莱尔主教holiness-第61章
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in his prosperity： 〃I shall never be moved。〃 （Psalm xxx。 6。） But be not
deceived。 You have only got to walk in Lot's steps and make Lot's
choice； and you will soon e to Lot's state of soul。 Allow yourself
to do as he did； presume to act as he acted； and be very sure you will
soon discover you have bee a wretched 〃lingerer〃 like him。 You will
find； like Samson； the presence of the Lord is no longer with you。 You
will prove； to your own shame； an undecided； hesitating man； in the day
of trial。 There will e a canker on your religion； and eat out its
vitality without your knowing it。 There will e a slow consumption on
your spiritual strength； and waste it away insensibly。 And at length
you will wake up to find your hands hardly able to do the Lord's work；
and your feet hardly able to carry you along the Lord's way； and your
faith no bigger than a grain of mustard seed； and this； perhaps； at
some turning point in your life； at a time when the enemy is ing in
like a flood； and your need is the sorest。
Ah； if you would not bee a lingerer in religion； consider these
things！ Beware of doing what Lot did！
IV。 Let us inquire now what kind of fruit Lot's lingering spirit bore
at last。
I would not pass over this point for many reasons； and especially in
the present day。 There are not a few who will feel disposed to say；
〃After all； Lot was saved： he was justifiedhe got to heaven。 I want
no more。 If I do but get to heaven； I shall be content。〃 If this be the
thought of your heart； just stay a moment； and listen to me a little
longer。 I will show you one or two things in Lot's history which
deserve attention； and may perhaps induce you to alter your mind。
I think it of first importance to dwell upon this subject。 I always
will contend that eminent holiness and eminent usefulness are most
closely connectedthat happiness and 〃following the Lord fully〃 go
side by sideand that if believers will linger； they must not expect
to be useful in their day and generation； or to be very saintly and
Christlike； or to enjoy great fort and peace in believing；
（a） Let us mark； then； for one thing； that Lot did no good among the
inhabitants of Sodom。
Lot probably lived in Sodom many years。 No doubt he had many precious
opportunities for speaking of the things of God； and trying to turn
away souls from sin。 But Lot seems to have effected just nothing at
all。 He appears to have had no weight or influence with the people who
lived around him。 He possessed none of that respect and reverence which
even the men of the world will frequently concede to a bright servant
of God。
Not one righteous person could be found in all Sodom； outside the walls
of Lot's home。 Not one of his neighbours believed his testimony。 Not
one of his acquaintances honoured the Lord whom he worshipped。 Not one
of his servants served his master's God。 Not one of 〃all the people
from every quarter〃 cared a jot for his opinion when he tried to
restrain their wickedness。 〃This one fellow came in to sojourn；〃 said
they； 〃and he will needs be a judge。〃 （Gen。 xix。 9。） His life carried
no weight； his words were not listened to； his religion drew none to
follow him。
And； truly； I do not wonder！ As a general rule； lingering souls do no
good to the world and bring no credit to God's cause。 Their salt has
too little savour to season the corruption around them。 They are not
〃Epistles of Christ〃 who can be 〃known and read of all。〃 （2 Cor。 iii。
2。） There is nothing magnetic； and attractive； and Christ…reflecting
about their ways。 Let us remember this。
（b） Let us mark； for another thing； that Lot helped none of his family；
relatives^ or connections towards heaven。
We are not told how large his family was。 But this we knowhe had a
wife and two daughters at least； in the day he was called out of Sodom；
if he had not more children besides。
But whether Lot's family was large or small； one thing； I think； is
perfectly clearthere was not one among them all that feared God！
When he 〃went out and spake to his sons…in…law； which married his
daughters；〃 and warned them to flee from the judgments ing on Sodom；
we are told； 〃he seemed to them as one that mocked。〃 （Gen。 xix。 14。）
What fearful words those are！ It was as good as saying； 〃Who cares for
anything you say？〃 So long as the world stands； those things will be a
painful proof of the contempt with which a 〃lingerer〃 in religion is
regarded。
And what was Lot's wife？ She left the city in his pany； but she did
not go far。 She had not faith to see the need of such a speedy flight。
She left her heart in Sodom when she began to flee。 She looked back
from behind her husband； in spite of the plainest〃 mand not to do so
（Gen。 xix。 17）； and was at once turned into a pillar of salt。
And what were Lot's two daughters？ They escaped； indeed； but only to do
the devil's work。 They became their father's tempters to wickedness；
and led him to mit the foulest of sins。
In short； Lot seems to have stood alone in his family！ He was not made
the means of keeping one soul back from the gates of hell！
And I do not wonder。 Lingering souls are seen through by their own
families； and； when seen through； they are despised。 Their nearest
relatives understand inconsistency； if they understand nothing else in
religion。 They draw the sad； but not unnatural； conclusion； 〃Surely； if
he believed all he professes to believe； he would not go on as he
does。〃 Lingering parents seldom have godly children。 The eye of the
child drinks in far more than the ear。 A child will always observe what
you do much more than what you say。 Let us remember this。
（c） Let us mark； for a third thing； that Lot left no evidences Mind him
when he died。
We know but little about Lot after his flight from Sodom； and all that
we do know is unsatisfactory。
His pleading for Zoar； because it was 〃a little one；〃his departure
from Zoar afterwardsand his conduct in the caveall； all tell the
same story。 All show the weakness of the grace that was in him； and how
low the state of soul into which he had fallen。
We know not how long he lived after his escape。 We know not where he
died； or when he diedwhether he saw Abraham againwhat was the
manner of his deathwhat he said or what he thought。 All these are
hidden things。 We are told of the last days of Abraham； Isaac； Jacob；
Joseph； Davidbut not one word about Lot。 Oh； what a gloomy deathbed
the deathbed of Lot must have been！
The Scripture appears to draw a veil around him on purpose。 There is a
painful silence about his latter end。 He seems to go out like an
expiring lamp； and to leave an ill…savour behind him。 And had we not
been specially told in the New Testament that Lot was 〃just〃 and
〃righteous；〃 I verily believe we should have doubted whether Lot was a
saved soul at all。
But I do not wonder at his sad end。 Lingering believers will generally
reap according as they have sown。 Their lingering often meets them when
their spirit is departing。 They have little peace at the last。 They
reach heaven； to be sure； but they reach it in poor plight； weary and
footsore； in weakness and tears； in darkness and storm。 They are saved；
but 〃saved so as by fire。〃 （1 Cor。 iii。 15。）
I ask every reader of this paper to consider the three things which I
have just mentioned。 Do not misunderstand my meaning。 It is amazing to
observe how readily people catch at the least excuse for
misunderstanding the things that concern their souls！
I do not tell you that believers who do not 〃linger〃 will； as a matter
of course； be great instruments of usefulness to the world。 Noah
preached one hundred and twenty years； and none believed him。 The Lord
Jesus was not esteemed by His own people； the Jews。
Nor yet do I tell you that believers who do not linger； will； as a
matter of course； be the me
