Lamentations 1

3. Sin produces all temporal evil. Jerusalem has grievously sinned, therefore she is removed (Lamentations 1:8). It is the Trojan horse, it has sword, and famine, and pestilence in the belly of it.

And if any one poor soul has had his estate revealed, all the rest are to be thankful. See some reason why some in distress of mind complain that none were ever in the like condition — they are apt to do so, as the church in Lamentations 1:12. The reason is that few are so troub…

Yes, that he has dealt more severely with us than with any other. Lamentations 1:12: See and behold if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which has been done to me, with which the Lord has afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. And sometimes murmuring and resentful though…

And thus he applies himself to their capacity. If they had been better purged from their earthliness, he would rather have awakened them with the fear of that judgment which Jeremiah bewails (Lamentations 1:7), to wit, that the sacrifices and feast days should cease, and that th…

First in respect that he had justly inflicted this punishment upon his people for their offenses: secondly, being redeemed out of this captivity, they might especially take knowledge of his mercy and goodness. Behold.] We have to consider of mount Zion here, as of a place not in…

It is by this means, that the daughter of Zion in this land, now lies on the ground, in such piteous circumstances, as we now behold her; with her garments rent, her face disfigured, her nakedness exposed, her limbs broken, and weltering in the blood of her own wounds, and in no…

For the same Divine Operations, the same Supplies of Grace which are necessary to the positive Acts and Duties of Holiness, are necessary also to this End, that sin in the Actual Motions, and Lustings of it may be Mortified; So the Apostle issues his long Account of the Conflict…

He encreaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he enlarges the nations, and straitneth them again, Job 12:23 The same it does with persons, Psalm 102:10 Thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. See what a sad Alteration Providence made upon the Church, Lam. 1. 1, 12. How does…

Husband and Father slain by the sword, while they went out to help the Lord against the mighty. It is time for us to sit solitary and alone, to mourn every family apart, and our wives apart (Zechariah 12:12), to lift up our voice in prayer night and day, lest the joyful voice be…

By bowels, are understood either sorrow, and that in an intense degree, as (Job 30:27), my bowels boiled. Lamentations 1:20, My bowels are troubled. And Jeremiah 4:19, My bowels, my bowels, I am pained at the very heart: Or, bowels are taken for affection and tender love in the…

To which I might add, that the famine of the word does usually bring with it many temporal judgments; the burning of the temple at Jerusalem, and the failing of vision was accompanied with slaughter by the sword, and captivity of the land. 7. And lastly, God speaks most terribly…

When the Prophet had directed the people to search and try their ways after the execution of such judgments upon them (Lamentations 3:40), see the following direction (verses 41-42): "Let us lift our hearts with our hands to God in the heavens: we have transgressed, and have reb…

One cries, bread, bread, for Christ's sake, one bit of bread; another faints and falls down at your door. All the people sigh (Lamentations 1:11). Indeed, the poor little ones are brought in (verse 12), crying to their mothers, where is the corn and wine? and then pouring out th…

It is with spiritual as with temporal food, slighted when plenteous, but if a famine once come, then every bit of bread is precious. Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction, and of her misery, all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old (Lamentations 1:7).…

The ordinances of it despised as mean, and having no form nor comeliness. Sabbaths mocked at, as of old (Lamentations 1:7), and the sanctification of them represented as only a cloak for idleness. Sacraments reproached, and the sacred memorial of Christ's death and sufferings, b…

When you are vexed with such temptations as pierce and prick you in your veins; (as David speaks) when the Devil bears in blasphemous thoughts upon the heart, they are his sins, but your corrections, justly ordered by God; it may be it is for the correction of your sin, that you…

Sorrow does so invade their spirits, that they are by no means able to ease themselves: expectations of this side, and that side, are cut off; they long look for help and relief, but none appears. So (Lamentations 1:22), My sighs are many, and my heart is faint. They are overwhe…

We as ambassadors in Christ's stead, beseech you that you would be reconciled to God: that is, that you would prepare to meet God willing to be reconciled to you in Christ, and that you would come to his terms. Consider our Savior Christ has taken a great journey from heaven to…

Sin drowned the old World, burnt Sodom, Sin made Zion sit in Babylon. Lamentations 1:8. Jerusalem has grievously sinned, therefore she is removed.

But I am no body. But I am a worm and no man (Lamentations 1:12). O passers by, hear behold, and see if there be any sorrow, like to my sorrow! etc. (1 Corinthians 4:9).

6. She puts Christ in his chair of state, and adores him: the deserted soul says, be what I will, he is Jehovah the Lord; confession is good in saddest desertion (Job 7:20): I have sinned, what shall I do to you, O preserver of man? (Lamentations 1:17) The seed of Jacob is in a…

(Jeremiah 14:7): Our iniquities testify against us — our backslidings are many. It is a vain shift to say, the Church prays and confesses in name of the wicked party, not in name of the justified ones; for as many as were afflicted, confess their sins, for which the hand of God…

4. (Ezekiel 9:6) Slay old and young — begin at my sanctuary, (Luke 1:20) And behold you shall be dumb — because you believe not my word. The Church of God in so many words says as much (Lamentations 1:18): The Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled against his commandment: (Lame…

Such burdens the conscience lays upon the soul of such a one; All the complaint of conscience will never look farther than the wrath of God, present anguish, and fear of future wrath in another world. Did you ever know any sorrow like my sorrow (Lamentations 1:12)? This is the c…

He compares the loss to the breach of the bank of the great sea, that breaks out and swallows up all before it; and so accordingly was their mourning exceeding great and bitter, an unmatchable mourning. Come here and see if ever any sorrow was like to my sorrow (Lamentations 1:1…