S. Luke adds, “fearful sights and great signs shall there be from Heaven.” That these shall precede the destruction of the world is plain from Apoc. chaps. viii, and ix. It is equally certain that they preceded the destruction of Jerusalem. For, 1. a dreadful comet, in the shape of a sword, hung over Jerusalem a whole year before its destruction. 2. At the Passover, when the people were gathered together, three hours after midnight, a light as bright as noon-day shone for half an hour in the Temple. 3. A bullock that was about to be offered in sacrifice brought forth a lamb. 4. The eastern gate of the Temple, made of brass, and so heavy that it could be with difficulty closed by twenty men, opened of its own accord at the hour of midnight. 5. There was seen in the air the appearances of armies, chariots, and battles. 6. There was heard at Pentecost the voices of angels, saying in the Temple, “Let us depart hence.” 7. An ignorant man of the lower orders, Jesus the son of Ananus, began suddenly to cry aloud, “A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the Temple, a voice against the bridegrooms and the brides, a voice against the whole people.” And this he continued to cry night and day without ceasing, perambulating all the streets of the city. This he did for seven years, crying with a dreadful voice, like one astonied, “Woe, woe to Jerusalem,” until at last, when the city was besieged by Titus, as he was crying upon the wall with a louder voice than usual, “Woe to Jerusalem, to the Temple, to the people, and to myself,” he was struck by a stone hurled from one of the military engines of the besiegers, and killed. For all these things, see Josephus, Bell. 7. 12, and Eusebius, H. E. iii. 8.

Psalm 118: ALEPH

1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.  2 Blessed are they who search his testimonies: that seek him with their whole heart.  3 For they that work iniquity, have not walked in his ways.  4 Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept most diligently.  5 O! that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications.  6 Then shall I not be confounded, when I shall look into all thy commandments.  7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy justice.  8 I will keep thy justifications: O! do not thou utterly forsake me.

Lamentations: 

Aleph. How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people! how is the mistress of the Gentiles become as a widow: the princes of provinces made tributary!

Aleph. How hath the Lord covered with obscurity the daughter of Sion in his wrath! how hath he cast down from heaven to the earth the glorious one of Israel, and hath not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger!

Aleph. I am the man that see my poverty by the rod of his indignation. 

Aleph. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, and not into light. 

Aleph. Only against me he hath turned, and turned again his hand all the day.

Aleph. How is the gold become dim, the finest colour is changed, the stones of the sanctuary are scattered in the top of every street?

Yep, Cape Girardeau marks the 'X' spot.  The name means "brave spear." Gen. Grant of the Union, the "Torcher of Atlanta,"  apparently built four forts there during the cινιℓ ωαr.  It is on the border of Illinois/Missouri.  If things get sideways here in America we might all be breaking out the "brave spears."