which God is not enjoyed, nor is any blessing received-Wherethis is the case the person must surely be denòminated a "backslider in heart"-] When we habitually indulge any secret lusts [Whatever attainments a man may have made in religion, if his heart be not whole with God, he will sooner or later decline; and that which was his besetting sin in his state of ignorance, will regain its ascendency, and (as far at least as relates to its inward workings) recover its dominion over him. He may still, for his profession sake, restrain sin, in a measure, as to its outward exercise, while yet its inward power is unsubdued. Was he naturally addicted to pride, envy, malice, covetousness, lewdness, or any other sin? if he allow it to return upon him after he has been once purged from it, if he be averse to have the evil of it pointed out to him, if he justify it or cover his fault with excuses, instead of endeavouring earnestly to amend it, he certainly is a backslider in heart-] In either of these states we are exposed to the most imminent danger [There are a variety of ways in which God will punish sin, but none so terrible as that specified in the words before us-If God were to fill the blackslider with acute and longcontinued pain, or visit him with some other temporal affliction, it might work for good, and bring him to consideration and repentance: but if he give him up to his own heart's lusts, and leave him to be "filled with his own ways," nothing but a certain and aggravated condemnation can ensue. Was he far from God? he will be farther still: was he addicted to any sin? he will be more and more enslaved by it: nor can there be a doubt, but that God will give us up to this judgment, if we "leave off to behave ourselves wisely," and return to the indulgence of wilful neglects and secret sins———] But we shall see a strong additional motive to persevere, if we consider II. The benefit of maintaining stedfastness in religion The "good man" is here put in contrast with the backslider [As every occasional declension does not denominate a man a wilful backslider, so neither does every transient inclination to virtue denominate a man good. To be truly good, he must set out well, and "hold on his way," causing his "light to shine more and more unto the perfect day"] b 2 Pet. i. 9. and ii. 20. Gal. iv, 16. © Ps. lxxxi. 11, 12. Deut. xxxii. 15, 18, 19, 20. Prov. i. 30, 31. d Prov. iv. 18. Such an one shall find much satisfaction both in and from his way: He shall have the comfort of seeing that he is advancing in religion [The testimony of a good conscience is one of the richest comforts we can enjoy. Hezekiah pleaded it before God in a dying hour, not indeed as a ground of justification before him, but as a ground whereon he might hope for some favourable indulgence with respect to the continuance of this present lifef -And Paul, in the near prospect of the eternal world, found it a source of unutterable joy. Now this satisfaction every upright soul shall enjoy. If he cannot distinctly see the progressive steps of his advancement from day to day, he shall have a testimony in his own conscience that he is on the whole advancing: he shall feel himself more and more fixed in his purpose to cleave unto the Lord," and increasingly desirous of approving himself faithful to his God and Saviour-] He shall also enjoy more abundant manifestations of God's love [God will not leave his people without witness that he is pleased with their endeavours to serve and honour him. "He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." If he behold any persons striving to please him, "he will love them, and come unto them, and sup with them, and manifest himself to them as he does not unto the world:"h and the more diligent he sees them in doing his will, the more richly will he impart to them the tokens of his love, and the more abundantly communicate to them the blessings of grace and peace—] His prospects, moreover, of the eternal world shall be more bright and glorious. [To many does God vouchsafe, as to Moses from mount Pisgah, delightful prospects of the heavenly Canaan. He draws aside the vail, and suffers them to enter into the holy of holies, that they may behold his glory, and receive a foretaste of the blessedness which they shall one day enjoy in his presence. But on whom are these special favours bestowed? on the slothful, the careless, the inconstant? No. It is "the faithful man that shall abound with these blessings;" it is “him that rejoiceth in working righteousness, that the Lord will meet" in this intimate and endearing manner-] e 2 Cor. i 12. John xiv. 21-23. f 2 Kings xx. 2, 3. 8 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. Prov. xxviii. 20. Isaiah xxxiii. 14-17. and Ixiv. 5. INFER 1. How much more ready is God to shew mercy than to execute his judgments! [Had God been extreme to mark what is done amiss, who is there amongst us, whom he would not often have abandoned in an hour of secret declension? But he is full of compassion; and "judgment is his strange work," to which he is greatly averse. At this very moment does he follow the backslider with the most earnest invitations, and most gracious promises, saying, "Return ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings, and love you freely." Let us thankfully acknowledge his long-suffering and forbearance; and seek that happiness in the service of our God, which we shall in vain look for in any deviations from the path of duty—] 2. What need have we to watch over our own hearts! [We are bidden to "keep our hearts with all diligence, because out of them are the issues of life and death;"m and indeed we have need to guard them well, because they are so "bent to backslide from God." It will be rarely, if ever, found, that the watchful Christian is left to fall into any gross sin. Men decline from God in secret, before he withdraws from them his restraining grace: they have chosen some evil "way of their own," and deliberately followed it in their hearts, before God leaves them to be "filled with it." If then we would not be swept away with a deluge of iniquity, let us be careful to stop the breach at first; for, if left a little time, it will widen, till it defies our utmost exertions. The present satisfaction, as well as the future salvation, of our souls depends on a stedfast walk with God. Let us then "hold fast the profession of our faith, and the practice of our duty, without wavering:" and "let us look to ourselves that we lose not the things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward""] 1 Jer. iii. 22. Hos. xiv. 4. m Prov. iv. 23. n 2 John 8. CCCCXXIII. GROWTH IN GRACE THE BEST PRE SERVATIVE FROM APOSTASY. 2 Pet. iii. 17, 18. Te therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware, lest ye also being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. HOWEVER averse men are to receive warnings and exhortations from each other, there is, in reality, no greater proof of affection, than the administering of faithful cautions and salutary advice, to those whom we love. It is evident how much St. Peter's mind was warmed with affection towards his brethren, since he, no less than four times in this short chapter, addresses them by that endearing term, "Beloved." And how did he testify his love, but by guarding them against the dangers to which they were exposed, and by prescribing to them the most effectual means of deliverance and safety? Let his word then be thankfully received by us, while we consider I. His caution against apostasy [The wicked will take occasion from God's forbearance to question his remunerative justice--And even the godly need to be on their guard against the influence of this delusion-Certain it is, that they are liable to fall from their own stedfastness; and that, without the greatest vigilance, they will do soo---But they "know" the certainty and awfulness of the day of judgment, and should therefore be afraid of meeting it unprepared-It will then be too late to rectify their " errors," or repent of their instabilityd—And this consideration should make them doubly cautious against every occasion of falling-] II. His direction for preventing it The Christian should seek to " grow in the knowledge of Christ" 1 grace and in [None, who have received grace, will be satisfied with the measure they have received; but they will be seeking to attain more and more. Nor will any, who know Christ, think they "know any thing yet as they ought to know:" they will a Ver. 3, 4. with Eccl. viii. 11. b Eph. iv. 14. 2 Pet. ii. 18. © 1 Tim. i. 19. 2 Tim. ii. 18. Matt. xxiv. 12. 1 Cor. ix. 27. Whether God will restore his elect, is a distinct question, that, if introduced in this place, might uphold a system, but would weaken the force of the Apostle's caution. d Matt. xxv. 11-13. This argument is thrice urged; ver. 11, 14, 17. perceive that there are in him "treasures of knowledge," which they have never explored, and which to all eternity will be progressively opening to their view. Hence the Christian's duty is to be continually advancing in every part of the divine life; and to "make his profiting appear unto all men."] This will be his best, his only, preservative against apostasy [Painting or statuary admit of intermissions in labour: such work, left for a season, may be resumed without any increased difficulty: but, in religion, every intermission is a positive injury: if the work proceed not, it declines: it always waxes or wanes. Now every declension weakens the vital principle within us, restores to activity our dormant corruptions, exposes us to the assaults of our great adversary, and provokes God to withdraw his accustomed aid: consequently, our downfal begun, will, if not prevented by sovereign grace, be speedy, gradual, and certain. On the other hand, a progress in grace confirms every good habit, fastens round us the whole armour of God, keeps our enemy at a distance, and secures to us the continued protection of heaven. Go on adding to your grace, says, God," and you shall never fall."] ADVICE 1. Reflect much and often on the day of judgment [Through a forgetfulness of that day we become the. sport of every temptation: but if we would frequently endeavour to realize the strictness of the scrutiny, and the severity of the judgment, which will then take place, we should be more fortified against error in principle, or evil in practice. We must expect our Lord's coming, if we would be found ready on his arrival.] 2. Be diligent in the use of all the means of grace [It is in vain to hope that we shall grow in grace or knowledge, if we do not use the means which God has appointed. But, if we watch unto prayer, and conscientiously devote ourselves to him, he will bless us with all spiritual blessings:" "our faith and love shall grow exceedingly;" our "hope shall abound through the power of the Holy Ghost," and, from being "babes," we shall become "children, young men, and fathers in Christ:" and, having attained at last "the measure of the full stature of Christ," we shall "enter into his joy," and be partakers of his glory for evermore.] Col. ii. 3. St. Paul, after preaching Christ for twenty years, yet sought above all things to "know him." Phil. iii. 8, 10. h2 Pet. i. 5, 10, 11. Matt. xxiv. 42-44. k1 Cor. iii. 1, and 1 John ii. 12-14. 1 Eph. iv. 13. |