fear of trials yet to come may make our hearts faint. But it is a strong consolation to think that Christ knows all. For past, present, and future things we may safely trust Him. Nothing can ever happen to us that Christ has not known long ago.
We should mark, secondly, in this passage, our Lord's words about flight in time of danger. He says respecting the days preceding the siege of Jerusalem, ''Then let them which are in JudsBa flee to the mountains ; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out ; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto/'
The lesson of these words is very instructive. They teach us plainly that there is nothing cowardly or im- worthy of a Christian in endeavouring to escape from danger. There is nothing unhecoming our high vocation in a diligent use of means in order to secure our safety. To meet death patientiy and courageously, if it comes on us in the path of God's providence, is a duty incumbent on every believer. But to court death and sufPering, and rush needlessly faito danger, is the part of the fanatic and enthusiast, not of the wise disciple of Christ. It is those who use all means which God has placed within their reach, who may confidently expect God's protection. There is a wide difference between presumption and faith.
We should mark, thirdly, in this passage, our Lord's tvords about vengeance. He says, with reference to the siege of Jerusalem, ''These be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled."
There is something peculiarly awful in this expression. It shows us that the sins of the Jewish nation had been long noted down in the book of God's remembrance.
370 KXPOsrroRY thoughts.
The Jews, by their unbelief and impenitence, had been treasuring up wrath against themselves for many hundred years. The anger of God, like a pent-up river, had been silently accumulating for ages. The fearful tribulation which attended the siege of Jerusalem, would only be the outburst of a thunderstorm which had been gradually gathering since the days of the kings. It would only be the fall of a sword which had been long hanging over Israel's head.
The lesson of the expression is one which we shall do well to lay to heart. We must never allow ourselves to suppose that the conduct of wicked men or nations is not observed by God. All is seen, and all is known; and a reckoning-day will certainly arrive at last. It is a mighty truth of Scripture, that "God requireth that which is past." (Eccles. iii. 15.) In the days of Abraham " the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet fiill," and four hundred years passed away before they were punished. Yet punishment came at last, when Joshua and the twelve tribes of Israel took possession of Canaan. — Qt)d's "sentence against an evil work" is not always executed speedily, but it does not foUow that it will not be executed at all. The wicked may flourish for many years " like a green bay-tree," but his latter end will be that his sin will find him out. (Gen. xv. 16. Eccles. viii. 11. Psalm xxxvii. 35)
We should mark, lastly, in this passage, our Lord^s words about the times of the Gentiles. We read that He said, " Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."
A fixed period is here foretold, during which Jerusalem