莱尔主教holiness-第63章
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does not bid us remember Abraham； or Isaac； or Jacob； or Sarah； or
Hannah； or Ruth。 No： He singles out one whose soul was lost for ever。
He cries to us； 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
It is a solemn warning； when we consider the subject Jesus is upon。 He
is speaking of His own second ing to judge the world： He is
describing the awful state of unreadiness in which many will be found。
The last days are on His mind； when He says； 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
It is a solemn warning； when we think of the person who gives it。 The
Lord Jesus is full of love； mercy； and passion： He is one who will
not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax。 He could weep
over unbelieving Jerusalem； and pray for the men that crucified Him；
yet even He thinks it good to remind us of lost souls。 Even He says；
〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
It is a solemn warning； when we think of the persons to whom it was
first given。 The Lord Jesus was speaking to His disciples： He was not
addressing the scribes and Pharisees； who hated Him； but Peter； James；
and John； and many others who loved Him； yet even to them He thinks it
good to address a caution。 Even to them He says； 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
It is a solemn warning； when we consider the manner in which it was
given。 He does not merely say； 〃Beware of followingtake heed of
imitatingdo not be like Lot's wife。〃 He uses a different word： He
says； 〃Remember。〃 He speaks as if we were all in danger of forgetting
the subject； He stirs up our lazy memories； He bids us keep the case
before our minds。 He cries； 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
I propose to examine the lessons which Lot's wife is meant to teach us。
I am sure that her history is full of useful instruction to the Church。
The last days are upon us； the second ing of the Lord Jesus draws
nigh； the danger of worldliness is yearly increasing in the Church。 Let
us be provided with safeguards and antidotes against the disease that
is around us； and； not least； let us bee familiar with the story of
Lot's wife。
There are three things which I shall do； in order to bring the subject
before our minds in order。
I。 I will speak of the religious privileges which Lot's wife enjoyed。
II。 I will speak of the sin which Lot's wife mitted。
III。 I will speak of the judgment which God inflicted upon her。
I。 I will first speak of the religious privileges which Lot's wife
enjoyed。
In the days of Abraham and Lot； true saving religion was scarce upon
earth： there were no Bibles； no ministers； no churches； no tracts； no
missionaries。 The knowledge of God was confined to a few favoured
families； the greater part of the inhabitants of the world were living
in darkness； ignorance； superstition； and sin。 Not one in a hundred
perhaps had such good example； such spiritual society； such clear
knowledge； such plain warnings as Lot's wife。 pared with millions of
her fellow…creatures in her time； Lot's wife was a favoured woman。
She had a godly man for her husband： she had Abraham； the father of the
faithful； for her uncle by marriage。 The faith； the knowledge； and the
prayers of these two righteous men could have been no secret to her。 It
is impossible that she could have dwelt in tents with them for any
length of time； without knowing whose they were and whom they served。
Religion with them was no mere formal business； it was the ruling
principle of their lives and the mainspring of all their actions。 All
this Lot's wife must have seen and known。 This was no small privilege。
When Abraham first received the promises； it is probable Lot's wife was
there。 When he built his altar by his tent between Hai and Bethel； it
is probable she was there。 When her husband was taken captive by
Chedorlaomer； and delivered by God's interference； she was there。 When
Melchizedek； king of Salem； came forth to meet Abraham with bread and
wine； she was there。 When the angels came to Sodom and warned her
husband to flee； she saw them； when they took them by the hand and led
them out of the city； she was one of those whom they helped to escape。
Once more； I say； these were no small privileges。
Yet what good effect had all these privileges on the heart of Lot's
wife？ None at all。 Notwithstanding all her opportunities and means of
gracenotwithstanding all her special warnings and messages from
heaven； she lived and died graceless； godless； impenitent； and
unbelieving。 The eyes of her understanding were never opened； her
conscience was never really aroused and quickened； her will was never
really brought into a state of obedience to God； her affections were
never really set upon things above。 The form of religion which she had
was kept up for fashion's sake and not from feeling： it was a cloak
worn for the sake of pleasing her pany； but not from any sense of
its value。 She did as others did around her in Lot's house： she
conformed to her husband's ways： she made no opposition to his
religion： she allowed herself to be passively towed along in his wake：
but all this time her heart was wrong in the sight of God。 The world
was in her heart； and her heart was in the world。 In this state she
lived； and in this state she died。
In all this there is much to be learned： I see a lesson here which is
of the deepest importance in the present day。 You live in times when
there are many persons just like Lot's wife： e and hear the lesson
which her case is meant to teach。
Learn； then； that the mere possession of religious privileges mil save
no one's soul。 You may have spiritual advantages of every description；
you may live in the full sunshine of the richest opportunities and
means of grace； you may enjoy the best of preaching and the choicest
instruction； you may dwell in the midst of light； knowledge； holiness；
and good pany。 All this may be； and yet you yourself may remain
unconverted； and at last be lost for ever。
I dare say this doctrine sounds hard to some readers。 I know that many
fancy they want nothing but religious privileges in order to bee
decided Christians。 They are not what they ought to be at present； they
allow； but their position is so hard； they plead； and their
difficulties are so many。 Give them a godly husband； or a godly
wifegive them godly panions； or a godly mastergive them the
preaching of the Gospelgive them privileges； and then they would walk
with God。
It is all a mistake。 It is an entire delusion。 It requires something
more than privileges to save souls。 Joab was David's captain； Gehazi
was Elisha's servant； Demas was Paul's panion； Judas Iscariot was
Christ's disciple； and Lot had a worldly； unbelieving wife。 These all
died in their sins。 They went down to the pit in spite of knowledge；
warnings； and opportunities； and they all teach us that it is not
privileges alone that men need。 They need the grace of the Holy Ghost。
Let us value religious privileges； but let us not rest entirely upon
them。 Let us desire to have the benefit of them in all our movements in
life； but let us not put them in the place of Christ。 Let us use them
thankfully； if God grants them to us； but* let us take care that they
produce some fruit in our heart and life。 If they do not do good； they
often do positive harm： they sear the conscience； they increase
responsibility； they aggravate condemnation。 The same fire which melts
the wax hardens the clay； the same sun which makes the living tree
grow； dries up the dead tree； and prepares it for burning。 Nothing so
hardens the heart of man as a barren familiarity with sacred things。
Once more I say； it is not privileges alone which make people
Christians； but the grace of the Holy Ghost。 Without that no man will
ever be saved。
I ask the members of Evangelical congregations； in the present day； to
mark well what I am saying。 You go to Mr。 A's； or Mr。 B's church： you
think him an excellent preacher； you
