more sand-glasses run out, and the pit shall be opened for the ungodly, and then "their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it," " and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever."

XV.

LOT LINGERING.

GENESIS, chap. xix. verse 16.

"And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him and they brought him forth, and set him without the city."

WONDROUS Spectacle to angels and to men! a convinced soul,-one who saw by faith the coming judgments of God,-one who in all earnestness of entreaty had warned others,— one resolved to flee, intent on escaping;-and yet one, who " lingering," needed to be “hastened" by the messengers of mercy," lest he," too, "should be consumed in the iniquity of the city." But oh! more wondrous still the mercy that drew with the bands of love that willing and yet weak one, and prevailed to set him free,-tenderly constrained him to escape,-brought him out of the city,-set him on his way,-yea, assured him, in language

of surpassing tenderness, as he directed him to Zoar, "I cannot do anything till thou be come thither." Let this wondrous contrast of Lot's indecision and JEHOVAH's faithfulness now occupy our attention. Fix it in our hearts, O God of truth; bear with us, and bind us to Thyself, for Jesus' sake. This portion of Lot's history presents to us

I. The Convinced Soul Delaying.
II. Grace Prevailing.

I. The Convinced Soul Delaying. Lot has warned with ineffectual earnestness his "sonsin-law, which married his daughters;" he has returned to his home, to spend in sleepless anxious thought the portentous night that shall usher in the day of woe. The dawn again breaks, and in the very nearness of approaching wrath the pulse more quickly beats, and each moment he looks for the signs, the presage, of the coming storm. Still his reluctant feet hesitate to cross the threshold; he shrinks from the effort; when urged, he still makes excuses for delay, till gentle violence alone prevails to bring him without the city, and to pluck him as a brand out of the fire. Are these circumstances yours? Do any that read these words feel that they are in this record

presented with a picture of themselves? Persuaded of the report,-resolved to escape,preparing to set out, yet as they rise to go, made first aware of some mighty influence that winds so closely round the heart, that though "their loins are girded, their staff in their hand," they move not! Convinced, they linger still. Search out the spell that binds you; analyse, if you can, Lot's feelings; analyse your own, and burst the fetters, though the struggle cost you all that life holds dear....

1. Was not unbelief the root of bitterness with Lot? Is it not the root of bitterness with you? -a partial unbelief, which, whilst faith holds God's threatenings to be true, interposes, almost unknown to itself, some vague expectation that you need not at once comply with the command,—that some respite will arrive, -that delay will not endanger you; you will wait to see what the LORD will speak further, though He hath spoken all that He will speak.... He hath said, "Arise and follow Me," and His bidding must be done. Doubtless Lot looked for some such respite, some aid to come, he knew not whence, or how; he would, at least, tarry in the hope; the angels hastened him, but he lingered still. Who, my brethren, shall thread the mazes of our

treacherous hearts? We ask ourselves, "Is not the soul precious?" We answer, yea in sincerity reply, "Its worth outweighs a world." Again we question ourselves, "Shall I not find in Christ a welcome full and free; grace sufficient for the conflict to which He calls?" We doubt it not. Why then do we linger.? Why do we not this hour that, which will but be more difficult an hour hence, may become impossible if long deferred? Thou who knowest us, alone canst rightly answer why! Search us, O our God, and cast Thou out the evil, whatsoe'er it be. "LORD, we believe, help Thou our unbelief."

2. The ties of kindred were no slight motive to delay. "Take thy wife and thy two daughters, which are here," was the bidding of the angels; but there were others besides those who were dear to Lot in that city,-sons possibly,'sons-in-law, daughters. How anxiously did he still look for some relenting in these, that they might, as one family, flee from the impending wrath. He knows not how to go forth, if unaccompanied by these. We wonder not that such thoughts had a weighty power to retard his flight; separation, at such a time, must have been agonizing. Oh leave we not to the 1 Genesis xix. 12.