The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1891-10-22
CHURCH LOCALS
AND RELIGIOUS NOTES OF GENER-
AL INTEREST.

R@AeSSANNN1 80 ShS
old Testament. ''Backsliding" and
backslidings is used sixteen times.
Twelve of the sixteen times, it is
used by Jeremiah, who had pecu-
iial, special message to his people,
in special period of their history.
The word is not used at all in the
New Testament, and the name
"backslider" is used only once in all
the Bible-Proverbs, IA, IA.
THERE are other expressions, de-
scriptive OF the same state, found all
through the scriptures. 1t is not a
word in common use among men of
the world. 1t is seldom ever found
in literature, history, biography or
poetry. We cannot recall single
instance now Of its use, in any of
these departments. In pulpit and
church work, is often in the speech
of men.
LII describes a peculiar and strange
religious condition. There is no
other word so full of significance.
There is no other word, that can SO
strongly describe the state indicated.
"Backsliding' "a sliding back, from
given attainment, in service to
God. 1t does not, itser, mean
apostacy. Final apostacy is the
end, if backsliding, is continued.
One is the beginning, the other is the
end.
We repeat, the word, describing,
a given religious condition, is pecu-
liarly, Bible word. 1t IS strongly
fgurative, born of another strong
figure. "Mt. Zion," in old Testa>
ment language is Gods dwelling
place-His home. We go up to
"Mt. Zion," we go up to Gods pace
of residence, we ascend the hill of
tha Lord We 60 up to heaven. In
religious life, we go up from a low
to a high place. The church is rep
resented as being "on a hill'' which
cannot be hid. The people are as
cending. The "backslder" has
reached given point, in the ascent,
and then slides back.
THIS man loses, largely, in zeal
enjoyment, trust, companionship
fellowship with Christ. His faith
in God, perhaps remains the same
His trust in God is not the same
He believes Just as surely in the
Truth lin religious experience; in
the difference in moral character
in all things taught in Religion, but
he loses immensely, in assurance,
and in a sense of the Divine Pres.
ence. He has been ascending-go-
ing up. Now he slides back. In
stead of going up he is going down
He does not turn around and face
downwards. He slides back. This.
sometimes, is very manifest to others.
1t is not always so. 1t does not
mean open and avowed sin in all
cases. II docs not always imply
wicked words and actions. One
may, ill this spiritual sense, be a
"backslider" and yet maintain OUT
wardly, religious integrity, so far as
the sight and knowledge of men is
concerned.
So IN Proverbs, such an one is
described as a 'backsiider in hear" "
''The backslider in heart shall be
filled with his own ways The
tackslider in life may be said to
have no ways of his own. He is an
open and ayowed backslider, known
OF all men. But "the backslider in
heart" has many and devious ways
of his own. He has not lost mem
bership in the church. He has not
lost religious responsibility and
standing among his fellows. He is
a "backslider" all the same-a
"backslider in heart" conscious
spiritual backslider. He has not
had new religious emotion, or
thought, or spiritual experience,
possibly in years.
He is "flled with his own ways"
He shall be led, fed, satisfied, blind
ed, overcome by his own ways. He
reaches a species of contentmen:, of
satisfaction, of assurance, by his