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Jesus in Gears,

JESUS IN TEARS.

LUKE xix. 41.

"And when He was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it."

E have it on record in three several places, and on many occasions, that our Blessed Saviour wept. >w many times he wept that are not recorded, who 1 tell?

Once at the grave of his friend Lazarus, surrounded mourners of no common order, sorrow gave vent to intensity in tears; and we are told-" Jesus wept." On more than one occasion, doubtless, when a keen se of the pressure of the world's salvation pierced s soul, we are told, He offered up prayers and suppliions, with strong crying and tears unto God. And here, in the text, beholding from an eminence city of Jerusalem, the first city in the world, in fame I in fate-" He wept."

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Let us gather around Him. Let us put on an eastern garb, in thought; and, on the Mount of Olives, mingling with His disciples, let us look down with Jesus upon the devoted city. Come, shake off dull sloth. Lay aside, for a time, associations of worldly circumstance. This is the House of God. This is the seat of learning. Thoughts and feelings have not flesh and blood, nor raiment of sensible fabric. We may as well be at Jerusalem, and with Jesus, in spirit and in truth; by faith, gathering food for the soul, as here in bodily presence, presenting our weekly offering of prayer and praise.

Let me not merely crave their attention, good Lord, but command it, whilst I bid them see tears fall down the sacred cheeks of Thy Blessed Son, and trace them to their source.

'Tis a striking scene and novel! What a crowd is about us! Here are all sorts and conditions of men. Whither have they come? What is their intent? What are those branches of palm trees for? Why is this great stir and commotion? (Tis one of those impulsive movements of the people, whereof it is next to impossible to give any account. A big wave of the mighty ocean that cannot be stayed, until it has spent itself on the rocky shore.) Had we come a little sooner, we should have heard the welkin ring with shouts and acclamations; saying "Hosanna! Blessed is the king of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!" If we prolong our sojourn,

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