Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

are found in connexion with healthful piety, the contrary may be expected to mark its declining condition. And, as in the case of the sinner, so of the backslider, "some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after," 1 Tim. v. 24.

Few things, however, are so impracticable as candid and ingenuous confession. The backslider, almost invariably, strives to make the best of his case, and so he yields himself a voluntary victim of self-deception. "He feedeth on ashes, a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor sayIs there not a lie in my right hand?" Isaiah xliv. 20. Indeed, this very circumstance is one of the indications of that declension which it strives to conceal. "For every one that doeth evil, hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved;" whereas, "he that doeth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God," John iii. 20, 21.

This indisposition will further display itself in relation to those exercises of the mind which are of a decidedly spiritual character, and will probably be proportioned to their very spiritu - ality.

The man may, perhaps, retain his

attachment to some form of sound words which embodies his creed; he may, occasionally, even delight himself with general meditations bearing on the divine character and government; but, in the absence of "the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry-Abba, Father," Rom. viii. 15, holy exercises, of the highest order, will become obsolete. The soul that has impaired its affiance in God, will cease to find its home at the mercy seat. Hence, the familiar adage"Apostasy begins at the closet door."

Meanwhile, the religious sympathies of the backslider will not lie in the direction of the most devout of his acquaintance. To him, there will be something unpalatable in the very savour of their piety. Their presence, even, will impose an unwelcome restraint. Afraid, on every such occasion, lest anything should transpire to reveal his real character, he will endeavour to conceal his spiritual incapacity by vague admissions and general observations; and, when the interview is over, he will think himself happy, if once again he has escaped detection.

Another modification of the same condition of mind, will probably manifest itself in his ecclesiastical preferences. Impatient of pastoral

oversight, he will resolve to worship where he can do as he likes, without the chance of being called to account by any one; or, still continuing to attend a faithful ministry, he will be more disposed to quarrel with the preacher than to submit to his remonstrances. It is nothing new for the servants of God to be disliked for their faithfulness. "There is yet," said Ahab, one man, Micaiah, the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: but I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil," 1 Kings xxii. 8.

[ocr errors]

The tendency of the imagination will often. throw unwelcome light on the real bias of the mind. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." When sin is really hated in all its forms, its symbols will be removed from the secret chambers of imagery. The understanding will find it no solace to ruminate on matters which the conscience disallows. "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God," Matt. V. 8. In their case, the current of the thoughts, when left to flow freely, will be "holiness to the Lord." Their spontaneous aspirations will invoke the agency of the sanctifying Spirit, to cleanse the very fountains of thought from all pollution. When, therefore,

the imaginations of the heart are only evil continually, Gen. vi. 5, that circumstance is a symptom of wickedness still remaining, of sin still rampant and striving for the mastery, of unmortified corruption, which only waits the removal of some remaining barrier to break forth in a torrent of bitterness and death.

Were the whole history of individual apostasy exposed to view, it would doubtless appear, that cases of defection which have filled the church with mourning and hell with triumph, have originated thus. The poison was rankling unobserved, long before it assumed those final and fatal symptoms which none could mistake. "Is thy servant a dog that he should do this?". -was the indignant exclamation of one on hearing a prophet foretell the deeds which he appears afterwards to have perpetrated without one feeling of remorse, 2 Kings viii. 13.

The first license which is given to the mind, in its most secret meditations, to wander from the paths of truth and holiness, is the commencement of a downward course, of which Omniscience alone can discern the issue; "for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false wit

ness, blasphemies," Matt. xv. 19. And though the mischief may be long concealed, "then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death," James i. 15.

Wherever there is an inclination to parley with temptation, it may be assumed that religion is in a declining state. Vigorous piety would at once repudiate the tendency to evil. The petition of the psalmist-"Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity," Psalm exix. 37, is but a principle embodied in a prayer; and where the principle is violated, the prayer is only mockery. To supplicate grace to resist temptation, and then to throw ourselves into its way, is to trifle on the very threshold of the mercy seat, and under the immediate and requested inspection of God himself. "Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord," James i. 7.

In this case, impatience of holy restraint will soon afford a further indication of the same order. Backsliders are frequently disposed to treat with contempt the strictness of religious propriety. I have known them affect to find a larger measure of intelligence in connexion with a wider range of laxity. And, to justify so

« EdellinenJatka »