Queen of Sheba.

Ir falls not within the purpose of these brief sketches to concern with uninspired and varying speculations touching the characters coming under notice;-but to confine ourselves, rather, to the simple presentation of Scripture, and avail ourselves mainly of the hints afforded there from which to derive any observations of instruction or interest.

Solomon, among other enterprises of importance, appears to have carried on an extensive commerce with Ophir, a tropical country, situated, as is probable, on the eastern coast of Africa, and judged, by Mr. Bruce, to have been the same with Arabia or Sheba, of which the subject of this sketch was the sovereign in the time of Solomon. The vast quantities of gold, precious stones, and trees imported by the king of Israel from that country, and his great fame, which had, of course, amid so much commercial intercourse, reached the ears of the queen, very naturally excited a strong curiosity to see and hear him. So deeply interested was she in this matter, that notwithstanding the great distance, and other difficulties which, in her case, must have had existence, she undertook the journey to Jerusalem. Her equipage was princely, and suitable to a person of her distinction, while her presents which she had pre

pared for king Solomon were, in the highest degree, magnificent and valuable. Her visit appears to have proved entirely satisfactory to herself. The great wisdom of Solomon, and the boundless wealth and splendor of the temple and court, filled her with amazement;-so that ample as her expectations were, from the reports she had received at home, they were all more than realized by a personal visit and examination.

Several things have been conjectured of this illustrious queen, and her renowned visit to the Jewish court, some of which appear to be not specially eulogistic of her character. All these we may easily afford to forget, while we hasten to view her through that medium which, so far as it may be used, is unerring.

It is thus that we are inclined to infer for the queen of Sheba a pure and exalted motive and conduct in her visit to the king of Israel. Was it a mere idle curiosity by which she was actuated? Or was it some lower motive still? Permit the inspired hand to write the true answer to all such inquiries. "When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions." It was not, then, merely that he was famous, that she desired to see him and commune with him, but the great consideration that he was famous concerning the name of the Lord. Here is the key by which we are to open to view the character of this illustrious woman ;—

and the truth it reveals is a thousand-fold moreand a thousand-fold more precious, than of all unwarrantable speculations. The queen of Sheba was either already a person of true piety, or desirous of becoming so. She came from far to hear concerning the Lord. She came, for the fame of Solomon's wisdom had excited within her heart unusual hopes. She came with large expense, and, probably, at great sacrifices. She came with a mind adorned not only with great intelligence and acuteness, but intent upon the lofty purpose of her visit. She may have been a Jewess; or, having been a Pagan, she may have learned, by her intercourse with the traders from Judea, concerning the true God, and of the mode of seeking and worshiping him. Be all this as it may, she desired, with a great desire, to know the Lord more fully, while here centered all her inquiries which she presented to Solomon. There were questions with which her active and intelligent mind found difficulty; and yet were they questions of great importance, and for the solution of which she would not, and did not, hesitate to go a great distance. Had this woman, with the same mind and spirit, lived in the time of Christ, and had heard by report, as the Jews heard directly, of his wisdom, she would have taken equal and greater pains to learn "concerning the name of the Lord," from the lips of Him who was so much greater than Solomon.

And the importance, as well as the propriety of

her inquiries may be rationally inferred from the result. "Not anything was hid from the king which he told her not." The Lord gave him the requisite wisdom;-nothing "was hid" from him, that he might communicate to her all the instruction that was necessary or desirable. So also may the drift of her intentions, and the character of her heart, be very clearly and satisfactorily discerned in the effect produced upon her mind by her intercourse with Solomon, and in her pious as well as dignified address to him. Not content with congratulating those whose privilege it was to be constantly near him, and listen to his wisdom, she adds most elegantly, "Blessed be the Lord thy God which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel, because the Lord loved Israel forever; therefore made he thee king to do judgment and justice." not fail to be detected here. is assured that the Lord What is this but faith? the God who loved Israel. Lastly, she recognizes judgment and justice, while, with consummate skill, she reminds and persuades Solomon to exercise them in his kingdom. What is this but righteousness? Faith-love-righteousness" these three these three" were all thine, noble and most excellent queen of the South! Such wast thou as thy farewell was given to Israel, and thou returnedst to "the uttermost parts of the earth!"

Three things must The queen of Sheba loved Israel forever. Secondly, she praises What is this but love?

A Divine voice, that spake as never man spake,

deduced for us the moral--a momentous lesson— of the history of the queen of Sheba. She "shall rise in the judgment to condemn this generation; for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here." Thus said Christ to the hardened Jews. Gentle reader! Has this no application to thee? She traversed a long and weary distance-she devoted much time and abundant treasure-to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Do you learn of Christ? And his wisdom is far greater;—and he is near you;-and to know him is eternal life!

Widow of Sarepta.

THERE was hanging over the land of Israel one of those awful judgments which the God of providence saw to be often necessary, in order to remind that stiffnecked people of their duty, and lead them back from that idolatry to which, previous to the captivity, they were so strangely liable. The prayer of Elijah had shut up the heavens, and the frightful famine was abroad. The Sidonian widow was gathering a few sticks with which to bake her last loaf for herself and little son, that they might eat it and die. "Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread," utters a stranger's voice. Her heart sunk within her, for that voice fell on her ear with an unwonted authority,