Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-12-07
Christ's Compassion.
Presbyterian Banner.

Presbyterian Banner
III many ways did our blessed Re-
deemer show his sorrow for those
upon whom distress and misfortunes
had come when he was upon earth.
Even those who had rejected him
were still looked upon with tender
and intense compassion. A most
striking indication of this is found in
the Odd chapter of the Gospel of
Matthew, when he exclaimed in an
agony of pathos, while looking over
the famous and doomed city: 80
Jerusalem, jerusalem, thou that
killest the prophets and stonest them
that are sent unto thee" Much had
been done for that city. God had
hOnored it with his presence and
favor. 1t was the seat of the Jewish
worship. There was the temple;
there were the sacrifices offered. To
it the prophets and other messengers
of God had been sent. To it the Son
of God had come. He had taught in
its streets and in the Temple. He
had made to it the offer of salvation
and invited the people to come to the
living fountain and drink and live
for ever. And he says "How often
would l have gathered thy children
together, even as hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings, and We
would not !" A hen gathers her
chickens for safety and for comfort
gathers them when danger is near
gathers them from the cold and from
storms, to make them safe, COM
Portable, and happy. So would the
Saviour have gathered the children
of Jerusalem.
How rebellious and ungrateful was
that city 1t perverted and abused
the divine worship-turned away to
idolatry. 1t killed the prophets and
stoned them that were sent unto it.
1t rejected Christ, the Son of God,
and would not be gathered, protect
ed, saved-Would not be blessed.
This was ungrateful, wicked, re-
belious. 1t exposed it to desolatiOn
and ruin. And the Son of God ex-
claims: 80 Jerusalem, Jerusalem !"
Here we see his divine tenderness
and compassiOn-his willingness to
protect and comfort and bless and
save-his desire for Jerusalem's
present and eternal good.
Here is glass in which those who
now reject Christ may see themselves.
How much has been done for them
They have the worship of God, not
in rites and ceremonies, but in spirit
and in truth, a spiritual worship ;
they have the written word, the law
and the prophets, Gods revealed
will-their duty made known to
them much more clearly than it was
set before the people of Jerusalem.
The Son of God has come, has taken
their place, has died in their stead
and for their sins-and he invites
them to come to him, and offers
safety, comfort, happiness, salvation
And what is their conduct? They
do not perform the worship required,
they do not receive and obey the
word, and do not accept Christ as
their Saviour. If Jerusalem was I'M
grateful, surely they are more so il
Jerusalem was wicked, they more il
Jerusalem's way was ruinous. theirs
more.
Yet the Saviour cries after them,
even now pleads with them as he
did with jerusalem, saying: "If
thou hadst known the things that
belong to thy peace How com.
passionate! He is willing to gather
and save them. He desires their
good he would rejoice in their sal
walton. If they would be safe, they
must come to Christ: if they would
be happy, they must come to him
There is happiness nowhere else
there is safety nowhere else-nO.
where else is there salvation. There
is no other name under heaven given
among men whereby they must on
can be saved.
And here is a thought not to be
overlooked by ministers of the gospel
or other Christians. Here is an in
stance in which they are to seek to
have the same mind that was in
Christ. The old prophets wept and
tasted because Of the sins of the PEG.
pie and the terrible judgments that