126 The Prayer of Solomon. CHAP. 



perhaps of David himself, as he looked back on the 

 troubled but glorious history of Israel from the 

 departure out of Egypt to the establishment of the 

 Kingdom in Zion : they assert that forgiveness is 

 compatible with vengeance, and suggest, though 

 they do not assert, that vengeance may be the way 

 to forgiveness. And in the same spirit is that 

 remarkable saying in the Psalm De Profundis, 

 " There is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest 

 be feared. " J But what is only suggested here is 

 asserted in another psalm. "To Thee, Lord, 

 belongeth mercy : for Thou render est to every man 

 according to his woi'k" 2 Here the Psalmist, with a 

 flash of inspired insight, has expressed the truth 

 independently perceived by Plato, that it is good for 

 the sinner to receive the reward of his deeds. This 

 thought is expanded in the prayer of Solomon : 



" If there be in the land famine, if there be 

 pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or 

 caterpillar; if their enemies besiege them in the 

 land of their cities ; whatsoever plague or whatsoever 

 sickness there be : what prayer and supplication 

 soever be made by any man, or by all the people 

 of Israel : . . . then hear Thou from Heaven Thy 

 dwelling-place, and when Thou hearest, forgive, 

 and render unto every man according to his ways, 

 whose heart Thou knowest ; for Thou, even Thou 

 only, knowest the hearts of the children of men : 

 that they may fear Thee, to walk in Thy ways." 3 

 1 Psalm cxxx. 4. 2 Psalm Ixii. 12. 3 2 Chron. vi. 28-31. 



