5 JUNE (PREACHED 2 JUNE 1771)
Guidelines for choosing
‘Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.’ Genesis 13:12–13
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Proverbs 24:1–27
This affords a lesson to us, especially to people that are newly setting out in the world. Look not at outward advantages only. Prize the people and ordinances of God, and pray that your lot may not be cast at a distance from them. If you know the Lord, you will meet many trials by living in a dark place where there are no means of grace to help you forward, but, on the contrary, continual hindrances to strive against. You will hardly meet anything can make you amends for the loss it will prove to your souls. If your lot is already fixed like Lot in Sodom, yet may you at least imitate him in being a witness for his truth and in grieving for the abounding of sin around you. Then you shall find the Lord whom you serve is able to deliver and protect you [Daniel 3:17]. The land of Sodom was well watered for a season, but sin brought upon it a storm of fire. So sinners may be favoured a while with outward prosperity, but judgement is at the door. Remember what our Lord said of Sodom: it was a wicked place, but it had not the gospel. It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for many called Christians in the great day [Luke 10:12].
FOR MEDITATION:
In vain his sons-in-law he warned,
Yea; Lot himself could lingering stand,
They thought he told his dreams;
Though vengeance was in view;
His daughters too, of them had learned,
’Twas mercy plucked him by the hand,
And perished in the flames.
Or he had perished too.
His wife escaped a little way,
The doom of Sodom will be ours
But died for looking back:
If to the earth we cleave;
Does not her case to pilgrims say,
LORD quicken all our drowsy powers,
‘Beware of growing slack’?
To flee to thee and live.
SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 25 [4/4], GENESIS 13:12–13
Milo 