The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

and if not, I will know.” (Genesis 18:17-21)
The angels went on their way, and Abraham
remained before the Lord, and pleaded with him,
first that he should spare the cities if there could be
found fifty righteous persons there; and then if
there could be found forty-five, forty, thirty,
twenty, or even ten righteous persons within their
walls. And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it for
ten’s sake.” Only righteous Lot and his family were
found, and to them it was said: “Escape for thy life;
look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the
plains; escape to the mountain, lest thou be
consumed. ... Then the Lord rained upon Sodom
and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the
Lord out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities,
and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the
cities, and that which grew upon the ground.”
(Genesis 19:17, 24, 25)
In the case of these cities the limit of God’s
forbearance had been reached, the hour of their
probation had closed. It was useless to give their
inhabitants a further opportunity for salvation; they
334