Destruction of Sodom [pp. 272-273]

DESTRUCTION OF SODOM.
snore valuable than the body, so to nourish and embellish it are more important than to care for and
feed the body. 4. We have a beautiful picture of
family piety. These three persons lived in peace
and harmony, loved their Savior, and were loved
by him. 5. We learn the blessedness of entertaining strangers: "some have thereby entertained angels;" but this family entertained him "who has a
more excellent name than the angels "-the Lord
of life and glory. 6. We see with whom Jesus
loves to dwell-with those who receive his teaching-who believe on and love him. If we would
have the Savior's presence we must prize it, and
with a glad mind follow all his counsels and admonitions. What an honor to have the Savior of the
world for a guest! Let us open the door to him
without delay.
Original.
DESTRUCTION OF SODOM.
BY REV. HARLEY GOODWIN, A. M.
WHERE now the Dead Sea rolls its sluggish tide,
And mournful solitude and death reside,
Luxuriance and splendor once prevailed,
And sportive crowds the breath of life inhaled.
On a vast plain there numerous cities rose,
Enriched with all the bounties earth bestows;
And still had they in safety long remained;
But vice in every form triumphant reigned.
There Luxury lay in thought supine and low,
Mindless of that high Source whence blessings flow;
With torpid eye there brute Intemperance reeled;
Through the rent air his horrid curses pealed;
With haughty looks there stalked unfeeling Pride,
And Pleasure gay, with Lewdness at her side,
Through scenes of mirth and folly danced along,
While Dissipation ruled the giddy throng.
The God of justice, who o'er all presides,
Rules the wide world, and good from ill divides,
Saw them in sin whence naught could them reclaim,
Dead to reproof, and callous even to shame,
And seeing swore-in holy anger swore"This race shall die, and vex the earth no more."
Yet even then, though loig with crimes provoked,
He had, in love, the dread decree revoked,
Even then had heard the patriarch's earnest prayer,
Had there been ten, ten only, righteous there.
But all, from age to youth, had gone astray,
And all, save one, in vice imbruted lay.
To rescue him from ruin's direful storm,
Two angels come, arrayed in human form.
'Tis evening when they reach the city's-gate,
Where Lot, in thoughtful silence, seemed to wait.
With friendship's beaming look, he rising meets,
And these celestial strangers humbly greets;
With urgent kindness presses them to stay,
And all his deeds a generous heart display.
Now sable night the guilty place enshrouds,
And vice collects its dissipated crowds;
Abroad is heard the bold, rebellious cry
Of thousands on the morrow doomed to die.
These angel guests their message then declare,
And bid their host for speedy flight prepare:
"Go, go," they said, "to all thy children haste,
And lead them forth from this devoted place."
With hasty steps the anxious father runs;
In moving calls he warns his faithless sons:
"Up, up," he cries, "for safety quickly fly;
Soon must this place o'erwhelmed in ruin lie;
The Lord of vengeance will no longer spare:
Fly, then, my sons, lest you destruction share."
In vain his warning call-to them he seemed
Only in sport, or in a pious dream.
With trembling voice he gave his last adieu,
And, drowned in grief, from his lost sons withdrew.
Silent the midnight hours now pass away,
Save where a few abandoned wretches stray,
And these at length, with weariness oppressed,
Quit their dark deeds, and sink in troubled rest.
Then every human voice and sound is still,
And fancied scenes the slumbering vision fill;
All, all are lost in dreams, or sound repose,
Save wakeful Lot, whose eyes no slumbers close;
He lies, revolving in his anxious mind
The fate of those he soon must leave behind.
Hark! through the air the cock's loud clarion thrills;
See, morn advances o'er the eastern hills.
The angel guests now haste the favored few,
Press them to leave and take their final view;
But still they linger-recollections dear
Crowd on their minds, and force the parting tear.
The heavenly strangers seize the unwilling hand,
Conduct them forth, and urge the kind command"Escape for life, nor longer here remain,
Nor backward look, nor linger on the plain."
The rescued few no longer dare delay,
But from the city, trembling, speed their way,
And all, save one, the strict command obey.
She, still attached to Sodom's wretched crew,
And disbelieving God's prediction true,
Turns to behold: at once the frost of death
Chills to her heart, and stops her vital breath,
Curdles the blood in every flowing vein,
Stiffens each limb, and petrifies her frame:
Glazed are her eyes, and motionless her handsOn the wide plain a monument she stands.
The rest undeviating step maintain,
And soon. the appointed place in safety gain.
But what emotions agitate each mind!
The wife, the mother, lingers far behind.
Backward they gaze, and vainly seek relief,
And, overcome, they mourn with frenzied grief.
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