the Eternal Wisdom, and “to be wiser in your man struck with death, that his first concern is foolish generation,” than the Father of lights for the health of his body, that he calls both himself, you draw from these examples, design- nature and art to his assistance; but his hopes ed to make you wise, motives to confirm you being lost, with regard to the world, he turns in your crimes. We shall endeavour to ex- his attention towards religion; he makes a amine the whole of your sophisms.

mighty ado about conversion; he weeps, he We shall first make this general observation; groans, he prays; that he discovers to us the that when we said in the preceding discourse, semblance of repentance and conversion: we we must, in order to acquire the habit of piety, aver that this man's state is doubtful, and experform its duties, and to obtain admission at ceedingly doubtful. But we speak according the throne of grace, we must demonstrate our to the ordinary course of religion: knowing faith by a course of virtuous actions, we told that God is almighty, we exclude not the ocyou only what commonly occurs in the course currence of miracles. Hence all the cases you of religion. We did not include in our re- adduce are prodigies of conversion, in which marks, the overpowering and extraordinary God has exceeded ordinary laws, and from operations of grace. For God, who was pleas- which no conclusions can be drawn; and all ed sometimes to supersede the laws of nature, that you add on the power of God, on the irsupersedes also, on some occasions, the laws of resistible, renovating, and victorious efficacy religion, by graciously enlarging the limits of of grace, however solid on other occasions, the new covenant. The laws followed in na- when applied to this subject, are empty deture are wisely established. He has assigned a clamations, and foreign to the point. pavilion to the sun, and balanced the earth on But are all those examples of conversion and its poles. He has prescribed boundaries to the repentance miracles? No, my brethren, nor is sea, and obliged this impetuous element to re- this the whole of our reply: and had we provspect the coinmands of its Creator. “Hithered that they are all such in effect, we should to shalt thou come, but no farther; and here indeed have done little, and you might have shall thy proud waves be stayed,” Job xxxviii. returned home, flattered, perhaps, that God 11. We have likewise seen him supersede the would work the same prodigies for you in a laws of nature, and discover as much wisdom dying hour. Let us enter into a more minuto in their suspension as he manifested in their discussion; let us rernark,--and this is our establishment. We have sometimes seen the grand solution--let us remark, that among all earth quake; the sun stop and suspend his the sinners whose conversion you adduce, there course; the waters of the sea advancing before, is not one, no not one, in the condition of the or retiring behind, "divide themselves as a Christian, who neglecting his salvation, prewall on the right hand, and on the left," Exod. sumes to offer to God only the dregs of life, xiv. 22, as well to favour his chosen people, as and the last groans of expiring nature. No; to confound the rebellious nation. Just so the of all those sinners, there is not one who was laws of religion, and the conditions of his in the situation of such a man; consequently, covenant, are also perfectly wise, and equally there is not one, no not one, who can afford founded on goodness and equity; meanwhile the shadow of a rational excuse to flatter the God is pleased sometimes to suspend them, men we now attack. Let us illustrate this reand to enlarge the limits of grace.

flection; it is of the last importance. You This thought aptly applies to many of the may remark five essential distinctions. They cases you adduce, and particularly to instanta- differed—either with regard to their light-or neous conversions. They are not the usual with regard to their motives—or with regard way in which the Holy Spirit proceeds; they to the duration of their crime-or with regard do not occur in the ordinary course of religion to their virtues-or with regard to the certainThey are exceptions to the general laws; they ty of their repentance and conversion: five are miracles. Instead, therefore, of judging considerations, my brethren, which you cannot of the general laws of religion, by these parti- too deeply inculcate on your minds. Some of cular instances, you should rectify your notion them apply to the whole, others to a part. of them by those general laws. Ah! temporiz- Let each of you apply to himself that portion ing directors, apostate casuists, pests of the of our remarks on these conversions which public, you compose your penitents with de- corresponds with his case. ceitful hope. This is our first solution.

Speaking first of the illumination of those When a physician, after exhausting all the two classes of sinners, we affirm that there is powers of art to restore the sick, finds his pre- an essential difference between the men whose scriptions baffled, his endeavour without effect, example is adduced, and the Christians who and his skill destitute of resource; when he delay conversion. Of all those sinners, there finds the brain delirious, the circulation of the was not one, who possessed the light which blood irregular, the chest oppressed, and

we have

the present day. Zaccheus, the ture ready to fall under the pressure of disease, apostle, the prophets, David, and all the perhe says, it is a lost case. He presumes not to sons at the period in question, were in this re say, that God cannot heal him; nor that he has spect inferior to the most ignorant Christian, never seen a recovery in similar circumstances; Jesus Christ has decided, that "the least in he speaks according to the course of nature; the kingdom of heaven is greater than they," he judges according to the rules of art; he de- Luke vii. 28. St. Peter had not seen the recides as a physician, and not as a worker of surrection of his Master, when he had the miracles. Just so, when we see a man in the weakness to deny him. The converted thief, church, who has persisted thirty, forty, or fifty had, perhaps, never heard his name, while years in a course of crimes; when we see this I abandoned to his crimes; and St. Paul, while

a

persecuting the church, followed the old pre- ; which constitutes a second difference; that 18, judices of Judaism," he did it ignorantly," as the motives which press you to conversion he himself affirms, 1 Tim. i. 13

were scarcely known to the others. You are This is the first consideration which aggra- pressed more than they by motives of grativates your condemnation, and renders your tude. What were all the favours which they salvation doubtful, if you defer the work. received of God, in comparison of those which “The grace of God has appeared to all men.” are heaped on you; you are born in "an acYou are born in so enlightened an age, that cepted time, in a day of salvation,” 1 Cor. vi. the human mind seems to have attained the 2; in those happy days “ which so many righthighest period of perfection to which its weak- eous men, and prophets had desired to see,” ness will permit it to arrive. Philosophy has Matt. xiii. 17. You are pressed more than been disencumbered of all ambiguous terms, they by motives of interest," you have receivof all useless punctilios, and of all the pom- ed of his fulness, and grace for grace,” John i. pous nothings, which confused, rather than 16; you to whom Christ has revealed imformed the minds of youth; and our systems mortality and life,” 2 Tim. i. 10; who having of moral philosophy seem to have attained per- received such promises you ought to be the fection. Theology is purged, at least on most more separated" from all filthiness of the flesh subjects, and would to God that it was alto- and of the spirit,”—more than they, by mogether purged of the abstruse researches, and tives of fear, “ for knowing the terrors of the trifling disquisitions, which amused our fathers. Lord,” you ought to be the more obedient to If some weak minds still follow the former no- his will. More than they by motives of emutions, they only render themselves ridiculous, lation; you have not only " the cloud of witweary the people, disgust the learned, and are nesses,” but the grand pattern, the model of left to detail their maxims to the dusty walls perfection, who has left us so fine an example of their half deserted schools.

that we should tread in his steps; who has How clearly have they proved, for instance, said, “ Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly the being of God? On how many clear, easy, of heart,” Matt. xi. 29. Looking unto Jesus and demonstrative evidences, have they esta- the author and finisher of your faith; you blished this fundamental article of religion? ought, according to St. Paul's exhortation, to How clearly have they illustrated the doctrine be induced “not to cast away your confiof the immortality of the soul? How admira-dence,” Heb. x. 35. More than they by the bly has philosophy coincided with religion on grandeur of your heavenly birth; " you have this article, to disengage spirit from matter, to not received the spirit of bondage unto fear, mark the functions of each substance, to dis but the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, tinguish which belongs to the body, and which Abba, Father," Rom. viii. 15. to the mind? How clearly also have they What is the result of all these arguments? proved the truth of religion? With what in- If you have more motives, you are more culdustry have they investigated the abyss of an pable; and if you are more culpable, the mercy cient literature, demonstrated and rendered which they have obtained, concludes nothing palpable the prodigies achieved seventeen cen- in your favour; and the objection, which you turies ago?

derive from example, is altogether sophistical. I speak not this to make an eulogium on our And what is worse, this superabundance of age, and elevate it in your esteem. I have, motives renders your conversion more difficult, my brethren, views more exalted. All the and thereby destroys the hopes you found on knowledge of this period is dispensed by that their example. For though the Holy Spirit wise Providence which watches over your sal- has a supreme power over the heart, nothing, vation, and it will serve for your refutation. however, is more certain, that in promoting The economy of the Holy Spirit, who illumi- our conversion, he acts with us as rational bonates your mind, has been fully discussed. If, ings, and in conformity to our nature; he protherefore, it be true, that the atrocity of sin is poses motives, and avails himself of their force, proportionate to the knowledge of the delin- to induce us to duty. Consequently, when the quent;—if it be true, that those“ who know heart has long resisted the grand motives of their Master's will, and do it not, shall be conversion, it thereby becomes obdurate. punished with more stripes than those who How were those miraculous conversions efare ignorant and negligent,” Luke xii. 47;—if fectuated to which you appeal? It was in a it be true, that the sin of such persons remains, way totally inapplicable to you. The first as Jesus Christ has affirmed, John ix. 41;--if time Zaccheus saw Jesus Christ, he received it be true, that "it were better not to have the promise of salvation. Zaccheus feeling, known the way of righteousness, than to turn by the efficacy of grace, the force of a motive from the holy commandment,” 2 Pet. ii. 21;- which had never been proposed before, yielded if it be true, that God will require five talents immediately without hesitation. The converts, of those who have received five, while those on the day of Pentecost, were in suspense conwho have received but two shall be account- cerning what opinion they should form of able but for two, Matt. xxv.-If it be true, that Jesus Christ: they had crucified him in ignoit shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, rance, and Jerusalem remained undecided what than for Chorazin and Bethsaida;—it is also to think of him after his death. The apostles true, that your arguments are sophistical; that preached; they proved by their miracles the the example of those sinners can afford you truth of his resurrection. Then those men, nothing but deceitful hopes, which flatter the being struck with motives never before prodelay of conversion.

posed, yielded at once. Thus the Holy Spirit From this last consideration arises another, 1 operated in their hearts; but in a manner con

formable to their nature, proposing motives, refuted with the same ease. And though the and employing their force to captivate the whole of these probabilities were refuted, how heart.

many criminating circumstances occur in your But these operations of the Holy Spirit have life which were not in his? We said, that he lost their effect with regard to you. What had not received the education which you have; motives can be in future proposed, which have he had not received the torrent of grace, with not been urged a thousand times, and which which you are inundated; he was unacquainted have consequently lost their efficacy? Is it the with a thousand motives, which operate on mercy of God? That you have turned into you; the moment he saw Jesus Christ, he lasciviousness. Is it the image of Jesus Christ loved him, and he believed on him. How was crucified Him you daily crucify afresh, with. I that? With what faith? At what time. In a out remorse and without repentance. Is it the manner the most heroic in the world: a faith hope of heaven? You look only at "the things like his was never found in Israel. At the which are seen.” Is it the fear of hell? That time when Jesus Christ was fixed on the cross; has been painted a thousand and a thousand when he was pierced with the nails; when he times, and you have acquired the art of braving was delivered to an infuriated populace; when its terrors and torments. If God should, there- they spit upon him; when he was mocked by fore, employ in your behalf the same degree the Greek; when he was rejected by the Jew; of power, which effectuated those instantane- when he was betrayed by Judas; when St. Peter ous conversions, it would be found insufficient; denied him; when his disciples fled; when Jesus if he should employ for you the same miracle, made himself of no reputation, and took upon that miracle would be too weak. It would re- himself the form of a servant, the thief,--the quire a more abundant portion of grace to con- thief seemed to have taken all the faith to himvert you, than it did to convert the others; sell, and to constitute the whole church. consequently, a miracle, less distinguished than After all, this is but a solitary example: if the was afforded them, concludes nothing in favour converted thief afford you consolation in your of that, which is the object of your hope, and crimes, tremble, tremble sinners, when you cast the flimsy foundation of your security, your eyes on him, who was hardened at his

A third difference is derived from the dura- side; and let the singularity of this late contion of their crimes. Of all the sinners we version induce you to fear, lest you should not have enumerated, if we may except the con- have been chosen of God, to furnish to the verted thief, there is not one who persevered universe a second proof of the success of a conin vice to the close of life. St. Peter, St. Paul, version deferred to the hour of death. and David, were but a few moments, but a A fourth reflection turns on the virtues of few days, or a few years at most, entangled in those sinners, whose example you adduce. For sin. They consecrated the best part of life to though one criminal habit may suffice, where the service of God. They were unfaithful in repentance is wanting, to plunge into the abyss, a few instances, but afterward their fidelity him who is enslaved with it, whatever his virwas unremitting.

tues may be; yet there is a vast disparity beTheir fall shook their confidence, but did tween the state of two men, one of whom has not overthrow it: it was enveloped, but not fallen, indeed, into a crime, but who otherwise choked; obscured, but not extinguished. has the virtues of a great saint; and the other

I acknowledge the good thief seems to have, of whom has fallen into the same crime, but is with the sinners we attack, the sad conformity wanting in those virtues. You bear with a of persisting in vice to the end of life. But fault in a servant, when he is well qualified his history is so short in the gospel, the circum- for your service; but this defect would be inslances related are so few, and the conjectures supportable in the person of another, destitute we may make on this subject are so doubtful of those talents. and uncertain, that a rational man can find in Apply this remark to the subject in hand. it, no certain rule for the regulation of his It is to inquire, whether God will extend his conduct.

mercy to you after the perpetration of notoriWho was this thief? What was his crime? ous offences. You allege, for your comfort, What induced him to commit it? What was the case of those sinners who have obtained the first instance of his depravity? What was mercy; after having proceeded in vice, at least, that of his repentance? What means did grace according to your opinion, as far as yourselves. employ for his conversion? So many questions, Take two balances: weigh with one hand their so many doubts, so many sufficient reasons for crimes and your crimes: weigh with the other inferring nothing from his conversion. Per- their virtues and your virtues. If the weights haps he had been engaged in this awful course are equal, your argument is conclusive: the but a short time. Perhaps, seduced by an un- grace which they have obtained, is an infallible happy ease, he was less guilty of theft than of test that you shall not be excluded. But if softness and compliance. Perhaps only the you should find, on inquiry, a difference; if accomplice of Barabbas in sedition, he had less you should find, on your dying bed, that you design of disturbing society, than of checking have resembled them in what is odious, and the tyrannic and exorbitant power of the Ro- not in what is acceptable, do you not perceive,

Perhaps, surprised by weakness, or my brethren, the impropriety of your presumptempted by necessity, he had received sentence tion, and the absurdity of your hopese for his first offence.. Perhaps, having languish- Now, who is there, who is there among us, ed a long time in prison, he had repented of who abandons himself to vice, that will comhis sin. We do not affirm these things, they pare himself with those illustrious saints in are merely conjectures; but all that you can regard to virtue; as it is readily acknowledged object are similar conjectures, which may be that they resemble them in regard to faults

a

You follow, to-day, the multitude to do evil, as others shall ever obtain it, and be converted. Zaccheus, and, as the apostles before their con- What, according to your mode of arguing. version: so far the parallel is just; but can you constitutes the strength of your objection, beprove, like them, that you obeyed the first calls comes the solidity of our reply. A sinner, in of Jesus Christ; that you have never been of the career of crimes, is in a fluctuating condifended, either with the severity of his precepts, tion, placed between life and death; equally unor with the bloody horrors of his cross and mar- certain whether he shall obtain salvation, or tyrdom? You sacrifice, like David, to an impu- become the victim of perdition. These then, dent Bathsheba, the rights of the Lord, who men who delay conversion, these are the sinenjoins temperance and modesty: so far the ners we have to attack. You allege the case parallel is just; but have you, like him, had of characters, whose state has been already de" the law of God in your heart” Have you, termined; and whose repentance has been reallike him, “rose at midnight, to sing praises to ized by experience. Each of these, while, like God?” Have you, like him, made charity you, habituated to vice, was, like you, unceryour glory, and piety your delight? You per- tain whether they should obtain mercy, or secute the church, like St. Paul, by your mali- whether the door would be shut. Access has cious objections, and profane sneers; you draw been opened, pardon has been granted. Thus away disciples, as the zealot once did, by per- the question is decided; and all doubts, with secutions and punishments: so far the parallel regard to them, are done away. is just; but have you asked Jesus Christ, as he But your situation is quite the reverse. did, the first moment he appeared to him in You have the sins of their fluctuating state, the way to Damascus, “ Lord, what wouldst not the grace of their determined condition, thou have me to do?" Have you neither con- which induces a favourable confidence. In ferred with flesh nor blood, when required, like this painful suspense, who is in the right? him, to go up to Jerusalem, and abjure the We, who tremble at the awful risk you run; prejudices of your fathers Has your zeal re- or you, who rely on the precarious hope of sembled his, so as to feel your spirit stirred extricating yourselves from sin? Who is in within you, at the sight of a superstitious altar? the right: Those accommodating guides, who, And has your love resembled his, so as to be in your greatest profligacy, continually assure willing to be accursed for your brethren? You you of the divine mercy, which serves merely bave denied Jesus Christ, as St. Peter; and as a pretext to confirm you in crimes; or we, that criminal laxity, which induced you to who brandish before your eyes the awful sword coinply in such and such company, when virtue of justice, to alarm your indolence, and rouse was attacked, has made you like this apostle, you from soft security? who denied him in the court of Caiaphas: so Collect now, my brethren, all this variety of far the parallel is just; but have you, like him, reflections; and, if there remain with you a burned with zeal for the interests of his glory shadow of honesty, renounce the advantage Have you said, with an ardour like his, "Lord, you pretend to derive from these examples. thou knowest that I love thee?” Have you, Consider, that many of these conversions are like him, prodigal of your blood, been ready not only out of the common course of religion, to seal the truths of the gospel; and, after be but also that they could not have been effecing made a spectacle to the world, are you, tuated by less than miraculous powers. Conlike him, ready to be offered up? You, like sider that, among all those sinners, there was the thief, have that false weight, and that short not one in the situation of a Christian, who measure, which you secretly use on your delays conversion to the close of life. Consicounter, and in your warehouse; or that au- der that you are enlightened with meridian thority which you openly abuse in the face of lustre, which they have scarcely seen. Consithe world, and on the seat of justice: you der that you are pressed with a thousand moliberal culprits, who, perhaps, have imposed tives totally unknown to them. Consider, on strangers, or attacked them with open that they continued, for the most part, but a force: so far the parallel is just; but have short time in sin; but you have wasted life in you, like him, had eyes, which penetrated folly. Consider, that they possessed distinthrough the clouds, with which Christ was guished virtues, which rendered them dear to surrounded on the cross. Have you, like him, God; but you have nothing to offer him but discovered the God of heaven and earth, in dissipation or indolence. Consider, that they the person of the crucified Redeemer: Have were distinguished by repentance, and afforded you, like him, repaired, with the sincerity of lasting proofs of their sincerity: whereas it is your expiring breath, the crimes of your whole still doubtful whether you shall ever be conlife? If the parallel be still just, your argu- verted, and you go the way to make it imposment is good, and your recourse to mercy shall sible. See, then, whether your arguments are be attended with the same success. But if just, and whether your hopes are properly the parallel be defective; if you find, on your founded. death-bed, that you have followed those cha- These examples, we acknowledge, my breracters solely in what was sinful, then your thren, are very encouraging to those who diliargument is false; and you ought, at least, to gently endeavour to reform. We delight in relinquish the hopes you have founded on their enforcing them to those contrite and simple examples.

souls; to consciences bruised and tender that 5. We find, in short, another difference be- tremble at God's word. We came not to tween the men who delay conversion, and the straiten the way to heaven; we came not to sinners, whose cases they adduce; it is certain preach a severe morality, and to announce a that they were converted and obtained mercy, divinity ferocious and cruel. Would to God wheroas it is extremely doubtful whether the that every sinner, in this assembly, would re

VOL. II.:-34

collect himself, and swell the catalogue of con- | blood; Judea buried in ashes, or swimming verts, in which grace has been triumphant! with the blood of its inhabitants? How often But hardened men can infer nothing hence, with a voice yet more tender did he cry, "O except alarming considerations.

that thou hadst hearkened to my commandHitherto we have examined the cases of ment! Why should ye be stricken any more? those sinners, who apparently contradict our Ye will revolt more and more: the whole head principles; let us, in the next place, briefly re- is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the view those, by which they are confirmed. sole of the foot even unto the crown of the Let us prove that the long-suffering of God head, there is no soundness in it,” Isa. j. 5, 6. has its limits; and that in order to find him “ Ilowl, O gate, cry, O City, thou whole Palespropitious, we must “geek the Lord while he tina art dissolved,” Isa. xiv. 31.

“ Enter into may be found, and call upon him while he is the rock, and hide thee in the dust for the fear near.” This is our second head.

of the Lord,” Isa. ji. 10. That was the time II. Three distinguished classes of examples, to avert all these calamities; that was the aim my brethren, three alarming monuments, con- of the prophet and the design of our text. firm those illustrious truths. These are- But the Jews hardened themselves against his

I. Public catastrophes. II. Obdurate sin- voice. God pronounced the sentence; he exeners. III. Dying men.—Happy are they who cuted his word: he commanded the Chaldeans are cautioned by the calamities of others! to invest the walls of Jerusalem; and then

I. Public catastrophes. There is to every says the sacred historian, “there was no remegovernment, to every nation, and to every dy,” 2 Chron. xxxvi. 16. The Israelites made church, a limited day of visitation: there is a many efforts to appease the wrath of Heaven; time in which the Lord may be found, and a the aged raised aloud their plaintive and tremtime in which he will not be found. “A time bling voices, the young poured forth a mournwhen he may be found:” when commerce ful and piercing cry; the daughters of Jerusafourishes, when families prosper, when armies lem lifted up their lamentations to Heaven; conquer, when politics succeed, when the tem- the priests wept aloud between the porch and ples are open, when the solemnn feasts are ob- the altar, they said a thousand and a thousand served, and the faithful say one to another, times, "Spare thy people, O Lord, and give “O come, let us go up to the mountain of the not thine heritage unto shame,” Joel ii. 17. Lord." This is the time when the Lord may be But the deed was done, the time was past, the found. Happy time, which would have been Lord would not be found, and all this semblance restricted only by the duration of the world, of repentance, the smallest portion of which had not the ingratitude of man introduced would perhaps, on another occasion, have sufanother time, in which the Lord will not be ficed to disarm the wrath of Heaven, was now found. Then commerce languishes, families without effect. This is expressed in so noble degenerate, armies are defeated, politics are and energetic a manner, that we would for confused, churches are overturned, the solemn ever imprint it on your memory.

“ The Lord feasts subside; "and the earth,” according to God of their fathers sent to them his messenthe expression of Moses, “vomiteth out its in- gers, rising up betimes and sending, because habitants.”

he had compassion on his people. But they Isaiah has given us a proof of this awful mocked the messengers of God, and despised truth, in the Jews of his own age. He preach- his words, till the wrath of the Lord arose ed, he prayed, he exhorted, he threatened, he against his people. Therefore he brought thundered. How often was his voice heard in upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew the streets of Jerusalem! Sometimes he would the young people with the sword, and had no draw them with the cords of love; sometimes compassion on the young man, nor the aged, he would save them “with fear, pulling them nor the infirm. They burnt the house of God, out of the fire.” How often did he thunder and demolished his palaces,” 2 Chron. xxxvi. those terrific words—“Behold the Lord, the 15—17. Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem, What happened to ancient Jerusalem, hapand from Judah, the stay and the staff, the pened also to modern Jerusalem; I would say, whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of wa- Jerusalem as it stood in our Saviour's time. A ter; the mighty man, and the man of war; the thousand oracles had predicted the advent of judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the Messiah; the prophets bad said that he the ancient, and the captain of fifty; and the was about to come; St. John the Baptist afhonourable man, and the counsellor, and cun- firmed, that he was at the door; Jesus Christ ning artificer, and the eloquent orator,” Isa. iii. came, in short, saying, Here I am. He walked 1—3. How often did he say to them, by di- in the streets of Jerusalem, he instructed them vine authority—“Hear ye what I will do to by his doctrine, he astonished them by his mimy vineyard; I will tako away the hedge there- racles, he influenced them by his example; he of, and it shall be eaten up; and break down cried in their assemblies, “Walk while you the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down; have the light, lest darkness come upon you," and I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned John xii. 35. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou nor digged, but there shall come up briers and that killest the prophets, and stonest them that thorns. I will also command the clouds, that are sent unto thee, how often would I have they rain no rain upon it,” ver. 5, 6. How gathered thy children together, even as a hen often did he uplift the veil of future times, and gathereth her chickens under her wings, and represent the Chaldeans approaching; Jerusa- ye would not,” Matt. xxiii. 37. That was the lem besieged; the city encumbered with the time; but they suffered the precious moments dead; the temple of the Lord reduced to heaps to escape. And what did Jesus Christ add? of stones; the holy mountain streaming with | “He went over it, saying, If thou hadst known,