p. 8 | Apostasy by R. F. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 1, 1863

Apostasy.

By R. F. Cottrell

That some should receive the truth that is able to save their souls and afterward turn back, is nothing new in the history of true religion, though it does seem very strange. The arguments in favor of the truth are so clear and forcible, when presented to the mind, that they cannot reject them; but crosses arise and difficulties are met with in the narrow way, which cause them to open their hearts to the arguments and motives set before them by the adversary of souls, and soon they receive and cherish, as reasons for turning away from the truth, those very sophistries they had, on receiving the truth, exploded, and of which they had seen the utter fallacy. This seems strange; but it has happened to them according to the true proverb. The dog is turned to his vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Oh! what a fearful state! For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. Oh that such persons might see their danger, before it is too late! That they might throw off the snare that Satan has been weaving around them, and get into that humble, teachable place where they may be helped, and thus be rescued from the awful doom of those who have once received the truth and then rejected it.

R. F. COTTRELL.