and tabernacle were still in being, and that it was not right to offer up sacrifices in any other place than where they were. Many of his people, too, were guilty of the same offence, and probably for the same reasons.

One of the first and most important acts of his reign, however, was to engage with his people in a solemn religious service at Gibeon-the tabernacle being there, with the brazen altar of burntoffering made by the direction of Moses in the wilderness. It was a great public expression of national allegiance to the God of Israel, and of the piety of the young monarch. He had previously issued orders throughout the kingdom for this purpose, "to the captains of thousands, and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers." The various tribes came up, first to Jerusalem, and proceeded thence, with the king at their head, under their different leaders, to Gibeon, a few miles north of the city. There, in the presence of the vast assembly, and in the midst of the holy solemnities, Solomon offered up a thousand burnt-offerings upon the altar.

During the following night God appeared to him in a dream, manifesting himself in a supernatural way, under some visible form, and saying, "Ask what I shall give thee."

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Solomon's reply would lead us to suppose that he had not only great practical wisdom for one of his years, but also a deep feeling of pious dependence on God. How different would be the wishes of most young men, entering upon the active scenes of life with any thing like the means of gratifying the demands of ambition, or the desires after wealth and worldly pleasures, which Solomon possessed.

"Thou hast showed," said he, "unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father and I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in "I know not how to conduct the affairs of the extensive kingdom over which I am placed. "And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?"

The request was highly pleasing to the Lord,

who graciously said in reply, “Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding, to discern judg ment: Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any rise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honor; so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then will I lengthen thy days."

Solomon, awaking, perceived that this divine communication had been made to him in a dream. It inspired him with hope and resolution. It seems to have filled his breast with a joyful gratitude. He returned to Jerusalem, and before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, offered up burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

Could you have, my young friend, the good things you might ask for of the Lord, what would be your request? Would it be for the pleasures, the riches, or the honors of this world? Would it

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be for splendid attainments in human knowledge? Would it be for an imperishable name among the great ones of the earth? For what would you ask? Examine your own heart, and get its honest answer. It will teach you something of yourself. It will help you to judge for what you are living, and what, continuing as you are, will be your destiny in the future world.

CHAPTER XLIII.

SOLOMON'S DECISION WITH REGARD TO THE TWO MOTHERS AND THE DEAD CHILD-THE PUNISHMENT OF ADONIJAH, ABIATHAR, AND JOAB.

THE wisdom of Solomon was soon put to the test by a very singular case which was brought before him. Two women of bad character appealed to his decision for justice. They came together, and were admitted into the royal presence. One of them brought a charge of a grievous offence against the other. She said that, living both of them in the same house, and the only persons in it, a son was born to her, and one, also, three days afterwards, to the other woman. The latter, she declared, destroyed the life of her own child during the night, by accidentally laying on it and smothering it; and at midnight, taking the dead infant, put it in the place of the other one on its mother's bosom, who was asleep, carrying back with her the live infant, to claim and cherish it as her own.

The woman who made the complaint, went on to say, that rising in the morning to give her child nourishment, she found a dead infant before her, which, on careful examination, she discovered not