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they are infected with the love of this world。 I appeal to every
true…hearted Evangelical minister who reads this paper： I ask him to
look round his congregation。 I appeal to every old…established
Christian： I ask him to look round the circle of his acquaintance。 I am
sure that I am speaking the truth。 I am sure that it is high time to
remember the sin of Lot's wife。
（a） How many children of religious families begin well and end ill！ In
the days of their childhood they seem full of religion。 They can repeat
texts and hymns in abundance； they have spiritual feel ings and
convictions of sin； they profess to love the Lord Jesus and desire
after heaven； they take pleasure in going to church and hearing
sermons； they say things which are treasured up by their fond parents
as indications of grace； they do things which make relations say； 〃What
manner of child will this be？〃 But； alas； how often their goodness
vanishes like the morning cloud； and like the dew that passes away！ The
boy bees a young man； and cares for nothing but amusements；
field…sports； revelling； and excess。 The girl bees a young woman；
and cares for nothing but dress； gay pany； novel…reading； and
excitement。 Where is the spirituality which once appeared to promise so
fair？ It is all gone： it is buried； it is overflowed by the love of the
world。 They walk in the steps of Lot's wife。 They look back。
（b） How many married people do well in religion to all appear ance；
until their children begin to grow upand then they fall away！ In the
early years of their married life they seem to follow Christ
diligently； and to witness a good confession。 They regularly attend the
preaching of the Gospel： they are fruitful in good works； they are
never seen in vain and dissipated society。 Their faith and practice are
both sound； and walk hand in hand。 But； alas； how often a spiritual
blight es over the household when a young family begins to grow up；
and sons and daughters have to be brought forward in life。 A leaven of
worldliness begins to appear in their habits； dress； entertainments；
and employment of time。 They are no longer strict about the pany
they keep and the places they visit。 Where is the decided fine of
separation which they once observed？ Where is the unswerving abstinence
from worldly amusements which once marked their course？ It is all
forgotten。 It is all laid aside； like an old almanack。 A change has
e over them： the spirit of the world has taken possession of their
hearts。 They walk in the steps of Lot's wife。 They look back。
（c） How many young women seem to love decided religion until they are
twenty or twenty…one； and then lose all！ Up to this time of their life
their conduct in religious matters is all that could be desired。 They
keep up habits of private prayer； they read their Bibles diligently；
they visit the poor； when they have opportunity； they teach in Sunday
schools； when there is an opening； they minister to the temporal and
spiritual wants of the poor； they like religious friends； they love to
talk on religious subjects： they write letters lull or religious
expressions and religious experience。 But； alas； how often they prove
unstable as water； and are ruined by the love of the world！ Little by
little they fall away and lose their first love。 Little by little the
〃things seen〃 push out of their minds the 〃things unseen；〃 and； like
the plague of locusts； eat up every green thing in their souls。 Step by
step they go back from the decided position they once took up。 They
cease to be jealous about sound doctrine； they pretend to find out that
it is 〃uncharitable〃 to think one person has more religion than
another； they discover it is 〃exclusive〃 to attempt any separation from
the customs of society。 By and by they give their affections to some
man who makes no pretence to decided religion。 At last they end by
giving up the last remnant of their own Christianity； and being
thorough children of the world。 They walk in the steps of Lot's wife。
They look back。
（d） How many municants in our churches were at one time zealous and
earnest professors； and have now bee torpid； formal； and cold！ Time
was when none seemed so much alive in religion as they were： none were
so diligent in their attendance on the means of grace； none were so
anxious to promote the cause of the Gospel； and so ready for every good
work； none were so thank ful for spiritual instruction； none were
apparently so desirous to grow in grace。 But now； alas； everything
seems altered！ The 〃love of other things〃 has taken possession of their
hearts； and choked the good seed of the Word。 The money of the world；
the rewards of the world； the literature of the world； the honours of
the world； have now the first place in their affections。 Talk to them；
and you will find no response about spiritual things。 Mark their daily
conduct； and you will see no zeal about the kingdom of God。 A religion
they have indeed； but it is living religion no more。 The spring of
their former Christianity is dried up and gone； the fire of the
spiritual machine is quenched and cold： earth has put out the flame
which once burned so brightly。 They have walked in the steps of Lot's
wife。 They have looked back。
（e） How many clergymen work hard in their profession for a few years；
and then bee lazy and indolent from the love of this present world I
At the outset of their ministry they seem willing to spend and be spent
for Christ： they are instant in season and out of season； their
preaching is lively and their churches are filled。 Their congregations
are well looked after： cottage lectures； prayer…meetings；
house…to…house visitation； are their weekly delight。 But； alas； how
often after 〃beginning in the Spirit〃 they end 〃in the flesh；〃 and；
like Samson； are shorn of their strength in the lap of that Delilah；
the world！ They are preferred to some rich living； they marry a worldly
wife； they are puffed up with pride； and neglect study and prayer。 A
nipping frost cuts off the spiritual blossoms which once bade so fair。
Their preaching loses its unction and power； their week…day work
bees less and less； the society they mix in bees less select； the
tone of their conversation bees more earthly。 They cease to
disregard the opinion of man： they imbibe a morbid fear of 〃extreme
views；〃 and are filled with a cautious dread of giving offence。 And at
last the man who at one time seemed likely to be a real successor of
the apostles and a good soldier of Christ； settles down on his lees as
a clerical gardener； farmer； or diner…out； by whom nobody is offended
and nobody is saved。 His church bees half empty； his influence
dwindles away； the world has bound him hand and foot。 He has walked in
the steps of Lot's wife。 He has looked back。 ＇41＇
It is sad to write of these things； but it is far more sad to see them。
It is sad to observe how professing Christians can blind their
consciences by specious arguments on this subject； and can defend
positive worldliness by talking of the 〃duties of their station；〃 the
〃courtesies of life；〃 and the necessity of having a 〃cheerful
religion。〃
It is sad to see how many a gallant ship launches forth on the voyage
of life with every prospect of success and； springing this leak of
worldliness； goes down with all her freight in full view of the harbour
of safety。 It is saddest of all to observe how many flatter themselves
it is all right with their souls when it is all wrong； by reason of
this love of the world。 Grey hairs are here and there upon them； and
they know it not。 They began with Jacob； and David； and Peter； and they
are likely to end with Esau； and Saul； and Judas Iscariot。 They began
with Ruth； and Hannah； and Mary； and Persis； and they are likely to end
with Lot's wife。
Beware of a half…hearted religion。 Beware of following Christ fr