- if:
- The church in distress here magnifies her affliction; and yet no more than there was cause for her groaning was not heavier than her strokes. She appeals to all spectators - see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow. This might truly be said of the griefs which were suffered in Jerusalem of old; but Christians are apt to apply these words too sensibly and sensitively to themselves, when they are in trouble, and sometimes more than there is reasonable cause to warrant. All men feel most from their own burden, and cannot be persuaded to reconcile themselves to it; how often do thy cry out in the words we are illustrating! whereas, if their troubles were to be thrown into a common stock with those of others, and then an equal dividend made, share and share alike, rather than approve such an arrangement, each would be ready to say, "Pray give me my own again." - Henry. "What thing¹ shall I take to witnessª°°° for thee? what thingª shall I likenª° to thee, O daughterª of Jerusalem?ª what¹ shall I equalª° to thee, that I may comfortª° thee, O virginª daughterª of Zion?ª for¹ thy breachª [is] greatª like the sea:ª who¹ can healª° thee?" {Lam 2:13} + "For the punishment of the iniquityª of the daughterª of my peopleª is greaterª° than the punishment² of the sin¹¹ of Sodom,ª that was overthrownª° as in¹ a moment,ª and no¹ handsª stayedª° on her. ... The LORDª hath accomplishedª°¹ his fury;ª he hath poured outª° his fierceª anger,ª and hath kindledª° a fireª in Zion,ª and it hath devouredª° the foundationsª thereof." {Lam 4:6-11} + "And he hath confirmedª°¹ his words,ª which¹ he spakeª° against¹ us, and against¹ our judgesª° that¹ judgedª° us, by bringingª° upon¹ us a greatª evil:ª for¹ under¹ the whole¹ heavenª hath not¹ been doneª° as¹ hath been doneª° upon Jerusalem.ª" {Dan 9:12} + "Forª thenª shall beª° greatª tribulation,ª such asª wasª° notª sinceª the beginningª of the worldª to¹ this² time,ª no,ª nor everª shall be.ª°" {Mtt 24:21} + "Forª theseª beª° the daysª of vengeance,ª that all thingsª which² are writtenª° may be fulfilled.ª° ... Butª woeª unto² them that are with child,ªª°¹ andª to them that give suck,ª° inª thoseª days!ª forª there shall beª° greatª distressª inª the¹ land,ª andª wrathª uponª thisª people.ª" {Lke 21:22-23} + "Butª Jesusª turningª° untoª themª said,ª° Daughtersª of Jerusalem,ª weepª° notª forª me,ª butª weepª° forª yourselves,ª andª forª yourª children.ª ... Forª ifª they doª° these thingsª inª a greenª tree,ª whatª shall be doneª° inª the¹ dry?ª" {Lke 23:28-31}
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