EVENING SERMON.
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"Remember LOT’S wife."—Luke xvii. 32.
Ir would seem to be a very gloomy example that we have to
speak of at this time; and yet it is God’s word, and not unprofitable. But
I may compare the want of fear to the rolling over of a great stone; for if
Satan can once get watchfulness lulled asleep, he will not miss to steal your
crowns from you.
Here you have in these words a very necessary memorandum
to all generations, whether standing in the house, or in the highway home. If
ye remember the history, there came two angels to Sodom to carry Lot, his wife
and daughters, out of the city. Approaching hazard forbade them to look behind
them: and yet this poor woman but looked back with a longing eye towards Sodom,
and she became a pillar of salt. Hence these few things following may be
grounds for our instruction :— That amongst the keepers of our look,
memory is one that is much broken, which doubtless had been in better case if
we had rightly served Christ. Memory is a notable servant unto Jesus Christ. It
is like an apothecary apprentice, turning quickly unto every shuttle, and
bringing forth His medium; but alas, the want of memory hath sent many souls
into hell, not remembering that they were washen. They say it is natural for
them to be forgetful. But I say unto such, Woe unto you; for ye can keep a
tryst with the devil, and ye can remember that, and ye can remember foolish
tales or things of that nature. Our hearts (to use the comparison) are just
like a watch which one carries unto a man who hath skill, and says to him, Mend
this little thing in it. But when the skilled person looks into it, he finds
that there is not a right wheel in it. All is wrong. The mind, will, and
affection are all gone wrong. The wisdom, understanding, and spirit are all
gone wrong by our first parents eating the forbidden fruit, whereby Satan and
our own folly have made strange work, though they were warned by God’s
express prohibition.
Ye say ye have no memory. Say ye, “Though I
cannot remember all things, it is enough if I remember the things of my own
concernment, and of my own experience“ But here you should remember that
whatever ye remember ye should not lose mind of the Bible, viz., whrt a good
man Josias was, and what a bad man Manasses was, and others, but it may be that
while ye read through the Scriptures, ye will notice some one or other
encouragement or promise, saying, What needs more? I am not to dwell upon the
place. And other young raw Christians will say that they can explain the
Scriptures, yet I bid you speak soberly and be watchful; for indeed there are
crafty adversaries going about in these days. Therefore remember Lot’s
wife whose salvation or damnation we shall not and cannot determine; ‘we
will not determine this, having so small light going before us as to this, but,
sure, she is here set forth as a warning unto us. But ye will perhaps say, What
should we here remember concerning her?
1. Remember that she was Lot’s
wife, a good man’s wife, and a professor too, and brought up and educated
in good company; and yet he is vexed in his own house, as well as amongst these
filthy Sodomites. It may be that she was of good education also. But alas! that
did not her turn. She is set up between heaven and earth for a memorandum, and
we have no more certainty of her descent, but that she was Lot’s wife.
Therefore, though your good parentage and education be a mercy, yet boast not
of it; and though you may have dwelt long in a good house, what of that? May
not Satan tempt you there, if ye have not the root of the matter within you?
And you must sometimes begin to inquire of Christ, if ye have attained as much
in that condition as to bear you through, to bear your charges to heaven.
Carefully record these things that you may forget none of them; for there are
many careless professors, especially women, similar to Lot’s wife. Many
others amongst you are but bad instruments in a country-side, and ringleaders
to wicked courses; therefore pray that ye be not a grief and as plagues unto
your husbands, nor a vexation unto your parents or relations.
2. Remember
that she was half-way to Zoar, and Sodom burning behind her; and, it may be,
she then thought she was past all danger and most secure. While the angel took
hold of her hand, she says, as it were, “God be thanked, I am now past the
worst of it, and nearer unto heaven than I was.” The lesson for our
instruction is this: that some may seem to go to heaven, nay, seem to be
half-way there, and yet not be upon that way at all. So king Agrippa said unto
Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian?’ But woe unto
them that are but almost persuaded to be Christians! Hence arises this
question, How far a reprobate may go on in Christianity? and yet it is not
fitting for a Christian to know this, nor yet how far a Christian may be misled
in an evil way, and even go half-way to hell and more. “But remember
Lot’s wife,” that was half-way on to Zoar; and yet I say that
half-way is no way, for all the blossoms of a tree do not come to fruit;
“And ye have not resisted unto blood,” &c. I say not this to make
you quit your confidence; because ye are not yet so far on in suffering; but to
make you more wary, and not to cast off your armour until ye get the victory
over your lusts and predominant evils. Begin to ask, Am I right? or How far may
I be come or What may I meet with are all be done? I will not say here that ye
should do as Peter did in denying his Master, or as David in the matter of
Uriah; and yet ye know not what Satan will do unto you era ye go hence; for it
is likely that many that have gone a great length have fallen back, and will
fall back in their Christian way, and never come to the camp again. Wherefore,
it is good to abide with God and His people, and not to go in singular ways of
your own, and to be afraid of saying, “I am now half-way towards heaven. I
need not fear. I am well when at a communion table; and so I need not
fear.” But be afraid. We would say unto you, as to men in a ship when a
great blast of, wind comes, stand to your sails; and 1 may say, God grant that
we may not be found asleep in that day! And
3. “Remember Lot’s
wife.” But you may say, What did she? She but looked back, and could not
go straight on in the way with her husband. Hence ye may take this lesson, that
God doth not account of things as we do. He accounts that a great sin which we
account but a little one. Who could have thought that there should have been so
much business for so small a fault? But see what became of Hezekiah for leading
these men in to see the treasures of his house - how angry is the Lord for
that, because He knew what it would turn unto; for He judgeth not as we judge
according to the bulk or outside, but what is within the heart. But you will
say, “It was but a small thing for Ishmael to smile at the weaning of
Isaac;” and yet ye may see be was persecuted for it. And think ye, that
that was a small matter in God’s sight for Aaron and Miriam to speak
against Moses, although it must be granted that they were two gracious persons?
But many smalls make a great (as we use to say); and “if the Lord shall
mark iniquities, who shall stand?” But
4. “Remember Lot’s
wife.” But you will say, “What moved her to do so, to look back
contrary to the Lord’s express command?”
(1.) It was a piece of
her own curiosity. She thought she might in this matter take some of her own
will, when she was nigh halfway to Zoar - as it is with many of us. We
virtually say, “We are lords, we will come no more to thee.” Again,
some would gladly say, “1 cannot think to lay my will flat under
God’s will, nor endure to have it conformed fully thereto.” “But
remember Lot’s wife.” And you know that Jacob’s daughter, in
going out to see the daughters of the land was defiled; therefore return in
again; for this was an evil sight to her and to all that belonged unto her, and
to all the Schechemites also. And oh, what folly lurks in our corrupt hearts,
opposite unto the law of God
(2.) Old Sodom comes into her mind again, as
in the case of the Israelites in the wilderness, when lusting after the onions
and garlic which they had while in Egypt. Truly, that was strange; for you
know, garlic hath no agreeable taste. But what shall we say? Anything of Egypt
or Sodom is good, when we are out of them, yea, many may think “What meant
I while I was in the acts of my wickedness, that I took not my pennyworths of
it,” as we sometimes say. It was even so with her, looking back to her old
but bad companions. But I bid you beware of this, especially of “touching
the garment spotted with the flesh.” Except in the case of necessity,
Solomon forbids so much as to go in the way with an angry man. The Christian
should be like an old pilgrim with his gown and staff, and if he get not a bed,
he should lie on the ground as old Jacob did with a stone under his head. But
your accommodations for back and belly, bed and board, even such as Sodom could
afford, are the means to destroy you, and pamper you up to commit grievous
abominations. Sometimes you are forbearing yourselves, and exclaiming against
others, saying, “How beastly was such and such a man or woman! ” But
I may say, What if the Lord love others that are poor and ragged, as well as
you with your fine clothes, yea, and better; and what know ye, to judge of the
state of others?"
"Remember Lot’s wife,” of whom it is said,
“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of
salt.” Indeed she should have consulted her husband in it; and it is but
the part of all women in things lawful to do so. Though I grant not always,
provided they be not wasters. But this woman would neither be subject unto God
nor her husband, like Eve, who should have said unto the serpent, “Hold
thy peace, and be quiet, for I will not hearken unto thee, until I first hear
what Adam will say ;“ and yet doubtless she is in heaven this day. But she
was the first transgressor in the world in breaking God’s express
commands. See also what became of that poor man, who for gathering a few sticks
upon the Sabbath-day, was stricken dead. Therefore, take heed how ye have
communicated this day, for little do ye know what sickness and death follow on
despised communions. And therefore
Lastly, “Remember Lot’s
wife.” But after all ye may perhaps say, “What should we remember of
her?” No good I warrant you; and therefore the more sad is the subject to
speak of. God made her a spectacle in these days, as He is in our days doing
with some, not comparable to the apostle Paul, who was as a gazing stock. The
Lord, in the depths of His infinite wisdom, dealt so with him in His mercy, and
others He hath suffered, in His wrath, to do evil deeds for their former sins
to the instruction and edification of many. Therefore, ye should not look upon
such spectacles of His wrath in a light manner. See these eighteen men upon
whom the tower of Sioam fell. They were not the greatest sinners in Jerusalem,
and yet were made spectacles unto others. Therefore, “Remember Lot’s
wife,” a backslider indeed, which is Scotland’s sin this day, and
that of many of our professors also, whose destruction lingers not, and whose
damnation slumbereth not. How suddenly is the Lord likely to come upon us as a
thief in the night for our whoring, incest, adultery, drunkenness, and many
other dreadful sins, which although often reproved and confessed, yet are never
amended nor forsaken!
But here is an extraordinary work, or dispensation of
God’s providence; to see this woman so turned into a pillar of salt,
whereby He makes one stone of another. Her heart was hard as a stone; and so
must the other parts of her body become as a stone also.
Use - Therefore
pray that this may never be your case. Moreover, I may say unto you who are
profane professors, again, “Remember Lot’s wife.” The chief
thing that draws many of you away is the pride of your religion, wit, gifts,
profession, &c. It is not altogether natural pride, but the pride of your
religion, saying, “It cannot be I except I be singular.” For which
sin, 0 ye empty professors, make ready for a storm, and ballast your ships
well, that so ye may be more steady. Get more humility and sobriety. Esteem
others better than yourselves. Search and try your own hearts, for there are
many waiting to get an advantage of you. And remember that ye are changeable
while on this side of time. As for Quakers and these sectaries, beware of them,
with whom Satan does as he did with old Eve while be talked with her; she was
deceived, therefore meddle not at all with them; for if ye do, I may say of you
as it is said of Saul, Ye are seeking unto the devil. And it may be that, in
that case, God will suffer him to overcome you. Therefore, “Remember
Lot’s wife,” and let it be your memento always.