from the eyes, and groans from the heart, of Incarnate Deity; yet thy children beheld, with feelings of triumphant scorn, the sorrows and sufferings their wanton cruelty inflicted on the Holy Jesus. But heaven marked the impious deed.[131] The blood of Jesus, of prophets, of apostles, and of martyrs, called for vengeance on thy guilty land; the cry was heard, justice remembered thy black catalogue of crimes, the King of heaven beheld the insult offered to his beloved Son, and Jehovah arose to punish thy rejection of Jesus the Messiah, whom "ye would not have to reign over you." The crimes of Jerusalem were of the blackest and most awful character, and her punishment was tremendously dreadful.[132] The Israelites, once the peculiar favourites of Heaven[133]--nursed in the lap of plenty, instructed in the oracles of God--blessed with the temple of Jehovah--taught to adore the God of truth whom their forefathers worshipped; this people, who once had the Lord for their Law-giver and King,[134] were compelled to bow beneath the oppressive power of arbitrary despots--the law of truth was exchanged for the tyrant's mandate--equity and justice were banished the walls of Salem, and despotism, oppression, blasphemy, and pride, reigned within that devoted, miserable, city. Anarchy and confusion ruled that senate and sanctuary, once as gloriously "distinguished from the rest of the world by the purity of its government, as by the richness and elegance of its buildings. Jerusalem was devoted to destruction, and she sunk beneath the accumulated horrors of war, famine, fire, and pestilence. Internal faction and a foreign foe reduced that beauteous city and magnificent sanctuary, to a heap of ruins. The temple fell--not all the commands, promises, or threats of Titus, could save that splendid edifice from destruction; the people of the prince, regardless of their general's orders, helped to complete the work of desolation;--but prophecy was fulfilled, Jerusalem was overwhelmed with the flood of divine vengeance, and desolation prevailed even unto the end of the war. [127] John xiv. 6. [128] John xii, 27. [129] 1 Corinthians xv. 22. Romans v. 17-19. [130] Luke xxiii. 4. Isaiah liii. 5, 10. [131] Matthew xxiii. 35-37. [132] Matthew xxiv. 21. [133] Deuteronomy iv. 7. [134] Deuteronomy iv. 5, 8. CHAPTER LXV. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.--Daniel ix. 27.