THE BEGINNING OF APOSTASY.
By Jos. Clarke
If we can find where an evil commences, we have the secret of avoiding it, unless it has proceeded beyond cure. In the perusal of the sermon published in Review No. 2, entitled “The Evil Heart of Unbelief,” this subject is fully considered; and it is there proved that all sin originates in the evil heart of unbelief which departs from God, or that departure from God hardens the heart, and fits it thus to launch out into sin of every kind. So, then, we see that when we depart from God, become lukewarm and stupid in his service, we become calloused and hard-hearted, and Satan has influence to lead us astray; then, step by step, we leave the path of duty, farther and farther we go astray from God, until it seems impossible to return again to his service. Where, then, was the principal sin? Was it not the first departure from God? or was it the last great disaster which woke us to see our situation? Oh, cruel unbelief! Who would have thought that a little unbelief, a little departure from God, would have wrought such wondrous depths of sin. Was it not this which paved the way for the fall of Judas, of Demas, and others who have fallen? Is it not the experience of every one who has ever backslidden from God, that unbelief and lukewarmness first open the floodgates of sin? On the other hand, how sweet the consideration, that by drawing near to God we may avoid the great disaster of apostasy and ruin; and that by living in continual and intimate communion with God, we may attain to perfection. And it is clear that by such means alone we overcome, that is, by the opposite of unbelief, by the power of faith, a living faith. When we live near to God, and drink in rich supplies of his grace, then faith is in lively exercise, and the nearer we approach to him, the more strong and lively our faith; but when we depart from him, then comes in unbelief, which increases in the proportion of our distance from our Creator and Redeemer. Where, then, was the first step in unbelief? Was it not the first departure from God? when we first commenced becoming stupid and careless? From reading the article above alluded to, many conclusions came with force upon my mind. Some of them I have here written; another in this: that only by the power of a living faith can we stand and fully overcome. Then let us all draw near, very near to God, and cultivate in our hearts the love and fear of God, by the power of faith, resisting unbelief and spiritual darkness, realizing that if we become cold in our love toward God, we are at once powerless to resist our cruel foe, who knows well how to time his attacks upon those who wish to escape his grasp.