This eminent believer drew near to God, and interceded for Sodom. He doubtless considered his nephew Lot: but his intercession is general, and goes on a broad principle, the equity of God. (xviii. 25.) Let us reflect on a few of the truths that we are here taught, and also observe what is the right improvement of this subject.

I. We reflect on a few of the truths which we are here taught. 1. We are here reminded of the equity of God. There is a great distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between the godly and the ungodly. Their views, principles, conduct, and aims, are very different. Abraham, aware of this, concludes that the measures of God respecting them should be different. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" This was just. The Almighty admits the propriety of the views of his faithful servant. Such as our conduct is towards God, such will be the conduct of God towards us. He will deal with every one according to his works.

.

But we learn that,

2. God approves of intercession. We here see the prevalence of Prayer. Abraham draws near to God; he proposes his enquiry; he makes his expostulation; and he urges his petition again and again with the deepest humility and the greatest earnestness. What is the consequence? God attends to him with readiness and patience; answers every question; yields at every step; and grants the petition that was made to him. This not only shows us that we ought to pray for others, but it also shows us that God attends to our requests, and that we cannot make our supplications to him in vain. 3. We may here observe how God esteems the good. The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah was great; their sin was grievous. Their iniquities called for a signal display of divine wrath. What can prevent that wrath from falling upon them immediately? The existence of a few religious characters among them. Are there fifty righteous in those cities? Nay; are there ten? Then

the impending storm shall be withheld. In such estimation are the righteous with God, that for their sakes a guilty land may be spared. The few who are truly devoted to God are the salt of the earth; are the defence of a nation.

4. We see the manner in which we should intercede with God. Whether we plead with him on our own behalf, or on the behalf of others, we see in the example of Abraham how our devotion should be conducted. We must draw near to him; we must reason with him; we must be earnest and urgent; we must be deeply humble before him; and we must maintain a holy confidence and boldness. In the intercession of Abraham there is no lawless vehemence, no wildness and absurdity; all is judicious, solid, and grave: it is the exercise of a feeling heart and reflecting mind. We here see a wise, pious, and earnest soul pleading with God; nor can it plead in vain. Many, though they say prayers and hear prayers, do not pray at all: but of those who do pray, how few derive any large benefit from their prayers? There must be a cause for this. Pray in faith, with earnestness and sincerity, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; and such prayer will be heard, accepted, and answered. But let us,

II. Observe what is the right improvement of this subject.

1. Let it inspire the ungodly with fear. How awful it is to hear God speak of destroying his creatures! But eternal destruction will be the portion of the impenitent and unbelieving. Careless sinners may rejoice for a time, and put the evil day far from them; but God is angry with them; and nothing but timely repentance, a true conversion to God in Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Ghost, can save them from everlasting ruin. Think, ye careless ones! before that God who destroyed Sodom visit you with his terrible displeasure.

2. Let it inspire the truly pious with solid repose. God regards the righteous with peculiar approbation;

and he will make an evident distinction between them and the wicked. This may not be done indeed in the present world: the good and bad are often partakers of the same temporal calamity, and are swept away without any apparent difference. But let the truly pious stedfastly repose in the truth, mercy, and power of God, and be fully persuaded that the Judge of all the earth will do right, and will therefore remember them for good. This consideration should make them calm and tranquil amidst all the events of life.

3. Let this subject urge us to the great duty of prayer. We ought to pray for ourselves and others. All admit this; but how few do it! Earnest intercession with God for ourselves and others is not, it is to be feared, a common thing among Christians. Let every one examine himself. Let every one ask himself, How many prayers from my heart and my lips, for myself and for all mankind, are recorded in the book of God's remembrance? To what a painful discovery would this question lead in numberless instances! If we had Abraham's spirit we should daily implore Almighty God to be gracious to us, and to our sinful land, and to a fallen and miserable world.

Thus we are taught several important truths; and we see the feelings that we ought to cherish according to our character, and the duty that we ought to perform. If we dwell aright on this subject, we shall consider whether we are righteous or wicked; those whom God will save, or those whom he will destroy unless we turn to him, renouncing all sin. We shall rest in the plain conclusion, that true piety is in fact all the honour, happiness, and safety of man; and we shall seek it with diligence. Being truly pious, through the mercy and grace of God in Christ Jesus, we shall, like Abraham, devoutly intercede with God, pleading with him for ourselves and others; and our constant prayer will be "Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever."

THE PRAYER.

O merciful God, of thy great goodness thou permittest thy creatures to approach thee, to call upon thee, and to prevail with thee. O give me the Spirit of grace and of supplication, that I may offer unto thee acceptable worship. Be merciful to me, to our sinful land, and to all mankind. Increase the number of thy faithful people among us, and visit us not with thy heavy judgments. Let true religion prevail among us more and more continually, and may we magnify thee for all thy loving-kindness towards us. Amidst all the events of this world, and all the measures of thy providence, may thy people repose in thy mercy and truth, and glorify thy holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

LECTURE IX.

THE CITIES OF THE PLAIN.

Then the Lord rained upon Sodom, and upon Gomorrah, brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. Genesis xix. 24, 25.

WE have here a remarkable event, intended by the Almighty to teach us various important lessons. Saint Peter thus speaks of it. "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly." Saint Jude writes thus of the same event. "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of

eternal fire." Both Apostles speak of this awful occurrence as an example intended to warn and instruct us.

In meditating for our religious improvement on the destruction of these cities, we may consider the character of sin, and the conduct of God in the punishment of it.

I. The Character of Sin. We know that the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah were great sinners. It is expressly said, that "the men of Sodom were wicked, and sinners before the Lord exceedingly." The country in which they lived was well watered and fruitful; it was "even as the garden of the Lord." Their character is thus described in the book of the prophet Ezekiel. "Behold this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her, and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." The people of Sodom, contrary to the laws of God and man, were guilty of the grossest abominations. God had given them many blessings, but they abused them in the most shameful manner. Thus they show us what man is when he casts off the fear of God, when he goes down the steep descent of iniquity; when he is the victim of his unholy passions.

But what is the Character of Sin? What are the notions which we are to entertain of it?

1. Sin is contrary to the nature and the laws of God. He is holy, and he would have his creatures to be holy. We are on earth to cultivate holiness. God is light, holiness, perfection; and in him is no darkness, no stain of evil, no imperfection. The laws which he has given us to obey are holy laws. So far, then, as we are corrupt in nature, we are unlike him, opposite to him; and so far as we are disobedient to his laws, we transgress against practical holiness.

2. Sin calls for the divine vengeance. All violation of God's laws exposes us to punishment. If we sin, we expose ourselves to the condemnation of the law. Every sin subjects us to a sentence of condemnation. If we