(2.) You will be inconstant in it, and apt to be ensnared again, when you meet with occasions and temptations that suit with your heart's lusts. As the Israelites were drawn out of Egypt against their wills, the flesh-pots of Egypt were still in their minds, and, there- fore, were ready to make themselves a captain and return again, Num. xiv. 4 ; and James i. 8, 'A double-minded man is unstable in his ways.' Nothing will hold an unwilling heart. Demas had not quitted this hankering mind after the world, and therefore it pre- vented 'him doing his duty : 2 Tim. iv, 10, ' Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.' He left the work of the gospel to mind his own private affairs. The love of riches, pleasure, ease, and safety, if they be not thoroughly renounced, will tempt us to a like revolt and neglect of God. Therefore, to prevent it, when we first put our hands to the plough, we must resolve to renounce the world : Ps. xlv. 10, ' Forget also thine own people, and thy father's house.' Look back no more. As long as we are entangled in our lusts and enticements of the world, we are unmeet to serve God. Paul counted those things that were gain to him to be loss for Christ : Phil. iii. 7, 8, ' Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but dung, that I may win Christ' Paul repented not of his choice, but showeth his perseverance in the contempt of the world, — I have counted, and do count. He seeth no cause to recede from his choice. Many affect novelties, are transported at their first change, but repent at leisure.
(3.) We are imperfect in it ; I mean, to such a degree as to want sincerity, for they bring nothing to perfection, Luke viii. 14. Their fruit never groweth ripe or sound, for religion is an underling. Some good inclinations they have to heavenly things, but their worldly affec- tions are greater, and overtop them so, that though they do not plainly revolt from their profession, yet their duties want that life and power which is necessary, so that they bring little honour to Christ by being Christians.
[3.] In respect of the hurt that cometh from their looking back, both to themselves and to religion.
136 EVIL OF LOOKING BACK. [LuKE IX. 57-62.
(1.) To themselves : 2 Peter ii. 20, 21, ' For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, their latter end is worse with them than their beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of ^righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.' Many have so much of the knowledge of Christ as to cleanse their external conversation ; but sin and the world were never so eflfectually cast out but they are in secret league with them still ; and, therefore, they are first entangled, and then overcome ; first enticed by some pleasure or profit, and then carried away with the temptation. But what cometh of this ? ' Their latter end is worse than their beginning.' Their sin is greater, since they sin against light and taste ; their judg- ment is greater, both spiritual and eternal ; as God giveth them over to brutish lusts, and to the power of Satan. And this will be a cutting thought to them to all eternity, to remember how they lost their ac- quaintance with, and benefit by, Christ, by looking back to the world, and deserting that good way wherein they found so much sweetness in Christ.
(2.) The mischief which is done to religion. They wonderfully dis- honour God, and bring ooutempt upon the ways of godliness, when, after they have made trial of it, they prefer sin before it, as if God had wearied them, Micah vi. 3. Therefore it is just with God to vindicate his honour. And Satan, after he seemeth to be for a while rejected, taketh a more durable possession of them, Luke xi. 26. Oh, think of this often ! — to look back after we seemed to escape doth involve us in the greater sin and misery. Better never to have yielded to God so far, than to retract at last, partly because their sins are sins against knowledge : Luke xii. 47, ' That servant which knew his Lords will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.' Partly because they are unthankful for so much deliverance, by the knowledge of Christ, as they received, and that is an heinous aggravation of their offence. Partly because their sin is treachery and breach of vows, for they turned the back upon the world and all the allurements thereof, when they consented to the covenant, and resolved to follow Christ in all conditions, till he should bring them into a place of rest and safety. Partly because they sin against experience, after they have had some relish and taste of better things, Heb. vi. 4. Partly because their conversion again is the more difficult, the devil having a greater hold of them. Mat, xii. 44.