the same. Exalt him that is low; abase him that is high." Ps. ii. "The kings of the earth set themselves; the rulers take counsel together, saying, Let us break their bands, &c.Yet have I set my King on my holy hill of Zion." Ps. cxviii. 22. "The stone which the builders refused, the same is become the head of the corner." And particularly this is agreeable to what the prophet Daniel says of the reign of Antichrist, that shall precede the glorious day of the Messiah's reign, who shall set up himself in the room of the Most High, as law-giver in his room, shall think to change times and laws, whose reign shall continue till the Messiah comes to overthrow it, by setting up his glorious kingdom. When David understands the opposition that was made to Solomon's reign by him that had usurped the kingdom, and by the rulers and great men that were with him, he solemnly declares his firm and immutable purpose and decree of exalting Solomon that day to his throne which was in mount Zion. 1 Kings i. 29, 30; agreeable to Ps. ii. "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his Anointed; saying, Let us break their bands.-Yet have I set my King on my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree. The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee." Solomon was made king by a most solemn oath of his father, that he declares he will not repent of, but fulfil. 1 Kin. xxix. 30. "And the king sware, and said, As the Lord liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress, even as I sware unto thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day." Agreeable to Ps. cx. 4. "The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedeck.' When the time came for Solomon to be proclaimed king, all the opposition and interest of his competitors, though very great, and of great men, (and though they seemed to have made their part strong, and to have got the day,) all vanished away as it were of itself, and came to nothing at once, like a dream when one awakes; agreeably to Ps. ii. "The Lord shall laugh at them. Yet have I set my King on my holy hill of Zion." Isai. xxix. 7, 8. "And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, shall be as a dream of a night vision. It shall be even as when a hungry man dreameth, and behold, he eateth; and he awaketh, and his soul is empty," &c. Ps. lxviii. 1, 2. "Let God arise; let his enemies be scattered; let them also that hate him flee before him, as smoke is driven away, as wax melteth before the fire." Isai. Ixiv. 1. "Oh that thou wouldest

rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence." Dan. ii. 34, 35. "Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold broken to pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors, and the wind carried them away." The followers of Adonijah were dispersed without any battle, only by what they heard and saw of what David had done in exalting Solomon, and the manner in which he was introduced and instated in the kingdom; which is agreeable to Ps. xlviii. 4-6. " For lo, the kings were assembled; they passed by together; they saw it, and so they marvelled. They were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain as of a woman in travail." After David had declared the decree, that Solomon should be king in Zion, it was dangerous for the princes and rulers not to submit themselves to Solomon, and behave with suitable respect to him, lest he should be angry, and they should perish. Ps. ii. Solomon, in his way to the throne, is made as it were to drink of the brook. He first descended from the height of mount Zion down into a low valley without the city, to the water course of Gibon. There he had a baptism to be baptized with. And then he ascended in the state and majesty of a king. Agreeable to Psalm cx. "He shall drink of the brook in the way, therefore shall he lift up the head:" and the many prophecies that speak of his humiliation, and sufferings, and glorious exaltation consequent thereon. Solomon, after he had descended into the valley to the waters of Gihon, ascended up into the height of Zion in a manner resembling the ascension of the Messiah, very much after the same manner that the ascension of the ark resembled it. For he went up with the sound of the trumpet, all the people following him with songs, and instruments of music, and hosannas, rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth rent again. 1 Kings i. 39, 40. Agreeable to Psalm lxviii., and xlvii. 5, and xxiv. That the peaceful, happy and glorious reign of Solomon should be introduced with such extraordinary joy, shouting, songs and instruments of music in Zion, is agreeable to what is often foretold concerning the introduction of the glorious day of the Messiah's reign. Zech. ix. 9. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold thy king cometh unto thee." To the like purpose, chap. ii. 10, Isaiah xl. 9, and lii. 7 -9. Psalm xcvi. 10, &c. "Say among the heathen the Lord reigneth; the world also shall be established, that it shall not be moved. He shall judge the people righteously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad. Let the sea roar and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful and all that is therein. Then

shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord," and Psa. xcvii. 1. 8. 12, xcviii. 4, to the end, and c. 1, 2. Isaiah xlv. 23, xlix. 13. Isaiah lv. 12, and many other places. The great prosperity of Israel through the reign of Solomon was introduced with the sound of the trumpet. 1 Kin. i. 34. 39. 1 Chron. xxix. 21, 22. Agreeable to Isaiah xxvii. 13. "The great trumpet shall be blown," &c. Solomon was the Messiah or anointed in an eminent manner. He was anointed by the special direction both of David and of Nathan the prophet. 1 Kings i. 11. 34. 39. He was anointed with God's holy anointing oil out of the tabernacle, verse 39; not only was Solomon anointed of God, but he was anointed also by the people. They made him king over them by their own act, 1 Chron. xxix. 22; agreeable to Hos. i. 11. "Then shall the children of Judah, and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint over them one head; and they shall come up out of the land. For great shall be the day of Jezreel." David made Solomon to ride on his own mule, and he sat on his father's throne, while David was yet living, and was king. His father solemnly invested him with his kingly authority; and himself gives him his charge. 1 King i. 30. 33. 35. 47, 48, ii. 12. 1 Chron. xxviii, xxix. This is agreeable to the account that is given of God the Father's investing the Messiah with his dominion in Dan. vii. See also Zech. vi. 12, 13, and Ezek. xlvi. 1, 2, with xliv. 2. Solomon is spoken of as not only sitting on the throne of his father David; but also as sitting on God's throne, and reigning in some respect in God's stead, as his vicegerent. 1 Chron. xxviii. 5. The Lord hath chosen Solomon my son, to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord-over Israel." Chap. xxxix. 23. "Then Solomon sat upon the throne of the Lord as king in stead of David his father." 2 Chron. ix. 8. "Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to seat thee on his throne, to be king for the Lord thy God." So the prophecies do represent the Messiah, as sitting on the throne of David his father. Isaiah ix. 7. "On the throne of David, and upon his kingdom to order it," &c. Jer. xxxiii. 17. 21. And also as sitting on the throne of God. Zech. vi. 13. "He shall build the temple of the Lord and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne." Also Dan. vii. 13, 14, and Psalm ii. "I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion." Psalm cx. "Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool." Psalm xlv. 6. "Thy throne, O God, is for ever." The beginning of Solomon's reign was a remarkable time of vengeance on the wicked, and such as had been opposers or false friends of David and Solomon. Many such were then cut off. 1 Kings ii. So that it was as it were the righteous only that delighted themselves in that abundance of peace, and partook of the glory, prosperity

and triumph of God's people, that was enjoyed in this reign, which is agreeable to Isaiah. Ixi. 2. "To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God: lxv. 12, &c. "Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter-my servants shall eat; but ye shall be hungry," &c. Chap. lxvi. 14-16. "And the hand of the Lord shall be known towards his servants, and his indignation towards his enemies. For behold, the Lord will come with fire and with his chariots, like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury-and the slain of the Lord shall be many." Isaiah xxxiii. 14, &c. "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprized the hypocrite. He that walketh righteously-shall dwell on high -thine eye shall see the king in his beauty." Mal. iv. 1—3. “All the proud, yea, all that do wickedly, shall be as stubble. But unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings. And ye shall tread down the wicked." Ezek. xx. 38. "And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me." Psalm xxxvii. 9-11. "For evil doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall not be: yea thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and delight themselves in the abundance of peace." And many other places. Solomon did not immediately cut off these rebels and transgressors; but gave them opportunity to enjoy the blessings of his reign with others, if they would turn from their evil way, and submit to him, and approve themselves worthy men and faithful subjects. But when they went on still in their transgressions he cut them off. Agreeable to what is foretold should be at the introduction of the glory of the Messiah's reign, in Psalm lxviii. 18, &c. "Thou hast ascended on high-thou hast received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with his benefits. But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses." Solomon was a man of great and unparalleled wisdom. This is agreeable to Isaiah ix. 6. "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor." xi. 2, 3. "The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and of might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord." Zech. iii. 9. "Upon one stone shall be seven eyes." See also Isaiah xli. two last verses, with xlii. 1. God was with Solomon and greatly established his throne. 1 Kings ii. 12. 2 Chron. i. 1, agreeable to Isaiah ix. 7. 9. "Upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish it— from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts

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shall do this." Psa. lxxxix. 2, 3. "Mercy shall he build up for ever: thy faithfulness wilt thou establish in the very heavens. I have made a covenant with my chosen." 20, 21. "With my holy oil have I anointed him, with whom my hand shall be established; mine arm also shall strengthen him." 36, 37. "His throne shall endure as the sun before me: it shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven.” Psa. ii. throughout. Psa. xlv. "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." Psa. cx. "Sit thou at my right hand, the Lord hath sworn," &c. Isai. xlii. 1. 4. "Behold my servant whom I uphold he shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth, and the isles shall wait for his law." And xlix. 8. "I have helped thee, and I will preserve thee, to establish the earth." The Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any before him in Israel. 1 Chron. xxix. 25. 2 Chron. i. 1.; agreeable to Psa. xlv. 2, &c. "Thou art fairer than the children of men gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty." Ver. 6. "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." Isai. ix. 6. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of peace." Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter, a stranger; agreeably to Psa. xlv. 10. "Hearken, O daughter, consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people," &c. "She was the daughter of a king;" agreeably to Psa. xlv. 13. "The King's daughter," &c. a Gentile, agreeably to Hos. ii. 16. "Thou shalt call me Ishi," (i. e. my husband.) Ver. 19, 20. "AndI will betroth thee unto me." Ver. 23. "And I will have mercy upon her that hath not obtained mercy; and I will say unto them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God;" with innumerable other prophecies of the calling of the Gentiles. She was an Egyptian, and Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Agreeably to Psa. lxxxvii. 4. "I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me." Psa. lxviii. 31. "Princes shall come out of Egypt." Isai. xix. 18, to the end. In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan — and there shall be an altar unto the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt and the Lord shall be known unto Egypt; and the Egyptians shall know the Lordand the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians—the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed shall be Egypt my people." Pharaoh's daughter being an Egyptian, was of a swarthy complexion; agreeably to Cant. i. 5. "I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem." We read of no person that ever of