And let those who have embraced the blessed gospel, in sincerity and truth, who are believing in the name of Jesus for salvation, and “are fruitful in every good word and work,” ever bear in mind the absolute necessity of persevering in the good and holy cause. For of what service can it be, to begin the race with animation, and to pursue it, for a season, with ever so great activity, if they loiter before the end, and relinquish their exertions “for the prize of their high calling?” “When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned; in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.” Here also we must allow, that “the way of God is equal.” { 204} For surely it argues the most depraved and abandoned state of mind and heart, to depart from our God and our Redeemer, after having been once convinced of the truth and the blessedness of His holy religion; having “tasted how gracious the Lord is,” having experienced the guidance and comfort and support of his all-powerful spirit, having had our “hopes full of immortality,” having enjoyed a foretaste of the happiness of heaven, after all to fall away, and prefer to these exalted objects, the miserable pleasures, the base indulgencies, the perishable possessions of earth! A change so disastrous must reduce the understanding and heart into the worst condition of which they are capable. It is the evil spirit, which had been once cast out, returning to his abode, with seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and dwelling there, as in a settled home, and the last state of that man is worse than the first. { 205a} The Apostle represents the matter to us in this light: for so difficult is it for a person, in such a state, to be worked upon by any consideration, that he describes it, in his strong language, as an actual impossibility: “it is impossible, (he says) for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance;” { 205b} and then he adds the reason, “seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame;” they maintain the horrid principles and character of those who “crucified the Lord of glory;” they deliberately renounce his friendship, and become “enemies to the cross of Christ;” they cast a shameful reproach upon Him, infinitely greater than it is possible for those enemies to do, who were never admitted into the privilege and happiness of His favour. Fain would we hope, that this is a case of rare occurrence; but it is possible, or why should the prophet and Apostle have represented it? “Therefore, let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall;” { 206a} “let him give all diligence to make his calling and election sure.” { 206b} “The just shall live by his faith: but if _that man_, (however faithful and just he has been) draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him;” { 206c} this is the proper translation of the passage. God Almighty of His infinite mercy grant, that the words which follow this text, addressed by the Apostle to the faithful disciples of old, may be realized by all of us here; “we, (says he,) are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Pray to God without ceasing for grace to persevere: His Holy Spirit, if sought and cherished and used, will enable us to be faithful and to overcome, will “make us more than conquerors, through Him that loved us.” { 207a}