CHAP. I. V. 1,2. In these pathetic complaints, the prophet sometimes speaks in his own person: at other times Jerusalem, or Zion, as a sorrowing female, is the speaker: and at others a chorus, or collective body of the Jews, is introduced. The reader is also, in some places, made to witness the miseries of the people, during the siege of Jerusalem: then the calamities attending the plunder and destruction of it are presented to his imagination: then he reviews the dreary condition of the city and land, when the desolations were completed, and hears the insults of their enemies over them: or his attention is called to the poor cap-|| VOL. IV.
tives at Babylon, as if indeed a spectator of the hardships put on them. Thus the scenes are shifted, so to speak, in such a manner, as may best realize to the mind the various and complicated miseries, endured by the nation, from the death of Josiah to the final desolation of Jerusalem and Judea, and the captivity of the people; but especially at the close of that period.--The scene, here laid, is the city, after all the inhabitants had been driven out of it, and its buildings burned; and while it lay in ruins. The prophet had witnessed Jerusalem a populous, prosperous, and tumultuous city: but now viewing her desolate situation, he exclaims, "How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of 433
3 Judah is gone into captivity because gressions: her children are gone into capof affliction, and because of great servi- tivity before the enemy.
tude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: "all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.
4 The° ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: Pail her gates are desolate: a her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bit
terness.
6 And "from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
7 Jerusalem a remembered, in the days of her affliction and of her miseries, ball her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her:
5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her trans-the adversaries saw her, and did mock at
people!" Jerusalem, as a weeping female, sits on the ground, with none to attend or comfort her: the Lord had forsaken her, her king was carried captive, and she was become as a widow. ( Notes , Is . 3:18-26, υυ . 25,26. 54:4,5.) She had been eminent in dignity and authority; and in the days of David and Solomon, several of the surrounding nations acknowledged her as their princess, and rendered her tribute: Notes, 2 Sam . 8:1-14. 10:8-18. 1 Kings 4:21, 24.) but she was now become tributary, and was grievously oppressed by the heathen.
How had this lamentable reverse in her condition taken place? Without doubt the hand of God was gone forth against her; or her enemies could never have thus prevailed. On these accounts, Jerusalem is represented as "weeping very sore," sore," even in the night when others are refreshed by sleep; a continued flow of tears bedewed her cheeks; none of her idols, who had seduced her from God, and had been her paramours in spiritual adultery, could now afford her any consolation; and her heathen allies, whom she had depended on as her friends, were treacherously turned to be her enemies. ( Marg .
Ref . Notes , Jer . 4:30,31. 30:12 -18 . Ez . 16:35-43. 23:11-25. Hos . 2:6,7.)
V. 3. Here the scene changes, and Judah is considered, as a female dragged away to Babylon, a captive and a slave, by reason of those grievous afflictions which sin had occasioned.
There she dwelt "in great servitude," among idolaters, at a distance from the ordinances of God, bereft of all her comforts, and exposed to every outrage from the insulting victors, who hated her for her relation to JEHOVAR: nor could she there have any rest from labor, terror, and suffering. Her persecutors, who had long pursued her, at length had overtaken her in the straits, where she could not elude or avoid them: and she was entirely exposed to their merciless oppression. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . Jer. 52:6-11. Notes , 4:18,19. 2 Kings 25:1-10. Jer . 16:16. Am . 9:1-4.)
V. 4-7. The poor disconsolate captive is for the present lost sight of; and the reader is presented with a view of the city after it was taken. The ways, that led to Zion, had used at stated times to be thronged by persons, who, from all parts of the land, came up to keep the 434]
her sabbaths.
S Jerusalem
hath grievously sinned;
t Jer. 39:9.52:27-30. u 2 Kings 19:21. Ps. 48:2,3. Is, 1:21. 4:5. 12:6. Zeph. 3: 14-17.
x 2:1-7. 1 Sam. 4:21,22. Ps. 50:2. 96:9. 132:12,13. Jer. 52:13. Ez. 7:20-22, 11:22, 23. 24:21,25,
y Lev. 26:36,37. Deut. 28:25. 32:30. Josh. 7:12,13. Ps. 44: 9-11. Jer. 29:4, 48:41. 5):30 -32.52:7.
z Jer. 14:5,6, 47:3.
a Job 29:2,&c. 30:1. Ps. 42:4. 77:3,5-9. Hos. 2:7. Luke 15:17. 16:25,
b Deut. 4:7,8,34-37. 8:7-9. Ps. 147-19,20. Is. 5:1-4. Or, desirable. 10. marg. с 2:15,16. Ps. 79:4. 137:3,4. Mic. 4:11.
d 5,20, 1 Kings 8:46,47, 9:7,9. Is. 59:2-13. Jer. 6:28. Ez. 14:13-21. 22:2-15.
solemn feasts: but now the enemies were in possession of the city; the inhabitants were slain, emigrated, or carried captive, and the ways were unfrequented. The gates, through which multitudes had used to pass and repass continually, were silent and desolate. The priests, deprived of employment and subsistence, spent their time in unavailing sighs: and the virgins, who formerly attended the sacred temple-service, were in the deepest distress. ( Marg .
Ref.o -q.- Note , 4:11-16.) Zion herself, or Jerusalem, (1) was in bitterness: her enemies had acquired the ascendency, and prospered in all their attempts against her: the Lord, who had been her Protector, was provoked, by the multitude of her transgressions, to give her up into the hands of her adversaries; and her children were torn from her and carried captive. ( Marg . Ref . r- -.Vote , Deut . 28: 43,44.) Thus all her beauty and glory, both of external prosperity and of the temple temple and sacred services, were departed from her. ( Marg .
Ref . - Notes , Ez. 7:20-22. 24:25-27.) Her princes, once courageous as lions, were now become, not only timorous as the hunted harts, or deer, which dare not face the pursuers; but feeble as the harts that find no pasture, and are not able to flee away. ( Marg . Ref . u-z.- Note , Jer . 14:2-6, v . 5.) In these circumstances Jerusalem remembere remembered, with bitter regret, her for
sacredi
mer prosperity and privileges, both civil and sacred; and this remembrance added to her anguish, anguish, now that her people were helplessly fallen into the hand of the enemy. ( Note , Luke 16:24-26.) Her adversaries saw and insulted over her miseries: and as they had always derided her sacred solemnities, and observance of her sabbaths; they now mocked her, because these peculiarities had been apparently of no use to her. ( Marg . Ref . a-с.)
Sabbaths . (7) The word )משבתיה( thus translated occurs in no other place: the LXX render it, 'in her captivity. But as it is derived from the same root with that always translated "sabbath;" probably our version conveys the true meaning. The heathen writers commonly ridicule the Jewish sabbaths, as a mark of 'their sloth and idleness; without considering 'the excellent use that day was designed for, 'viz. to give men leisure to attend on the ser
therefore she is *removed all that honor-|| unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflict- ed her despise her, because they have ed me , in the day of his fierce anger. seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, 13 From above hath he sent fire into and turneth backward.
my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back. he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.
9 Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: 1 she had no comforter. O LORD, m behold my afflic14 The a yoke of my transgressions is tion; " for the enemy hath magnified him -bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and self .
10 The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath Pseen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, a whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.
11 All her people sigh; they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O Lord, and consider; for I am become vile. [Practical Observations.]
12 $ Is it nothing to you, all ye that " pass by? behold, and see, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done
* Heb. become a removing, or, wandering. Jer. 15:4. 24:9. 34:17. Ez. 23:46. marg.
e 4:15,16. 5:12-16. 1 Sam. 2: 30.
f 4:21. Is. 47:3. Jer. 13:22,26. Ez. 16:37-39. 23:29. Hos. 2: 3,10. Rev. 3:18.
g 4,11,21,22. 2:10. Jer. 4:31.
h 17. Jer. 2:34. 13:27. Ez.
24:12,13.
i Deut. 32:29. Is. 47:7. Jer. 5: 31. 1 Pet. 4:17.
k 1. 4:1. Is. 3:8. Jer. 13:17,18. 1 2,17,21. 2:13. Ec. 4:1. Is. 40:2. 54:11. Hos. 2:14. John 11:19.
m Ex. 3:7,17. 4:31. Deut. 26: 7. 1 Sam. 1:11. 2 Sam. 16:12. 2 Kings 14:26. Neh. 9:32. Ps. 25:18. 119:153. Dan. 9:17 19.
n Deut. 32:27. Ps. 74:8,9,22,
23. 140:8. Is. 37:4,17,23,29. Jer. 48:26. 50:29. Zeph. 2:10. 2 Thes. 2:4-8.
07. Is. 5:13,14. Jer. 15:13. 20: 5.52:17-20.
Or, desirable.
p Ps. 74:4-8.79:1-7. Is. 63: 18. 64:10,11. Jer. 51:51. 52: 13. Ez. 7:22. 9:7.
q Deut. 23:3. Neh. 13:1. Ez.
44:7. Mark 13:14.
r 19. 2:12. 4:4-10. Deut. 28: 52-57. 2 Kings 6:25. Jer. 19: 9. 33:9. 52:6. Ez. 4:15-17. 5 : 16,17.
Heb. make the soul to come again. 1 Sam. 30:11,12. s 9,20. 2:20. Ps. 25:15-19. Or, It is nothing.
Heb. pass by the way. 12:13. 4:6-11. Dan. 9:12. Matt. 24:21. Luke 21:22,23. 23:28-31.
come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.
15 The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden "the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a wine-press.
16 For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should ** relieve my soul is far from me: & my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.
17 Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the
23:18. Jer. 50:26. marg . Dan. 8:13. Mic. 7:10. Mal. 4:3. Luke 21:24. Heb. 10:29. d 3:34. Deut. 28:33. Judg. 10: 3. marg. Jer. 51:34.
Or, the wine-press of the virgin, &c. Jer. 14:17. e Is. 63:3. Rev. 14:19,20, 19:15, f 2. 2:11,18. 3:48,49. Ps. 119: 136. Jer. 9:1,10. 13:17. 14: 17. Luke 19:41-44. Rom. 9: 1-3.
** Heb. bring back.
g 5,6. 2:20-22, 4:2-10. Jer. 9:21.
h1 Kings 8:22,38. Is. 1:15. Jer. 4:31.
2,9,16,19,21.
nified himself, and was emboldened in idolatry and blasphemy: and he therefore besought the Lord to behold and compassionate the affliction of his people. He was deeply affected to behold the adversaries of Jerusaleın, not only seize on all her valuable treasures, jewels, and furniture; but spread their sacrilegious hands on the sacred vessels of the temple, which were most pleasant to every pious mind: for Jerusalem had seen the heathen, who by the law were excluded from the congregation of Israel, pro
V. 8-11. The enemies of Jerusalem, witnessing her calamities, mocked at her religion as unprofitable: but the prophet reminded them, that her miseries were the punishment of her grievous transgressions, which rendered all her "forms of godliness" unacceptable. She was therefore removed, and as it were turned out of doors, for her offences.
The nations, which had been used to honor her, now despised her; for her crimes by which she had disgraced herself, were as conspicuous as the punishments were, by which God had stripped her naked, and exposed her to shame: and this was the cause of her sighs, groans, and confusion of face. Indeed she had been so shameless in her filthiness, that she had taken no pains to conceal it, but exposed it to every one. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . d-h. Notes, Jer. 2:33-37. 13: 22,27 .
Ez Ez . 24:12,13.) She had not remembered, what Moses and the prophets had declared would be the last end of such misconduct; therefore she was brought down from her eminency in the most wonderful manner, and was reduced to the most abject and disconsolate misery. ( Marg . Ref . i, k.- Notes , Deut . 32:29. Is. 47:7-10, v. 7. Jer . 5:30,31.)-In this view of the state of Jerusalem, the prophet was extremely grieved to think, how the enemy mag- vv . 27-30.
faning by their presence and depredations, th sanctuary, and even the holy of holies! ( Marg . Ref.i -q.-Notes, Deut . 23:3-6. Neh . 13:1--3. Ps . 74:4-8. Ez . 24:19-24.) At the same time the people sighed and lamented: for in the extremity of the famine, they not only had given all their valuable effects to purchase bread, to preserve their lives; but at length were forced by hunger to give up the temple, and all its pleasant things, into ant things, into the hands of the idolatrous besiegers. besiegers ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . r, s.- Notes , 2:12. 5:1-10. 2 Kings 25:1-5.) In this most deplorable condition Jerusalem at length brake silence, and supplicated the com compassion God, seeing she was become so vile and despised, among the enemies of true religion. Relieve the soul. (11) Or "Make the soul to come again." Marg. -Note, 1 Sam . 14:24-34,
ssion of
LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, || tress: t my bowels are troubled; mine heart that his adversaries should be round about is turned within me; for I have grievously him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at
among them.
18 The LORD is righteous; n for I have rebelled against his * commandment: • hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: P my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
home there is as death.
21 They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it : thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall
19 I called for my lovers, but they de-be like unto me. ceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.
20 Behold, O LORD; for I am in dis
2:1-8,17-22. 2 Kings 24:24. 25:1. Jer, 6:3, 16:16. 21:4,5. 34:22. Ez. 7:23,24. Luke 19: 43,44.
19. 4:15. Lev. 15:19-27. Ez. 36:17.
m Ex. 9:27. Deut. 32:4. Judg. 1:7. Ezra 9:13. Neh. 9.33. Ps. 119:75. 145:17. Jer. 12:1. Dan. 9:7,14. Zeph. 3:5. Rom. 2:5. 3:19. Rev. 15:3,4. 16:5 -7.
22 Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.
23. Neh. 1:6-8. 9:26. Ps. t 2:11. Job 30:27. Ps. 22:14. 107:11. Dan. 9:9-16.
Heb. mouth . 1 Kings 13:21. o 12. Deut. 29:22-28.1 Kings 9:8,9. Jer. 22:8,9. 25:28,29. 49:12. Ez. 14:22,23.
p 5,6. Deut. 28:32-41. q 2. 4:17. Job 19:13-19. Jer. 30:14. 37:7-9.
11. 2:20. 4:7-9. 5:12. Jer. 14:15-18. 23:11-15, 27:13- 15.
n 3:42. 1 Sam. 12:14,15. 15: s 9,11. Is. 38:14.
V. 12-17. Jerusalem, or Zion, is here introduced, (as in the close of the preceding verse,) sitting dejected and distressed upon the ground; and, seeing the passengers ready to neglect or insult her sufferings, she called upon them to consider whether her example did not concern them: or she demanded their attention to her most deplorable condition. Donbtless they ought attentively to consider the greatness of her miseries, that they might sympathize with her; and the cause of them, that they might take warning and receive instruction. ( Marg . and Marg .
Ref . t.) It must be evident to all beholders, that her sorrows were unprecedented, in greatness and variety: and that the Lord himself had done all this to her "in his fierce anger." His wrath, like fire from heaven, penetrated, tortured, and consumed her bones, and enervated all her strength. His various judgments, (like a net spread for her feet,) so entangled her that she could not escape: and if she attempted it, he still turned her back again into the power of her persecutors. Thus he had made her destitute and faint with unremitted miseries.
She had been sold as a slave for her transgressions; and God himself had bound the yoke, and wreathed it on her neck, so that she could not possibly shake it off: her slavery was the evident effect and punishment of her crimes, and was imbittered by the sense of his wrath: and he had deprived her of all power to withstand or escape the instruments of his righteous vengeance. ( Marg .
Ref. u-d.) The Lord himself had trodden down all the mighty men, who attempted to defend her: he had collected the armies against her, who crushed her young men to pieces: he had given her up into the hands of the besiegers, to be bruised by them, as grapes are when cast into the wine-press. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . e.- Notes , Is . 63:1--6, ข. 3.
Rev. 14:14--20, υυ . 18-20. 19:11--16, υ. 15.) These things extorted her ceaseless tears: for God, who alone could comfort her when thus bereaved of her children, was become her Enemy, and paid no regard to her supplications, when she spread forth her hands towards him. Nay, he had given commandment, that her adversaries should surround her; and that even idolaters should treat her with loathing or neglect. ( Marg . and Marg . 436]
Is. 16:11. Jer. 4:19. 31:20. 48:36. Hos. 11:8. Hab. 3:16. u 18. Lev. 26:40-42. 1 Kings 8:47-50. Job 33:27. Prov. 28:13. Jer. 2:35. 3:13. Luke 15:18,19. 18:13,14.
x 4:9,10. Deut. 32:25. Jer. 9: 21,22. 14:18. Ez. 7:15. y 2,8,11,12,16,22. 2 2:15.
4:21,22. Ps. 35:15. 38:16. 137:7. Jer. 48:27. 50: 11. Ez. 25:3,6,8,15. 26:2. Ob.
12,13.
a Is. 13: 14:47: Jer. 25:17-29. 46:-51: Ez. 25:-32: Am. 1: b Ps. 37:13. Joel 3:14.
Or, proclaimed.
c 4:22. Deut. 32:41-43. Ps. 137:8,9. Is. 51:22,23. Jer. 50: 29. 51:24,49. Mic. 7:9,10. Hab. 2:15-17. Rev. 18:6. d Neh. 4:4,5. Ps. 109:14,15. Jer. 10:25. 18:23. Rev. 6:10. e 13. 5:17. Is. 13:7. Jer. 8:18. Eph. 3:13.
Ref . f. i. 1.) - Some parts of this passage are often quoted, in speaking of our Lord's sufferings; and they are capable of a striking accommodation: but it should be recollected, that this is only accommodation , and not the real meaning of the sacred writer. The address is so exquisitely pathetical, that no comment can possibly do justice to it. — The LORD hath com manded , &c. (17) Marg . Ref . k. It is the di'vine decree and pleasure.' Lowth .
V. 18-22. In the midst of all her sufferings, Jerusalem was constrained to acknowledge the justice of God, and to condemn herself; for she "had rebelled against his commandment." It therefore peculiarly demanded the attention of all people, to observe the punishment to which her crimes had subjected her.-All confidences failed in the extremity of her trouble: ( Note , 1, 2.) even her priests and elders perished for famine; what then must have been the case with the multitude of her inhabitants!
But her inward anguish was most intolerable, through the sense of guilt and of the wrath of God; whilst the sword devoured without, and the famine and pestilence within the city: for the scene seems here to be laid previous to the taking of Jerusalem. It was in vain to look to her former friends, for they had heard of her sorrows, but made no comfort her: and her enemies exulted and ted and rejoiced over her miseries, out of hatred to her and her religion.
She had therefore none to look to but God, and to him she made her appeal; assured that the doom of her enemies was passed, and that the Lord would deal with them, as he had done with her because of her transgressions, which had reduced her to so deplorable a condition. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . Notes , 4:21, 22. Ps . 79:1--7. 137:7--9. Ob . 15,16. Rev. 6:911. 16:3--7. 19:1--6.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-11.
We shall often be required, in this evil world. "to weep with those that weep," and we should not be reluctant to so salutary an employment ( Notes , Rom . 12:14—16, v . 15. 1 Cor . 12:15—26, v. 26. P. Ο . 12-26.)-We now hear the denunciations of the wrath of God against the workers of iniquity; and we shall soon be spectators of the accomplishment: nay, here the fice has been treated by profligates and infidels; have in great measure been chargeable upon the atrocious sins of professed Christians and preachers of the gospel, who have rendered themselves vile, and exposed themselves to
serious mind perceives abundant cause to med-and the contempt, with which the clerical of
itate, with solemn awe and deep concern, on the tokens of his indignation at the sins of men. -The history of nations, churches, families, and individuals, abounds with fulfilments of the scriptures. How is it that so many populous cities now "sit solitary?" that so many flourish-shame by their evident misconduct; and there
ing empires are now become tributary and enslaved? Whence are the tears, with which great multitudes wear away their restless nights and joyless days; while they mourn the loss of dear relatives, the treachery of professed friends, the cruelty of enemies, the oppression of the powerful, the fury of persecutors, grievous servitude, and multiplied afflictions? Whence is it, that idolaters now occupy the places, where flourishing churches once stood? that the ways of Zion are deserted, her ordinances interrupted or profaned; her gates desolated; her priests and people in bitterness, or cut off?
How is it that the adversaries of the church are the chief, and prosper, and that her children are in captivity? (Notes, Deut. 28:3-14,43,44.) However we may vary our inquiries, the same answer recurs: "The fierce anger of the LORD," for man's transgressions, has filled the earth with sighs and groans; with tears, and sickness, and death. Sin has slain all the former generations of men; has murdered our ancestors, relatives, friends, or children; has aimed many a mortal blow at us, and will certainly effect our death also.
Sin has prepared the place of torment, and filled it with fallen spirits; and with the souls of those, who have died unpardoned and unchanged. Sin would as certainly have conveyed all our souls to this place of misery, as all our bodies to the grave: if "the Lamb of God" had not come to take away the guilt and power of it, from those who believe in him. Sin has tarnished all the beauty and marred all the glory of our rational nature.
Sin fills our consciences with remorse, and our hearts with terror; deprives the soul of strength and confidence; perverts every pleasant thing and every good gift of God, and even his truths, sabbaths, and ordinances, into occasions of deeper condemnation and misery. Yet, after all, we are disposed to lodge this serpent in our bosom; yea, to entertain it in our hearts, to expect our happiness from it, and to cleave to it as our most valuable treasure! ( P.
O. 2 Kings 10:1-14.)-Among the manifold evil effects of sin, the pious mind is peculiarly grieved, when, being committed by professors of true religion, it "causes the enemies of God to blaspheme," and to mock and scoff at the truths and ordinauces of his word and worship. "Woe be to the world because of offences! and woe be to those, by whom such offences come!" except their repentance be as deep, as their transgressions are aggravated. We ought to prefer all other temporal effects of sin to this.
Should any be wonderfully brought down from the height of affluence to the depth of penury; should their honor be changed for contempt; should they have no comforter in affliction, and be constrained to part with all their pleasant things for bread to sustain life; nay, should they have the immediate prospect of dying by famine: all this ought to be considered as far less afflicting, than that their sins should cause the name, truths, and ordinances of God to be blasphemed; and men to stumble, and fall, and perish for ever, through the increasing prejudice, hardness, and impiety which they have excited. ( Note , Matt. 18:7--9 . Р. О. 7-14.) Even the profanation of sacred things, and the sacrilege of those, who in different ages have laid their rapacious hands on the substance, which was dedicated to the support of religion;
fore the Lord has made them vile and contemptible, even to the most abandoned of mankind. ( Note , Mal . 2:4-9.)
V. 12-22.
We cannot derive benefit from our sufferings, unless we look above instruments and occasions, and consider the hand of God in them. He it is, who impoverishes, enfeebles, intimidates, and enslavesumen, as he sees good: he treads down and crushes the mighty, the valiant, and the delicate, without respect of rank, of age, or sex. Wars, pestilences, and famines, are his judgments: conquerors, tyrants, and oppressors are his executioners; and he is is just in all the miseries, which come upon us from their injustice .
We should therefore look to him in all our troubles, and inquire, "wherefore he contendeth with us:" we should consider our ways, and confess our sins, and mingle our tears of natural grief for our sufferings, with those of godly sorrow for our sins.
We should entreat the Lord to consider and relieve our miseries, and to pardon our transgressions: we should despair of comfort and help from all others, and confidently expect them from his mercy, truth, and power: we should justify him in our sufferings, and condemn ourselves; acknowledging that we "have rebelled against his commandınent," and that grievously. Thus we should pour out our hearts before him, who regards the sighs, and counts the tears, of such as mourn for their sins.
Then will he support us under every stroke of his correcting rod; in due time he will vouchsafe us deliverance, and render the whole profitable to our souls; he will restore our privileges and comforts, and confound all our enemies. Those, who rejoice over the calamities of the Lord's people, should remember, that "their day also is coming," when, except they repent of this wickedness, they will be rendered far more contemptible and miserable.
It may therefore properly be inquired of all that pass by, whether the sufferings of the people of God be nothing to them: that, even if they have no thought of compassionating, or attempting to alleviate their distresses, they may at least behold and be instructed; they may see in them the holiness of God, the evil of sin, the emptiness of forms, the fatal effects of hypocrisy and impiety; and they may take warning to flee from the wrath to come, by considering the temporal miseries to which sin exposes men in this world.
"For if the righteous scarcely are saved; where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" If the rod of correction be so terrible, what will the sword of vengeance be?-But whatever may be learned by viewing the desolations of Jerusalem, either by the Chaldeans or Romans; far more instruction may be derived from "looking unto Jesus," and his sufferings and death. Does he not, as it were, from the cross, call on every heedless mortal to attend to the interesting scene? Does he not say, "Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?
Behold and see, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me, in the day of his fierce anger," against the sins of those, whom I came to seek and save? Is it nothing to you, that I am here a sinless sufferer? that I, the well beloved Son of the Father, am consumed by