The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-03-02
SoLoMoNS MAGNIFICENCE.
DR.. Talmage Likens It to the Glories
of the Christian Religion.
Sacred, Regal and Commercial Splen-
dor-Ths Visit OF the Queen of
ShebR and Her Surprise-A
Glowing Description.

DR.. Talmage's recent sermon at the
Brooklyn tabernacle was glowing de-
scription of the magnifcence of Solo
mon. He chose as his text l. Kings, x,
z: Behold the half was not told me-"
The sermon was as follows:
Solomon had resolved that Jerusalem
should be the center of all sacred, regal
and commercial magnifcence. He set
himself to work and monopolized the
surrounding desert as a highway for his
caravans. lie built'the city of Palmyra
around one of the principal wells Of the
east, so that all the long trains of mer-
chandise from the east were obliged to
stop there, pay toll, and leave part Of
their wealthin the hands of Solomon's
merchnts He manned the fortress
Thapsacus at the chief ford of the Eu-
pirates, and put under guard every
thing that passed there The three
great products of Palestine-wine
pressed from the richest clusters and
celebrated all the world over; oil which
in that hot country is the en- tire sub
stitute for butter and lard, and was
pressed from the olive branches until
every tree in the country became an oil
well; and honey which was the entire
substitute for sugar-these three great
products of the country Solomon ex.
ported, and received in return fruits and
precious woods and the animals of every
cline.
He went down to Ezion-geber and or
dered a fleet of ships to be constructed.
oversaw the worlmen, and watched the
launching of the Hotilla which was to
go on more than years voyage tc
bring home the wealth of the then
known world. He heard that the Egyp
tian horses were large and swift, and
long-maned and round-limbed, and he
resolved TO purchase them, giving SsS
apiece for them, putting the best of these
horses in his own stall, and selling the
surplus to foreign potentates ut great
profit
He heard that there was the best OF
timber on Mount Lebanon, and he sent
out $50, 900 men to hew down the forest
and drag the timber through the noun
tain gorges, to construct 1t into RATS to
be fioated to Joppa, and from thence TO
be drawn by OK teams twenty-five miles
across the land to Jerusalem. He
heard that there were beautiful flowers
in other lands. He sent for them,
planted them in his own gardens, and
70 this very day there are flowers found
N the ruins Of that city such as are to
De found in no other part of Palestine,
the lineal descendants Of the very how-
ers that Solomon planted He heard
That in foreign groves there were birds
rf richest voice and most luxurant
wing. He sent out people TO catch them
here, and he put them into his cages.
Stand back now and see this long
rain OF camels coming up to the kings
pte, aud The ox-trains from Egypt,
"a and silver and precious stones, and
fasts OF every hoof, and birds of every
ing, and fish of every scale! See the
sacocks strut under the cedars, and
le horsemen run, and the chariots
heel Hark TO the orchestral Gaze
'on the dance! Not stopping to look
70 the wonders of the temple, step
INT on to the causeway, and pass up
Solomon's palace!
iere we find ourselves amid a collec-
D of buildings on which the king had
ished the wealth of many empires.
sgenius of Hiram, the architect, and
he other artists is here seen in the
Z line of corridors and the suspended
cry and the approach to the throne.
ceried window opposite traceried
low. Bronzed ornaments bursting
lotus and lily and pomegranate.
iters surrounded by network OF
IS in which imitation fruit seemed
nded as in hanging baskets. Three
fhes-so Josephus tells us-three
hes, sculptured on the marble, ~
and subtle that even the leaves
ld to quiver. A laver capable OF
q 800 barrels of water on 600 bra
heads which gushed with water
led the whole place with coolness
Estalline brightness and musical
Ten tables chased with chariot
hnd lion and cherubin. Solomon
b throne of ivory. At the seat.
zee of the throne, on each end of
bps, q brazen lion. Why, my
in that place they trimmed
ndles with snuffers of gold, and
their fru Is with knives Of gold,
y washed their faces in basins
and they scooped out the ashes
Pvels of gold, and they stirred
fires with tongs Of gold. Gold
in the waterl Gold flashing
apparel! Gold blazing in the
Gold. gold! gold!
rse the news OF the affluence
lace went out everywhere by
avan and by wing OF every
soon the streets of Jerusa-
towded with curiosity seekers
aat long procession approach
lem? think from the pomp
must be royalty in the train
breath of the spices which
t as presents, and / see the
ed caravan showing that
from far away. Cry the
TO the palace. The Queen
advances. Let all the
ne out to see. Let the
d come out on the palace
.et Solomon come down the
palace before the queen
n Shake out the cinnamon,
ION, and the calamus, and
ense. and pass It into the
sc. Take up the diamonds
ster in the sun.