The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-13

know God, to
E. e. $500 make him back
slider. Backsliding imperils the sal
walton Of the soul, for although the
Bible teaches the perseverance Of the
saints 1t also teaches the perseverance
of the sinners. While Christ teaches
that the sheep whom the Father hath
given him shall never be plucked out
of his hand, yet the evidence that we
are his sheep Is that we hear his voice
and follow him.
The backslider not only imperils the
salvation of his soul, but also makes
havoc Of his peace from day to day,
for gloomy thoughts and self-reproach
and an uneasy conscience possess him.
This must be so because even If he
does not doubt his salvation at the
last, he must know that the building
he Is erecting on his foundation is one
of wood hay and stubble, that cannot
stand the test of the fire which Is to
try every Christians work Of what
sort 1t is in the day of reckoning that
rs coming.
The backslider Is a serious menace
to other Christians and great OBJ
stacle In the way Of those that are
Hnsaved. Lord Byron is on record as
dating his earliest feelings against
Christianity from having witnessed
how little some of its votaries were
actuated by the spirit of love they pro-
fessed; and David Brainerd, the great
missionary to the American Indians.
tells how the savages In Delaware re-
fused to listen to him because Of the
bad treatment they had received from
some who called themselves Chris
tians.
il.-But for the penitent backslider
there Is encouragement and hope. His
is not an objectionable offense, since
God is ever calling upon his people to
return to him on the ground Of the
reconciliation which Christ made for
them on the cross. In the text he Is
doing that In Israel's case, reminding
them that they had not been thrust
away by him, but that they had fallen
by their own iniquity. It was their
own fault, and yet he tells them how
they might come back, ''Take with you
words" he says, "and turn to the
Lord" He even puts the words In
their mouths telling them just what to
say. They are to say. Take away In
EQUITY and receive US graciously." And
they are to promise him that they will
render him the praise and gratitude Of
their hearts, for that really is what Is
meant BY "the calves of our lips"
It Is not the works of our self-right-
eousness that God desires in order to
bring about our restoration, but rather
broken and contrite hearts. Our works
will follow our words If the latter are
sincere and true. In other words, God
commences where man would end. Man
would want to recall his former life be-
fore he would return to God. But God
would have him return first and then
he will find that his former life has
already been recalled.
Oh, is there someone in whose heart
this touches a responsive chord7
Some Christian whose life has been
crusted over with the cares and pleas
ures Of this world, but with whom
Gods Spirit Is now pleadingi Let him
venture wholly on the love of God in
Christ who will not "quench the smok-
ing fax nor break the bruised" We
Say unto him IN the language of the
prophet, "Come, return unto the Lord
for he hath torn and he will heal you ;
he hath smitten and he will bind you
up"
lII--But let not this exhortation be
concluded without loving word OF
wasning to those who are not back
Sudden, but who may be. You have
stood by the sea and watched the
waves break upon the snore. For a
while they I'LL seemed to touch the
same point. At first it was impossible
to say whether the tide was going out
or coming In. You had to watch close
Nv for while to determine. BY and
by the ebbing waters told the tale.
It is SO with backsliding and back
sliders. The process of declension Is
very gradual. No Christian ever sub
stituted vice for virtue by sudder
resolution of mind. The slipping away
began underneath, while the surface
appearance remained unchanged
PRAYER became forma,,, the eye Of faitl
grew dim, self-indulgence gained
ground, and at last men could nc
lIonger take knowledge of him that 81
had been with Jesusl Oh. watch an'
pray, that ye enter not into teuapta
.tion.