world; and ascended to glory. There, the first heralds of the Gospel dispensation commenced their ministry; and thence, the wonderful scheme of grace was propagated through the nations.
The Lord blessed the Jews, while they kept his commandments and walked with hitn. But alas, here were the city and temple to be destroyed for the infidelity, malice, hypocrisy, and persecution of the Lord of Glory and His followers, which characterized its rulers and people. Here, a measure of unprecedented atrociousness was just filled up, which should bring down wrath upon them to the uttermost. This tremendous ruin, our Lord foretold and it was fulfilled.
The last noted entrance into Jerusalem, of Him who was God manifest in the flesh, took place on the Monday before the scene of his suffering. Amidst the acclamation of multitudes, he was hailed king of Zion, with every token of joy and praise. The air rang with their praises. Uttered for all the mighty works they had seen. They sang, Hosanna! Blessed be the king that cometh in the name of the Lord! Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest. Our Lord, superior to all their adulation, and knowing how soon the Hosannas of some of them would
turn to "Crucify him," and being touched with sympathy and pity for a devoted city, now going to fill up their guilty measure of iniquity, beheld the city and wept over it. He said: "If thou hadst known, even thou, in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace; but now
they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come when thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and encompass thee around, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee. And they shall not leave thee one stone
upon another, because thou knewest not the time of thy visitations."
The day but one after, Christ went into the temple for the last time, to instruct the people. While he was thus employed, the high priest, elders, Herodians, Sadducees, and Pharisees, gathered in turn around him, with a malicious view to entangle him in his talk. Christ
returned such answers, spake such parables, and set home such reproof and conviction to their souls, as not
