IT was a lovely summer evening when we returned from a cottage-meeting high on a Scottish hill-side, and wended our steps by the banks of the deep-ravined led back to town. Though now eight o’clock, so inviting was that calm eventide, that we began to sound aloud the glad tidings of salvation in the midst of the ancient borough. One after another spoke, hymn after hymn was sung, but still an eager few pressed close to hear the word of life, like the crowd in the temple who “hanged on the lips” of Him who was the first declarer of the great salvation. (Luke 19:4848And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him. (Luke 19:48).) The old town-clock chimed ten, and, although the passers were few, yet a little knot lingered round the preacher. One man, evidently laid hold on by the truth, accosted a brother standing by, and desired to converse with the speaker. Gladly we adjourned into the house of a Christian near at hand, and there the man told his piteous tale. He was a shepherd. Once he had rejoiced in the consciousness of the Saviour’s love; but, becoming unwatchful, and “looking back,” he had “fallen from grace,” for years living as if he never had “tasted that the Lord was gracious,” but was aroused in measure to realize the terribleness of his state. “Oh!” he cried, “there’s abundant mercy for the sinner wha never believed, but there’s nane for me. Thae words aye come ta my mind, ‘He that pits his han’ ta the plough, an’ looking back, is na fit fu the kingdom o’ God;’ If any man draw back my soul shall have na pleasure in him.’” Poor convicted man! Satan also had been insinuating that he would ultimately be lost by misrepresenting God and His truth to him. Long and earnestly we strove to assure him of the unchanging mercy and love of our God, of the eternal security of all who ever are His, and exhorted him to make an unreserved confession of his self-will and sin to the Father, pressing upon him the truth of 1 John 1:9, 2:1, 2. Knowing the powerlessness of words alone, we all dropped on our knees, lifting the heart and voice to Him who is near unto all that call upon Him, pleading for the Spirit’s unction and needed grace. It was refreshing to our souls to hear the strong man break forth in unreserved supplication, unburdening his heart before the throne, asking the restoration of soul, and the sustenance of the almighty arm. Long we tarried; then he left us, wrapping his plaid round his shoulders, for a long walk o’er the hills to his shepherd home, regardless of the lateness of the night.
Perhaps, dear soul, you too have been “looking back,” “drawing back,” slighting Him who once was all your salvation and all your desire. Once you set out to run the heavenward race; but, neglectful to get rid of every weight, and your darling besetting sin, you have gradually given it up, and, like Pliable, returned to the city of Destruction, soon to be at rest with old comrades and old pursuits. But why so? Ah! did not the enemy, that old serpent, wile you, first of all, out of your strong tower of private prayer? The desire to pray becoming weaker, bowing the knees and reading the book became distasteful; then, the shield of faith lowered, you became an easy captive. The company of the “spiritually-minded” was shunned; the associations, literature, and habits abandoned in the first delight of the soul at the discovery of the preciousness of Jesus were again taken up. Soon the mind, not being “set” on “brighter things above,” became entirely occupied with self-pleasing. The “living by faith” exchanged for walking by sight, and a backslider in heart full of his own ways. (Proverbs 14:1414The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. (Proverbs 14:14).) Away from the Lord in heart, there is no wickedness of which you may not be guilty. Some may be startled at this, but it is only too true in the sad history of many. The flesh, only kept in check when “walking in the spirit,” will surely break out, and the fruits of corruption be manifest, which are these — “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying’s, murders, drunkenness, raveling’s, and such like.” (Galatians 5) Your separateness lost, you have become like the subject of Jeremiah’s wail: “How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed!”.... Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire. Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets; their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.
Oh, dear soul, arouse thee! humble thyself under the mighty hand of God! Confession is the road to recovery. “Whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:1313He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13).) “I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” (Psalms 32:55I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. (Psalm 32:5).) Get thee back to thy Lord’s feet, once pierced for thee, and there bow down; let His unchanged love melt thy heart. No sins are too aggravating, too vile, for Him to blot out; no faithlessness too galling for His mighty love to overlap. “He abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” Thou has strayed from Him; He yearns over you. “Turn, O backsliding children; for I am married unto you.” “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” Now He recalls you! Return! Come! Think of all the joys of the Father’s love, the fullness of His home! Arise, gird up thy loins with this truth! Gather up thy garments, too long soiled with the dust of Sodom, lest you at His coming be found naked; and let the deep, real, and Spirit-wrought purpose of thy soul be: “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” Thus thou also shalt consummate His joy, and know, deep down in your soul, that of you He is saying, “It is meet that we should be merry, and be glad; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” Henceforth let the spirit of your heart be―
“O Lord, how does Thy mercy throw
Its guardian shadow o’er me,
Preserving while I’m here below,
And guiding safe to glory.
“As weaker than a bruised reed,
I cannot do without Thee,
I want Thee here each hour of need,
Shall want Thee, too, in glory.
“And though my efforts now to praise
Are often cold and lowly,
A nobler, sweeter song I’ll raise,
With all Thy saints in glory.
“We’ll lay our trophies at Thy feet,
We’ll worship and adore Thee,
Whose precious blood has made us meet
To dwell with Thee in glory.”
D.