Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him, for he feared to dwell in Zoar; and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.

And the first born bare him a son, and called his name Moab; he was the father of the Moabites: and the younger she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi; the same was the father of the children of Ammon.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

From comparing this section with the foregoing one, we may know, that the Angels who came to Lot were the same who had accompanied the LORD to Abraham's

tent.

Of the nature and office of Angels we can form no perfect conception, for they are invisible to us at present; our ideas of them must be collected from the Scriptures, which acquaint us, that, in comparison of the LORD GOD, they are imperfect beings*: that they are appointed as guardians to good ment; that they conduct departed souls to paradise; that they desire the welfare of mankind §; and will, at the last day, be employed in separating the wicked from the good. We are also taught, that Angels are not to be worshipped .

Lot, as well as Abraham, supposed, from the form in which the Angels appeared, that they were men; and he was equally ready to shew courtesy to them, which they (purposely, as we may suppose) give him an opportunity of doing, that the goodness of GOD might be

*Job iv. 18. Matt. xxiv. 36. Heb. i. 4, 13.

t Ps. li. 11. Matt. xviii. 10. Luke ii. 15. xv. 10.

Heb. i. 14.

+ Luke xvi. 22.

Rev. xix. 10. xxii. 8, 9.

vindicated,

vindicated, in saving a man, who utterly disclaimed the crimes which brought Divine judgments on the natives of the place".

So great was the licentiousness of the inhabitants of Sodom, and its environs, that the weary traveller could not be invited to take refreshment in a private house, without being subject to the insults of a rude rabble. All that Lot could do towards protecting the strangers that came into lodge with him, was, to expose himself to the outrages of his wicked neighbours, which he did without hesitation. His heavenly guests, who were sent to save him, delivered him out of their hands, and punished his impious adversaries as their crimes de-served.

Sodom, and the cities and country connected with it, were notorious for many sins. The prophet Ezekiel informs ust, that their iniquity consisted in pride, luxury, idleness, and want of charity to the poor. That the inhabitants were haughty, and abominable for the most detestable vices, and there was no good practised by them.

It seems that Lot did not make such expedition to depart, as the exigency of the case required. Perhaps he was solicitous to preserve his goods; but his angelic friends hastened him and his family away, and conducted them safely out of the city: here the commission of the heavenly messengers ended; for we find it said in the next verse, that "when they had brought them "forth abroad, HE said, escape for thy life, &c."; and by Lot's answer it is evident, that the LORD manifested HIMSELF to him, and received the prayer, which would have been very improperly addressed to the Angels.

We are not to suppose from the expression, "I cannot "do any thing, &c." that God's power was limited. It + Ezek. xvi. 49› ‹c.

*2 Pet. ii. 7, 8.

refers

refers to His merciful intention of saving Lot and his family, on which account alone He suspended the execution of the judgment He had resolved to bring upon the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah.

It is mentioned, that the sun was risen upon the earth. In all probability, this bright luminary shone with its usual lustre, and gilded the mountains and plains with its cheerful rays, while the luxurious and careless inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah either reposed on their soft beds, or pursued with ardour their worldly affairs, without paying their early adorations to the GoD who made them. In a moment, the firmament melted with fervent heat, and a shower of fire and brimstone poured down on their devoted heads, burning up and destroying whatever grew on the surface of the ground, and rendering the earth from that time forth, unfit for culture or habitation *! From this instance we learn, that the element of fire, as well as that of water, is entirely under the government of Divine Providence, and may be rendered either an inestimable blessing, or a most distressing evil.

The sin of Lot's wife is supposed to have been infidelity. Probably she did not believe that what had been revealed to her would come to pass. The judgment inflicted upon her was a most exemplary one, and remained for many ages a monument of an unbelieving soul. Josephus, a learned Jewish historian, says, that the Pillar of Salt was to be seen in his days. Interpreters tell us, that it did not consist of common salt, but of a metallic substance, such as was hewn out of rocks, like marble, with which it was usual to build houses ‡.

When Abraham, with anxious solicitude, repaired early in the morning to the place where he had the pre*Deut. xxix. 23. Isa. xii. 19. Jer. 1. 40. + Wisd. x. 7. See Essay for a new Translation of the Bible.

eeding day stood before the LORD, how greatly must he have been affected with the awful sight which he beheld! Yet he arraigned not the judgment of the LORD. He now understood, that nations are but as drops in the bucket, when GoD cometh to take vengeance on the wicked".

The circumstances of the calamity not reaching Abraham, and of Lot's deliverance, are particularly pointed out by the sacred historian, and strongly inti mate, that the whole transaction was directed by an over-ruling Providence.

Much practical instruction may be collected from the section before us.

In the first place we learn from it, and the passages of Scripture referred to, to be thankful to GOD for making known to us the ministry of Angels; and we may look forward with an increase of pleasure to a state, where, instead of being received with jealousy and envy as innovating strangers, we shall find a set of benevolent friends, who have been accustomed to interest themselves in the welfare of mankind, and who will rejoice in our exaltation to as great a share of blessedness as they themselves enjoy.

We are also here taught another lesson of good nature and hospitality.

We have likewise an additional instance of the interposition of Divine Providence, which shews, that the LORD, though He employs Angels as His ministers, does not abandon the human race to the government of imperfect beings; but is himself the SUPREME DISPOSER of all events.

From the command given to Lot to escape, we are admonished, that it is better to leave our worldly possessions behind, than to stay and perish with the wicked.

* Isaiah xl. 15.

We

We also learn, that we ought not to lead careless lives, from a dependance that nature will pursue a regular course of causes and effects. What is nature but the work of GOD? He therefore can instantly change the courses of the different elements, and send them as punishments on a guilty land, whenever he sees fit.

Since the Holy Scriptures point out so particularly the crimes for which Sodom and Gomorrah were condemned to destruction, we should make it our study to avoid them.

Our LORD has admonished us to Remember Lot's wife; we should, therefore, of all things, avoid infidelity for if we are in no danger of being turned into pillars of salt, as warnings to mankind, a more dreadful fate awaits us, that of being salted with fire +, or kept alive for endless ages in a state of torment. Let us then imitate the faith and obedience of Lot, whose history, we are told, is written for our admonition ‡; and, in so doing, let us repose our souls on the

mercy and goodness of GOD, who will give His holy angels charge to keep us in all our ways.

SECTION XXIV.

THE HISTORY OF ABRAHAM CONTINUED THE BIRTH OF ISAAC.

From Genesis, Chap. xxi.

AND the LORD visited Sarah as he had said; for Sarah bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time God had spoken to him.

And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And

Luke xvii. 32.

+ Mark ix. 49.

2 Pet. ii, 6. Jude 7. Abraham