Love for perishing souls inspired Abraham's prayer. While he loathed the sins of that corrupt city, he desired that the sinners might be saved. His deep interest for Sodom shows the anxiety that we should feel for the impenitent. We should cherish hatred of sin, but pity and love for the sinner. All around us are souls going down to ruin as hopeless, as terrible, as that which befell Sodom. Every day the probation of some is closing. Every hour some are passing beyond the reach of mercy. And where are the voices of warning and entreaty to bid the sinner flee from this fearful doom? Where are the hands stretched out to draw him back from death? Where are those who with humility and persevering faith are pleading with God for him?

Det var kærlighed til fortabte sjæle, der inspirerede Abrahams bøn. Selv om han afskyede den fordærvede bys synder, ønskede han, at synderne skulle frelses. Hans dybe interesse for Sodoma viser den bekymring, vi burde nære for de ubodfærdige. Vi bør nære had til synden, men medlidenhed og kærlighed til synderen. Overalt omkring os er der sjæle, der går en lige så håbløs og lige så frygtelig fortabelse i møde som Sodoma. Hver dag ophører prøvetiden for et eller andet menneske. Og hvor er de advarende og bønfaldende stemmer, der skal byde synderen at undgå denne frygtelige skæbne? Hvor er de hænder, der skal strækkes ud for at drage ham tilbage fra døden? Hvor er de, der med ydmyghed og udholdende tro beder for ham til Gud?