among them, to bear witness of the truth: but our Lord predicted, that, by their cruel and fanguinary oppofition to thofe his honoured fervants, they would provoke God more and more, till at length he fhould arife to take exemplary vengeance upon that very generation, and reckon with them for all the righteous blood, which had been fhed from the beginning of the world.

How deplorable was their cafe! Jefus, being deeply affected at the profpect of their approaching mife ries, broke forth into a pathetic lamentation over them, as he had done twice before*. From this part of his conduct it appears, that, though he pronounced the most tremendous woes, judgment is " his ftrange work." He bewailed the murderous city, which had long been the feat of perfecution, and which had fcornfully refifted all his efforts of love for the falvation of her children. He would have cherished and protected them, as a hen her tender brood; but they had obftinately rejected his gracious propofals. At laft, therefore, infulted mercy was about to be withdrawn and give place to unrelenting juftice: and that hand, which had been long ftretched out with offers of richest bleffings, was foon to be lifted up with a rod of indignation to defolate their country, and destroy them for ever. Thus Jefus took a folemn farewel of the temple, to return no more: he warned the impenitent finners around him, and foretold his future advent, when they would acknowledge his divine character, and be glad to join in thofe acclamations of praise to him, which had lately been forbidden in that houfe, faying, "Bleffed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."

What folemn things are thefe! Surely, if they are seriously regarded, they must leave a deep impreffion upon our minds. Let us, then, make the application to ourselves, rather than to the ancient Pharifees.

1. A ftriking exhibition is here given of the character of Jefus. Behold, how tender his compaffion, how extenfive his grace! He feeks after thofe, who are ready to perifh, and, with repeated and importunate folicitations, entreats them to hide themselves "under the fhadow of his wings," where alone they can be fafe and happy. O why are we unwilling to accept his offers? Let us, alfo, remark, how ftrict are his proceedings, when he lays judgment to the line." How terrible the effects of his anger! Who, then, fhall prefume to contend with Him? If we refufe to honour him by our unfeigned compliance, he will glorify himfelf in our everlafting deftruction..

2. Let not the faithful minifters of Christ be reproached, for endeavouring, like their Lord and Mafter, to admonish and reprove their careless hearers. In performing that painful part of their office, they do not affume the authority of a judge: but if, as the mouth of God, they fhould declare his whole will without referve, they muft denounce vengeance, as well as proclaim mercy. From the example of Jefus, we fee that this is confiftent with the exercise of perfect compaffion and meeknefs. And fhall your charge with uncharitablenefs and pride thofe, who "watch for your fouls," because they think themfelves bound to addrefs the wicked, even in the very ftrong language of the Saviour, "How can ye efcapethe damnation of hell?"

3. Let us feriously examine our own character. What is our ftate? What our expectation? Do we not, in fome refpect or other, betray a temper or conduct, fimilar to that of the Pharifees? Much we have heard of their hypocrify: let us fear, to put on, as they did, a profeffion of piety "for a cloke of malicioufnefs;" this would be more deteftable, than avowed infidelity. But let not pure religion be laid afide, because we ahhor the vile diffimulation of those,

who

who have nothing but a fair appearance. Some are vehement in their invectives against the men, who "for a pretence make long prayers," while they themselves never pray at all. Thefe perfons may not come under the condemnation of Pharifees, but they fhall not escape the judgment of God for their impiety. And, if they perifh for ever, it will be no comfort to them, that others fuffer a ftill greater degree of torment.

O let us welcome the Saviour, while we adopt that. expreffive acclamation, "Bleffed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord;" that "when he fhall appear," the fecond time, "we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming!?", Amen.

* 1 John ii. 28.

JESUS

JESUS CHRIST

SECT. 34.

Jefus commended the liberality of the poor widow-predicted the deftruction of the city and temple of Ferufalem, and the various figns and circumstances attending it-foretold, alfo, his coming to judgment, and. exhorted to watchfulness.

JESUS, having pronounced a tremendous fen-tence upon the inhabitants of Jerufalem, and declaredthat "their houfe was left unto them defolate," withdrew from that beautiful edifice, in which they gloried as their brightest ornament and fureft defence. He departed from the temple to return no more.

Probably as he went out, he paufed, and remarked the readiness with which the various worshippers caft their money into the treafury, for the neceflary expences of the divine fervice *. Many opulent perfons contributed much; but he fixed his eyes upon a pocr widow, while fhe was throwing in her two mites, and pointed her out to his disciples as an object of his peculiar regard. He knew her ftraitened circumftances; he faw and approved the inward principle of her heart. The value of her oblation was trifling, but it included the whole of her little. property. Our Lord, therefore, reprefented her liberality as more enlarged and more acceptable to God, than the coftly offerings of the wealthy, who had given up only a finall part of their fuperfluity,

Mark xii. 41, &c. Luke xxi. 1—4.

and

1

and still retained every enjoyment as before. We learn from this fhort narration, that it is incumbent upon all to communicate, according to their ability,, for the advancement of religion, as well as for the relief of the afflicted; that fuch as are indigent are not excufed from the duty; and that He, "by whom actions are weighed," will commend and recompenfe the leaft donations, which fpring from faith and love.

Jefus was leaving the temple, when his difciples took the opportunity of remarking to him the extent and magnificence of the building, fuppofing, probably, that he would exprefs his admiration *. But he turned off their attention from the confideration of its grandeur to that of its approaching demolition, when not one ftone fhould remain upon another. He then retired to the mount of Olives, which afforded him a profpect of the facred edifice; and while he fat there, perhaps contemplating the deftruction which he had foretold, fome of his Apoftles enquired privately, how foon his prophecies would be fulfilled, and what particular fignals would precede the great events. His reply to the queftion contains various circumftantial predictions, which, when compared with their exact accomplishment, furnish the strongest evidence in fupport of the Gofpel, and ftand as an impregnable barrier againft the affaults of infidelity. He addreffed his difciples to the following purpose:

"It is neceffary for you to be upon your guard against vain pretenders; for many impoftors fhall arife, affuming the name and character of the Meffiah, and affecting to fet up his kingdom. Dreadful commotions and diftreffes, alfo, fhall be permitted, before the appointed defolation of the Jews; but you ought not, on that account, to be terrified or furprifed. You will hear of the alarms of war, feditions, famines, peftilences, and earthquakes; and tremendous

*Mat. xxiv. 1, &c. Mark xiii. 1, &c. Luke xxi. 5, &c..

appearances