3. That, if we have unhappily forsaken the Lord, the door of mercy is not yet closed against us —
[Of Demas we know no more than what is here spoken. But of Mark, who is also called John, and who was a compa- nion of Paul and Barnabas in their travels, we do know. He, hke Demas, forsook those holy men in a time of danger, and " went no more with them to the work°." But God in mercy granted him repentance unto life ; so that he not only obtained mercy of the Lord, but became afterwards profitable even to St. Paul himself in the discharge of his apostolic office p. Let not any one therefore despair. Let it be remembered, that as long as we are in the body, God addresses us in these gracious words, " Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings, and love you freely i." Be persuaded then to return to him without delay: for if you return not, " it would have been better for you never to have known the way of righteousness, than, after having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to you''." But, if you return with penitential sorrow, then shall your Father's arms be open to receive you, and every member of his family give thanks to him in your behalf]
0 Acts xiii. 13. and xv. 38.
1' ver. 13. the very verse after the account of un/iappij Demas.
1 Jer. ill. 22. Hos. xiv. 4. ' 2 Pet. ii. 20, 21.