They would not calmly examine evidences^ and im- partially consider great plain facts. Her people would ijot see "the signs of the times." Therefore judgment was soon to come upon Jerusalem to the uttermost. Her wilful ignorance left her without excuse.
The principle laid down hy our Lord in this place is deeply important. It contradicts an opinion which is very oommon in the world. It teaches distinctly that all ignorance is not excusable, and that when men might know truth but refuse to know it, their guilt is very great in the sight of God. There is a degree of knowledge for which all are responsible, and if from indolence or pre- judice we do not attain that knowledge, the want of it will ruin our souls.
Let us impress this great principle deeply on our own hearts. Let us urge it diligently on others, when we gpeak to them about religion. Let us not flatter our- selves that ignorance will excuse every one who dies in ignorance, and that he will be pardoned because he knew no better ! — ^Did he live up to the light he had ? Did he use every means for attaining knowledge ? Did lie honestly employ every help within his reach, and search industriously after wisdom? These are grave questions. If a man cannot answer them, he will certainly be condemned in the judgment-day. A wilful ignorance -will never be allowed as a plea in a man's favour. On tJie contrary, it will rather add to his guilt.
We learn, thirdly, from these verses, that Ood is some- times phased to give men special.opportunities and invitations. "We are told by our Lord, that Jerusalem " knew not the day of her visitation.'' Jerusalem had a special season
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of mercy and privilege. The Son of God Himself visited her. The mightiest miracles that man had ever seen were wrought aromid her. The most wonderful preadiiiig that ever was heard was preached within her walls. The days of our Lord's ministry were days of the clearest calls to repentance and faith that any city ever received. They were calls so marked, peculiar, and unlike any previous calls Jerusalem had received, that it seemed im- possible they should be disregarded. But they were dis- regarded! And our Lord declares that this disr^ard was one of Jerusalem's principal sins.
The subject before us is a deep and mysterious one. It requires careful stating and delicate handling, lest we should make one scripture contradict another. There seems no doubt that churches, nations, and even indi- viduals are sometimes visited with special manifesta- tions of God's presence, and that their neglect of such manifestations is the turning-point in their spiritual ruin. Why this should take place in some cases and not in others we cannot tell. Facts, plain facts in history and biography, appear to prove that it is so. The last day will probably show the world, that there were seasons in the lives of many who died in sin, when God drew very near to them, when conscience was peculiarly alive, when there seemed but a step between them and salvatkm. Those seasons wiU probably prove to have been what our Lord calls their " day of visitation." The neglect of such seasons will probably be at last one of the heaviest charges against their souls.
Deep as the subject is, it should teach men one practical lesson. That lesson is the immense importance of not