regarding danger, arms his servants, follows after the enemy, conquers them, recovers the captives and spoil out of their hand. Our sins, our declensions, too often bring care and anxiety upon others; the consequences extend to our friends. But the results, as regards his family, were awful. We dwell not on that pollution of mind gradually fostered by contact with the ungodly, to which we may trace fearful consequences, recorded by unerring wisdom at the close of the 19th chapter; we rather point to ungodly connections formed,' marriages contracted with the devoted inhabitants of Sodom; misery is the sure result of such, well if it be not final misery. Oh! you that parley with sin, who enter on the broad road, who join with the world, partake of its vanities, seek its pomps; think you to do this, and yet say to your children, "seek ye after God?" Alas! their hearts, already inclined to evil, will rather follow example than precept, and outrun you in their pursuit of earth and earthly joys. If you have any regard to the ties of flesh and blood, if you would not be the soul-destroyers of your children, be ye not yourselves" conformed to this world;" but let this be your holy resolve, "as for me and

my house, we will serve the LORD." Though Lot himself, we know, saw his error,1 and knew "repentance unto life," did he leave none within that city to whose husbands he spake in vain?... Were not those whom he prevailed on to depart thence with him, already contaminated with that atmosphere of guilt, so that one was stayed by the avenging hand of God in the plain, a sign of terror to passers-by; from the others, companions of his way, comfort could not be drawn, but rather horror and remorse? Were the consequences of this misguided choice more favourable as it respects the people of that city? Hear we of any influenced by his warning voice, or heeding the witness which, we may believe, he bore whilst dwelling among them? No, brethren, the messenger sent by God speaks the word, and a nation repents and calls upon the Lord! but unbidden, doubtless, did Lot enter Sodom, shall a blessing rest on the ministrations of such? Shall he convert one sinner from the error of his way? Shall he save one soul from death of the multitude that thronged that city of the plain? It is a delusion to think that by yielding to the ways, and the customs of the world, we shall win others to the

3

1 Peter ii. 7, 8.

2 Jonah iii. 5.

a James v.

20.

paths of peace; injuring ourselves, we benefit not them; there is no witnessing for God in "doing evil that good may come ;" where no call of duty directs "we must come out and be separate," we must not "touch the unclean thing;" then is the promise ours, "I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

And now let each solemnly ask himself, My soul, whereon is thy choice fixed? what has thy affections? God or Mammon, heaven or earth, time or eternity? Lift up your eyes, brethren! behold the plain of the world; it is well watered everywhere; its streams present attractions, promise much of joy; but lift up again your gaze; once more behold that plain; the threatening clouds of wrath overhang it, the gloom of death is there; those streams no longer flow, they are stagnant pools; their course of joy is run; their waters are salt and bitter, would you that your portion should be with these? . . Lift Lift up your eyes, behold the narrow way! it is rough, uninviting; it tells of self-denial, of conflict; but bid faith look upward; already the prospect brightens ;

there the promises of God cheer, the peace of God is there. "If the sufferings of Christ abound in us, our consolation also aboundeth by Christ;" if "our heart knoweth its own bitterness, a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy:" but why dwell so on the way, when the end itself is so near? How glorious that end! Sinners, your joys are passing away; those of the saints are coming, never to depart. Who for "a mess of pottage" would part with this bright hope? Who for the short feast of this world's joys would entail on themselves the eternal wrath of God? Christians! "watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation." Christians! persevere, press forward; the contest may be sharp, it cannot be long: when Satan spreads his glittering baits and whispers, "All these will I give thee," oh! look beyond this present plain of the world, ("this earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up"), choose for a dying hour, choose for the judgment seat of Christ, choose for eternity. "The world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

12 Corinthians i. 5.

2 John ii. 17,

XII.

LOT IN SODOM.

2 PETER, chap. ii., 7th, 8th, and part of 9th verse. "And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds :) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations."

WHERE do we now, in the continuance of his history, find Lot? Alas! for the consistency of his character; alas! for the state of his own soul, we find him no longer merely pitching his tent towards Sodom, but within the city; we behold the man of God dwelling in the midst of the ungodly, and what has led him there? Daniel may be in the lions' den, and at peace; the three youths may be cast into the midst of the furnace, and rejoice; but joy and peace accompany not Lot in his sojourn in Sodom, for his own will led him there, and not the glory of God. This would be the bitter thought, as he revolved the past and

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