been confirmed to the father of the faithful。 Genesis 22：9； 16…18。 There the
flames of the sacrifice ascending to heaven from the threshing floor of
Ornan had turned
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aside the sword of the destroying angel （1 Chronicles 21） fitting symbol
of the Saviour's sacrifice and mediation for guilty men。 Jerusalem had been
honored of God above all the earth。 The Lord had 〃chosen Zion；〃 He had
〃desired it for His habitation。〃 Psalm 132：13。 There； for ages； holy
prophets had uttered their messages of warning。 There priests had waved
their censers； and the cloud of incense； with the prayers of the worshipers；
had ascended before God。 There daily the blood of slain lambs had been
offered； pointing forward to the Lamb of God。 There Jehovah had revealed His
presence in the cloud of glory above the mercy seat。 There rested the base
of that mystic ladder connecting earth with heaven （Genesis 28：12； John
1：51）that ladder upon which angels of God descended and ascended； and
which opened to the world the way into the holiest of all。 Had Israel as a
nation preserved her allegiance to Heaven； Jerusalem would have stood
forever； the elect of God。 Jeremiah 17：21…25。 But the history of that
favored people was a record of backsliding and rebellion。 They had resisted
Heaven's grace； abused their privileges； and slighted their opportunities。
Although Israel had 〃mocked the messengers of God； and despised His words；
and misused His prophets〃 （2 Chronicles 36：16）； He had still manifested
Himself to them； as 〃the Lord God； merciful and gracious； long…suffering；
and abundant in goodness and truth〃 （Exodus 34：6）； notwithstanding repeated
rejections； His mercy had continued its pleadings。 With more than a father's
pitying love for the son of his care； God had 〃sent to them by His
messengers； rising up betimes； and sending； because He had compassion on His
people； and on His dwelling place。〃 2 Chronicles 36：15。 When remonstrance；
entreaty； and rebuke had failed； He sent to them the best gift of heaven；
nay； He poured out all heaven in that one Gift。
The Son of God Himself was sent to plead with the impenitent city。 It was
Christ that had brought Israel as a goodly vine out of Egypt。 Psalm 80：8。
His own hand had cast
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out the heathen before it。 He had planted it 〃in a very fruitful hill。〃 His
guardian care had hedged it about。 His servants had been sent to nurture it。
〃What could have been done more to My vineyard；〃 He exclaims； 〃that I have
not done in it？〃 Isaiah 5：1…4。 Though when He looked that it should bring
forth grapes； it brought forth wild grapes； yet with a still yearning hope
of fruitfulness He came in person to His vineyard； if haply it might be
saved from destruction。 He digged about His vine； He pruned and cherished
it。 He was unwearied in His efforts to save this vine of His own planting。
For three years the Lord of light and glory had gone in and out among His
people。 He 〃went about doing good； and healing all that were oppressed of
the devil；〃 binding up the brokenhearted； setting at liberty them that were
bound； restoring sight to the blind； causing the lame to walk and the deaf
to hear； cleansing the lepers； raising the dead； and preaching the gospel to
the poor。 Acts 10：38； Luke 4：18； Matthew 11：5。 To all classes alike was
addressed the gracious call： 〃Come unto Me； all ye that labor and are
heavy…laden； and I will give you rest。〃 Matthew 11：28。
Though rewarded with evil for good； and hatred for His love （Psalm 109：5）；
He had steadfastly pursued His mission of mercy。 Never were those repelled
that sought His grace。 A homeless wanderer； reproach and penury His daily
lot； He lived to minister to the needs and lighten the woes of men； to plead
with them to accept the gift of life。 The waves of mercy； beaten back by
those stubborn hearts； returned in a stronger tide of pitying； inexpressible
love。 But Israel had turned from her best Friend and only Helper。 The
pleadings of His love had been despised； His counsels spurned； His warnings
ridiculed。
The hour of hope and pardon was fast passing； the cup of God's long…deferred
wrath was almost full。 The cloud that had been gathering through ages of
apostasy and rebellion； now black with woe； was about to burst upon a guilty
people；
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and He who alone could save them from their impending fate had been
slighted； abused； rejected； and was soon to be crucified。 When Christ should
hang upon the cross of Calvary； Israel's day as a nation favored and blessed
of God would be ended。 The loss of even one soul is a calamity infinitely
outweighing the gains and treasures of a world； but as Christ looked upon
Jerusalem； the doom of a whole city； a whole nation； was before Himthat
city； that nation； which had once been the chosen of God； His peculiar
treasure。
Prophets had wept over the apostasy of Israel and the terrible desolations
by which their sins were visited。 Jeremiah wished that his eyes were a
fountain of tears； that he might weep day and night for the slain of the
daughter of his people； for the Lord's flock that was carried away captive。
Jeremiah 9：1； 13：17。 What； then； was the grief of Him whose prophetic glance
took in； not years； but ages！ He beheld the destroying angel with sword
uplifted against the city which had so long been Jehovah's dwelling place。
From the ridge of Olivet； the very spot afterward occupied by Titus and his
army； He looked across the valley upon the sacred courts and porticoes； and
with tear…dimmed eyes He saw； in awful perspective； the walls surrounded by
alien hosts。 He heard the tread of armies marshaling for war。 He heard the
voice of mothers and children crying for bread in the besieged city。 He saw
her holy and beautiful house； her palaces and towers； given to the flames；
and where once they stood； only a heap of smoldering ruins。
Looking down the ages； He saw the covenant people scattered in every land；
〃like wrecks on a desert shore。〃 In the temporal retribution about to fall
upon her children； He saw but the first draft from that cup of wrath which
at the final judgment she must drain to its dregs。 Divine pity； yearning
love； found utterance in the mournful words： 〃O Jerusalem； Jerusalem； thou
that killest the prophets； and stonest them which are sent unto thee； how
often would I
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have gathered thy children together； even as a hen gathereth her chickens
under her wings； and ye would not！〃 O that thou； a nation favored above
every other； hadst known the time of thy visitation； and the things that
belong unto thy peace！ I have stayed the angel of justice； I have called
thee to repentance； but in vain。 It is not merely servants； delegates； and
prophets； whom thou hast refused and rejected； but the Holy One of Israel；
thy Redeemer。 If thou art destroyed； thou alone art responsible。 〃Ye will
not come to Me； that ye might have life。〃 Matthew 23：37； John 5：40。
Christ saw in Jerusalem a symbol of the world hardened in unbelief and
rebellion； and hastening on to meet the retributive judgments of God。 The
woes of a fallen race； pressing upon His soul； forced from His lips that
exceeding bitter cry。 He saw the record of sin traced in human misery；
tears； and blood； His heart was moved with infinite pity for the afflicted
and suffering ones of earth； He yearned to relieve them all。 But even His
hand might not turn back the tide of human woe； few would seek their only
Source of help。 He was willing to pour out His soul unto death； to bring
salvation within their reach； but few would come to Him that they might have
life。
The Majesty of heaven in tears！ the Son of the infinite God troubled in
spirit； bowed down with anguish！ The scene filled all heaven with wonder。
That scene reveals to us the exceeding sinfulness of sin； it shows how hard
a task it is； even for Infinite Power； to save the guilty from the
consequences of transgressing the law of God。 Jesus； looking down to the
last generation； saw the world involved in a deception similar to that which
caused the destruction of Jerusalem。 The great sin of the Jews was their
rejection of Christ； the great sin of the Christian world would be their
rejection of the law of God； the foundation of His government in heaven and
earth。 The precepts of Jehovah would be despised and set at nought。 Millions
in bondage to sin； slaves of Satan； doomed to suffer the second death； would
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refuse to listen to the words of truth in their day of visitation。 Terrible
blindness！ strange infatuation！
Two days before the Passover； when Christ had for the last time departed
from the temple； after denouncing the hypocrisy of the Jewish rulers； He
again went out with His disciples to the Mount of Olives and seated Himself
with them upon the grassy slope overlooking the city。 Once more He gazed
upon its walls； its towers； and its palaces。 Once more He beheld the temple
in its dazzling splendor； a diadem of beauty crowning the sacred mount。
A thousand years before； the psalmist had magnif