patriarchs and prophets-第31部分

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which　doomed　their　proud　city。　But　there　was　one　man　who　manifested　kindly
attention　toward　the　strangers　and　invited　them　to　his　home。　Lot　did　not
know　their　true　character；　but　politeness　and　hospitality　were　habitual　with
him；　they　were　a　part　of　his　religion　lessons　that　he　had　learned　from　the
example　of　Abraham。　Had　he　not　cultivated　a　spirit　of　courtesy；　he　might
have　been　left　to　perish　with　the　rest　of　Sodom。　Many　a　household；　in
closing　its　doors　against　a　stranger；　has　shut　out　God's　messenger；　who
would　have　brought　blessing　and　hope　and　peace。

Every　act　of　life；　however　small；　has　its　bearing　for　good　or　for　evil。
Faithfulness　or　neglect　in　what　are　apparently　the　smallest　duties　may　open
the　door　for　life's　richest　blessings　or　its　greatest　calamities。　It　is
little　things　that　test　the　character。　It　is　the　unpretending　acts　of　daily
self…denial；　performed　with　a　cheerful；　willing　heart；　that　God　smiles　upon。
We　are　not　to　live　for　self；　but　for　others。　And　it　is　only　by
self…forgetfulness；　by　cherishing　a　loving；　helpful　spirit；　that　we　can　make
our　life　a　blessing。　The　little　attentions；　the　small；　simple　courtesies；　go
far　to　make　up　the　sum　of　life's　happiness；　and　the　neglect　of　these
constitutes　no　small　share　of　human　wretchedness。

Seeing　the　abuse　to　which　strangers　were　exposed　in　Sodom；　Lot　made　it　one
of　his　duties　to　guard　them　at　their　entrance；　by　offering　them
entertainment　at　his　own　house。　He　was　sitting　at　the　gate　as　the　travelers
approached；　and　upon　observing　them；　he　rose　from　his　place　to　meet　them；
and　bowing　courteously；　said；　〃Behold　now；　my　lords；　turn　in；　I　pray　you；
into　your　servant's　house；　and　tarry　all　night。〃　They　seemed　to　decline　his
hospitality；　saying；　〃Nay；　but　we　will　abide　in　the　street。〃　Their　object　in
this　answer　was　twofoldto　test　the　sincerity　of　Lot　and　also　to　appear
ignorant　of　the　character　of　the　men　of　Sodom；　as　if　they　supposed　it　safe
to　remain　in　the　street　at　night。　Their　answer

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made　Lot　the　more　determined　not　to　leave　them　to　the　mercy　of　the　rabble。
He　pressed　his　invitation　until　they　yielded；　and　accompanied　him　to　his
house。

He　had　hoped　to　conceal　his　intention　from　the　idlers　at　the　gate　by
bringing　the　strangers　to　his　home　by　a　circuitous　route；　but　their
hesitation　and　delay；　and　his　persistent　urging；　caused　them　to　be　observed；
and　before　they　had　retired　for　the　night；　a　lawless　crowd　gathered　about
the　house。　It　was　an　immense　company；　youth　and　aged　men　alike　inflamed　by
the　vilest　passions。　The　strangers　had　been　making　inquiry　in　regard　to　the
character　of　the　city；　and　Lot　had　warned　them　not　to　venture　out　of　his
door　that　night；　when　the　hooting　and　jeers　of　the　mob　were　heard；　demanding
that　the　men　be　brought　out　to　them。

Knowing　that　if　provoked　to　violence　they　could　easily　break　into　his　house；
Lot　went　out　to　try　the　effect　of　persuasion　upon　them。　〃I　pray　you；
brethren；〃　he　said；　〃do　not　so　wickedly；〃　using　the　term　〃brethren〃　in　the
sense　of　neighbors；　and　hoping　to　conciliate　them　and　make　them　ashamed　of
their　vile　purposes。　But　his　words　were　like　oil　upon　the　flames。　Their　rage
became　like　the　roaring　of　a　tempest。　They　mocked　Lot　as　making　himself　a
judge　over　them；　and　threatened　to　deal　worse　with　him　than　they　had
purposed　toward　his　guests。　They　rushed　upon　him；　and　would　have　torn　him　in
pieces　had　he　not　been　rescued　by　the　angels　of　God。　The　heavenly　messengers
〃put　forth　their　hand；　and　pulled　Lot　into　the　house　to　them；　and　shut　to
the　door。〃　The　events　that　followed；　revealed　the　character　of　the　guests　he
had　entertained。　〃They　smote　the　men　that　were　at　the　door　of　the　house　with
blindness；　both　small　and　great：　so　that　they　wearied　themselves　to　find　the
door。〃　Had　they　not　been　visited　with　double　blindness；　being　given　up　to
hardness　of　heart；　the　stroke　of　God　upon　them　would　have　caused　them　to
fear；　and　to　desist　from　their　evil　work。　That　last　night　was　marked　by　no
greater　sins　than　many　others　before　it；　but　mercy；　so　long　slighted；　had　at
last　ceased　its　pleading。　The　inhabitants　of　Sodom　had　passed　the　limits　of
divine　forbearance〃the　hidden　boundary　between　God's　patience　and　His
wrath。〃　The　fires　of　His　vengeance　were　about　to　be　kindled　in　the　vale　of
Siddim。

The　angels　revealed　to　Lot　the　object　of　their　mission：　〃We　will　destroy
this　place；　because　the　cry　of　them　is　waxen　great　before　the　face　of　the
Lord；　and　the　Lord　hath　sent　us　to　destroy

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it。〃　The　strangers　whom　Lot　had　endeavored　to　protect；　now　promised　to
protect　him；　and　to　save　also　all　the　members　of　his　family　who　would　flee
with　him　from　the　wicked　city。　The　mob　had　wearied　themselves　out　and
departed；　and　Lot　went　out　to　warn　his　children。　He　repeated　the　words　of
the　angels；　〃Up；　get　you　out　of　this　place；　for　the　Lord　will　destroy　this
city。〃　But　he　seemed　to　them　as　one　that　mocked。　They　laughed　at　what　they
called　his　superstitious　fears。　His　daughters　were　influenced　by　their
husbands。　They　were　well　enough　off　where　they　were。　They　could　see　no
evidence　of　danger。　Everything　was　just　as　it　had　been。　They　had　great
possessions；　and　they　could　not　believe　it　possible　that　beautiful　Sodom
would　be　destroyed。

Lot　returned　sorrowfully　to　his　home　and　told　the　story　of　his　failure。　Then
the　angels　bade　him　arise　and　take　his　wife　and　the　two　daughters　who　were
yet　in　his　house　and　leave　the　city。　But　Lot　delayed。　Though　daily
distressed　at　beholding　deeds　of　violence；　he　had　no　true　conception　of　the
debasing　and　abominable　iniquity　practiced　in　that　vile　city。　He　did　not
realize　the　terrible　necessity　for　God's　judgments　to　put　a　check　on　sin。
Some　of　his　children　clung　to　Sodom；　and　his　wife　refused　to　depart　without
them。　The　thought　of　leaving　those　whom　he　held　dearest　on　earth　seemed　more
than　he　could　bear。　It　was　hard　to　forsake　his　luxurious　home　and　all　the
wealth　acquired　by　the　labors　of　his　whole　life；　to　go　forth　a　destitute
wanderer。　Stupefied　with　sorrow；　he　lingered；　loath　to　depart。　But　for　the
angels　of　God；　they　would　all　have　perished　in　the　ruin　of　Sodom。　The
heavenly　messengers　took　him　and　his　wife　and　daughters　by　the　hand　and　led
them　out　of　the　city。

Here　the　angels　left　them；　and　turned　back　to　Sodom　to　accomplish　their　work
of　destruction。　AnotherHe　with　whom　Abraham　had　pleadeddrew　near　to　Lot。
In　all　the　cities　of　the　plain；　even　ten　righteous　persons　had　not　been
found；　but　in　answer　to　the　patriarch's　prayer；　the　one　man　who　feared　God
was　snatched　from　destruction。　The　command　was　given　with　startling
vehemence：　〃Escape　for　thy　life；　look　not　behind　thee；　neither　stay　thou　in
all　the　plain；　escape　to　the　mountain；　lest　thou　be　consumed。〃　Hesitancy　or
delay　now　would　be　fatal。　To　cast　one　lingering　look　upon　the　devoted　city；
to　tarry　for　one　moment　from　regret　to　leave　so　beautiful　a　home；　would　have

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cost　their　life。　The　storm　of　divine　judgment　was　only　waiting　that　these
poor　fugitives　might　make　their　escape。

But　Lot；　confused　and　terrified；　pleaded　that　he　could　not　do　as　he　was
required　lest　some　evil　should　overtake　him　and　he　should　die。　Living　in
that　wicked　city；　in　the　midst　of　unbelief；　his　faith　had　grown　dim。　The
Prince　of　heaven　was　by　his　side；　yet　he　pleaded　for　his　own　life　as　though
God；　who　had　manifested　such　care　and　love　for　him；　would　not　still　preserve
him。　He　should　have　trusted　himself　wholly　to　the　divine　Messenger；　giving
his　will　and　his　life　into　the　Lord's　hands　without　a　doubt　or　a　question。
But　like　so　many　others；　he　endeavored　to　plan　for　himself：　〃Behold　now；
this　city　is　near　to　flee　unto；　and　it　is　a　little　one：　O；　let　me　escape
thither；　（is　it　not　a　little　one？）　and　my　soul　shall　live。〃　The　city　here
mentioned　was　Bela；　afterward　called　Zoar。　It　was　but　a　few　miles　from
Sodom；　and；　like　it；　was　corrupt　and　doomed　to　destruction。　But　Lot　asked
that　it　might　be　spared；　urging　that　this　was　but　a　small　request；　and　his
desire　was　granted。　The　Lord　assured　him；　〃I　have　accepted　thee　concerning
this　thing　also；　that　I　will　not　overthrow　this　city；　for　the　which　thou
hast　spoken。〃　Oh；　how　great　the　mercy　of　God　toward　His　erring　creatures！

Again　the　solemn　command　was　given　to　hasten；　for　the　fiery　storm　would　be
delayed　but　little　longer。　But　one　of　the　fugitives　ventured　to　cast　a　look
backward　to　the　doomed　city；　and　she　became　a　monument　of　God's　judgment。　If
Lot　himself　had　manifested　no　hesitancy　to　obey　the　angels'　warning；　but　had
earnestly　fled　toward　the　mountains；　without　one　word　of　pleading　or
remonstrance；　his　wife　also　would　have　made　her　escape。　The　influence　of　his
example　would　have　saved　her　from　the　sin　that　sealed　her　doom。　But　his
hesitancy　and　delay　caused　her　to　lightly　regard　the　divine　warning。　While
her　body　was　upon　the　plain；　her　heart　clung　to　Sodom；　and　she　perished　with
it。　She　rebelled　against　God　because　His　judgments　involved　her　possessions
and　her　children　in　the　ruin。　Although　so　greatly　favored　in　being　called
out　from　the　wicked　city；　she　felt　that　she　was　severely　dealt　with；　because
the　wealth　that　it　had　taken　years　to　accumulate　must　be　left　to
destruction。　Instead　of　thankfully　accepting　deliverance；　she　presumptuously
looked　back　to　desire　the　life　of　those　who　had　rejected　the　divine　warning。
Her　sin　showed　her

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to　be　unworthy　of　life；　for　the　preservation　of　which　she　felt　so　little
gratitude。

We　should　beware　of　treating　lightly　God's　gracious　provisions　for　our
salvation。　There　are　Christians　who　say；　〃I　do　not　care　to　be　saved　unless
my　companion　and　children　are　saved　with　me。〃　They　feel　that　heaven　would
not　be　heaven　to　them　without　the　presence　of　those　who　are　so　dear。　But
have　those　who　cherish　this　feeling　a　right　conception　of　their　own　relation
to　God；　in　view　of　His　great　goodness　and　mercy　toward　them？　Have　they
forgotten　that　they　are　bound　by　the　strongest　ties　of　love　and　honor　and
loyalty　to　the　service　of　their　Creator　and　Redeemer？　The　invitations　of
mercy　are　addressed　to　all；　and　becau