Genesis 19

But I shall pull off the paint from sin, that you may see the ugly face of it. We are apt to have slight thoughts of sin, and to say of it as Lot of Zoar (Genesis 19:20), Is it not a little one? But that you may see how great an evil sin is, consider these four things.

God's will is guided by wisdom; should God sometimes let us have our will, we would undo ourselves; did he let us carve for ourselves, we should choose the worst piece. Lot chose Sodom because it was well watered, and was as the garden of the Lord (Genesis 13:10), but God rained…

They, which thus know each other, love each other, delight in each other, must needs be distinct; and so are they represented to our faith. And for the other sort of actings the Scripture is full of the expressions of them; see Genesis 19:24; Zechariah 2:8; John 5:17; 1 Corinthi…

And Potiphar saw that Joseph was a blessing in his house: For, the Lord made all that he did to prosper, Genesis 39:2-3. While Lot was in Sodom, the Angel could not destroy it. Genesis 19:22. And if there had been ten believers in Sodom, the Lord would have spared all for ten's…

Nor can it be said, that those Cities, Sodom, Gomorrah, and the rest, were nothing but a multitude of Tents together. For, we read Genesis 19.3. that Lot dwelling in Sodom, received two Angels into his house; and in the fourth verse, that the Sodomites came and surrounded his ho…

His faith was not in vain: God rewarded it with a singular preservation. Thus dealt he always with his children; delivering Lot out of Sodom, Genesis 19. Rahab out of Jericho: Joshua 6:22.

Thus, Rahab does here to the spies of the Israelites, even with the danger of her own life. The like also we may read of Lot: for, when two Angels in the likeness of men came into his house, and the men of Sodom would have had them out; Lot besought them to let them alone, Genes…

When the Israelites abode not patiently, and constantly, with God in the wilderness, but desired to shake off the calling of God, and to return to Egypt, there to sit by the flesh-pots again; they had God's hand upon them grievously: as we may read at large, Psalm 78. Lot's wife…

This shows that the power of angels is great, in that they can move and stir the earth. Three angels destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1, 13). An angel destroyed the firstborn of Egypt in one night.

I bear up the pillars: Saint Ambrose was called the wall of Italy. Lot while in Sodom, kept off the fire (Genesis 19:22). Hasten, escape to Zoar, for I cannot do anything till you have come there.

So that nothing will serve as a fit screen to interpose between wrath and you, but only Christ. Thirdly, I observe, that in all these instances, there was some preceding mercy, more or less: the Angels had the dignity of their nature; the Israelites had the testimony of God's pr…

Then religion makes men peevish, ill-natured, imperious, and all that's hateful. An eminent instance of this we have Genesis 19, where Lot endeavors to dissuade the Sodomites from executing their intended wickedness (vers. 7, 8): "I pray you brethren do not so wickedly, behold n…

Yet the ungrateful world takes no notice of the benefits they receive from this salt of the earth, which preserves them, and to whom they are all so much beholden. Lot had been the occasion of restoring Zoar from captivity, as I mentioned before, for the inhabitants of that city…

The Saints stay Gods hand when he is going to strike. Gen. 19. 22. Haste thee (to Zoar) for I cannot do anything till thou become thither. The Saints are the excellent of the earth, Psal. 16. 3. Precious and honourable, Isa. 43. 4. and for their sakes God may yet be entreated to…

This opinion that our fathers have gone this way, and it is transmitted to us, hinders men much; men cannot endure newness. Lot is taxed for this by the Sodomites (Genesis 19:9): This fellow came in to sojourn here, and will he now be a Judge? So Acts 17, Paul preaching at Athen…

I do not know whether anyone could make more open mention of accents — which, however, no one will say were in use before the vowel points. So also on Genesis 19:38, regarding the Hebrew word there, he says, "They add a point above, as if it were incredible that anyone could lie…

8 Therefore taking butter and milk, and the calf which he had prepared, he set them before them, who did eat, he standing by them under the same tree. Gen. 19:1. And those two Angels coming to Sodom in the evening. Lot sat at the gate of Sodom: whom when Lot saw, he rising went…

David walking on the terrace or house top was ensnared by Bathsheba's beauty (2 Samuel 11:2-4). Lot that was chaste in Sodom, yet committed incest in the mountain, where there were none but his own family (Genesis 19:30-31, etc.). When we are locked in our closets we cannot shut…

Such respect living saints get, such angels may have, when they appear (Genesis 18:2). Abraham bowed himself towards the ground, and (Genesis 19:1) Lot rose up to meet them, and bowed himself with his face towards the ground. Now whether the worship be civil or religious, may be…

Jeremiah's soul weeps in secret for the pride and profaneness of Israel; and he was strangely secured in the day of Israel's dreadful destruction: It is very remarkable, what's recorded in (Genesis 19:29). God remembered Abraham; and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow: W…

Thus God punished the filthie Sodomites in their kind, in that, for their burning lust he rained upon them fire and brimstone from heauen. Gen 19:24. Nadab and Abihu censing with strange fire, were consumed with fire from heauen.

In Sodom and Gomorrah.] This example is oft alleged by the Prophets, to the end we might know that however all chastisements be not equal, yet notwithstanding inasmuch as God is impartial in his judgments, the memorable example which he showed thereof in the destruction of Sodom…

He calls that the fire of the enemies with which God consumes his adversaries; taking this word fire, for God's vengeance: for it must not be taken here for that visible fire with which things are consumed in this world; neither yet for lightning only; but by a figure it is take…

The sum then is, that he speaks of such a horrible change, as shall utterly waste the land of Edom. Moreover, he alludes to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24), which is a form of teaching much used among the Prophets: for in this ruin we have (as Saint Jude te…

Luke states also a warning, that the disciples should remember Lot’s wife; that is, that they should forget those things which are behind, (Philippians 3:13) and advance towards the end of the heavenly calling. For Lot’s wife was changed into a pillar of salt, (Genesis 19:26,) b…

And turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them and overthrew them, and made them an example to those who after should live ungodly. This third example is of the five cities, which God destroyed, as we read in Genesis 19. Ezekiel also in his chapter 16, sp…

That is, you have baffled me, as though you would make a fool of me, as if I might be easily turned off with any vain pretense, instead of the truth. So it is said that Lot, when he told his sons-in-law that God would destroy that place, he seemed as one that mocked to his sons-…

Let their Eyes be darkned that they may not see. So the Angel smote the Sodomites with blindness, Gen. 19. 11. and Paul the Sorcerer, Acts 13. 11. However the Sun shines, it is all one perpetual Night to them that are blind.

The Providence of God is the great Obex and hinderance to a world of sin, which else would break forth like an overflowing flood from our corrupt natures. It prevents abundance of sin, which else wicked men would commit, Genesis 19:11 The Sodomites were greedily pursuing their l…

An angel destroys Sennacherib's host (Isaiah 37:36), and smites Herod with worms (Acts 12:23). Heaven above sends down a hell of fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24). The stars in their courses fought against Sisera (Judges 5:20).

In the Greek both the person speaking, and the person spoken to, are expressed by the same name, [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], Lord; only the person spoken to is not absolutely called so, but with relation to the Psalmist, [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], to my Lord; David calls him…

Why is it here called the fire of God? Some conceive it is called the fire of God, because sent from God: that is ascribed to God, which comes from God, as that (Genesis 19:24) where it is said, that the Lord did rain fire and brimstone upon Sodom out of Heaven from the Lord, or…

This duty concerns us, for God has a controuersie with our Land, for the innumerable crying sinnes hereof, as blasphemie, oppression, cōtempt of Religion, adulteries, and such like: now when we see the great mortalitie of our brethren, or heare of treasons and conspiracies, and…

We have frequent example of this in the Scripture. Thus (Genesis 19:2), the angels tell Lot, that they would not come into his house; but would abide in the street all night; yet upon his importunity and earnest entreaties, they went in with him. And thus Saint Peter, with some…

God spoke terribly by fire to Sodom and Gomorrah, when he rained fire and brimstone on those cities, and consumed them. See (Genesis 19:24-29): The Lord rained fire and brimstone out of heaven, and overthrew those cities and the inhabitants together; and when Abraham looked towa…

Now the train-bands are up in arms watching at every quarter for foreign men, because of the general fears and jealousies, and rumors that fire-balls were thrown into houses by several of them, to help on and provoke the too furious flames. Now goods are hastily removed from the…

Every sin is a lion that would devour us, and if we are in the lion's den, shall we not use violence to get out? The angels used violence to Lot; they laid hold on him, and pulled him out of Sodom (Genesis 19:16). Such violence must be used to get out of the spiritual Sodom.

3. These must be strong influences, that with the anointing (Isaiah 61:1, 2) is given a power to preach the year of vengeance, to judge and trample upon the necks of all his enemies; that the man Christ shall come visibly and locally from the highest heavens, and the heavens bow…

Hence influences from God set them a work, and eat them up as zeal for the Lord's house eat up David (Psalm 69:9; Psalm 119:139) and Christ (John 2:17). Fleshly uncleanness put them of Sodom to mock and persecute Lot a preacher of righteousness (Genesis 19:9), and their not hear…

There are among those who make an outward profession of true religion, many that live in all sorts of sins. If you should deal with them about backslidings, decays, and a recovery, you will seem to them as Lot did to his sons-in-law, when he told them of the destruction of Sodom…

Meekness suffers the word of admonition, and takes it patiently and thankfully, not only from the hand of God that sends it, but from the hand of our friend that brings it. We must not be like the reprobate Sodomites (Genesis 19:9), or that pert Hebrew (Exodus 2:14), that flew i…

2. Another snare of Satan is, to tempt to sin under a plea of Necessity. Lot offered to expose his Daughters to the lusts of the Sodomites, that he might preserve his Angel-guests who were come into his house, Genesis 19:8. Did not Satan instigate him to this?

He that bends and inclines the heart by his grace, to look after better things, must also bridle the senses: it is lust that sets the eye awork, and causes a deep complacency and delight in carnal things, and that is cured only by God's grace (Mark 10:27), therefore go and beg t…

Sometimes it signifies an exposing of men to shame and dishonor: so the wise man tells us, wine is a mocker (Proverbs 20:1). Sometimes it signifies an imposing upon the credulity of others, things that seem incredible and impossible: so we read in Genesis, when Lot had declared…

When Herod was so wicked as to assume glory to himself, which of right is God's, the Angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not glory to God (Acts 12:23). When God will judge, the Angels will execute the judgment written: The Angels executed destruction from the Lord again…

4. Consider that sins cry to God against us; and the devil to be sure is a constant solicitor against us. The cry of Cain's sin went up (Genesis 4:10), the cry of Sodom's sin was great (Genesis 18:20-21; Genesis 19:13), the detaining of laborers' wages cries (James 5:4), and ind…

2. Another imagination which sinners please themselves with, is, that if what they do is a sin, yet that it is no great or dangerous sin. They say of the iniquity which they indulge themselves in, as Lot said of Zoar, Is it not a little one (Genesis 19:20). Thus Ephraim loved to…

And this is the cause why the Lord most commonly does most severely punish such a practice, because there was more heart, and so more poison in the sin, when there was less occasion to commit it. So it was in Lot's wife (Genesis 19:26): she looked back from behind him, and she b…

It is sad when men's care is not to discharge conscience but to satisfy lust. Answer 4: To regard iniquity is to give it respect and entertainment, as Lot showed respect to the angels (Genesis 19:2): he bowed himself with his face toward the ground and said, 'Behold now, my lord…

Sixth, a notion of the smallness of sin. Genesis 19:20: Is it not a little one? The devil holds the small end of the perspective glass to sinners.