and I the temple; and the vast number of priests, Levites, guards, porters, attendants, and officers of all kinds, lodged in it am fure he will not think all Vilalpandus's cellarages more than fufficient for the one; nor all his apartments more than neceffary for the other. IN the next place: We are not to imagine, that all the ftone and wood, hewn for that fervice, were expended upon it; for we are exprefly told, that Solomon made cedars to be in Jerufalem as the fycamores, that are in the vales, for abundance. And we may be well affured, that none but the very choice of both kinds, were ufed in the temple. And these, perhaps, were not more than one half of the whole. BUT there are two points of the last importance, towards reconciling and determining this controversy, which none of the critics, that I have met with, have ever confidered. THE firft is, that in all their computations of expence, no allowance hath been made for the precious ftones, with which the infide of the temple was adorned (fuch as diamonds, rubies, &c.); and which, if they then bore any proportion to the price they bear now, will fufficiently account for any expence that can well be imagined. And therefore, if we should agree with the learned Brerewood, that David left treasure enough to build the walls of the body of the temple of folid filver, and roof with gold, yet when we confider what great portions of the one, and immenfe maffes of the other, might go to the purchase of one fingle precious ftone, we cannot take upon us to pronounce any fum more than fufficient for fuch an expence. THE next point, of great importance to reconcile this controverfy, is, That, in fact, all the treasure left by David, was not expended upon the building of the temple. This appears clearly, from the feventh chapter of the first book of Kings, verfe 51. where it is exprefly faid, So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the houfe of the Lord and Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the filver and the gold, and the veffels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the Lord. I THINK I THINK it plain, that when David is faid to have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of filver, &c. the whole of his treasure, whether in coin, or otherwise, is there recounted; and that there remained a furplufage of that provifion, to be deposited in the treasures of the temple, after the work was finished, is evident from the paffage last quoted. CHA P. XX. Adonijah fets up as Heir apparent to the Throne, and afferts his Claim to it. Upon hearing of which, DAVID causes Solomon to be anointed King. AVID was now far advanced in years, DAY and the infirmities of age were fallen heavy upon him. The ftrength of nature was fo far abated in him, that cloaths could not keep him warm in his bed. His phyficians therefore advised, That a fair and youthful virgin fhould be fought for, who I 4 might might lie in his bofom, and cherish his vital heat; the natural warmth of a young, healthful, human body, being (as phyficians obferve) best fitted for that end, both in kind and degree. If it be asked, How the beauty of the person to be employed to this purpose, was concerned in David's health? I answer, That the beauty here required is, evidently, beauty of complexion: which, as it indicates the health and temperament of the body, might be of importance in this cafe. Poffibly too, as David was very beautiful himself, they fought for fome person of complexion and conftitution likeft to his own; and of confequence, beft fuited, and most congenial to it. And therefore the cavillers at this part of David's conduct are as far from being able naturalists in this refpect, as they are cafuifts in many others. And I will be bound to say, that if David had taken any other method of recovering, and keeping up, the vital flame; by wine, for instance, high diets, and cordials, or any other imaginable way; they would have found all those methods at least as exceptionable, as this. Abifhag the Shunamite was found, and thought thought proper for this purpose; and was, accordingly, admitted into the number of David's wives, but not known by him. CONCUBINAGE was not then deemed criminal: and it will, I hope, be thought no very wild paradox, to venture to furmife, that a modest man can, with less reluctance, suffer his infirmities to be relieved by a wife, than by any other mortal. other mortal. And therefore I greatly fear, that those gentlemen who quarrel with David upon this score, are little refined, either in that virtue, or the more elegant decencies of life. ADONIJAH, David's eldest fon, after Abfalom, (but by another wife) beautiful too, and popular like him, took advantage of his father's infirm ftate; affumed the airs, and fet up the equipage, of heir apparent to the throne: He prepared chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him; and gave out openly, that he would be king: although he could not but know, that Solomon was defigned for that dignity, both by David, and GOD himself. DAVID had nobody to blame but himfelf, for this misconduct in his fon it was his own exceffive indulgence, which inspired : |