按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
（1 John ii。 15。）
I ask the special attention of my readers to this part of our subject。
I believe it to be the part to which the Lord Jesus particularly
intends to direct our minds。 I believe He would have us observe that
Lot's wife was lost by looking back to the world。 Her profession was at
one time fair and specious； but she never really gave up the world。 She
seemed at one time in the road to safety； but even then the lowest and
deepest thoughts of her heart were for the world。 The immense danger of
worldliness is the grand lesson which the Lord Jesus means us to learn。
Oh； that we may all have an eye to see and a heart to understand！
I believe there never was a time when warnings against worldliness were
so much needed by the Church of Christ as they are at the present day。
Every age is said to have its own peculiar epidemic disease： the
epidemic disease to which the souls of Christians are liable just now
is the love of the world。 It is a pestilence that walketh in darkness；
and a sickness that destroyeth at noonday。 It 〃hath cast down many
wounded； yea； many strong men have been wounded by it。〃 I would fain
raise a warning voice； and try to arouse the slumbering consciences of
all who make a profession of religion。 I would fain cry aloud；
〃Remember the sin of Lot's wife。〃 She was no murderess； no adulteress；
no thiefbut she was a professor of religion； and she looked back。
There are thousands of baptized persons in our churches who are proof
against immorality and infidelity； and yet fall victims to the love of
the world。 There are thousands who run well for a season； and seem to
bid fair to reach heaven； but by and by give up the race； and turn
their backs on Christ altogether。 And what has stopped them？ Have they
found the Bible not true？ Have they found the Lord Jesus fail to keep
His word？ No： not at all。 But they have caught the epidemic disease：
they are infected with the love of this world。 I appeal to every
true…hearted Evangelical minister who reads this paper： I ask him to
look round his congregation。 I appeal to every old…established
Christian： I ask him to look round the circle of his acquaintance。 I am
sure that I am speaking the truth。 I am sure that it is high time to
remember the sin of Lot's wife。
（a） How many children of religious families begin well and end ill！ In
the days of their childhood they seem full of religion。 They can repeat
texts and hymns in abundance； they have spiritual feel ings and
convictions of sin； they profess to love the Lord Jesus and desire
after heaven； they take pleasure in going to church and hearing
sermons； they say things which are treasured up by their fond parents
as indications of grace； they do things which make relations say； 〃What
manner of child will this be？〃 But； alas； how often their goodness
vanishes like the morning cloud； and like the dew that passes away！ The
boy bees a young man； and cares for nothing but amusements；
field…sports； revelling； and excess。 The girl bees a young woman；
and cares for nothing but dress； gay pany； novel…reading； and
excitement。 Where is the spirituality which once appeared to promise so
fair？ It is all gone： it is buried； it is overflowed by the love of the
world。 They walk in the steps of Lot's wife。 They look back。
（b） How many married people do well in religion to all appear ance；
until their children begin to grow upand then they fall away！ In the
early years of their married life they seem to follow Christ
diligently； and to witness a good confession。 They regularly attend the
preaching of the Gospel： they are fruitful in good works； they are
never seen in vain and dissipated society。 Their faith and practice are
both sound； and walk hand in hand。 But； alas； how often a spiritual
blight es over the household when a young family begins to grow up；
and sons and daughters have to be brought forward in life。 A leaven of
worldliness begins to appear in their habits； dress； entertainments；
and employment of time。 They are no longer strict about the pany
they keep and the places they visit。 Where is the decided fine of
separation which they once observed？ Where is the unswerving abstinence
from worldly amusements which once marked their course？ It is all
forgotten。 It is all laid aside； like an old almanack。 A change has
e over them： the spirit of the world has taken possession of their
hearts。 They walk in the steps of Lot's wife。 They look back。
（c） How many young women seem to love decided religion until they are
twenty or twenty…one； and then lose all！ Up to this time of their life
their conduct in religious matters is all that could be desired。 They
keep up habits of private prayer； they read their Bibles diligently；
they visit the poor； when they have opportunity； they teach in Sunday
schools； when there is an opening； they minister to the temporal and
spiritual wants of the poor； they like religious friends； they love to
talk on religious subjects： they write letters lull or religious
expressions and religious experience。 But； alas； how often they prove
unstable as water； and are ruined by the love of the world！ Little by
little they fall away and lose their first love。 Little by little the
〃things seen〃 push out of their minds the 〃things unseen；〃 and； like
the plague of locusts； eat up every green thing in their souls。 Step by
step they go back from the decided position they once took up。 They
cease to be jealous about sound doctrine； they pretend to find out that
it is 〃uncharitable〃 to think one person has more religion than
another； they discover it is 〃exclusive〃 to attempt any separation from
the customs of society。 By and by they give their affections to some
man who makes no pretence to decided religion。 At last they end by
giving up the last remnant of their own Christianity； and being
thorough children of the world。 They walk in the steps of Lot's wife。
They