Sheba, as to whether Solomon really could be all that some
enthusiasts had reported. When she had seen his wisdom, and the house
that he had built, his state and his magnificence, and his ascent by
which he went up into the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit
in her; and she said to the king, "It was a true report that I heard
in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed
not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, behold,
the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the
fame which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants,
which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
Blessed be the LORD thy GOD, which delighteth in thee, to set thee on
the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever,
therefore made He thee king, to do judgment and justice."

Was there not the true spirit of prophecy in these words? Solomon has
passed away, and all his magnificence; the pleasant land is to this
day desolate under the power of the Turk; but the LORD has loved
Israel for ever, and soon a King shall reign in Mount Zion "before
His ancients gloriously." But meanwhile this KING, all unseen to
human sense, is reigning, and to those who come to Him in no sordid
spirit, but gladly consecrating the wealth of their heart's affection
and the most worthy gifts they possess--to those who feel enriched by
His acceptance of their gifts, and find pleasure in bestowing on Him
for His service the best they can offer--to such there is still given
the opening of heart and opening of eye to behold the KING in His
beauty, and to find all needed present solution of every hard
question.

Do we not often give to a poor CHRIST rather than to a rich one? Are
we not sometimes unwilling to give until we know His work to be in
straits, and sometimes its very existence imperilled? Are not our
hearts oft times more moved by the recital of human needs than by
CHRIST'S claim for the prosecution of the one work for which He has
left His Church on earth? A famine in India, a flood in China, is
more potent to bring temporal relief than the continual famine of the
bread of life and of the increasing floods of heathen ungodliness. It
is well, it is CHRIST-like, to minister temporal relief to suffering
humanity, but shall the deep longings and thirstings of His soul, and
the impressiveness of His last command ere He ascended on high, be
less urgent? How many of the