How tenderly He deals with his wandering ones! how long He bears with them! what favours He showers down in return for their in

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gratitude! as many as have “ obtained mercy" will be ready to own and admire that grace of God which has so often mended what they marred, and has proved stronger to save and to preserve, than their own perverseness and their enemies wrath were to destroy. "Trust in Him, at all times, ye people; pour out your heart before Him, God is a refuge for us."' Lot is one added to the "cloud of witnesses" who can testify to the loving kindness of the LORD.

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What a world is that with which we have to contend! we dwell as it were on enchanted ground. So many snares beset us--so many entanglements hold us we are so much more disposed to walk by sense than by faith, that "to make straight paths for our feet" demands incessant watchfulness and prayer, if we would obey the injunctions of the apostle: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world." Brethren, it is a token for good if we know our danger; he walks safely who walks warily.

What depths of heart-deceit does the history of

man bring to light! In the worst of times, and in the most trying circumstances, there is still more cause to complain of an evil heart than of an evil world; the enemy is nearer, more difficult to deal with-its snares less knownitself more trusted by us: when we sport with a temptation on the threshold it is quickly within doors, and then what pains it calls for to thrust it out: when we ask for and obtain the forgiveness of our sins, we do not, we cannot know the greatness of the boon, for the hidden evils of a treacherous heart are amongst the greatest of these sins; yet that treacherous heart shall be purged-that ensnaring world shall be overcome. Ye feeble but trusting one, the promises of God meet your need. "A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you," answers your desires, satisfies your wants; depths though there be within that you cannot plumb, One there is who seeth all, yet cleanses and pardons all; who sprinkles that heart from an evil conscience, by the blood of Jesus, assuring you of forgiveness and peace. Nor shall the world, and the prince thereof, triumph in your destruction. Your "Redeemer is mighty;" He hath overcome the world; through Him you shall

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prevail; "this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Lot's case was a hopeless one to the eye of man, fast hemmed in as he was in the city of destruction; but his sighs were heard, his agony of mind was seen, by Him at whose Word the mountain becomes the plain, with whom all things are possible. He sent and delivered him in spite of all barriers; He put a new song into his mouth, even thanksgiving unto his God. "Blessed be the LORD," could he say, "who hath not given me as a prey to their teeth; our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped."

1 Į John v. 4.

Psalm cxxiv. 5, 6.

XIII.

THE INTERCESSION.

GENESIS, chap. xix. verse 29th.

"And it came to pass when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt."

ONE warning sent in mercy to His servant by the loving kindness of the Lord, Lot has allowed to pass unimproved. A way of escape was opened to him, but he embraced not the opportunity given. Taken captive together with the inhabitants of Sodom, and rescued by the prompt aid of Abraham, an open door was then set before him, by which he might have come out from the society of the ungodly. But it is to Sodom he returns, in Sodom he still dwells. Did he imagine that now at least, after so signal a deliverance, wrought for them by his relative and friend, they would in gratitude of heart receive his counsel, and turn

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from their evil ways and that he might now prove to them the messenger of good? Or did earthly ties, or the alliances formed by those of his own house, entangle him, and fix him again a dweller in the devoted city?

We know not the motive that compelled him to return; thus much we know, he did return, and was plucked as a brand out of the fire in the destruction that befel the cities of the plain.

In that deliverance let us not fail to notice the instrumentality used, and the honour God puts on "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man." The longsuffering of the LORD towards the inhabitants of that land is about to cease; the cloud of just vengeance, long overhanging, is about to break; but before His anger is poured forth, He will wait a little space. In language, that, whilst it condescends to our understanding, at the same time strikingly exhibits the character of Him who utters it, He saith, "I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it which is come unto Me, and if not I will know." But it is not to Lot that His resolve is made known. There was not in him that maintenance of holy integrity, that close walk

1 Genesis xviii. 21.