to certain and everlasting perdition?:" and " it would have been better for him never to have known the way of righteousness, than, after having known it, to turn back from itq."
Let these consequences be duly weighed, and nothing need be added to shew us the importance of " holding fast our pro- fession without wavering."]
To improve this subject, we shall,
1. Assist you in ascertaining your state before
God—
[Since all are " bent to backslide" more or less, it is of great importance to inquire of what kind our backslidings are, and to see whether they are merely the infirmities of an up- right soul, or the revolt of an apostate. It is indeed difficult to determine this with precision ; yet something may be said to aid you in this inquiry.
Examine diligently the cause, the duration, and the effects of your backslidings. Those of the sincere arise from the weak- ness of their flesh, while yet their spirit is as willing as ever: but those of the hypocrite proceed from a radical disaffection to the ways of God. Those of the sincere continue but a little time, and are an occasion of greater diligence : those of the hypocrite remain, and become the habit of his soul. Those of the sincere humble him in the dust : those of the hypocrite produce a blindness of mind, a searedness of conscience, and a hardness of heart.
But though we thus discriminate for the information of your judgment, we recommend all to stand fast in the Lord, and to guard against the first risings of spiritual decay r.]
2. Give a word of counsel to those in different states —
[Are you altogether backslidden from God ? O return to him, and take upon you his "light and easy yoke!" He invites you with all the tenderness of a father s ; he declares himself exceedingly averse to punish you according to your desert*; and he promises to " heal your backslidings, and love you freely11."
Are you drawing in his yoke ? Bless and adore your God, who has inclined and enabled you to do so. It is his power, and his power alone, that has kept you hitherto x ; and there- fore he must have all the praise. And in order to your con- tinued steadfastness, reflect often on the evil and danger of backsliding; I may add too, on the comfort and benefit of
p Heb. x. 38, 39. q Matt. xii. 45. 2 Pet. ii. 21.
r Gal. vi. 9. ■ jer. iii. 12, 14, 22.
1 Hos. xi. 7, 8. " Hos. xiv. 4.
x 1 Pet. i. 5.