sprang up, which grieved Abraham to the heart. So much so that he felt that a separation was necessary for the sake of peace.

And now observe the generous and unselfish conduct of Abraham. Being the elder, he might well have made his own choice; and then have desired his nephew to leave him. But instead of that, he proposes to Lot that he should take for himself the spot which he preferred; "If thou 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."

Here we see how little Abraham was influenced by worldly motives. He was rich; but he cared little for his riches. He lived as a stranger upon earth, looking for "a better and more enduring substance."

Well would it have been for Lot, if he had shown the same unworldly spirit. But, alas, the bad part of his character now came out. He made just the very choice which we should expect a worldly man to make. He lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was watered everywhere, even as the garden of the Lord.

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Then Lot chose for him all the plain of Jordan."

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How wrong was he to fix upon that district, merely because it was a fruitful country, and pleasing to the eye. Would the beauty of the spot, or the richness of the land, bring him happiness? thing else to ensure this. Was it a land, where the inhabitants were a God-fearing people? No, on the contrary, these men of Sodom were notorious for their ungodliness; and yet Lot, who was himself a servant of God, went deliberately and plunged himself amongst them.

This was indeed a false step, the consequences of which he felt for years to come. It is true, he had this pleasant plain for his residence. He had there rich and fruitful pastures for his flocks and herds. His wealth no doubt increased. But was he happy? Oh, no; the sin which he daily witnessed around him was enough to make his eyes run down with tears. How could he, who was a good man, live in the very midst of sinners, and be happy? We are told that "in seeing and hearing he vexed his righteous soul from

day to day with their ungodly deeds." When he heard their wicked language, it grated upon his ears. Their unholy deeds made him shudder. Sodom was a hell upon earth to one who had tasted of the peace and blessedness of true religion.

My dear Reader, beware lest you fall into the snare which proved so ruinous to Lot. Oftentimes we are called to make an important choice. Oh, let us be guided in making it, not by what delights the eye, or by the prospect of worldly advantage, but by an earnest desire to do what is pleasing to God, and what will be likely to help us on the way to heaven. Above all, let us in such cases seek counsel of God, and ask Him to guide and direct our steps. Had Lot done this, he would have been spared many an hour of after-sorrow, and many a feeling of remorse and self-reproach.

It happened one day, whilst Lot was living thus miserably in Sodom, two Strangers suddenly made their appearance. They were no common visitors. In form they were

like ordinary men; but they were bearers of a message from God Himself. They had no sooner entered the city than they found Lot: and seeing that they were strangers, he invited them to take shelter in his own house. They then made known to him their errand. They were come on a message of mercy to him. The Lord had determined to destroy the city; and He had sent his angels to hasten Lot from the guilty place before His wrath was poured out upon it.

What awful tidings were these to hear! What must he have felt, when he pondered over the many precious souls that were in a moment to be hurried to destruction! His heart bled especially for the members of his own family; and without a moment's delay he speeds off to warn his sons-in-law of the approaching danger. But, like Noah before the flood, he met only with scorn. They gave no heed to his message. "He seemed

as one that mocked" unto them.

The night passed. It was to Lot a night of much anxiety, and doubtless of much prayer. And at daybreak the angels urged the favoured family to depart, assuring

them that not a moment was to be lost, but that God's hand was lifted up to strike the coming blow.

But how hard to give up all at God's bidding! What a wrench it is, when we are called upon to snap asunder some earthly tie which has bound itself around our heart! How trying to part with those things that are dear to us, for our Lord's sake!

"Look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain "-was the command in the present case. And Lot, and his two daughters, strictly obeyed it. His wife, though she went out with them, afterwards wavered. Ah, her heart was in Sodom! She turned to take one lingering look at the doomed. city; and she was in a moment struck to the ground, an awful monument of God's righteous anger!

Two thousand years after this, when God sent another, and a still greater, Messenger from heaven, even His own beloved Son, that heavenly Messenger raised his warning voice to a world of sinners, saying-" Remember Lot's wife."

We hear but little more of Lot. The last