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His blood
and righteousness, I should have been most miserably witched. So doubtless
we all felt, as we kneeled down there where our blessed Lord had knelt and
prayed, and poured out in tears and cries our souls to Him recalling the
bitter anguish of
“ —that dark and doleful night,
When powers of earth and hell arose
Against the Son of God’s delight,
And friends betrayed Him to His foes.”
I often visited this sacred enclosure. The first morning after my arrival
in Jerusalem, and the last morning of my stay there I lingered at this
spot. And who could visit such a spot and not be affected to tears? Who
could feel indifferent to the lone Sufferer there— the steadfast
Saviour, under the infinite pressure of a world’s guilt— the
blessed Lamb of God, betrayed, taken, and borne away as a criminal! O
Gethsemane! How strangely wonderful are the scenes thou hast witnessed!
How every tree, and stone, and turf speaks o f Jesus! The breeze in the
boughs whisper of His prayers. The dew drops on the rose leaves remind
us of His tears. Each crimson flower tells us of His bloody sweat. Sad
and precious Gesthemane! Thou art to-day a witness for Christ. Thou, on
that everlasting hill, dost seem to repeat His instructions heard by thee.
Thou art ever repeating the story of His love, His tears, His conflicts,
His victories. --------------
It was a beautiful day March 27th, at noon, when our agreeable party of
thirteen Americans took leave of these intensely interesting localities.
We then set our faces to the north, and going down the slope we saw Jerusalem
no more. Farewell, O Sacred City! Thy wonderful history extend through
long centuries, is crystallized on the immortal pages of Revelation, and
embraces the most exciting, touching, tender and glorious scenes. What
a precious privilege to have looked upon thy walls, to have entered thy
gates, to have walked among thy hallowed localities— all of which
are now as familiar as childhood scenes, and to be recounted with perpetual
pleasure— bright and charming pictures that memory with hold dear
and cherish forever!
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