But no such uncertainties lie in our way. Christ liveth for ever: and, as to realizing all that we expect or wish, there is not the shadow of a doubt. Angels and Archangels! tell. Patriarchs and Apostles! tell. Ye great cloud of witnesses! tell. This they tell-" Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."+ In the present world, it is righteousness, peace, and joy; and in the world to come, life everlasting.

Lastly. She came to see a man who was in no respect to be compared with Christ. We judge of the character and greatness of Solomon by the magnificence of his buildings, the splendor of his court, the arrangement and employment of his officers, and the wisdom of his laws. In all these respects, "a greater than Solomon is here." Did the build

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