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patriarchs and prophets-µÚ34½Ú

С˵£º patriarchs and prophets ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

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can¡¡fall¡¡upon¡¡man£»¡¡for¡¡vice¡¡and¡¡crime¡¡follow¡¡in¡¡its¡¡train¡£¡¡It¡¡enfeebles¡¡the
mind£»¡¡perverts¡¡the¡¡understanding£»¡¡and¡¡debases¡¡the¡¡soul¡£¡¡Satan¡¡lies¡¡in
ambush£»¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡those¡¡who¡¡are

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unguarded£»¡¡whose¡¡leisure¡¡gives¡¡him¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡insinuate¡¡himself¡¡under
some¡¡attractive¡¡disguise¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡never¡¡more¡¡successful¡¡than¡¡when¡¡he¡¡comes¡¡to
men¡¡in¡¡their¡¡idle¡¡hours¡£

In¡¡Sodom¡¡there¡¡was¡¡mirth¡¡and¡¡revelry£»¡¡feasting¡¡and¡¡drunkenness¡£¡¡The¡¡vilest
and¡¡most¡¡brutal¡¡passions¡¡were¡¡unrestrained¡£¡¡The¡¡people¡¡openly¡¡defied¡¡God¡¡and
His¡¡law¡¡and¡¡delighted¡¡in¡¡deeds¡¡of¡¡violence¡£¡¡Though¡¡they¡¡had¡¡before¡¡them¡¡the
example¡¡of¡¡the¡¡antediluvian¡¡world£»¡¡and¡¡knew¡¡how¡¡the¡¡wrath¡¡of¡¡God¡¡had¡¡been
manifested¡¡in¡¡their¡¡destruction£»¡¡yet¡¡they¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡same¡¡course¡¡of
wickedness¡£

At¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡Lot's¡¡removal¡¡to¡¡Sodom£»¡¡corruption¡¡had¡¡not¡¡become¡¡universal£»
and¡¡God¡¡in¡¡His¡¡mercy¡¡permitted¡¡rays¡¡of¡¡light¡¡to¡¡shine¡¡amid¡¡the¡¡moral
darkness¡£¡¡When¡¡Abraham¡¡rescued¡¡the¡¡captives¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Elamites£»¡¡the¡¡attention
of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡was¡¡called¡¡to¡¡the¡¡true¡¡faith¡£¡¡Abraham¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡stranger¡¡to
the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Sodom£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡worship¡¡of¡¡the¡¡unseen¡¡God¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of
ridicule¡¡among¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡victory¡¡over¡¡greatly¡¡superior¡¡forces£»¡¡and¡¡his
magnanimous¡¡disposition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prisoners¡¡and¡¡spoil£»¡¡excited¡¡wonder¡¡and
admiration¡£¡¡While¡¡his¡¡skill¡¡and¡¡valor¡¡were¡¡extolled£»¡¡none¡¡could¡¡avoid¡¡the
conviction¡¡that¡¡a¡¡divine¡¡power¡¡had¡¡made¡¡him¡¡conqueror¡£¡¡And¡¡his¡¡noble¡¡and
unselfish¡¡spirit£»¡¡so¡¡foreign¡¡to¡¡the¡¡self¡­seeking¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡Sodom£»¡¡was
another¡¡evidence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡superiority¡¡of¡¡the¡¡religion¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡honored¡¡by
his¡¡courage¡¡and¡¡fidelity¡£

Melchizedek£»¡¡in¡¡bestowing¡¡the¡¡benediction¡¡upon¡¡Abraham£»¡¡had¡¡acknowledged
Jehovah¡¡as¡¡the¡¡source¡¡of¡¡his¡¡strength¡¡and¡¡the¡¡author¡¡of¡¡the¡¡victory£º
¡¨Blessed¡¡be¡¡Abram¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡high¡¡God£»¡¡possessor¡¡of¡¡heaven¡¡and¡¡earth£º¡¡and
blessed¡¡be¡¡the¡¡most¡¡high¡¡God£»¡¡which¡¡hath¡¡delivered¡¡thine¡¡enemies¡¡into¡¡thy
hand¡£¡¨¡¡Genesis¡¡14£º19£»¡¡20¡£¡¡God¡¡was¡¡speaking¡¡to¡¡that¡¡people¡¡by¡¡His¡¡providence£»
but¡¡the¡¡last¡¡ray¡¡of¡¡light¡¡was¡¡rejected¡¡as¡¡all¡¡before¡¡had¡¡been¡£

And¡¡now¡¡the¡¡last¡¡night¡¡of¡¡Sodom¡¡was¡¡approaching¡£¡¡Already¡¡the¡¡clouds¡¡of
vengeance¡¡cast¡¡their¡¡shadows¡¡over¡¡the¡¡devoted¡¡city¡£¡¡But¡¡men¡¡perceived¡¡it
not¡£¡¡While¡¡angels¡¡drew¡¡near¡¡on¡¡their¡¡mission¡¡of¡¡destruction£»¡¡men¡¡were
dreaming¡¡of¡¡prosperity¡¡and¡¡pleasure¡£¡¡The¡¡last¡¡days¡¡was¡¡like¡¡every¡¡other¡¡that
had¡¡come¡¡and¡¡gone¡£¡¡Evening¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡loveliness¡¡and¡¡security¡£¡¡A
landscape¡¡of¡¡unrivaled¡¡beauty¡¡was¡¡bathed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rays¡¡of¡¡the¡¡declining¡¡sun¡£
The¡¡coolness¡¡of¡¡eventide¡¡had¡¡called¡¡forth¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the

158

city£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡pleasure¡­seeking¡¡throngs¡¡were¡¡passing¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro£»¡¡intent¡¡upon
the¡¡enjoyment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hour¡£

In¡¡the¡¡twilight¡¡two¡¡strangers¡¡drew¡¡near¡¡to¡¡the¡¡city¡¡gate¡£¡¡They¡¡were
apparently¡¡travelers¡¡coming¡¡in¡¡to¡¡tarry¡¡for¡¡the¡¡night¡£¡¡None¡¡could¡¡discern¡¡in
those¡¡humble¡¡wayfarers¡¡the¡¡mighty¡¡heralds¡¡of¡¡divine¡¡judgment£»¡¡and¡¡little
dreamed¡¡the¡¡gay£»¡¡careless¡¡multitude¡¡that¡¡in¡¡their¡¡treatment¡¡of¡¡these
heavenly¡¡messengers¡¡that¡¡very¡¡night¡¡they¡¡would¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡climax¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guilt
which¡¡doomed¡¡their¡¡proud¡¡city¡£¡¡But¡¡there¡¡was¡¡one¡¡man¡¡who¡¡manifested¡¡kindly
attention¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡strangers¡¡and¡¡invited¡¡them¡¡to¡¡his¡¡home¡£¡¡Lot¡¡did¡¡not
know¡¡their¡¡true¡¡character£»¡¡but¡¡politeness¡¡and¡¡hospitality¡¡were¡¡habitual¡¡with
him£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡a¡¡part¡¡of¡¡his¡¡religion¡¡lessons¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡from¡¡the
example¡¡of¡¡Abraham¡£¡¡Had¡¡he¡¡not¡¡cultivated¡¡a¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡courtesy£»¡¡he¡¡might
have¡¡been¡¡left¡¡to¡¡perish¡¡with¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡Sodom¡£¡¡Many¡¡a¡¡household£»¡¡in
closing¡¡its¡¡doors¡¡against¡¡a¡¡stranger£»¡¡has¡¡shut¡¡out¡¡God's¡¡messenger£»¡¡who
would¡¡have¡¡brought¡¡blessing¡¡and¡¡hope¡¡and¡¡peace¡£

Every¡¡act¡¡of¡¡life£»¡¡however¡¡small£»¡¡has¡¡its¡¡bearing¡¡for¡¡good¡¡or¡¡for¡¡evil¡£
Faithfulness¡¡or¡¡neglect¡¡in¡¡what¡¡are¡¡apparently¡¡the¡¡smallest¡¡duties¡¡may¡¡open
the¡¡door¡¡for¡¡life's¡¡richest¡¡blessings¡¡or¡¡its¡¡greatest¡¡calamities¡£¡¡It¡¡is
little¡¡things¡¡that¡¡test¡¡the¡¡character¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡unpretending¡¡acts¡¡of¡¡daily
self¡­denial£»¡¡performed¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cheerful£»¡¡willing¡¡heart£»¡¡that¡¡God¡¡smiles¡¡upon¡£
We¡¡are¡¡not¡¡to¡¡live¡¡for¡¡self£»¡¡but¡¡for¡¡others¡£¡¡And¡¡it¡¡is¡¡only¡¡by
self¡­forgetfulness£»¡¡by¡¡cherishing¡¡a¡¡loving£»¡¡helpful¡¡spirit£»¡¡that¡¡we¡¡can¡¡make
our¡¡life¡¡a¡¡blessing¡£¡¡The¡¡little¡¡attentions£»¡¡the¡¡small£»¡¡simple¡¡courtesies£»¡¡go
far¡¡to¡¡make¡¡up¡¡the¡¡sum¡¡of¡¡life's¡¡happiness£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡neglect¡¡of¡¡these
constitutes¡¡no¡¡small¡¡share¡¡of¡¡human¡¡wretchedness¡£

Seeing¡¡the¡¡abuse¡¡to¡¡which¡¡strangers¡¡were¡¡exposed¡¡in¡¡Sodom£»¡¡Lot¡¡made¡¡it¡¡one
of¡¡his¡¡duties¡¡to¡¡guard¡¡them¡¡at¡¡their¡¡entrance£»¡¡by¡¡offering¡¡them
entertainment¡¡at¡¡his¡¡own¡¡house¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡sitting¡¡at¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡as¡¡the¡¡travelers
approached£»¡¡and¡¡upon¡¡observing¡¡them£»¡¡he¡¡rose¡¡from¡¡his¡¡place¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡them£»
and¡¡bowing¡¡courteously£»¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Behold¡¡now£»¡¡my¡¡lords£»¡¡turn¡¡in£»¡¡I¡¡pray¡¡you£»
into¡¡your¡¡servant's¡¡house£»¡¡and¡¡tarry¡¡all¡¡night¡£¡¨¡¡They¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡decline¡¡his
hospitality£»¡¡saying£»¡¡¡¨Nay£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡will¡¡abide¡¡in¡¡the¡¡street¡£¡¨¡¡Their¡¡object¡¡in
this¡¡answer¡¡was¡¡twofoldto¡¡test¡¡the¡¡sincerity¡¡of¡¡Lot¡¡and¡¡also¡¡to¡¡appear
ignorant¡¡of¡¡the¡¡character¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡of¡¡Sodom£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡supposed¡¡it¡¡safe
to¡¡remain¡¡in¡¡the¡¡street¡¡at¡¡night¡£¡¡Their¡¡answer

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡159

made¡¡Lot¡¡the¡¡more¡¡determined¡¡not¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mercy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rabble¡£
He¡¡pressed¡¡his¡¡invitation¡¡until¡¡they¡¡yielded£»¡¡and¡¡accompanied¡¡him¡¡to¡¡his
house¡£

He¡¡had¡¡hoped¡¡to¡¡conceal¡¡his¡¡intention¡¡from¡¡the¡¡idlers¡¡at¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡by
bringing¡¡the¡¡strangers¡¡to¡¡his¡¡home¡¡by¡¡a¡¡circuitous¡¡route£»¡¡but¡¡their
hesitation¡¡and¡¡delay£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡persistent¡¡urging£»¡¡caused¡¡them¡¡to¡¡be¡¡observed£»
and¡¡before¡¡they¡¡had¡¡retired¡¡for¡¡the¡¡night£»¡¡a¡¡lawless¡¡crowd¡¡gathered¡¡about
the¡¡house¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡an¡¡immense¡¡company£»¡¡youth¡¡and¡¡aged¡¡men¡¡alike¡¡inflamed¡¡by
the¡¡vilest¡¡passions¡£¡¡The¡¡strangers¡¡had¡¡been¡¡making¡¡inquiry¡¡in¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡the
character¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡and¡¡Lot¡¡had¡¡warned¡¡them¡¡not¡¡to¡¡venture¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his
door¡¡that¡¡night£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡hooting¡¡and¡¡jeers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mob¡¡were¡¡heard£»¡¡demanding
that¡¡the¡¡men¡¡be¡¡brought¡¡out¡¡to¡¡them¡£

Knowing¡¡that¡¡if¡¡provoked¡¡to¡¡violence¡¡they¡¡could¡¡easily¡¡break¡¡into¡¡his¡¡house£»
Lot¡¡went¡¡out¡¡to¡¡try¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡persuasion¡¡upon¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡pray¡¡you£»
brethren£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨do¡¡not¡¡so¡¡wickedly£»¡¨¡¡using¡¡the¡¡term¡¡¡¨brethren¡¨¡¡in¡¡the
sense¡¡of¡¡neighbors£»¡¡and¡¡hoping¡¡to¡¡conciliate¡¡them¡¡and¡¡make¡¡them¡¡ashamed¡¡of
their¡¡vile¡¡purposes¡£¡¡But¡¡his¡¡words¡¡were¡¡like¡¡oil¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡flames¡£¡¡Their¡¡rage
became¡¡like¡¡the¡¡roaring¡¡of¡¡a¡¡tempest¡£¡¡They¡¡mocked¡¡Lot¡¡as¡¡making¡¡himself¡¡a
judge¡¡over¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡threatened¡¡to¡¡deal¡¡worse¡¡with¡¡him¡¡than¡¡they¡¡had
purposed¡¡toward¡¡his¡¡guests¡£¡¡They¡¡rushed¡¡upon¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡have¡¡torn¡¡him¡¡in
pieces¡¡had¡¡he¡¡not¡¡been¡¡rescued¡¡by¡¡the¡¡angels¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡The¡¡heavenly¡¡messengers
¡¨put¡¡forth¡¡their¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡pulled¡¡Lot¡¡into¡¡the¡¡house¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡shut¡¡to
the¡¡door¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡events¡¡that¡¡followed£»¡¡revealed¡¡the¡¡character¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guests¡¡he
had¡¡entertained¡£¡¡¡¨They¡¡smote¡¡the¡¡men¡¡that¡¡were¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡with
blindness£»¡¡both¡¡small¡¡and¡¡great£º¡¡so¡¡that¡¡they¡¡wearied¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the
door¡£¡¨¡¡Had¡¡they¡¡not¡¡been¡¡visited¡¡with¡¡double¡¡blindness£»¡¡being¡¡given¡¡up¡¡to
hardness¡¡of¡¡heart£»¡¡the¡¡stroke¡¡of¡¡God¡¡upon¡¡them¡¡would¡¡have¡¡caused¡¡them¡¡to
fear£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡desist¡¡from¡¡their¡¡evil¡¡work¡£¡¡That¡¡last¡¡night¡¡was¡¡marked¡¡by¡¡no
greater¡¡sins¡¡than¡¡many¡¡others¡¡before¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡mercy£»¡¡so¡¡long¡¡slighted£»¡¡had¡¡at
last¡¡ceased¡¡its¡¡pleading¡£¡¡The¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡Sodom¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡limits¡¡of
divine¡¡forbearance¡¨the¡¡hidden¡¡boundary¡¡between¡¡God's¡¡patience¡¡and¡¡His
wrath¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡fires¡¡of¡¡His¡¡vengeance¡¡were¡¡about¡¡to¡¡be¡¡kindled¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vale¡¡of
Siddim¡£

The¡¡angels¡¡revealed¡¡to¡¡Lot¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡their¡¡mission£º¡¡¡¨We¡¡will¡¡destroy
this¡¡place£»¡¡because¡¡the¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡them¡¡is¡¡waxen¡¡great¡¡before¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the
Lord£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡hath¡¡sent¡¡us¡¡to¡¡destroy

160

it¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡strangers¡¡whom¡¡Lot¡¡had¡¡endeavored¡¡to¡¡protect£»¡¡now¡¡promised¡¡to
protect¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡save¡¡also¡¡all¡¡the¡¡members¡¡of¡¡his¡¡family¡¡who¡¡would¡¡flee
with¡¡him¡¡from¡¡the¡¡wicked¡¡city¡£¡¡The¡¡mob¡¡had¡¡wearied¡¡themselves¡¡out¡¡and
departed£»¡¡and¡¡Lot¡¡went¡¡out¡¡to¡¡warn¡¡his¡¡children¡£¡¡He¡¡repeated¡¡the¡¡words¡¡of
the¡¡angels£»¡¡¡¨Up£»¡¡get¡¡you¡¡out¡¡of¡¡this¡¡place£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡will¡¡destroy¡¡this
city¡£¡¨¡¡But¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡them¡¡as¡¡one¡¡that¡¡mocked¡£¡¡They¡¡laughed¡¡at¡¡what¡¡they
called¡¡his¡¡superstitious¡¡fears¡£¡¡His¡¡daughters¡¡were¡¡influenced¡¡by¡¡their
husbands¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡well¡¡enough¡¡off¡¡where¡¡they¡¡were¡£¡¡They¡¡could¡¡see¡¡no
evidence¡¡of¡¡danger¡£¡¡Everything¡¡was¡¡just¡¡as¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡great
possessions£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡believe¡¡it¡¡possible¡¡that¡¡beautiful¡¡Sodom
would¡¡be¡¡destroyed¡£

Lot¡¡returned¡¡sorrowfully¡¡to¡¡his¡¡home¡¡and¡¡told¡¡the¡¡story¡¡of¡¡his¡¡failure¡£¡¡Then
the¡¡angels¡¡bade¡¡him¡¡arise¡¡and¡¡take¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡the¡¡two¡¡daughters¡¡who¡¡were
yet¡¡in¡¡his¡¡house¡¡and¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡But¡¡Lot¡¡delayed¡£¡¡Though¡¡daily
distressed¡¡at¡¡beholding¡¡deeds¡¡of¡¡violence£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡true¡¡conception¡¡of¡¡the
debasing¡¡and¡¡abominable¡¡iniquity¡¡practiced¡¡in¡¡that¡¡vile¡¡city¡£¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not
realize¡¡the¡¡terrible¡¡necessity¡¡for¡¡God's¡¡judgments¡¡to¡¡put¡¡a¡¡check¡¡on¡¡sin¡£
Some¡¡of¡¡his¡¡children¡¡clung¡¡to¡¡Sodom£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡depart¡¡without
them¡£¡¡The¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡leaving¡¡those¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡held¡¡dearest¡¡on¡¡earth¡¡seemed¡¡more
than¡¡he¡¡could¡¡bear¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡forsake¡¡his¡¡luxurious¡¡home¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the
wealth¡¡acquired¡¡by¡¡the¡¡labors¡¡of¡¡his¡¡whole¡¡life£»¡¡to¡¡go¡¡forth¡¡a¡¡destitute
wanderer¡£¡¡Stupefied¡¡with¡¡sorrow£»¡¡he¡¡lingered£»¡¡loath¡¡to¡¡d

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