〃linger。〃
Once more； I say； 〃Lot is a beacon。〃
I。 What was Lot？
This is a most important point。 If I leave it unnoticed； I shall
perhaps miss that class of professing Christians I want especially to
benefit。 If I did not make it quite clear； many would perhaps say；
after reading this paper； 〃Ah！ Lot was a bad mana poor； wicked； dark
creaturean unconverted mana child of this world！no wonder he
lingered。〃
But mark now what I say。 Lot was nothing of the kind。 Lot was a true
believera converted persona real child of Goda justified soula
righteous man。
Has any one of my readers grace in his heart？So also had Lot。 Has any
one of my readers a hope of salvation？So also had Lot。 Is any one of
my readers a traveller in the narrow way which leads unto life？So
also was Lot。
Let no one think this is only my private opiniona mere arbitrary
fancy of my owna notion unsupported by Scripture。 Let no one suppose
I want him to believe it merely because I say it。 The Holy Ghost has
placed the matter beyond controversy； by calling him 〃just〃 and
〃righteous〃 （2 Peter ii。 7； 8）； and has given us good evidence of the
grace that was in him。
One evidence is； that he lived in a wicked place； 〃seeing and hearing〃
evil all around him （2 Peter ii。 8）； and yet was not wicked himself。
Now to be a Daniel in Babylonan Obadiah in Ahab's housean Abijah in
Jeroboam's familya saint in Nero's court； and a 〃righteous man〃 in
Sodom； a man must have the grace of God。 Without grace it would be
impossible。
Another evidence is that he 〃vexed his soul with the unlawful deeds〃 he
beheld around him。 （2 Peter ii。 8。） He was wounded； grieved； pained；
and hurt at the sight of sin。 This was feeling like holy David； who
says； 〃I beheld the transgressors； and was grieved； because they kept
not Thy word。〃 〃Rivers of waters run down mine eyes； because they keep
not Thy law。〃 （Psalm cxix。 136； 158。） This was feeling like St。 Paul；
who says； 〃I have great sorrow and continual heaviness in my heartfor
my brethren； my kinsmen according to the flesh。〃 （Rom。 ix。 2； 3。）
Nothing will account for this but the grace of God。
Another evidence is that he 〃vexed his soul from day to day〃 with the
unlawful deeds he saw。 （2 Peter ii。 8。） He did not at length bee
cool and lukewarm about sin； as many do。 Familiarity and habit did not
take off the fine edge of his feelings； as too often is the case。 Many
a man is shocked and startled at the first sight of wickedness； and yet
bees at last so accustomed to see it； that he views it with
parative unconcern。 This is especially the case with those who live
in towns and cities； or with English people who travel on the
Continent。 Such persons often bee utterly indifferent about
Sabbath…breaking； and many forms of open sin。 But it was not so with
Lot。 And this； again； is a great mark of the reality of his grace。
Such an one was Lota just and righteous man； a man sealed and stamped
as an heir of heaven by the Holy Ghost Himself。
Before we pass on； let us remember that a true Christian may have many
a blemish； many a defect； many an infirmity； and yet be a true
Christian nevertheless。 We do not despise gold because it is mixed with
much dross。 We must not undervalue grace because it is acpanied by
much corruption。 Read on； and you will find that Lot paid dearly for
his 〃lingering。〃 But do not forget； as you read； that Lot was a child
of God。
II。 Let us pass on to the second thing I spoke of。 What does the text；
already quoted； tell us about Lot's behaviour？
The words are wonderful and astounding： 〃He lingered。〃The more we
consider the time and circumstances； the more wonderful we shall think
them。
Lot knew the awful condition of the city in which he stood。 〃The cry〃
of its abominations 〃had waxen great before the Lord。〃 （Gen。 xix。 13。）
And yet 〃he lingered。〃
Lot knew the fearful judgment ing down on all within its walls。 The
angels had said plainly； 〃The Lord hath sent us to destroy it。〃 （Gen。
xix。 13。） And yet 〃he lingered。〃
Lot knew that God was a God who always kept His word； and if He said a
thing would surely do it。 He could hardly be Abraham's nephew； and live
long with him； and not be aware of this。 Yet 〃he lingered。〃
Lot believed there was dangerfor he went to his sons…in…law； and
warned them to flee。 〃Up！〃 he said； 〃Get you out of this place； for the
Lord will destroy this city。〃 （Gen。 xix。 14。） And yet 〃he lingered。〃
Lot saw the angels of God standing by； waiting for him and his family
to go forth。 He heard the voice of those ministers of wrath ringing in
his ears to hasten him〃Arise！ take thy wife and thy two daughters
which are here； lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city。〃
（Gen。 xix。 15。） And yet 〃he lingered。〃
He was slow when he should have been quickbackward when he should
have been forwardtrifling when he should have been
hasteningloitering when he should have been hurryingcold when he
should have been hot。 It is passing strange！ It seems almost
incredible！ It appears too wonderful to be true！ But the Spirit writes
it down for our learning。 And so it was。
And yet； wonderful as it may appear at first sight； I fear there are
many of the Lord Jesus Christ's people very like Lot。
I ask every reader of this paper to mark well what I say。 I repeat it
that there may be no mistake about my meaning。 I have shown you that
Lot 〃lingered。〃I say that there are many Christian men and Christian
women in this day very like Lot。
There are many real children of God who appear to know far more than
they live up to； and see far more than they practise； and yet continue
in this state for many years。 Wonderful that they go as far as they do；
and yet go no further！
They acknowledge the Head； even Christ； and love the truth。 They like
sound preaching； and assent to every article of Gospel doctrine； when
they hear it。 But still there is an indescribable something which is
not satisfactory about them。 They are constantly doing things which
disappoint the expectations of their ministers； and of more advanced
Christian friends。 Marvellous that they should think as they do； and
yet stand still！
They believe in heaven； and yet seem faintly to long for it； and in
hell； and yet seem little to fear it； They love the Lord Jesus； but the
work they do for Him is small。 They hate the devil； but they often
appear to tempt him to e to them。 They know the time is short； but
they live as if it were long。 They know they have a battle to fight；
yet a man might think they were at peace。 They know they have a race to
run； yet they often look like people sitting still。 They know the Judge
is at the door； and there is wrath to e； and yet they appear half
asleep。 Astonishing they should be what they are； and yet be nothing
more！
And what shall we say of these people？ They often puzzle godly friends
and relations。 They often cause great anxiety。 They often give rise to
great doubts and searchings of heart。 But they may be classed under one
sweeping description： they are all brethren and sisters of Lot。 They
linger。
These are they who get the notion into their minds that it is
impossible for all believers to be so very holy and very spiritual！
They allow that eminent holiness is a beautiful thing。 They like to
read about it in books； and even to see it occasionally in others。 But
they do not think that all are meant to aim at so high a standard。 At
any rate； they seem to make up their minds it is beyond their reach。
These are they who get into their heads false ideas of charity； as they
call it。 They are morbidly afraid of being illiberal and narrow…minded；
and are always flying into the opposite extreme。 They would fain please
everybody； and suit everybody； and be agreeable to everybody。 But they
forget they ought first to be sure that they please God。
These are they who dread sacrifices； and shrink from self…denial。 They
never appear able to apply our Lord's mand； to 〃take up the cross；〃
and 〃cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye。〃 （Matt。 v。 29；
30。） They cannot deny that our Lord used these expressions； but they
never find a place for them in their religion。 They spend their lives
in trying to make the gate more wide； and the cross more light。 But
they never succeed。
These are they who are always trying to keep in with the world。 They
are ingenious in discovering reasons for not separating decidedly； and
in framing plausible excuses for attending questionable amusements； and
keeping up questionable friendships。 One day you are told of their
attending a Bible…reading： the next day perhaps you hear of their going
to a ball。 One day they fast； or go to the Lord's table and receive the
sacrament： another day they go to the race…course in the morning and
the opera at night。 One day they are almost in hysterics under the
sermon of some sensational preacher： another day they are weeping over
some novel。 They are constantly labouring to persuade themselves that
to mix a little with worldly people on their own ground does good。 Yet
in their case it is very clear they do no good； and only get harm。
These are they who cannot find it in their hearts to quarrel with their
besetting sin； whether it be sloth； indolence； ill…temper； pride；
selfishness； impatience； or what it may。 They allow it to remain a
tolerably quiet and undisturbed tenant of their hearts。 They say； 〃it
is their health； or their constitutions； or their temperaments； or
their trials； or their way。 Their father； or mother； or grandmother；
was so before themselves； and they are sure they cannot help it。〃 And
when you meet after the absence of a year or so； you hear the same
thing！
But all； all； all may be summed up in one single sentence。 They are the