The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-15

Beginning to End-Lessons That
1t Teaches.
on account Of a very severe cold,
Rev. James Mcleod, ID. D., was unable
to conduct services in the First Pres
byterian church last night. AT the
morning service he preached on Lots
Wife," taking his text from Luke,
Xxii:3o: Remember Lots wife" DR..
Mcleod said:
"Remember Lots Wife. Luke xvii:32.
These are words of warning. Our
Lords purpose in uttering them is no
ticed in the context. lie was speaking
of the last days, when lie will come TO
Judge the world in righteousness. He in
Inmates that His coming will be as sud-
den and as unexpected as was the Flood
that destroyed a guilty world, in the days
of Noah; and as the rain of fire and
birthstone that destroyed the wicked
city of Sodom, in the days of Lot. In
those days. the multltudes lived in fam
cied security. They were thoughtless of
the future and wholly unprepared for
the coming catastrophe. And lest His
disciples should be thoughtless and un-
concerned and unprcpared. Jesus says:
.'As 1t was in the days of Noah, so
man" And again: "As it was in the days
of Lot, even thus shall 1t be in the
day when the Son of man is revealed
Hence His warning. 1t is as If He had
said: "Sce to it that you are not caught
careless and unprepared in the day of
the Lord. Avoid the folly of those
whose sins brought upon them swift de-
struction. Beware of danger. Heed the
warming Escape for thy life. Prepare
70 meet thy God. Press forward. Don't
look back: 'Remember Lots wife
When Jesus told His disciples "Remom-
her Lots Wife, He did not wish them
to forget her husband. They know the
history Of Lot and his family. 1t was
ancient history then, and it is far more
ancient now. It is recorded at length in
the book of Genesis and it was written
for the instruction of its readers and
hearers In all after ages. AS we think OF
Lots wife it is only natural that VIC
should also think of Lot and of their
children, and their home and their COM
plnicns, and of the miraculous inter-
position of God on behalf of Lots entire
FAMILY, and of the miraculous and awful
destruction of Sodonl and its infamous
inhabitants; and of the rescue of Lot and
his two daughters. while at the same
time, and moro particularly we are told
to remember the disobedient wife and
mother. who fell into the hands of an
angry God, and who became an everlast-
ing monument of the divine displeasure.
A Tragic Story.
It Is a. tragic story from beginning to
end. and 1t embodies lessons and suGgcs-
tions which are of permanent and far
reaching Importance.
First.--It Is the manifest wish of Christ
that we should make religious use OF
memory. "Remember Lots wife" Mem
ory is storehouse in which facts or
fancies are deposited. for present or for
future use. Memory recalls the past. and
It anticipates the future, 1t makes use
of experience. "a burnt child breads the
fire." because it remembers what hap
pened. Memory preserves and recalls
facts, uron which right reason pro-
nounces a correct Judgment. BY recall
ing past facts, we can utilize our expert
ence, and avoid SIM and by recalling
promised blessings, we can project our
selves into the future and thus be slim
ulated to pursue holiness and to rejoice
in hope of the glory of God. A mans
memory, coupled with his imagination.
has much to do with the formation and
development of his character AS he
thinketh in his heart, so is he" Hence
n man may sin grievously against God.
and against his own soul. though he be
n thousand miles away from the object
of his wicked imagination and sinful
thoughts
'RemGfnDer. Il ultlNalt YOUR iiciofN.
IT is easy to get, and easy TO lose. In the
child, It IS one of the first faculties to
develope: and in tho aged, 1t is one OF the
first to fade. 1t is easy 10 forget To do
that which we do not like To do This
is one of the reasons why prayer, and
family worship, and the bible and church
and Christian activity are by multitudes
so largely neglected. They remembered
these things once, but they have forgot
ten them Their memory, like their con-
science has become blunred In every re-
lation in life. but more especially in tho
sphere of religion. If we arc at all anN-
ious to inherit eternal life, we will re-
member and respect Gods wishes. and
we will be anxious to keep His Com
mandments.
And herein lies the sin of Lots wife.
She did not choose to remember Gods
wish, for she deliberately violated His
express command She ought to have
thanked God and His angels for rescuing
her, and for opening mp for her way
of asc;.pn from the doomed city. She
heard tie command. Escape for thy
life; look not behind thee But she did
look back to see whether God meant
what He said; or 1t may be. 10 heave Il
uigh over the loss OF all her worldly
treasures. Whatever prompted her TO dis
pbey the plain command OF God, and TO
look bach, her sin brought upon her
swift end severe punishment. She looked
back. but she was not permitted again TO
oLk forward, and to hasten to a safe
:etreat on the contrary, standing there
Kiln eyes transfixed, and gazing on the
,lrring city. the wrath of God was
Iindled against her, and, at his bidding,
aer soul winged its way to another world,
while her stiif, dead body became "a pill
lar OF salt"
Second-"Remember Lots Wife," and
note how this story suggests and con-
arms bible doctrine and miracles. 1t
mas been said that "where mystery be-
gins religion ends" but such philosophy
s as shallow as It is false. For even a
ehild can see that religion without
i,ystery would be religion without God.
AND surely there is no mystery or mir
lcle In the universe of thought or OF his
ory, that is more amazing or more true.
nan that of the self-eXistent and eternal
Sod. / believe In God, and therefore l
.eleve In the mystery Of mysteries. and
n the miracle of miracles. Believing, as
sc do, In God, our Heavenly Father. why
llould we doubt the truth OF any miracle
ecorded In the bible? Has God so hedged
aimsef in. that He never would. and