Luke 19:41-44 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,… I. SPECIFY SOME OF THE MORE OBVIOUS CHARACTERISTICS OF INCORRIGIBLE MEN. There are several classes of people who, to say the least, are greatly exposed to unyielding impenitence, and who give fearful indication of final ruin. 1. This may be affirmed of men of a sceptical turn of mind. Such men are very apt never to become pious. 2. Another class of persons who are rarely made the subjects of grace are those of notoriously loose and vicious habits. 3. It may also be remarked, that men who are in the habit of making light of sacred things, and trifling with God, seldom become men of piety. If they can scoff at religion, if they can deride its conscientious disciples, there is little reason to believe they will ever become its disciples themselves. 4. In the same melancholy multitude are likewise found all those who are ardently and eagerly attached to the world. 5. There is another class of men who exhibit fearful symptoms of deep degeneracy, and they are those whose chosen companions are the guilty enemies of God and all righteousness. Men cannot habitually associate with those who are destitute of all moral principle, and have no fear of God before their eyes, without partaking of their character. 6. Those persons also give strong indications of being incorrigible, who have become hardened under religious privileges. 7. Still more hopeless are those who have outlived conviction, and resisted the Holy Spirit. 8. There is one class of persons more whose condition is as hopeless as that of any we have mentioned; I mean, the hypocrite and self-deceiver. II. We proceed, in the second place, to inquire, WHAT THERE IS IN THE CONDITION OF SUCH PERSONS TO EXCITE THE SYMPATHY AND SOLICITUDE OF CHRIST. 1. Their determined rejection of offered mercy. This is like a dagger to Christ's heart. 2. Their perversion of the means of grace. 3. Their utterly depraved character. And now, in conclusion, I cannot forbear remarking, in the first place, how unlike the Spirit of Christ is the apathy of the people of God in view of the perishing condition of impenitent men. Secondly, our subject strongly enforces, the importance of a diligent and anxious improvement of the day and means of salvation. Once more, in view of our subject, we may not avoid the inquiry, Are there none in this assembly towards whom the Saviour is now exercising the same tender compassion, which He exercised over incorrigible Jerusalem? I only add, in the last place, if such are the compassions of Christ towards guilty sinners, what confidence may we have that He will save all that come to Him. (G. Spring, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, |
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