Christ's compassion to lost sinners.
Luke xix. 41, 42. And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace ! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
IN profane history we are often called upon to admire the actions of conquerors, and of heroes. But most of the feats proposed for our admiration serve rather to evince the depravity of our nature ; and are calculated only to excite horror and dis- gust in a well-instructed mind. Perhaps, of real
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magnanimity, the world never yet witnessed a more glorious instance than that before us; wherein we behold the Saviour of mankind weeping over his blood-thirsty enemies, and most pathetically lament- ing their invincible ignorance and unbelief. To enter fully into the scope of his words, it will be neces- sary to consider them,
I. In reference to Jerusalem —
The Jews had long been the most favoured nation under heaven —
[They had had the oracles of God committed to them, when the rest of the world were left to the suggestions of un- enlightened reason. The way of life and salvation was exhi- bited to them in their daily sacrifices, and more especially in those offered annually on the great day of atonement. They had been taught by a long succession of prophets, who were divinely qualified and commissioned to make known to them the will of God. Above all, they had now been privileged to hear the Messiah himself, and to see all his doctrines con- firmed with the most numerous, most stupendous, and most unquestionable miracles. These were such advantages for the obtaining of eternal life as none others ever enjoyed, and such as must have proved effectual, if Satan had not blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts.]
But they were now speedily to be given over to the judgments they had merited —
[They had in no respect rendered unto God according to the benefits received from him. On the contrary, they had made void the law, and established their own traditions as of superior obligation. Instead of hearkening to the prophets, they persecuted them unto death : and instead of yielding to the wisdom and authority of the Messiah, they imputed his miracles to a confederacy with the devil, and incessantly plotted to take away his life. Within the space of four days they were to fill up the measure of their iniquities by effecting their murderous purposes : and wrath was in due time to come upon them to the uttermost for all the righteous blood that they had spilled, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Christ and his Apostles. They were to be given up to judicial blind- ness and obduracy ; and the whole nation were to suffer such calamities from the hands of the Romans, as never had been endured by any nation since the foundation of the world : and all this was but an earnest of infinitely heavier judgments, which were to abide upon them for ever and ever.]