us, his people." These words refer, as we before observed, to a grand festival given by Solomon, the king, to Israel his people; but the chief theme of their thanksgiving was the long and glorious reign of David. Let us consider the circumstances under which the people of Israel celebrated their Jubilee.

King David reigned forty years over his people. His reign did not extend, like that which we celebrate this day, through that revolution of years which is necessary to constitute a Jubilee. But it was an arduous reign, and was marked by extraordinary vicissitude and revolution. And its issue was glorious; for though David had to contend with enemies on every side, yet his kingdom seemed to expand under the pressure, and to grow in strength by the efforts of resistance. So that the stormy reign of David prepared the way for a long and peaceful period under Solomon, his son.

But it was the private character of David which chiefly interested the affections of his subjects. He was a RELIGIOUS king. And, although he fell into sin, his sin was over-ruled for good, in the perfect example of his penitence.. His devotional hymns and psalms have been the meditation and solace of the church in every age. But it was in his struggles with adversity, that this prince chiefly exemplified the excellence and beauty of his piety. Though he was a king, his life was a permanent scene of suffering; and particularly of domestic suffering. His chief enemies were those of "his own household." His son, Absalom, rebelled against him; and some of his other sons, by their immoral conduct, brought disgrace on his family, and embittered his declining years. Even in old age, it does not appear that the house of David (with the exception of Solomon) learned to imitate the example of the king, their father; for, just before his death, he pronounced

the following affecting words, which are recorded by Samuel, the prophet, as being the last words of David. "Now these be

"the last words of David. The rock of

"Israel spake to me; he that ruleth over

men must be just, ruling in the fear of "God. And he shall be as the light of the

morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass

springeth out of the earth by clear shining "after rain. Although my house be not so "with God, yet he hath made with me an

everlasting covenant, ordered in all things "and sure; for this is all my salvation and all my "desire, although he make it not to grow."*

On the decease of David, there was

great lamentation in Israel. But the public sorrow was soothed by the noble conduct of his illustrious successor. The first grand work of Solomon was to attend to the service of religion, and to fulfil his father's instructions, by building a holy temple unto the Lord.

* 2 Sam. xxiii. 5.

This magnificent structure was eleven years in building, and, when it was finished, he assembled the heads of Israel to celebrate its dedication. And, after it had been dedicated, he proclaimed a festival, which extended over the whole kingdom. "At "that time, it is said, Solomon held a feast, "and all Israel with him, from the entering “in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt. "'* It was at this festival that the people did, as is recorded in the text, They "blessed king Solomon;" but when they contemplated the height of prosperity, at which the kingdom had arrived, they remembered the "mercies of David ;" and "they were

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joyful and glad of heart for all the good"ness that the Lord had done for David, " and Israel, his people." Although David were dead, their gratitude was alive. And we are to observe, that the prosperity of the kingdom, which called forth this tribute

* 1 Kings viii. 65.

E

of affectionate remembrance, was not its political prosperity chiefly, such as the increase of its dominion, (for Solomon made no conquests,) but its religious prosperity. When the temple of the Lord was finished, and the holy worship of God became universal and harmonious throughout the land, that was the completion of the glory of Israel. And this, it may be remarked, is the true glory of every christian nation; even its religious glory. For every other kind of glory may be equally attained by the nations of the Pagan world, who know not God.

There is one particular, in which the festival of Israel differs from that of this day, and which marks the peculiar happiness of our Jubilee; namely, that the king we would honour is not dead, but still alive. If he were dead, he would, indeed, live in our hearts, as David in the hearts of