10 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

“ ¢Qh let not the Lord be angry,’ Abraham said, ‘ there
may be thirty there.’

“ The Lord said, ‘I will not do it if I find thirty
there.’

“ ¢ Behold now,’ Abraham said, ‘I have taken upon me
to speak unto the Lord, peradventure there shall twenty
be found there.’

“The Lord said, ‘I will not destroy it for twenty’s
sake.’

“¢QOh let not the Lord be angry,’ Abraham said, ‘ and
I will speak but this once, peradventure ten shall be
found there.’

“ The Lord said, ‘I will not do it for ten’s sake.’

‘¢We may learn much from this. When Abraham
prayed for the people of Sodom he taught us that we
ought not to rejoice in the sufferings of any, and that we
ought to pray for all. In the Almighty granting all his
requests, we see the power of prayer. Abraham wearied
of asking, before the Lord wearied of giving what he
asked. In the promise given by God to spare the city
of Sodom for the sake of ten righteous, if there were as
many in it, we see what a blessing it is to a place to
have those in it who fear the Lord.

“ We shall now go to Sodom. It was evening, and
Lot sat in the gate of the city. He saw two strangers
approaching of a very different aspect from the low and
vicious inhabitants of the place. He bowed before them,
and offered them refreshment in his house, and lodging
for the night. They at first refused his offer, saying