And that which makes this place the more remarquable is , that here it was that David , the Type of Christ , bewailed the rebellion of his son Absolon ; as 2 Sam. 15. 30. And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet , and wept as he went up , &c. David , at every ascent , poured out a quantitie of tears , in lamenting the contumacie of his natural son Absolon ; so Christ , the celestial David , at every descent , sends forth many tears , in bewailing the contumacie of his federal sons , of Jerusalem . And that which yet further aggravates this circumstance of place is , that ( which Christ foresaw ) on this very mount of Olives , where Christ now laments the sin and ruines of Jerusalem , the Romans in their first siege against this Citie , began to pitch their tents , as Josephus , in his 6 Book of the Jewish war , Chap. 9. observes . So that wel might our blessed Lord make this place the seat of his Lamentation , which he foresaw would be the first seat of their National ruine . But it follows :

He beheld ] The participle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , He beheld . wants not its peculiar Emphase , in that it denotes a certain person , viz. Christ ; which gives us another notable circumstance , much conducing to the explication of the whole . O! What a Great , Illustrious HE is here ? What Wonders of Wonders lie wrapt up ▪ in this HE ? What tongue , or thought , of Men , or Angels , can expresse , or conceive , the infinite Dimensions of this little Pronoun ? Who can declare his Generation ? Is not this HE , he that first ga●e Being , and Welbeing to Jerusalem , as to althings else ? Did not this HE , bring her out of Egypt , that house of Bondage ? Was not this Noble HE her Protector , and Conductor in the Wildernesse ? Was not this Soverain HE , her King and Lawgiver in Canaan ? Did not this Infinite Eternal HE , descend down into the womb of a virgin , and espouse human Nature , thereby to put himself into an apt Capacitie , to be Jerusalem's Savior ? Who was this Celebrious HE , but the Messias , a borne Jew , who had Judaic bloud running in his veins , a Judaic heart to pitie , Judaic eyes to weep over , a Judaic tongue to plead with , importune , and beseech impenitent unbelieving Jerusalem , to accept of the things that did belong unto her peace ? This was that Heroic , Generous , and Illustrious HE , who here Beheld , not only with the eyes of his bodie , but also with the eye of his Omniscient Divinitie , the present impenitent , contumacious , unbelieving ; and the future miserable , ruinous and desolate state of Jerusalem : for so it follows .

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , THE Citie ] with an Emphase ; For the Article here points out a certain Citie , and that with a remarque , and accent .

THE Citie , The Citie which was his first Bride ; but now an Adultresse ; who plotted , how she might embrew her hands in her husbands bloud : THE Citie , wherein the Oracles of God , and Gracious Tokens of his presence were first loged , Rom. 3. 1. THE Citie , which did once oblige herself , by a firme Covenant , or oath of Allegeance and Supremacie , to submit to him , as her crowned King , and Lawgiver , but now turnes her back upon him , and cries up no king but Cesar ; who ere long would be her ruine . THE Citie which was sometimes the Beautie of Holinesse , and Seat of Divine Worship ; but now is become the Sinke of al vices , and Satans Throne , or Synagogue . Lastly THE Citie , to which he had in person preached the joyful sound , and glad tidings of Salvation ; to which he had offered the first handsel of evangelic love , and Free grace ; which he had been so long wooing , and courting to be happy in the embracement of himself , and al other things , that did belong unto her peace : But she would not . And what follows ?

And wept . ] What ? the Lord of Glorie Weep ! he that was God blessed for evermore drop tears ! how comes this to passe ? what a strange Accident is here ? whence spring these Divine Tears ? Surely it must be some prodigigious Cause , that draws this holy water , from those sacred eyes of God-Man . e e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 &c. Some ( otherwi●e ) Orthod●x , took away the word , [ wept ] not understanding its force and strength . ●piphanius in Ancorato . Some of the Ancients , otherwise orthodoxe , were so far struck with the sense of this prodigie , as that they thought it incredible , that the Son of God should weep : and therefore , not understanding the sense , force , and efficace of these Divine tears , they left out this word , wept . But that Christ , God-man , was capable of weeping , is evident by the like passion elsewhere ; as at his friend Lazarus's grave , John 11. 35. and on the crosse , or in the garden , as Hebr. 5. 7. But yet the rari●ie of this , or any other passionate emotion in Christ , argues some stupendous , and strange ground , or occasion thereof . Certainly nothing ordinary came from Christ : his commun words , and actions were not ordinary : much lesse may we conceive his tears , which so rarely dropt from him , to be of an ordinary tincture , and origine . No , they were the Tears of God , and therefore must have much of Divinitie in them , both as to their Rise , Mater , End , Occasiou , &c. They were wise , judicious Tears , not foolish , as ours usually are : They were spontaneous and free , not forced , and strained , as ours oft are : They were not sullen and pettish tears , as ours ; but meek , the tears of the Lamb of God : They were not selfish and private tears ; but generous , and public , for National sin , and miserie . These Tears were spiritual , not carnal ; regular not inordinate : they had not so much of passion , as of compassion , and commiseration in them : Our tender-hearted Lord seems to forget his own Passion , which was near , whiles his bowels rolled with Compassions , towards an impenitent ingrateful Citie . They are the tears , of an affectionate Physician , bleeding over the wounds of his self-murdering Patient ; of a gracious , generous Prince , bewailing the wilful Rebellion of his dying Subjects . In short , these Tears are very Amorous , precious , and efficacious ; inviting weary and heavy-laden sinners to accept of rest ; forewarning the obstinate and impenitent of their danger ; instructing the ignorant and weak in their dutie , of believing on him ; encouraging the scrupulous and douting soul , to come unto him , and finally , interceding for such as belonged to the Election of Grace , though at present enemies to him . Such were the noble Qualities , and Divine efficaces of these sacred tears , as it wil appear by what follows .

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Over it over it ] or , for it ; or by reason of it ; which connotes , or hints to us the Aggravation , or Weight of the impulsive cause ; what it was that excited , or drew forth this sacred passion ; namely Jerusalems present sin , and coming miserie . As for her sin it lay chiefly in this : Our blessed Lord being ordained and commissionated , by God the Father , to gather in the lost sheep , of the house of Israel , nothing was more deeply fixed in his heart , than the execution of this his commission and office : Now drawing near to Jerusalem , and having a view of it in his eye , it could not but melt , and break his heart , to consider , that she , who was the sacred Seat of the Covenant ; wherein the Divine Majestie had so long resided , with many significant Symbols and tokens of his presence ; I say , that she should reject her Lord , and Husband , after so many importunate wooings , invitations , and offers made of the things that did belong unto her peace . As for her approching Miserie , that also was mater of sad lamentation ; and that in many regards .

1. That henceforward al the great things of her peace should be , as a sealed book , hid from her eyes . 2. That she , who was the Beautie and Glorie of al Nations , should , within a few years , lie buried in her own ruines . 3. That ( which is the worst of al ) al her plagues and jugements , were sealed and subscribed by Divine wrath , and Vengeance . Oh! this was sad indeed , that al her Woes , must stand sealed with the Mediators black curse .

No wonder then , that her crowned King , and Mediator , who was a borne Jew , and Minister of the Covenant , doth here , by virtue of his place and office ; and also by reason of his near Alliance to Jerusalem , deplore and lament over her sinful forlorne state . Thus much for the explication of the Lamentation it self . Before we procede to the mater of Christs Lamentation , mentioned in the following words , we shal make some brief Reflexions on , Observations from , and Vseful Improvemen●s of the words explicated .