The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

{^2 S^RMOKS*Congrefs rit SliccKem, tliclr petition or renionflrance,however, was gracioufly received by Rchoboam.-Thcre have been, in hitter times, petitions againflnew and heavy taxations, humbly offered by great andrefpecbable bodies of men j which petitions have notonly been rejected, but new and feverer meafureshave been enacted againfl; the petitioners and theiriconftituents. Rehoboam heard and received theremonftrance. Hitherto, indeed, I fee in him nofymptoms of any arbitrary temper ; and had he falleninto the hands of wife and reafonable counfellors, hemight have reigned over all Ifrael and Judah, in thefanae fplendour his father had done. " He faid unto•them," that is,to the delegates, " Depart yet for threedays, and the» come again to me ; and the peopledeparted." Hitherto all is tranfa£led with becomingdecency, and promifed a good iffue. The Ifraclites,from the liking they had to the family of David, werewilling to ferve Rehoboam on the condition theyhad mentioned in their petition; and to take threedays to deliberate v/hat would be the proper anfwerto a petition of fuch importance was prudent in theking. Three days accordingly were fpent in that deliberation.Though it appears that Rehoboam had difmifledhis father's privy council, he had, however, broughtthem along with him to Shechem. And he thoughtproper firil to alk their opinion and advice ; old ageclaim* refpe6t, and grey hairs challenge reverence.