1 Kings 11

What? because a father gives his son an assurance of his love, and tells him he will entail his land upon him, shall the son therefore be wanton and dissolute? This were the way to lose his father's affection, and make him cut off the entail; it was an aggravation of Solomon's s…

The wicked, when they sin, never tasted the sweetness of a heavenly life; they never knew what it was to have any smiles from God; they never tasted anything sweeter than corn and wine, therefore no wonder if they sin: but for a child of God, who has had such love-tokens from he…

Thus in the matter of spiritual joy and assurance, God may grant it to one who has not feared and obeyed him as much as one who walks in darkness. But then if anyone has received more pledges of assurance beforehand and has not walked accordingly, God counts it as an aggravation…

And therefore, in the books of the Prophets (Hosea 4.16. and 5.9. and 6.4, etc.) we shall find that the name of Ephraim is given to all the ten tribes; and they are called by that name, because it was the most noble tribe of all, and the most valiant, and (as it were) the shelte…

Thus the Prophet calls the most renowned and frequented temple among the Moabites, a sanctuary; and says, they shall go there: but to no purpose. Now it appears by the holy history, that the most famous temple of the Moabites was dedicated to Chemosh (1 Kings 11:7). Some expound…

That is, the chief of the evil angels, as it is conceived. The word [Satan] signifies an adversary, and so it is often times applied to men; as concerning Solomon, it is said that while he did walk exactly with God, there was neither adversary nor evil occurrence; the word in th…

It is said, 1. to be like the tower of Lebanon: There is no particular mention of such a tower, but, that Solomon built there a stately house (2 Chronicles 8:3), called the house of the forest of Lebanon, wherein (2 Chronicles 9:15-16) he put many targets and shields; and Lebano…

The visible church of Christ from Solomon's reign, was mainly in the tribe of Judah. The tribe of Benjamin, that was annexed to them, was but a very small tribe, and the tribe of Judah exceedingly large; and as Judah took Benjamin under his covert when he went into Egypt to brin…

Such as these the Scripture terms men-pleasers. Hence it comes to pass that husbands and wives are so far from drawing one another from sin, that the better rather yields to the worse, and both run into evil, as Adam was persuaded by his wife to transgress against God's express…

This, as it is in itself a vile vice, so is it a cause of many other vices, as of presumption, rebellion, and even of adultery itself many times: and it is also a main hindrance of all duty. It commonly rises either from self-conceit (whereby wives overween their own gifts, thin…

Thus does the Lord extend the reward of righteous parents to their children to show his great good liking, and high approbation of righteousness. Read for this purpose, (1 Kings 11:34; 2 Kings 10:30). 1. Objection. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself.

That in (Titus 2:2) take heed of old age sins, old age lusts (concupiscentia non senescit) when men are dying, and have one leg in the grave, when they are about to give up the ghost, yet (like the thief on the cross) they will be sinning. Take heed of Solomon's old age sin, a k…

6 The Experiences that any have had of God's goodness, and their own deceitful and evil hearts, and what they have suffered by sin, do all bear witness against sin: Has God been so and so good, and are you so foolish to requite the Lord evil for his goodness, which should have l…

To which I could say, that this comparison, and so perfection is only to be attended in regard of that particular at which it points, namely, in maintaining the truth of worship, and therein he held it out from first to last; which [illegible][illegible]; but whether in his whol…

It excels in security; other kingdoms fear either foreign invasions or intestine divisions. Solomon's kingdom was peaceable awhile, but at last he had an alarm given him by the enemy (1 Kings 11:4). But the kingdom of heaven is so impregnable that it fears no hostile assaults or…

And if God establish David's seed forever (Psalm 89:4) and the seed of his people shall possess the gates of their enemies (Genesis 24:60) and if he pour his Spirit upon the seed of Jacob (Isaiah 44:3) and circumcise the heart of the seed of his people (Deuteronomy 30:6) and put…

We must distinguish between the intent of the threatener, and the intent and sense of the threatening. Law-threatenings may be well expounded, by the execution of them, upon persons, against whom they are denounced: As, (1 Kings 11:30) compared with (1 Kings 12:15-16). Ten Tribe…

Objection: But this Covenant is made to, and with David, that Solomon, and one of David's line, shall sit upon David's Throne, until the Messiah, the true beloved shall be born (2 Samuel 7:12-13). Answer: It is true, and although these of David's line sinned, yet by virtue of th…

The word of the Almighty is his deed also (Psalm 33:9). He spoke, and it was done, he commanded, and it stood fast; [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] For he himself spoke, and it was: the Lord's word gives being to things, by the contrary; men's deeds are nothing but words; so the liv…