everybody； and suit everybody； and be agreeable to everybody。 But they
forget they ought first to be sure that they please God。
These are they who dread sacrifices； and shrink from self…denial。 They
never appear able to apply our Lord's mand； to 〃take up the cross；〃
and 〃cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye。〃 （Matt。 v。 29；
30。） They cannot deny that our Lord used these expressions； but they
never find a place for them in their religion。 They spend their lives
in trying to make the gate more wide； and the cross more light。 But
they never succeed。
These are they who are always trying to keep in with the world。 They
are ingenious in discovering reasons for not separating decidedly； and
in framing plausible excuses for attending questionable amusements； and
keeping up questionable friendships。 One day you are told of their
attending a Bible…reading： the next day perhaps you hear of their going
to a ball。 One day they fast； or go to the Lord's table and receive the
sacrament： another day they go to the race…course in the morning and
the opera at night。 One day they are almost in hysterics under the
sermon of some sensational preacher： another day they are weeping over
some novel。 They are constantly labouring to persuade themselves that
to mix a little with worldly people on their own ground does good。 Yet
in their case it is very clear they do no good； and only get harm。
These are they who cannot find it in their hearts to quarrel with their
besetting sin； whether it be sloth； indolence； ill…temper； pride；
selfishness； impatience； or what it may。 They allow it to remain a
tolerably quiet and undisturbed tenant of their hearts。 They say； 〃it
is their health； or their constitutions； or their temperaments； or
their trials； or their way。 Their father； or mother； or grandmother；
was so before themselves； and they are sure they cannot help it。〃 And
when you meet after the absence of a year or so； you hear the same
thing！
But all； all； all may be summed up in one single sentence。 They are the
brethren and sisters of Lot。 They linger。
Ah； if you are a lingering soul； you are not happy！ You know you are
not。 It would be strange indeed if you were so。 Lingering is the sure
destruction of a happy Christianity。 A lingerer's conscience forbids
him to enjoy inward peace。
Perhaps at one time you did run well。 But you have left your first
loveyou have never felt the same fort since； and you never will
till you return to your 〃first works。〃 （Rev。 ii。 5。） Like Peter； when
the Lord Jesus was taken prisoner； you are following the Lord afar off；
and； like him； you will find the way not pleasant； but hard。
e and look at Lot。 e and mark Lot's history。 e and consider
Lot's 〃lingering；〃 and be wise。
III。 Let us next consider the reasons that may account for Lot's
lingering。
This is a question of great importance； and I ask most serious
attention to it。 To know the root of a disease is one step towards a
remedy。 He that is forewarned is forearmed。
Who is there among the readers of this paper that feels secure； and has
no fear of lingering？ e and listen while I tell you a few passages
of Lot's history。 Do as he did； and it will be a miracle indeed if you
do not get into the same state of soul at last。
One thing then I observe in Lot is thishe made a wrong choice in
early life。
There was a time when Abraham and Lot lived together。 They both became
rich； and could live together no longer。 Abraham； the elder of the two；
in the true spirit of humility and courtesy； gave Lot the choice of the
country； when they resolved to part pany： 〃If thou；〃 he said； 〃wilt
take the left hand； then I will go to the right； or if thou depart to
the right hand； then I will go to the left。〃 （Gen。 xiii。 9。）
And what did Lot do？We are told he saw that the plains of Jordan；
near Sodom； were rich； fertile； and well watered。 It was a good land
for cattle； and full of pastures。 He had large flocks and herds； and it
just suited his requirements。 And this was the land he chose for a
residence； simply because it was a rich； 〃well watered land。〃 （Gen。
xiii。 10。）
It was near the town of Sodom！ He cared not for that。The men of
Sodom； who would be his neighbours； were wicked！ It mattered not。They
were sinners before God exceedingly！ It made no difference to him。The
pasture was rich。 The land was good。 He wanted such a country for his
flocks and herds。 And before that argument all scruples and doubts； if
indeed he had any； at once went down。
He chose by sight； and not by faith。 He asked no counsel of God； to
preserve him from mistakes。 He looked to the things of time； and not of
eternity。 He thought of his worldly profit； and not of his soul。 He
considered only what would help him in this life。 He forgot the solemn
business of the life to e。 This was a bad beginning。
But I observe also that Lot mixed with sinners when there was no
occasion for his doing so。
We are first told that he 〃pitched his tent toward Sodom。〃 （Gen。 xiii。
12。） This； as I have already shown； was a great mistake。
But the next time he is mentioned； we find him actually living in Sodom
itself。 The Spirit says expressly； 〃He dwelt in Sodom。〃 （Gen。 xiv。 12。）
His tents were left。 The country was forsaken。 He occupied a house in
the very streets of that wicked town。
We are not told the reason of this change。 We are not aware that any
occasion could have arisen for it。 We are sure there could have been no
mand of God。 Perhaps his wife liked the town better than the
country； for the sake of society。 It is plain she had no grace herself。
Perhaps she persuaded Lot it was needful for the advantage of his
daughters； that they might marry； and get settled in life。 Perhaps the
daughters urged living in the town for the sake of gay pany： they
were evidently light…minded young women。 Perhaps Lot liked it himself；
in order to make more of his flocks and herds。 Men never want reasons
to confirm their wills。 But one thing is very clearLot dwelt in the
midst of Sodom without good cause。
When a child of God does these two things which I have named； we never
need be surprised if we hear； by and by； unfavourable accounts about
his soul。 We never need wonder if he bees deaf to the warning voice
of affliction； as Lot was （Gen。 xiv。 12）； and turns out a lingerer in
the day of trial and danger； as Lot did。
Make a wrong choice in lifean unscriptural choiceand settle
yourself down unnecessarily in the midst of worldly people； and I know
no surer way to damage your own spirituality； and to go backward about
your eternal concerns。 This is the way to make the pulse of your soul
beat feebly and languidly。 This is the way to make the edge of your
feeling about sin bee blunt and dull。 This is the way to dim the
eyes of your spiritual discernment； till you can scarcely distinguish
good from evil； and stumble as you walk。 This is the way to bring a
moral palsy on your feet and limbs； and make you go tottering and
trembling along the road to Zion； as if the grasshopper was a burden。
This is the way to sell the pass to your worst enemyto give the devil
vantage…ground in the battleto tie your arms in fightingto fetter
your legs in runningto dry up the sources of your strengthto
cripple your energiesto cut off your own hair； like Samson； and give
yourself into the hands of the Philistines； to put out your own eyes；
grind at the mill； and bee a slave。
I call on every reader of this paper to mark well what I am saying。
Settle these things down in your mind。 Do not forget them。 Recollect
them in the morning。 Recall them to memory at night。 Let them sink down
deeply into your heart。 If ever you would be safe from 〃lingering；〃
beware of needless mingling with worldly people。 Beware of Lot's
choice！ If you would not settle down into a dry； dull； sleepy； lazy；
barren； heavy； carnal； stupid； torpid state of soul； beware of Lot's
choice！
（a） Remember this in choosing a dwelling…place； or residence。 It is not
enough that the house is fortablethe situation goodthe air
finethe neighbourhood pleasantthe rent or price smallthe living
cheap。 There are other things yet to be considered。 You must think of
your immortal soul。 Will the house you think of help you towards heaven
or hell？Is the Gospel preached within an easy distance？Is Christ
crucified within reach of your door？Is there a real man of God near；
who will watch over your soul？ I charge you； if you love life； not to
overlook this。 Beware of Lot's choice。
（b） Remember this in choosing a calling； a place； or profession in
life。 It is not enough that the salary is highthe wages goodthe
work lightthe advantages numerousthe prospects of getting on most
favourable。 Think of your soul； your immortal soul。 Will it be
prospered or drawn