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The men whose names the world will not willingly let die are those who find in others. good their chiefest, greatest joy. The names of self-gratifiers, self-seekers die out. They lay hold for a time of the memories of men, but never of what is firmer, their respect. Selfishness never has imbibed life from the principle of immortality. The men who come up to the height of a great choice "Give me these that I may judge Thy people, that I may civilise, that I may educate, that I may evangelise, that I may bless my generation" — their names become the echo, ever sounding throughout the ages of the sacrifice they once chose to make for others.

I. GOD DOES COME TO EVERY ONE SAYING, "CHOOSE WHAT I SHALL GIVE THEE." Goethe said that he admired the man who knew precisely what he aimed at in life. God wishes you at the commencement of your career to come up to the height of a great choice. You have all read Carlyle's description of the Sphinx sitting by the wayside propounding her riddles to every one that passed; and if the passer-by answered correctly it was well for him, but if he did not answer the riddle he was destroyed on the spot. I have watched young men and others, and I say that life comes to every man in this world with its riddle, and if he answers it aright it is well with him, but if he tries to go on neglecting the commandments of the Giver of life; if he tries to go on living in his own way, and not in God's way, life to him will be a thing of loss, and he will become an object to be wept over. "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." One of the latest discoveries I have read of is a spy-glass by means of which a man can see the sunken ships in all quiet seas. Oh that I could put a glass in the hand of every young man that would enable him to see the wrecks of the last twelve months in this great population! It would wring a prayer from your heart this minute — the very prayer of young Solomon, "Give me therefore an understanding heart, that I may discern between good and bad." It must begin with the heart. "The pure in heart alone can see God"; and if you cannot see God in the world, you cannot see anything else in its true proportions. There are only two kinds of companions, and if you play and dally with the wicked companions woe be to you. One rotten apple affects the whole store, one putrid grape will spoil the sound cluster, one sinner destroyeth much good. Why should you read a bad book? You will be sorry for it, perhaps, in twenty years, as Angell James was. If you read a corrupt book, a bad book, you will hang up a picture in your mind that you can never turn to the wall, that you can never pull down. And why should you do it, with all the noble literature that is about you? It was a splendid motto for you, that saying of John Foster, "This soul of mine shall rule this body of mine, or else quit it; I will not be here a tenant unless I am a master." We are placed here naked as the giant of fable to wrestle with the rude elements of the world, to conquer in the midst of its varied probation; but remember this, no devil nor devil's child can ever cast you down without your own consent.

II. If any one comes up to this choice, or chooses a right aim in life, it will be said of him, as it was here said of young Solomon, "AND THE SPEECH PLEASED THE LORD that Solomon had asked this thing." It was this thing in contrast to three other things that he had rejected. He rejected the false, and the false are here enumerated: "Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life." Then is that a wrong desire? Well, it is a nobler thing to act well your part than to be constantly thinking of living a long life. Religion is unquestionably favourable to length of days, but it is a very low aim of life to be constantly nursing yourself, and to be thinking of yourself. Life is not measured by length of days. Old Methuselah lived to 900 years, and never said a word worth putting down in the Bible. He lived for nine centuries and never did a single act worth reporting. He vegetated like a tree that was not living. Then it pleased the Lord, "Because thou didst neither ask riches for thyself." Then is it wrong for us to desire riches? As the great absorbing passion in life it is wrong. It pleased the Lord, "Neither hast thou asked the life of thine enemies." They say that it is the sweetest thing in life to have revenge upon an enemy. Another has said, "Revenge is mine, saith the Lord." And I thank heaven for that, or else public men would not live twelve months. Christianity is the only religion that teaches all men to give over their vengeance to the Lord. It is said that Leclair, the great critic, was one day going along the streets of Paris, and he trod on the foot of a young man; the young man at once raised his hand and struck him a blow in the face. Leclair turned round quietly, and said, "Sir, you will be sorry that you have done that, when you know that I am blind." He could have cut off his hand.

II. THE REASONS ARE HERE ASSIGNED WHY IT PLEASED THE LORD that Solomon rejected the false and chose the true aim in life.

1. Because he chose what enabled him to be serviceable to others. Our great poet has told us that Heaven does with us as we do with torches, not light them for themselves. We are lit in order to be the light of the world, and it can be said of every other life that "the game is not worth the candle."

2. Again, it pleased the Lord because he chose to walk in the statutes of a good father, and so to encourage him in his last days in his faith in God's covenant.

3. It pleased the Lord because he chose God Himself as his portion rather than all His gifts. "And Solomon loved the Lord." Young men, trust the Lord, there is honour in the Lord. He will give you more than you ask, abundantly more.

(H. Evans.)

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KJV: In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

WEB: In Gibeon Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I shall give you."