莱尔主教holiness-第64章
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mark well what I am saying。 You go to Mr。 A's； or Mr。 B's church： you
think him an excellent preacher； you delight in his sermons； you cannot
hear anyone else with the same fort； you have learned many things
since you attended his ministry； you consider it a great privilege to
be one of his hearers！ All this is very good。 It is a privilege。 I
should be thankful if ministers like yours were multiplied a
thousandfold。 But after all； what have you got in your heart？ Have you
yet received the Holy Ghost？ If not； you are no better than Lot's wife。
I ask the servants of religious families to mark well what I am saying。
It is a great privilege to live in a house where the fear of God
reigns。 It is a privilege to hear family prayers morning and evening；
to hear the Word of God regularly expounded； to have a quiet Sunday；
and to be able always to go to church。 These are the things that you
ought to seek after when you try to get a situation； these are the
things which make a really good place。 High wages and light work will
never make up for a constant round of worldliness； Sabbath…breaking；
and sin。 But take heed that you do not rest content with these things：
do not suppose because you have all these spiritual advantages； that
you will of course go to heaven。 You must have grace in your own heart；
as well as attend family prayers。 If not； you are at present no better
than Lot's wife。
I ask the children of religious parents to mark well what I am saying。
It is the highest privilege to be the child of a godly father and
mother； and to be brought up in the midst of many prayers。 It is a
blessed thing indeed to be taught the Gospel from our earliest infancy；
and to hear of sin； and Jesus； and the Holy Spirit； and holiness； and
heaven； from the first moment we can remember anything。 But； oh； take
heed that you do not remain barren and unfruitful in the sunshine of
all these privileges： beware lest your heart remains hard； impenitent
and worldly； notwithstanding the many advantages you enjoy。 You cannot
enter the kingdom of God on the credit of your parents' religion。 You
must eat the bread of life for yourself； and have the witness of the
Spirit in your own heart。 You must have repentance of your own； faith
of your own； and sanctification of your own。 If not； you are no better
than Lot's wife。
I pray God that all professing Christians； in these days； may lay these
things to heart。 May we never forget that privileges alone cannot save
us。 Light and knowledge； and faithful preaching； and abundant means of
grace； and the pany of holy people are all great blessings and
advantages。 Happy are they that have them！ But； after all； there is one
thing without which privileges are useless： that one thing is the grace
of the Holy Ghost。 Lot's wife had many privileges： but Lot's wife had
no grace。
II。 I will next speak of the sin which Lot's wife mitted。
The history of her sin is given by the Holy Ghost in few and simple
words〃She looked back from behind her husband； and she became a
pillar of salt。〃 We are told no more than this。 There is a naked
solemnity about the history。 The sum and substance of her transgression
lies in these three words； 〃She looked back。〃
Does that sin seem small in the eyes of any reader of this paper？ Does
the fault of Lot's wife appear a trifling one to be visited with such a
punishment？ This is the feeling； I dare say； that rises in some hearts。
Give your attention while I reason with you on the subject。 There was
far more in that look than strikes you at first sight： it implied far
more than it expressed。 Listen； and you shall hear。
（a） That look was a little thing； but revealed the true character of
Lot's wife。 Little things will often show the state of a man's mind
even better than great ones； and little symptoms are often the signs of
deadly and incurable diseases。 The apple that Eve ate was a little
thing； but it proved that she had fallen from innocence and bee a
sinner。 A crack in an arch seems a little thing； but it proves that the
foundation is giving way； and the whole fabric is unsafe。 A little
cough in a morning seems an unimportant ailment； but it is often an
evidence of failing in the constitution； and leads on to decline；
consumption； and death。 A straw may show which way the wind blows； and
one look may show the rotten condition of a sinner's heart。 （Matt。 v。
28。）
（b） That look was a little thing； but it told of disobedience in Lot's
wife。 The mand of the angel was strait and unmistakable： 〃Look not
behind thee。〃 （Gen。 xix。 17。） This mand Lot's wife refused to obey。
But the Holy Ghost says； that 〃to obey is better than sacrifice；〃 and
that 〃rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft。〃 （1 Sam。 xv。 22； 23。） When
God speaks plainly by His Word； or by His messengers； man's duty is
clear。
（c） That look was a little thing； but it told of proud unbelief in
Lot's wife。 She seemed to doubt whether God was really going to destroy
Sodom： she appeared not to believe there was any danger； or any need
for such hasty flight。 But without faith it is impossible to please
God。 （Heb。 xi。 6。） The moment a man begins to think he knows better
than God； and that God does not mean anything when He threatens； his
soul is in great danger。 When we cannot see the reason of God's
dealings； our duty is to hold our peace and believe。
（d） That look was a little thing； but it told of secret love of the
world in Lot's wife。 Her heart was in Sodom； though her body was
outside。 She had left her affections behind when she fled from her
home。 Her eye turned to the place where her treasure was； as the
pass…needle turns to the pole。 And this was the crowning point of
her sin。 〃The friendship of the world is enmity with God。〃 （James iv。
4。） 〃If any man love the world； the love of the Father is not in him。〃
（1 John ii。 15。）
I ask the special attention of my readers to this part of our subject。
I believe it to be the part to which the Lord Jesus particularly
intends to direct our minds。 I believe He would have us observe that
Lot's wife was lost by looking back to the world。 Her profession was at
one time fair and specious； but she never really gave up the world。 She
seemed at one time in the road to safety； but even then the lowest and
deepest thoughts of her heart were for the world。 The immense danger of
worldliness is the grand lesson which the Lord Jesus means us to learn。
Oh； that we may all have an eye to see and a heart to understand！
I believe there never was a time when warnings against worldliness were
so much needed by the Church of Christ as they are at the present day。
Every age is said to have its own peculiar epidemic disease： the
epidemic disease to which the souls of Christians are liable just now
is the love of the world。 It is a pestilence that walketh in darkness；
and a sickness that destroyeth at noonday。 It 〃hath cast down many
wounded； yea； many strong men have been wounded by it。〃 I would fain
raise a warning voice； and try to arouse the slumbering consciences of
all who make a profession of religion。 I would fain cry aloud；
〃Remember the sin of Lot's wife。〃 She was no murderess； no adulteress；
no thiefbut she was a professor of religion； and she looked back。
There are thousands of baptized persons in our churches who are proof
against immorality and infidelity； and yet fall victims to the love of
the world。 There are thousands who run well for a season； and seem to
bid fair to reach heaven； but by and by give up the race； and turn
their backs on Christ altogether。 And what has stopped them？ Have they
found the Bible not true？ Have they found the Lord Jesus fail to keep
His word？ No： not at all。 But they have caught the epidemic disease：
they are infected with the love of this world。 I appeal to every
true…hearted Evangelical minister who reads t
