p. 115 | Remember Lot's Wife

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Dec 9, 1852

Remember Lot's Wife.

It may be profitable for believers in the Second Advent to consider this injunction of our Saviour. He says that as it was in the days of Noah and Lot, so shall it be in the day when the Son of man shall be revealed. He warns us not to turn back, but remember Lot's wife. At first she believed the warning and set out to escape the coming wrath. She forsook her home and friends, and part of her children, and withstood the ridicule of those who deemed the alarm groundless, and as "the voice of one who mocked" (or, according to modern phraseology, wild fanaticism) she advanced as far as the plains, beyond the city, without wavering; but when she looked upon the soft blue sky, and saw the sun rising in its usual beauty, she turned and looked with a heart of unbelief, upon the city which still remained unscathed. Her heart and her treasure seemed to be there, and her doom was sealed for ever.

Her case stands as a fearful monument of the wrath of God upon that class of persons, who, though they may receive the truth with gladness, and endure for a while, yet when trials, afflictions, or persecutions arise, they are offended, and make shipwreck of their faith.

Let us examine ourselves, and find where our treasure is; if it is in the world, our heart is with it, and both will perish together. It is a matter of grief, that any who hear the midnight cry, can be indifferent to its appeals, and neglect the necessary preparations. But it is more surprising that so many who hear, and apparently receive its message, should go away and forget what manner of persons they are.—They cannot bear the reproach of friends, obloquy and ridicule heaped in their way. They begin to doubt; all things remain as they were from the creation, the seasons roll in their accustomed track; the heedless, busy throng pass hurrying on. They listen to teachers, who say "this end of the world is an old story; many have expected it in different ages, but they were disappointed, and the same expectations will now as surely fail," (fine logic, the same as to say because that day has never been, it will never come,) they begin to be ashamed of their former admissions, and before they are aware, are as unconcerned as ever. What can we say to such, "if they hear not Moses and the prophets, how shall they hear us?" The Lord have mercy on them, and open their eyes to the fearful realities before them, and incline them to flee to the city of refuge, nor stay in all the plains, least while they are looking backward, they may hear the last trumpet fix their eternal doom.—Midnight Cry, 1843