ry,

Whilst Lot resided in Sodom, the first war of which we have any account in histotook place between Chedorlaomer with his allies, and the kings of the plain. In an engagement which they had with each other, in the vale of Siddim, the latter were defeated by the former, and Sodom and Gomorrah taken, with their inhabitants, goods, and victuals. In the captivity Lot was included, as well as his goods and family. Thus, in a moment, by an unforeseen event, he was stripped of his possessions, and dragged a prisoner towards a foreign land. How sadly was his worldly spirit here rebuked! his love of gain disappointed! He did not, however, remain long in bondage. He was rescued by Abraham, who, hearing the misfortunes of his nephew, pursued Chedorlaomer and his allies, "unto Dan,"-" and "smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, " and also brought again his brother Lot, "and his goods, and the women also, and "the people."

e Gen. xiv. 14, 15, 16.

Here Providence opened a door for Lot's return to the neighbourhood of Abraham. God had, in the capture of Sodom, bid Lot "behold his idol," and had punished him with the loss of that which had caused his settlement there. But he was not yet sufficiently taught. He was not yet cured of his besetting sin. The lovely and fertile fields of the plain of Jordan still presented a temptation too strong for resistance. Besides this, he had now formed connexions and acquaintances in that place, towards whom the cords of attachment strongly drew him. To his companions, his fellow-citizens, he returned, to be once more vexed with their filthy conversation and unlawful deeds.

Amidst his temptations, the Lord in mercy supported him from eventually backsliding and perishing, though he visited his transgression with the rod, and his iniquity with stripes. Thus it is that God acts towards his people, permitting their errors, that he may display his perfections. Lot, in Sodom, through grace, exhibited a noble spectacle of singularity. Though in it, he was not of it. The love of gain separated

him, indeed, from the family of Abraham, but not from the favour of God His religious principles were indeed weakened, but not destroyed. Had he lived in a moral place, he would have been scarcely discriminated from the crowd; but in Sodom he was pre-eminent in morality and holiness.

Such was the wickedness of this place, that its punishment could not long be delayed. The measure of its iniquity was full, and its destruction fast hastening. Had there been but ten righteous persons in it, it would have been spared: but these could not be found, even with Lot's family included. The probability is, that Lot himself was the only individual of this description. How awful the fact, that, in such a large and populous city, such universal profligacy prevailed! Old and young, rich and poor, honourable and vulgar, parents and children, male and female, all had corrupted their way!

When the time of its desolation was come, Abraham was notified of it first; and, on his account, it appears, Lot was saved; for

the sacred historian says,

"It came to pass,

"when God destroyed the cities of the plain, "that God remembered Abraham, and sent "Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, "when he overthrew the cities in which Lot "dwelt."

Lot was sitting in the gate of the city at even, when two angels came to "So"dom: and Lot seeing them rose up to "meet them; and he bowed himself with his "face towards the ground; and he said, "Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray

you, into your servant's house, and tarry "all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall "rise up early, and go on your ways. And "they said, Nay; but we will abide in the "street all night. And he pressed upon them

greatly; and they turned in unto him, and

66 entered into his house; and he made them

a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, " and they did eat." In this manner Lot displayed a suitable attention to strangers. Wicked example and the love of gain had not destroyed his hospitality. His doors were open to the traveller, who was fed from his full table. From this part of his conduct, it

g Gen. xix. 29.

h Gen. xix. 1-3,

seems that he did not accumulate wealth, like a miser, for its own sake; but to live well himself, and to have wherewith to entertain others handsomely. The strangers who were lodged in his house soon perceived they were in Sodom, from the manner in which they were treated by the inhabitants. Lot endeavoured to ward off their violence towards his guests, by an offer which, whilst it evinced his sacred regard to the rights of hospitality, discovered a most lamentable defection in his duty as a parent, and a follower of the true God'. Had his offer been accepted, the sin consequent would have been his. Had their violence succeeded, the sin would have been theirs. We have no right to prevent one crime, by the commission of another. God, however, interposed, and struck the licentious Sodomites with blindness, so that they could not find the door. The angels communicated their message; a message full of terror. Sodom is to be destroyed, and that in an awful manner; but Lot must first be out of it. "Hast thou here

any besides?" say the men unto Lot," son

in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters,

i Gen. xix. 8.

k Gen. xix. 11.