Sodornius, Unless a process of moral deterioration had been going ort within the soul of Lot, residence among a people so depraved would eventually have becomo tmpossible. Instead of being merely vexed in his righteous soul while in Sodom, he would have taken the earliest opportunity to escape from Sodom. (2) Tliat he had betrotlted his daughters to two of Sodom's dtiz.ens. That his prospective sons-in-law were infected by the bad taint of the city may be inferred from their subsequent behaviour, as well as from the preceding judgmen't of God .on the universal corruption of the city's inhabitants. Hence Lot should rather have kept his daughters virgins than l1ave su:ffered them to enter into matrimonial engagements with ungodly suitors. (3) That he actually offered to sacri.fwe his daughters' purity to the. lust of tlie Sodomi,tes. Whatever apology may be offered for so extraordinary a proposal on the part of Lot, nothing can be plainer than that it implied a strange obliquity of moral Yision, and a serious deadening of fine moral feeling. It was a clear proof that the immoral contagion had begun to affect Lot, and that it was high time for him to leave S~o~ • II. THE wnrn LIGHT OF Sono1i1's IMPIETY. Already well enough known as to its character, the wickedness of Sodom is at length unveiled in all its revolting features and frightful dimensions. The history of that last night in the doomed city pro- claimed the sin of Sodom to be-1. Unnatural. In the unbridled licence of their appe- tites they had far outstripped common sinners; even the natural brute beasts they had left behind; they had sunk to a monstrosity of wi9kedness of which shame for- bids to speak. Paul enumerates their sin amongst the forms of impurity by which the heathen world has at times defiled itself (Rom. i. 26, 27). 2. Sliameless. Dis- p:nsting and repnlsive as their wickedness was, instead of shrinking into darkness and doing it in secret, they openly proclaimed their filthiness, and would have gratified their lusts in public. It is a lower deep in moral degradation when one not only does "those things which are not convenient," but glories in his shame (Phil. iii. 19)... 3; Violent. This marked a third degree in the wickedness of Sodom, that, rather than be baulked of their lewd design, the citizens were prepared to set at nought. the laws of hospitality, which insured the safety of strangers within lhcir city, and, if need were, the rights of property, by breaking into Lot's house, and, still further, thl! liberties of the person, by laying hands on the objec:ts o;f their unhallowed lusts. Ordinary sinners are satisfied if they can gratify an unholy impuJse without an undue expenditure of crime; these were ready to trample on all laws of God aJld man to r,ccomplisb their desire," adding sin to sin" (Isa. xxx. 1). 4. Obdurate. Even "·hen struck with blindness they did not discontinue their impious attempt. They wearied themselves groping about in the darkness, but it was still in an endeavour "to find the door." Common sinners pause when confronted with the just judgments :if Heaven ; these were only maddened into greater fury (Ps. lxxiii. 7). And, to complete the picture, this appalling wickedness was--5. Universal. From all. quar.: I.ere and of all ages they clustered and clamoured round the door of Lot's house. There does not seem to have been any dissension in the multitude. They were all of one mind. CouJd anything more signally attest Sodom's ripeness for destruction? Learn-1. How rapidly a good man can deteriorate in evil company. 2. How completely a nation can resist the ameliorating influences of its good men. 3. How disgustingly repulsive sin is when fully developed.
EXPOSITION. Vers. 12, 18.-And the men 1aid uto things, but of persons) thou hast in the city; Lot,-after the incident recorded in the bring th.em out of this plaoe : for we will preceding verses. Lot by . this time had destroy this place (literally, for destr01Jing doubtless recognised their celestial character; t~ pla,ce are we, i. e.· we are here fW' that accordingly, the Codex Samaritanus reads purpose), beca.uae the cry of them - not " an gels " - Ha.at thou here any besides 1 "the outcry on account of them," i. e. which (i. e. any other relatives or friends in the the men of Sodom exto1t from others (Geso• city in addition to the daughters then present nius), but the cry against them which ascends in the house) eon in law, and thy sons, to heaven, the cry for vengeance on tl1eir and thy daughters, and whatsoever (not of iniquities (cf, eh. iv. 10; xviil. 20-ia w11xen CR, XIX, 12-28.] 'I)HE BOOK OF GENESIS. ;15lj