1 LIB. XVII. Salomonandthef2!!:eeneofSbeba. ~~ ;A earth; and who ldlly didft afccnd up on higb,and lcdft caprivitrcaptivc,a~,l~ -, gifts to men~ Sowell had this fludious Ladic profited by the Lctlurcs ofthat cxquilitc Mafler· chat now fhe envies, lhe magnifies none but them who may live withmthe ayre of Sal111t1ns wifdomc: H•ppy AYe the mtn,and happy arethy {trvants,whichJlandc•minu· l •fly btfort tbtt,and that'""'' thy wi(dome. As iflhcc could have becnc content. to have changed her Throne for the footftoole of Salomon. lt is not calie to conceive ; how great ablclling it is to live underthofe lips,which d~ both prefcrve lmowled2e and utter it : Ifwe were not glutted with good counlell, we lhould find no re!Jh I in any worldly contentment in comparifon thereof: But, he that is full defpifcth on hony.cmnbc. She,whomher own experkncc had tttught how happy a thing it is to have a skilB full Pilot fitting at the fternc of the Star<, blelfctiJ Ifracl for Sa!omon, blclfcd God for Ifrael, blclfcth Salomon and Ifrael mutuJ!ly in each other; B/ej[td6t the Lord thy Gldwhich ddighuth in thtt,to (it thtt on tht ThrMtojlfr~ei.B turtje the Lordloved I(. \ rat/for wer, therefore made he thtt King to dot judgment andj•Jim.lt was not more 1 S•lomons advancement to be King of llrael,thcn it was the advancement oflfracl to be governed by a Sallmo•. There is no earthly proofe of Gods love to any Nation comparable to the fubflitution of a wife and pious govcrnour : to him we oweour pcacc,our Jife,and which isdefcrvedly dcarer,rhc life ofour foulcs,thc Gofpei.But ohGod howmuch haft thou loved thine Ifrad for ever, in that thou halt fer over i; that righrcou• branch of Iej[t, whofe name is Wondtr{ND, CDNn[eU~r, the mighty GDd the tvtrlajling Father,tht Prrnc,.fPuce: In JOhofedayts Iurl•hfhaN be {.vtd,antl I{r4ti C foAl d,.eafoftly? Sing o heAven, andrtjoyce 0 earth, andbrtdeforth int•.finging, o mi•ntaints,/Dr Gld hath comfortedhi! ptople, and ,.;u haveeverlafting mercy upon hu •Jflslled. TheQgcenc of Shcba did not bring her gold and precious ftoncs ro looke on or t<He-carie, but to give to a wealthier then her fdfo. She gives therefore to Sat.'mon ac hundred & twenty talents Qfgold,bclides coltly ftoncs and odours.Hc thatmade filvcr in Hierufalcm as ftones, is yet richly prriented on all hands. The rivers ftill ruonc into the Sea;To him rhathath 0Jallbc given: How lhould we bring unto thee 0 thou King ofHeaven, the purcft gold of thine owne graces, the f1vccreft odours of our obedicnccH Was not this withal! a type of that homage which lhould bee done unto thee, 0 Saviour, by the heads ofthe Nations ~ Tlte Kings ofTarfhifh •nd D the lies ~ring preftnts , the Kings •f sheb.and Saba bringgi{ts;yta all Kings flraliw~rfoip thee, all Nations JbaU forvt thte. They cannot conch themfdves but by giving unto thee. It could not !land with Sal•m•ns magnificence to receive rich courrelies without areturne: Thegreater the perfon was, the greater was the obligation of requitall ; The giftsof meaac pcrfons arc taken but as tributes ofduty ; it is di/honourable to take from equals, and not to retribute: There was not therefore more frecdome in hergift,thcn in her receite: Hcrowne will was themcafureofboth ; She gave what !hewould,lhc received what focvcr /he would askc; And /hco had little profited by Sa/omons fchoole, if /he had not learned to aske the bell : She rernrnes therefore E more richly llde then /he came:OJe gave to Salomm as a thankfull Client ofwifdom; Sd!omon rc:turnes to heras amunificent Patrone,accordingto the liberality of a King. We !hall be furc to be gainers by wharfocver we give unto thoe,O thou God ofwif. dome and peace: Oh that we could come from the remote regions ofouriofidelity, and worldlinelfc, to Jcarne wifdomc ofthee, who both tcachefl and giveft it abundantly, without upbraidinl(, without grudging ; and could bring with us the poore prcfcnrs Qfourfaithfull deftres, and lincere fcrviccs : how wouldft thou receive os with agracious acccptation, and fend us away laden \lith prefent comfort, with etcrnallglory ?
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=