The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-17
USOLOMON.o .o
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(Selected for The Advertiser.)
 And solomon loved the Lord. walk Ing in the statutes of David. his fath- CT; only he sacrificed and burnt in cense in high places."--I. Kings iii. 3. Which of these. elements will con. qner at the last? The sentence is morally. as wide apart as the east is from the west. In which part of the sentence will Solomon die? It is a question which concerns every man. for t describes all ef us. Sometimes and are not weary; again we go down into the very place of night Under which of these conditions will we fn-
 See how well Solomon berfns. The very goodness of this beginning alarms us.' When he went to Gibson to sac rlhce he slew thousand beasts, and burned them upon the great high We shall see him at his highest in this sleep. In reply to the Divine Inquiry, ne gives an outline of his own char acter and policy. He calls himself himself as but a little shiid: I know not how to go out nor come in." He Is king, yet a servant; he Is king yet not God: he is king, yet not master. He draws his lines definite ": he stands within his bounds in an attitude of attention, awaiting Gods declared will. He thus proves him. self worthy to be king. Wisdom is always royal. Spiritual wisdom should. always occupy the throne
 Listen to his prayer: '.Give. there- fore, the servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, And God grants his request beyond all expecta- tlon Now will I give thee that understanding heart'':; and more. T have also given thee that which thou hast not asked-both riches and honor --so that there shall not be any among And there was none like him. for God gave Solomon wisdom and understand Ing exceeding much, and largeness UT heart, even as the sand that Is on tho celled the wisdom of all the children ffsthe East country, and all the wis dom of Egypt," Never was a man so wise. SO good, so rich, so great as sSf sss asssasSs ss sss sasss
 So Far 6e has besnne in tte flrst 2, part ,as of the text. loving God, walking in the statutes Of David. his father: filled with wisdom and understanding coy, cred with riches and honor and glory; Take another picture of this same solomon; When he was old. .. solomon went after Ashtoreth, the Miicorn. the abomfnation of the Am monites" ''Whea he was oId@: when he ought to have known better; when experience oughtsfo have made him more grateful and deyout more reverL ent and loyal and true Alas! for iu- man nature, and the dsceitfulness of the heart! Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed, lest he fall.
 Great gifts mean great dangers. Re- sponsibility Is all the more imperative. The higher the exaltation, the more terrible the fall. We have need of continued watchfulness. Our Lord, who knew what was in man, gives a solemn note of warning: ''What I say unto you, say unto all-watch < Take heed, and. beware and watch. from the morning until the evening. and from evening until the morning, for the enemy slumbers not. 1t Is while we sleep he sows tares.
 All we can do is to pray the living God that we may be, kept body, soul and spirit: that we may be guided. guarded and sanctiied by His pres. snee; yes. that we may be kept m the hollow of His loving hand from all evil. To this great prayer-great in Its simplicity and tenderness--the heart that hest knows itself will ba the first to say. Amen!