found fifty righteous persons in Sodom? What was to be spared? How much of the place was to be spared? For what was God to spare all the place?

27. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now I have (1) taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but (2) dust and ashes:

1. Presumed.-2. Of the humblest and lowest of God's rational crea

tures. 1

27. Who answered? What did Abraham say? What had Abraham taken upon him to do? To speak to whom? Who had done this? What did Abraham say he was? Who was but dust and ashes?

28. (1) Peradventure there shall (2) lack five of the fifty (3) righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for (4) lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five I will not destroy it.

1. It may happen that.-2. Be a want of.-3. Good people. 4. The

want.

there might lack?
God if he would do,
Would he destroy
For the lack of
On what

28. What did Abraham say Five of what? What did he ask if there lacked five of the fifty? what? How much of the city? what? What did God say he would do? condition would he not destroy it? Destroy what?

29. And (1) he spake unto (2) him yet (3) again, and said, (4) Peradventure there shall be forty found (5) there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.

1. Abraham.-2. The Lord.-3. Once more.-4. It may happen that. -5. In the city.

29. Who spake yet again? Unto whom did he speak? What did Abraham say when he spoke yet again? How many did he say there might perhaps be found? Forty where? What did God say he would do? For whose sake would he not destroy it? What would God not do for forty's sake?

30. And (1) he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be (2) angry, and I will speak: (3) Peradventure there shall thirty be fourd there. And he said, I will not (4) do it if I find thirty there.

1. Abraham.-2. Displeased with me.-3. It may happen that.-4. Destroy the city.

30. Who was not to be angry? Let not the Lord be what? What was Abraham to do if the Lord would not be angry? Who was to speak? How many did be say there might perhaps be? What was to happen

if thirty were found there? What was God not to do?

31. And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: (1) Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And (2) he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake. 1. It may happen that.-2. God.

taken upon him to do? How many did he now say What was to happen for

31. What had Abraham To speak unto whom? there might be found there? twenty's sake?

32. And (1) he said, O let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak (2) yet but this once (3) Peradventure ten shall be found there. And (4) he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.

1. Abraham.-2. Only.-3. It may happen that.-4. God,

32. What did Abraham ask God not to be? What was Abraham to do if God would not be angry? What was he to do but once? How many did he now say there might perhaps be found there? What was to happen for ten's sake?

33. And the Lord (1) went his way, (2) as soon as he had left (3) communing with Abraham: and Abraham (4) returned unto his (5) place.

1. Left the place.-2. After.-3. Speaking.-4. Went back again.-5. Dwelling, or tent.

33. Who went his way? What did the Lord do? When did the Lord go away? With whom had he left communing? Who left communing with Abraham? What did the Lord do when he had left communing with Abraham? What did Abraham do when the Lord went away? Who returned? Whither did he return?

LESSONS.

447. The Lord was not to hide his designs from Abraham, ver. 17.-We should not conceal that which would do good by being made known.

448. All nations were to be blessed in Abraham, ver. 18.-We should be godly and upright for the sake of our friends and others, as well as of ourselves.

449. Abraham would command his children and

household after him, ver. 19.-Parents should train, advise, persuade, and command their children and dependants to walk in the ways of the Lord.

450. Abraham's household would keep the way of the Lord, and do justice and judgment, ver. 19.-Persuasion and a good example from superiors, will do much for promoting piety and godliness in inferiors.

451. Abraham's children, keeping the way of the Lord, were to bring upon Abraham the promised blessing from God, ver. 19.-The godliness, active virtue, and prayers of pious children, will always tend to the happiness and spiritual prosperity of parents.

452. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was great and grievous, ver. 20.-Sin is a crying evil, and cannot be concealed from God.

453. God was to examine into the case of Sodom, ver. 21.-We should always be impartial and cautious in judging of evidence, and never, in any case, condemn without it.

454. When the others were gone, Abraham yet lingered in the presence of the Lord, ver. 22.-We should very anxiously and diligently improve every favourable opportunity of holding fellowship and communion with God.

455. Abraham drew near to supplicate for Sodom, ver. 23. We should humbly, but earnestly, plead with God for mercy and pardon to the wicked and ungodly.

456. Abraham humbly argued with God as to the justice of destroying Sodom, ver. 24, 25.-God permits and enjoins his people to plead with him, and to use arguments for the answering of their prayers.

457. The Judge of all the earth will do right, ver. 25.-We are admiringly to notice, and humbly to acquiesce, in all the mysterious dealings of God with his people, without calling in question his justice or his goodness.

458. God heard and answered Abraham's prayer

for Sodom, ver. 26.-God hears, loves, and will answer the prayers and supplications of his people in behalf of others.

459. Abraham acknowledged himself but dust and ashes, ver. 27.-We should, in every approach unto God, feel and acknowledge our own utter unworthi

ness.

460. The ready answer given by God to Abraham's first prayer made him offer a second, ver. 28.-We should make the very number and value of God's continued favours, a reason for new petitions, and more extensive requests.

461. Abraham spake yet again to God, ver. 29.We are steadily to peisevere in our supplications, when we know that our requests are not hurtful to ourselves or displeasing to God.

462. Abraham requested God not to be angry, and he would speak, ver. 30.-We are, in prayer, to urge our requests with profound humility, and with supplications for pardon if we ask amiss.

463. Abraham requested that God would not be angry, and he would speak but this once, ver. 32.We are never unnecessarily to limit our own desires for spiritual good or sparing mercy, or to measure God's merciful condescension in hearing our prayers, by our own weakness and imperfection in presenting them. While he continues to approve of our requests, and to magnify his mercy and his goodness in granting them, we must neither be afraid nor faint in asking, and far less ever presume, at any time, to set a bound to the infinite fulness of his liberality.

464. God promised to spare Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of ten good men, if they could be found in the cities, ver. 32.-Good and pious men are the best friends and benefactors of their country. They who despise, and mock, and persecute them, are preserved and favoured by God for their sakes.

465. The Lord did not go his way till Abraham

left off communing with him, ver. 33.-Though we often weary in asking from God, he is never weary in hearing or answering us..

466. Abraham returned to his place, ver. 33.—We should give attention and attendance to every part of our duty, secular as well as religious, and private as well as public.

SECTION XXVIII.

Lót Entertains Two Angels.-Gen. xix. 1-14.

1. And there came two angels to Sodom at (1) even; and Lot sat in the (2) gate of Sodom and Lot, (3) seeing them, rose up to meet them; and he (4) bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

1. The close of the day.-2. Covered place, where the entrance to the city was.-3. When he saw.-4. Respectfully bent his body.

1. What came to Sodom? How many angels? To what place did they come? At what time did they come? Where did Lot sit? Who sat in the gate? In what gate did Lot sit? Whom did Lot see? What did Lot do when he saw the angels? Who rose up? Why did Lot rise up? To meet whom? What did Lot do when he met them? How did he bow himself?

2. And he said, Behold now, my lords, (1) turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and (2) tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up (3) early, and go on your (4) ways. And they said, Nay; but we will (5) abide in the street all night.

1. Delay your journey, and come.-2. Remain.-3. Soon in the morning.-4. Journey.-5. Remain.

2. What did Lot say to the angels? What did Lot call them? Where were they to turn in? Into whose house? What were they to do in Lot's house? How long were they to tarry? What were they to wash? What were they to do in the morning? Where were they to go? What did the angels say to Lot? Where would they abide? When would they abide in the street? Who would abide in the street all night?

3. And he (1) pressed upon them (2) greatly; and they (3) turned in unto (4) him, and (5) entered into his house; and he made them a (6) feast, and did bake (7) unleavened bread, and (8) they did eat.