Weeping Over Jerusalem
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sun yet lingered in the heavens there was time for her to be saved.
The angel of mercy had long pleaded for the impenitent city; but now
she prepared to step down from the golden throne, while the words
of irrevocable justice were spoken: “But now they are hid from thine
eyes.”
The words of Christ, spoken upon the mount, reach to our time.
His tears were for our impenitence. He has sent great light to us, as
he did to the Jews. There have been given to us reproofs, entreaties,
warnings, and the Saviour’s yearning love. As the temple courts were
desecrated by unholy traffic in the days of Christ, so the temple of
the heart where Christ should be enshrined is defiled by selfishness,
love of the world, malice, envy, and unholy passions. The Saviour
sends messages to warn the sinner of danger and rouse his heart to
repentance, but they are too often received as idle tales. Many of those
who profess godliness are as unsanctified by the Spirit of God today
as were the Pharisees in the days of Jesus. The light of truth is rejected
by thousands because it involves a cross; it does not harmonize with
their practices, and the natural inclinations of their hearts.
The prophets of God did not find favor with apostate Israel because
through them their hidden sins were brought to light. Ahab regarded
Elijah as his enemy, because the prophet was faithful to unfold the
monarch’s secret iniquities. So, today, the servant of Christ, the re-
prover of sin, meets with scorn and rebuffs. Bible truth, the religion of
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Christ, struggles against a strong current of moral impurity.
Prejudice is even stronger now in the hearts of men than it was in
Christ’s day. Men, prompted by Satan, raise doubts as to the truth of
God’s Word, and exercise their independent judgment. They choose
darkness rather than light at the peril of their souls; for God does not
propose to remove every objection against his truth which the carnal
heart can offer. The mysteries of the Word of God remain such forever
to those who refuse to accept the precious rays of light which would
illuminate their darkness. Divine love sheds tears of anguish over men
formed in the likeness of their Maker who will not accept his love and
receive the impress of his divine image.
Christ overlooked the world and all ages from the height of Olivet;
and his words are applicable to every individual who slights the plead-
ings of his divine mercy. Scorner of his love, he addresses you today.
It is “thou, even thou,” who shouldst know the things which belong