We have abundant testimony that the nations who occupied the land of Canaan and the surrounding countries, had been long sunk in the grossest idolatry, sensuality, and wickedness. Look, for example, at the instance of Sodom. "And the Lord said. Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it which is come unto me; and if not, I will know." How gently is this expressed, and how plainly intended for the simplest capacity, even that of a child! The narrative proceeds, and describes, in touching language, Abraham's intercession for the city, "And the men* [the angels] turned their faces from thence, and went towards Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord. And Abraham drew near, and said, 'Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place, for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be as the wicked—that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?' And the Lord said, 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then will I spare all the place for their sakes.' And Abraham answered and said, 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes. Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five?' And He said, 'If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.' And he spake unto Him yet again and said, 'Peradventure there shall be forty found
Page:God Manifest.djvu/405
