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"disinherit him. Those that are not dis"turbed in their sins, will be destroyed for "their sin." They may in the mean time congratulate themselves, that their consciences are at ease: but " their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually her rulers with shame do love, "Give ye. The wind hath bound her up "in her wings, and they shall be ashamed "because of their sacrifices"."

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Be then warned, I beseech you, Brethren, against the sin of loving the creature more than the Creator. Give not way to it in the least it will grow with your growth, and ripen into maturity with inconceivable haste, if it be not nipt in its bud; if you do not struggle against it in earnest on its first discovery. Make God your all, your source of enjoyment and happiness. Sacrifice your idols upon the altar of the cross of the Son of God. Let his love, which was stronger than death, command your love. Divide not your hearts between him and your idols. He will have the whole heart, and he richly deserves it. You can place your affections on none better. Your idols will not prom Henry on the text.

n Hos. iv. 18, 19.

mote your happiness, or protect you from dangers. The things that you supremely love and honour, are vain, and will be found so on trial. Love God with your whole soul, strength, might, and mind. Honour him above every thing else. He is a jealous God, and will have no rival. Receive cordially that testimony which he has given of his Son, and set to your seal that he is true. "Who is wise, and he shall un“derstand these things? prudent, and he "shall know them? for the ways of the Lord "are right, and the just shall walk in them; "but the transgressors shall fall therein"."

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SERMON VIII.

THE CHARACTER OF LOT.

GENESIS XIII. 10-13.

And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east; and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward So

dom. But the men of Sodom were wicked, and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

THE Scriptures instruct us by examples as well as by precepts. In them nothing is extenuated, or aught set down in malice; but human nature is faithfully and plainly delineated. Hence, whilst they exhibit excellencies of character for our imitation, they also unfold defects, even of good men, for our warning. To contemplate the latter as well as the former with attention, is the more necessary, because, as sinners, we are prone to evil.

On this account, the character of Lot is richly worthy of our examination. An inspired apostle has called him righteous, though his mistakes and sins were many and great. The circumstance recorded in the text, as it gave the complexion to his future fortune, constitutes an important era in his life. From it we learn at once his ruling passion, and the source of all his calamities and misconduct.

Lot was the nephew of Abraham, the illustrious father of the faithful, with whom he

left his native land, and sojourned in Canaan. From him, no doubt, he acquired the knowledge of the true God, and in his company and friendship enjoyed inestimable privileges. The benefit of pious friends, and especially pious parents or guardians, is incalculable. Many, under the divine blessing, owe to them their salvation, as well as their temporal comforts. Had Lot remained in the neighbourhood of Abraham, and under his patronage, his day would have ended, as it commenced, in peace and honour. But prosperity called into action his besetting sin, and injured him. He, as well as Abraham, had grown rich, having flocks, and herds, and tents. On their return from Egypt, whither famine had driven them for a season, to the south of Canaan, at Bethel, their herdmen fell out with each other, because the land was not able to bear them. On this occasion, "Abram said unto Lot, Let "there be no strife, I pray thee, between me "and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not "the whole land before thee? Separate

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thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt "take the left hand, then I will go to the

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