But the words in my text are intended to convey much more tlian they express : they import that God will look upon such a backslider as an object of his utter abhorrence. This is more plainly declared in the book of Revelation ; where the Lord Jesus Christ, addressing the Laodicean Church, says, " I would thou wert cold or hot : but because thou art luke- warm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth P." This shews us the true light in which God views " the backslider in heart ;" he lothes and abhors him as a base ungrateful wretch, who has ceased to behave himself wisely, and has " returned, like a dog to his vomit, and like a sow that has been washed to her wallowing in the mire."]
2. You will infallibly destroy your own soul — [So says my text : they who draw back, " draw back unto perdition." O what a fearful thought ! Who can tell all that is implied in the word " perdition?" It is remarkable, that the day of judgment is expressly called, " the day of the perdition of ungodly men i :" and so indeed it will prove. Notv the ungodly have the upper hand, and do what they can to destroy the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom in the world : but tke7i the Judge of quick and dead will deal with them, and recompense upon their heads all the evil that they have done. But on none will so severe a doom be inflicted as on those who " have forsaken the right way," and " after having once escaped the pollutions of the world, have been again entangled therein and overcome : with them the latter end will be worse than the beginning ^"]
Yet, though the danger of falling is such as may well excite in us a holy watchfulness, it need not generate in us a slavish fear : since God engages to uphold the upright in heart : and they are therefore warranted in expecting from him all needful aid.
That we may not unnecessarily make the heart of the righteous sad, we shall endeavour to mark,
in. When our actual progress in the way of life has
been such as will warrant a good hope of our
continuance in it to the end.
But here we must not take a high standard, since
the Apostle's confidence referred not to himself only,
but to the great mass of the beheving Hebrews
throughout the world. If then it be asked, who they
P Rev. iii. 15, 16. a 2 Pet. iii. 7.
>■ 2 Pet. ii. 10, IT), 20, 21.