08 - Chapter 8
CHAPTER VIII.
Why Lot left Zoar -- Thoughts on Fear -- Why he did not return to Abraham -- Close of this History -- Reasons for supposing that he finally became a good Man.
I have said that Lot was probably saved from the dreadful destruction in which the cities of the plain were involved, chiefly on account of Abraham. This seems to me very fairly inferred from the nature of the case, as well as from the general tenor of the story. But this is not all. We are expressly told, in the Bible, that, "when God destroyed the cities of the plain, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrown." Very remarkable language indeed, were we not to conclude that Lot was saved far less on account of any goodness of his own, than for other and more important reasons.
How long Lot and his daughters remained in Zoar, it is impossible to determine, but probably not long. There is little doubt that the city, if not as abandoned as Sodom, was yet grossly wicked. However I do not think Lot was so unreconciled to their wickedness as to the punishments which he feared might follow it. The Scriptures say "he feared to dwell in Zoar." And who can wonder? But good men ought to be actuated by other motives than fear. Caligula was afraid when it thundered, and yet his fear made him no better; for he was one of the most wicked emperors the world ever saw. Tyrants, and cruel men of every grade, are very often cowards, afraid, almost, of the rustling of a leaf. Do we not hence see that, to be afraid of suffering a punishment, is no mark of goodness?
Many a child have I known, who would behave very well for fear of the rod; but who, if all danger of punishment was removed, would behave very ill indeed. Such children had no love for goodness. They only acted from fear; and this is a most unworthy motive. Love is far better. I will not deny, however, that it is better, both for children and men, that they should behave well from mere fear, than that they should not behave well at all.
Some suppose that Lot was afraid of a deluge. This is not improbably. For it must have greatly surprised him, to say the least, to behold, when the storm cleared up, a sea of waters accumulating in the vale, and rising and rising, and at the same time approaching the very borders of Zoar. How could he know where it would stop, and at what point the great Creator, in the new order of things which he was establishing in the vale, would say, "Hitherto thou shalt come, but no further?"
Another reason for supposing that Lot was afraid of the overflowing of the waters, is, that he fled to a mountain. Perhaps, indeed, he recollected that the angels at first commanded him to escape to the mountains, and this had some influence in urging him on. Is it not probable, however, that he was influenced more than all, by a desire to attain a point of elevation, which would secure him from any disturbance by the accumulated waters of the Jordan?
He retired to a cave. This was a humble place for a rich merchant -- late the resident of a splendid city mansion. To one possessed of the spirit of the Savior, who was sometimes destitute of a place where he could even lay his head comfortably, and especially after such a happy escape from destruction, this would have been a very pleasant and acceptable retreat; but we may doubt whether it was very acceptable to Lot or his daughters. But he had not a choice of circumstances. He was obliged to do as well as he could. But "why did he not return to Abraham?" I shall perhaps be asked. "Would not the good patriarch have received him?" These are very appropriate questions, and they deserve an appropriate reply.
Viewing the character of Lot as I do, I cannot help thinking he was too proud to return to Abraham. He left him prosperous; but he must return, if he returned at all, poor and degraded, and an outcast. This was too much for such a spirit as Lot’s. It would not be too much for the truly humbled child of God. But such, at the time of which I am speaking, it is not probably Lot was.
Yet did he not make a most sad mistake, in not returning at once to Abraham? Not because it would have rendered him more comfortable, in a pecuniary point of view, in his declining years, -- for this is comparatively of little consequence, -- but because it might have been the means of saving him and his family from other evils of much greater magnitude.
I have now finished my story of Lot’s adventures in Sodom. Little more is known of him after his escape from destruction. Whether he continued to live in obscurity among the mountains, or finally became sufficiently humbled to return to Abraham, we can only conjecture. But even if he became penitant, and returned to the people of God, he did not by any means wholly escape the punishment of his transgression. His children, neglected as their early education no doubt was, in the hurry of the father to accumulate wealth, turned out miserably in the world. Even his two sons, Moab and Ammon, born to him after his escape from Sodom, appear to have been bad men. Such, at least, is a very natural inference, when we consider, with care, the history of their descendants, and especially the Moabites.
I have said that it is a mere matter of conjecture, whether or not Lot ever returned to Abraham. Still I think it is rather more than probable that he finally saw the great errors of his life, and became penitant. I have come to this conclusion, chiefly from what is said of him in the Bible afterwards; where, as every one knows, he is once called "just Lot," and once or twice "righteous."
Now, although he was a just man, compared with the abominable Sodomites; and though it cannot reasonably be doubted that he had many noble traits of character, derived from his early education in the family of Abraham, yet, destitute as he seems to have been, during the whole of his adventures in Sodom, of any hearty desire to obey or please God; and devoted as extensively, as he appears to me to have been, to make money, or otherwise aggrandize himself, I cannot think the inspired writers would ever, in a single instance, have called him a just man, had he not subsequently become converted to God.
Perhaps his case may not unaptly be compared with that of Solomon. Solomom is represented as a wise man, not only in the Old, but in the New Testament. Not merely as possessed of great knowledge, but of the "wisdom which cometh down from above." Yet Solomon, it is well known, sunk deeply in sin towards the latter part of his life. Yet has it often been doubted that he dies a good man? Do not the facts, that he was spoken of afterwards as being a good man, and that he probably wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, in very old age, after he repented, seem to justify the conclusion that he did?
Now, there is, in my opinion, quite as good evidence for believing that Lot repented, as that Solomon did. Their age, in both cases, was unfavorable. Old men seldom repent and reform. They may see their folly, and be sorry for it; but this is not conversion. The best part of repentance is reformation; and reformation, to old men, though not absolutely impossible, is very difficult. But the force of Godly education, in bringing back to God those who, in the hurry and bustle of business -- of youth and manhood, have gone astray, is sometimes surprising. It is true, that the great majority perish is their sins, before the stormy or busy period of life is over. Still, there are a few of those who survive the storm, that return to the ways of virtue and religion, especially if they get through early, as Lot did. He could scarcely have begun to feel the infirmities of old age, unless from intemperance or excesses, when he was compelled to quit Sodom, and become a poor man; indeed it is probable he was still what was called in those days, a young man.
Happy are they, who, by reverses of fortune, or by any other means which merciful Heaven ordains, are so far thrown out of business in early life, before their habits are all confirmed beyond the power, almost, of change, as to give them opportunity for reflection. But, with the cases of Solomon and Lot before us, we must not, at any age, wholly despair.
CONCLUSION. In conclusion, I may be permitted to moralize a little more. Some persons are fond of moralizing, and even of spiritualizing upon every thing in the Bible, -- an error which, no doubt, is as far removed from the original intention of its author, as light is from darkness, or as the north is from the south. Still, there are as many parts of the Bible which not only permit this, but demand it.
We have seen how reluctant Lot was to quit Sodom, even after he had been told of the doom which awaited it, and had resolved to remove, and even counseled others to do the same. Vexed, as Peter says his righteous soul was, with the conduct of the Sodomites, he was probably more willing in the evening, after the labors of the day were ended, to believe that they merited, and would receive so dreadful a punishment, than when rest had composed his spirits.
Thus it often is now, with some mercantile men. They are wholly disgusted with what they call the fraudulent disposition of mankind, at evening, and think that, could they but get fairly rid of their business, they would rather sit down quietly on a little farm, with only a crust of bread to eat, and a bundle of straw to sleep on, than to continue their business in the enjoyment of every pleasure and every luxury. And yet, no sooner has rest in some measure wound up the run-down machine, than they forget their troubles, and, in their eagerness for gain, or at least for bustle, go forth with renewed -- often with increased energy -- to their shops and counting rooms.
Now, if Lot possessed that worldly spirit which I have, all along, presumed, it is no wonder that he had very different feelings in the morning from what he had the evening before. Nor is it at all surprising, that, when he saw the opening of the fine morning, and thought again of his flocks, his herds, and his other possessions, he should have still clung to Sodom. His understanding was convinced; perhaps he did not even doubt that the city would be destroyed; yet his attachment to it was so strong, and the power of habit so great, that, though convinced of the danger, he had not the moral power, or rather courage, to leave it. Nor would he have left it, finally, had not the celestial messengers forced him away. --Such was Lot; and such is human nature.
Now, do not suppose, young reader, that Lot was, in this respect, entirely different from every body else. How many a youth is destroyed by practices which he knew, beforehand, would destroy him, but from which he had not the resolution or the moral courage to break away! Thousands perish every year, in these United States, in this very way. Nay, it is not saying too much, when I affirm that hundreds of people, in our own State, Massachusetts, perish every year, from vices which they knew, while they were acquiring them, (or at least were told,) would prove their ruin. Some formed the habit while they were mere boys and girls; others at a later period. Do you ask me to explain, more fully, my meaning?
Many a young person has acquired the habit of frequenting the confectionary shop. Whenever he can get a little money, away he goes to the confectioner, and spends it. Well, the more he spends in his way, the more he wishes to. The cravings of his stomach for such things become stronger and stronger, and they soon begin to affect his appetite, and injure his powers of digestion. Nor is this all. He begins to be more fond that before, of other kinds of excitement. But presently he reads in some book or paper, that confectionary usually leads a person on into bad habits, and ultimately injures his health. Again he reads or hears about it. He asks some friend if it is so; and is answered in the affirmative. At length he believes it, and resolves to reform. But he has a little money in his pocket, and is passing by a confectionary shop, on his road to school; so he must venture in once more. Now he has broken his resolution. Now he feels guilt; and he resolves again. -- But again temptation comes, and he yields, and breaks his resolution. At last he becomes such a slave to his appetite, that, with money in his pocket, and a splendid assortment of confectionary before him, and no human eye on him but the eye of the confectioner, he would buy and eat, though he knew he should suffer for it the very next hour. -- And now, in what respects, is he better than Lot? The young man, away from his parents at school, or apprenticed to some city mechanic, or clerk in some store, finds a leisure hour to associate him his fellow students, clerks, or apprentices; and so away he goes with them. They are going to the confectionary’s or the restorator’s, for a supper. It is true they have eaten just at dark, and need nothing more till the next day; and, indeed, ought now to be in bed. They know and believe that late and heavy suppers injure health, bring on diseases, and shorten life; but they will go and eat, in defiance of every thing. How much better are they than Lot was?
Multitudes of people -- the young as well as the old -- will drink a little spirit now and then, with their friends, although they fully believe it is poisonous. In other words, they rush on slow but certain destruction with their eyes wide open. Did Lot incline to do more?
Some will chew tobacco, and smoke, and take snuff, although they fully believe it will, if they continue the practice, destroy their health, if not their life. But why? Because they are the slaves of habit; and habit is tyrant which they have not the moral power to resist. They are just like Lot; or, at least, would be like him, were they in similar circumstances.
Many of the young, both males and females, when the evening comes, will go to theaters, although they admit, during the sober hours of day, that they will believe their tendency is to destroy the soul. But night comes, as I said before, and they cannot -- rather will not -- resist the temptation; and along they go, not withstanding the fire and brimstone; as Lot was disposed to do.
Some find their way to the gaming table, bad as they know it is. They will only go once, they say to themselves; for their consciences reproach them for it. But having gone once, they go again and again. They see their danger; and "resolve and re-resolve" to go no more; but at last, "die the same," and that very early, too, if they do not take heed. "The wicked" do not often "live out half their days."
There are, I am sorry to say it, a few young persons, who venture not only to some one of the bad places, which I have mentioned, but all of them; and not only to these but to places which are, if possible, still worse. -- But they seldom escape. No miraculous effort of Almightly power will pluck them away from from any of our modern Sodoms, and hurry them towards the mountains of safety. If they will not escape by exerting their own strength, they cannot expect to escape at all.
There is, indeed, but one way of escape from the dominion of bad habits; and that is, by breaking off entirely, and at once. He who says, "only once more, and then I will leave off," is likely to yield once more, and once more, till he is suddenly destroyed, and that without remedy. He who supposes that he can leave off a bad practice when he pleases, has yet to learn, his own weakness and folly. "I tremble for the man who does not tremble for himself;" said a certain minister, in regard to an individual who was intemperate. And the same might be said of every young person who is addicted to any bad habit, even it if is nothing but the habit of eating too much, and yet feels sure that he shall not become a slave, that is, a glutton. The boy or girl that goes daily to a confectionary shop, and fells as if he or she should not pass it, is in danger of destruction, either here or hereafter, or both, -- a destruction, whatever may be thought of it, no less terrible than Lot would have experienced, had not the angelic messengers rescued him.
All this may be true, some children will say, but we never go near the confectionary shops; so that we are safe. But there are children who destroy themselves at their own homes. Not always by eating bad things; for it is almost as injurious to keep "nibbling" at even good things, every time they can get a chance, as some do, as to eat a small quantity of those things which are very bad. The fact is, that the stomach wants its seasons of perfect rest; and those children who are perpetually eating, between meals, at length disorder their stomachs; and many of the diseases which afflict children, or even carry them out of the world, are caused by this wretched habit of constantly eating things. The diseases which it causes may not indeed be perceived for a great number of years, after they begin the habit, if they happen to possess strong constitutions; but disease must and will, sooner or later, come. There is no escape from it.
I might mention in this place, had I room or time, the practice of eating things in church or school -- so common among us. But this is a part of the same evil of which I have just been speaking. I hope no young person who reads this book will ever again indulge in eating between meals. Very little children may sometimes, when the regular meal comes but three times a day, require a meal of bread, or an apple, for a single luncheon; but, after they are seven or eight years old, if they are allowed to eat anything except at their regular meals, they do it at their peril.
But, lastly, Lot’s reluctance to leave the polluted city of Sodom, however it surprises us, is just what we see every day, in every person who does not make it the great business of his life, to love, and serve, and please God. He is in a condition not less dreadful than that of the Sodomites. He is hourly exposed to everlasting destruction from the presence of him, who created and redeemed him. And, strange to tell, though he knows and sometimes feels his danger, and admits it at all times, he will not try to escape. The flames of a worse than any temporal destruction are before him; he knows it; yet he will not stir a step to escape. He will, indeed, sometimes express his wishes; but he will do nothing. Is it because he cannot? Then Lot could not escape from Sodom; and had not the angels seized his arm, and hastened him away, must have perished with the rest; and, by the way, must have perished because he could not help it. Does any one believe this? Does not every one who reads the story, feel sure that Lot might have escaped without being helped? Thousands and millions; --yes -- and tens of millions, -- have read the story, and yet you cannot find one, who supposes Lot could not have fled on that fine morning, when the angels were urging him away. And yet there is great reason to believe, as I have already said, that, without their aid, he never would have escaped.
Precisely so is it with those who go down to the grave, the slaves of intemperance, gluttony, gambling, theatre-going, or lust. Nay, similar is the case of those who live and die unreconciled to God, although they should be free from gross vices. They do not love God or holiness; and they sometimes appear to think they cannot. Well, they cannot, it is true; but it is only because they will not. Not that I would here insinuate that we can bring ourselves, by our own unassisted efforts, to relish (if I may be permitted to use such an expression) holiness. Very far from it. But we are not likely ever to relish heavenly and divine things, until we make an effort to do so. And whenever such efforts are put forth, we have reason to expect aid from above. The apostle James says, "Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh to you." And the Holy Spirit, as the Scriptures themselves teach us throughout, is accustomed to help all such as help themselves; all such, rather, as, in trying to help themselves; begin to feel their own helplessness, and see for aid from on high. Nay, if we never stir a step in the way of everlasting life, until we are first moved from the Holy Ghost to do so, that only shows the more plainly our utter alienation from God, by nature; and that, if we perish in the end, we perish justly, and only reap the just reward of our impenitence.
Fly, then, my young friends, from the dominion of habits which are leading you -- yes, YOU -- to a worse destruction than that of ancient Sodom. Fly from the slavery of sin to the cross of that Savior whose service is perfect freedom; that when the floods of Divine wrath shall arise, and the winds blow, and beat upon your "naked souls," your building may be found resting on a "sure foundation," -- even the firm Rock of Eternal Ages.
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