Meditations

I call on every reader of this paper to mark well what I am saying. Settle these things down in your mind. Do not forget them. Recollect them in the morning. Recall them to memory at night. Let them sink deeply into your heart. If ever you would be safe from ‘lingering,’ beware of needless mingling with worldly people. Beware of Lot’s choice! If you would not settle down into a dry, sleepy, lazy, barren, heavy, carnal, stupid, torpid state of soul, beware of Lot’s choice

A. Remember this in choosing a dwelling place, or residence. It is not enough that the house is comfortable – the situation is good – the air is fine – the neighbourhood pleasant – the rent or price small – the living cheap. There are other things yet to be considered. You must think of your immortal soul. Will the house you think of help you towards heaven or hell? – Is the Gospel preached within an easy distance? – Is Christ crucified within reach of your door? – Is there a real man of God near, who will watch over your soul? I charge you, if you love life, not to overlook this. Beware of Lot’s choice.

B. Remember this in choosing a calling, a place, or profession in life. It is not enough that the salary is high – the wages good – the prospects of getting on most favourable. Think of your soul, your immortal soul. Will it be prospered or drawn back? Will you have your Sundays free, and be able to have one day in the week for your spiritual business? I beseech you, by the mercies of God, to take heed what you do. Make no rash decision. Look at the place in every light – the light of God as well as the light of the world. Gold may be bought too dear. Beware Lot’s choice.

C. Remember this in choosing a husband or wife, if you are unmarried. It is not enough that your eye is pleased – that your tastes are met – that your mind find congeniality – that there is amiability and affection – that there is a comfortable home for life. There needs something more than this. There is a life yet to come. Think of your soul, your immortal soul. Will it be helped upwards or dragged downwards by the union you are planning? Will it be made more heavenly, or more earthly – drawn nearer to Christ, or to the world? Will its religion grow in vigour, or will it decay? I pray you, by all your hopes of glory, allow this to enter into your calculations. “Think,” as old Baxter said, and “think, and think again,” before you commit yourself. “Be you not unequally yoked…” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

Matrimony is nowhere named among the means of conversion. Remember Lot’s choice.

D. Remember this if you are ever offered a situation on a railway. It is not enough to have good pay and regular employment – the confidence of the directors, and the best chance of rising to a higher post. These things are very well in their way, but they are not everything. How will your soul fare if you serve a railway company that runs Sunday trains? What day in the week will you have for God and eternity? What opportunities will you have for hearing the Gospel preached? I solemnly warn you to consider this. It will profit you nothing to fill your purse, if you bring leanness and poverty on your soul. Beware of selling your Sabbath for the sake of a good place! Remember Esau’s mess of pottage. Beware of Lot’s choice.

Some reader may perhaps think, “A believer need not fear; he is a sheep of Christ, he will never perish, he cannot come to much harm. It cannot be that such matters can be of great importance.”

Well, you may think so. But I warn you, if you neglect these matters, your will never prosper. A true believer will certainly not be cast away, although he may linger. But if he does linger, it is vain to suppose that his religion will thrive. Grace is a tender plant. Unless you cherish it and nurse it well, it will soon become sickly in this evil world. It may droop, though it cannot die. The brightest gold will soon become dim when exposed to a damp atmosphere. The hottest iron will soon become cold. It requires pains and toils to bring it to a red heat: it requires nothing but letting alone, or a little cold water to become black and hard.