1. Opposition and fear of injury from those who are the enemies of religion.
2. A too frequent and uniform conformity and intercourse with the world.
3. Self-confidence in spiritual gifts and attainments.
4. A neglect of the private duties of religion.
II. Its signs.
1. It is testified by signs which do not amount to that flagrant and public departure from the gospel which frequently is displayed.
(1) A relinquishment of public labour in the church;
(2) an irregular attendance upon public ordinances;
(3) a spirit of inattention and carelessness under these ordinances;
(4) an indulgence in social life of useless conversation.
2. Signs which do amount to a positive and public departure from the religion of the cross.
III. Its evils.
1. As they affect the individuals themselves.
2. As they affect the Church.
(1) They discourage others just setting forth in the way of religion;
(2) they lead others to sin;
(3) they cause mockery of religion.
IV. The cure.
1. Call to mind the times of former devotedness.
2. Contemplate the intense guilt of the act.
3. Resolve to forsake the transgression by which it has been brought about.
4. Connect all our convictions.and emotions with prayer for the influence of the Holy Spirit. (J. Parsons.)
Apostasy
Here we see four things.
I. Base ingratitude.
1. They had received special favours from Him.
2. They were under the greater obligation.
3. Tendency of gratitude to bind to benefactor.
II. Rash impulsiveness, probably roused by
(1) disappointment;
(2) alarm.
III. Involuntary influence. One fled, then all fled. This should
(1) act as incentive to become thoroughly sound in character;
(2) make us cautious as to associations we form.
IV. False policy. Doing wrong to save the body
(1) injures the soul;
(2) endangers it. Learn-
(a) importance of cherishing a practical impression of our obligations to Christ;
(b) of cultivating the habit of acting from intelligent conviction;
(c). of habitually realizing the principle, that the path of duty is the path of safety.. (Homilist.)
Fickle friends
The bees were haunting the flowering trees in crowds, humming among the branches, and gathering honey in the flowers. Said Gotthold, “Here is an image of temporal prosperity, So long as there is blossom on the trees, and honey in the blossom, the bees will frequent them in crowds, and fill the place with their music; but when the blossom is over, and the honey gone, they too will disappear. The same happens in the world, among men. In the abodes of fortune and pleasure, friends will be found in plenty, but when fortune flys away, they depart along with it. Temporal gain is the world’s honey, and the allurement with which you may entice it whithersoever you will; but where the gain terminates, there likewise do the love and friendship of the world stop. For this reason let all good men be advised to fly to Christ crucified, who never forsakes in their distress those who truly seek Him.”
The sin of apostasy
Disheartened by the extraordinary dangers and difficulties of their enterprize, a Roman army lost courage, and resolved on a retreat. The general reasoned with his soldiers. Expostulating with them, he appealed to their love of country, to their honour, and to their oaths. By all that could revive a fainting heart he sought to animate their courage and shake their disgraceful resolution. Much they trusted, admired, loved him; but his appeals were all in vain. They were not to be moved; and, carried away as by a panic, they faced round to retreat. At this juncture they were forcing a mountain-pass, and had just cleared a gorge where the road, between two stupendous rocks on one side and the foaming river on the other, was but a footpath broad enough for the step of a single man. As a last resort he laid himself down there, saying, “If you will retreat, it is over this body you go, trampling me to death beneath your feet.” No foot advanced. The flight was arrested. His soldiers could face the foe, but they could not mangle beneath their feet one who loved them, and who had often led their ranks to victory, sharing like a common soldier all the hardships of the campaign, and ever foremost in the fight. The sight was one to inspire them with decision. Hesitating no longer to advance, they wheeled round to resume their march; deeming it better to meet sufferings, and endure even death itself, than to trample under foot their devoted and patriotic leader. Their hearts recoiled from such an outrage. But for such as have named the name of Christ not to depart from iniquity, for such as have enlisted under His banner to go back to the world, for such as have renounced sin to return to its pleasures, involves a greater crime. A more touching spectacle bars our return. Jesus, as it were, lays Himself down on our path; nor can any become backsliders, and return to the practice and pleasure of sin, without trampling Him under their feet. (T. Guthrie, D. D.)
