They live like the men of Sodom； and the men of Noah's day： they eat；
and drink； and plant； and build； and marry； and are given in marriage；
and behave as if Christ was never going to return。 If you are such an
one； I say to you this day； Take care： 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（b） Are you lukewarm； and cold in your Christianity？ Alas； many are！
They try to serve two masters： they labour to keep friends both with
God and mammon。 They strive to be a kind of spiritual bat； neither one
thing nor the other： not quite a thorough…going Christian； but not
quite men of the world。 If you are such an one； I say to you this day；
Take care： 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（c） Are you halting between two opinions； and disposed to go back to
the world？ Alas； many are！ They are afraid of the cross： they secretly
dislike the trouble and reproach of decided religion。 They are weary of
the wilderness and the manna； and would fain return to Egypt； if they
could。 If you are such an one； I say to you this day； Take care：
〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（d） Are you secretly cherishing some besetting sin？ Alas； many are！
They go far in a profession of religion； they do many things that are
right； and are very like the people of God。 But there is always some
darling evil habit； which they cannot tear from their heart。 Hidden
worldliness； or covetousness； or lust； sticks to them like their skin。
They are willing to see all their idols broken； but this one。 If you
are such an one； I say to you this day； Take care： 〃Remember Lot's
wife。〃
（e） Are you trifling with little sins？ Alas； many are！ They hold the
great essential doctrines of the Gospel。 They keep clear of all gross
profligacy； or open breach of God's law； but they are painfully
careless about little inconsistencies； and painfully ready to make
excuses for them。 〃It is only a little temper； or a little levity； or a
little thoughtlessness； or a little forgetfulness〃they tell us： 〃God
does not take account of such little matters。 We are none of us
perfect： God will never require it。〃If you are such an one； I say to
you this day； Take care： 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（f） Are you resting on religious privileges？ Alas； many do！ They enjoy
the opportunity of hearing the Gospel regularly preached； and of
attending many ordinances； and means of grace： and they settle down on
their lees。 They seem to be 〃rich； and increased with goods； and have
need of nothing〃 （Rev。 iii。 17）； while they have neither faith； nor
grace； nor spiritual…mindedness nor meetness for heaven。 If you are
such an one； I say to you this day； Take care： 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（g） Are you trusting to your religious knowledge？ Alas； many do！ They
are not ignorant； as other men： they know the difference between true
doctrine and false。 They can dispute； they can reason； they can argue；
they can quote texts； but all this time they are not converted； and
they are yet dead in trespasses and sins。 If you are such an one； I say
to you this day； Take care： 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（h） Are you making some profession of religion； and yet clinging to the
world？ Alas； many do！ They aim at being thought Christians。 They like
the credit of being serious； steady； proper； regular； church…going
people； yet all the while their dress； their tastes； their panions；
their entertainments tell plainly they are of the world。 If you are
such an one； I say to you this day； Take care： 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（i） Are you trusting that you will have a death…bed repentance？ Alas；
many do so！ They know they are not what they ought to be： they are not
yet born again； and fit to die。 But they flatter themselves that when
their last illness es they shall have time to repent and lay hold on
Christ； and go out of the world pardoned； sanctified； and meet for
heaven。 They forget that people often die very suddenly； and that as
they live they generally die。 If you are such an one； I say to you this
day； Take care： Remember Lot's wife。〃
（j） Do you belong to an Evangelical congregation？ Many do； and； alas；
go no further！ They hear the truth Sunday after Sunday and remain as
hard as the nether…millstone。 Sermon after sermon sounds in their ears。
Month after month they are invited to repent； to believe； to e to
Christ； and to be saved。 Year after year passes away； and they are not
changed。 They keep their seat under the teaching of a favourite
minister； and they also keep their favourite sins。 If you are such an
one； I say to you this day； Take care： 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
Oh； may these solemn words of our Lord Jesus Christ be deeply graven on
all our hearts！ May they awaken us when we feel sleepyrevive us when
we feel deadsharpen us when we feel dullwarm us when we feel cold！
May they prove a spur to quicken us when we are falling back； and a
bridle to check us when we are turning side I May they be a shield to
defend us when Satan casts a subtle temptation at our heart； and a
sword to fight with； when he says boldly； 〃Give up Christ； e back to
the world； and follow me！〃 Oh； may we say； in such hours of trial；
〃Soul； remember thy Saviour's warning！ Soul； soul； hast thou forgotten
His words？ Soul； soul； REMEMBER LOT'S WIFE！'〃
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＇41＇ 〃Remember Dr。 Dodd！ I myself heard him tell his own flock； whom he
was lecturing in his house； that he was obliged to give up that method
of helping their souls； because it exposed him to so much reproach。 He
gave it up； and fell from one pliance to another with his corrupt
nature； and under what reproach did he die！〃 （He was hanged for
forgery。） Venn's Life and Letters； p。 238。 Edit。 1853。
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XI。
CHRIST'S GREATEST TROPHY
〃And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him； saying； If
Thou be Christ； save Thyself and us。
〃But the other answering rebuked him； saying； Dost not thou fear God；
seeing thou art in the same condemnation？
〃And we indeed justly； for we receive the due reward of our deeds： but
this Man hath done nothing amiss。
〃And he said unto Jesus； Lord； remember me when Thou est into Thy
kingdom。
〃And Jesus said unto him； Verily I say unto thee； To…day shalt thou be
with Me in paradise。〃Luke xxiii。 39…43。
there are few passages in the New Testament which are more familiar to
men's ears than the verses which head this chapter。 They contain the
well…known story of 〃the penitent thief。〃
And it is right and good that these verses should be well known。 They
have forted many troubled minds； they have brought peace to many
uneasy consciences； they have been a healing balm to many wounded
hearts； they have been a medicine to many sin…sick souls； they have
smoothed down not a few dying pillows。 Wherever the Gospel of Christ is
preached； they will always be honoured； loved； and had in remembrance。
I wish to say something about these verses。 I will try to unfold the
leading lessons which they are meant to teach。 I cannot see the
peculiar mental state of anyone into whose hands this paper may fall。
But I can see truths in this passage which no man can ever know too
well。 Here is the greatest trophy which Christ ever won。
I。 First of all； we are meant to learn from these verses； Christ's
power and willingness to save sinners。
This is the main doctrine to be gathered from the history of the
penitent thief。 It teaches us that which ought to be music in the ears
of all who hear itit teaches us that Jesus Christ is 〃mighty to
save。〃 （Isa。 lxiii。 1。）
I ask anyone to say whether a case could look more hopeless and
desperate than that of this penitent thief once did？
He was a wicked mana malefactora thief； if not a murderer。 We know
this； for such only were crucified。 He was suffering a just punishment
for breaking the laws。 And as he had lived wicked； so he seemed
determined to die wickedfor at first； when he was crucified； he
railed on our Lord。
And he was a dying man。 He hung there； nailed to a cross； from which he
was never to e down alive。 He had no longer power to stir hand or
foot。 His hours were numbered： the grave was ready for him。 There was
but a step between him and death。
If ever there was a soul hovering on the brink of hell； it was the soul
of this thief。 If ever there was a case that seemed lost； gone； and
past recovery； it was his。 If ever there was a child of Adam whom the
devil made sure of as his own； it was this man。
But see now what happened。 He ceased to rail and blaspheme； as he had
done at the first： he began to speak in another manner altogether。 He
turned to our blessed Lord in prayer。 He prayed Jesus to 〃remember him
when he came into His kingdom。〃 He asked that his soul might be cared
for； his sins pardoned； and himself thought of in another worl