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###### Consider the Change Your Backsliding Has Brought upon You

{Since the Heavenly Trade Is the Best Trade…

Exhortation to Those Who Began the Heavenly Trade But Have Backslidden

Advice: Be Deeply Affected by Your Evil Condition

Consider the Change Your Backsliding Has Brought upon You}

Consider this great change: a person who has lived well, has had a good reputation with God and people, fared deliciously, been used to the dainties of God’s house and delicacies of His love, and has tasted the heavenly gift and the powers of the world to come (Hebrews 6:4–6).1270 Now that person is brought to penury, seldom enjoys a sweet morsel on any day, and is put off with husks, dry bones, and the crumbs that fall from their Lord’s table. He stands at the door or waits outside for some scraps while the friends of Christ and wisdom’s thriving merchants have their marrow and fat things. Consider it: that is no small change!

Backsliders were accustomed to have a place among those who stood in God’s presence, conversed with the Father of Spirits, were let into the throne room, had visits from the Comforter, and had spiritual fellowship with the saints. Now they are laid aside and God scarcely looks at them from day to day. There is no interaction with God or fellowship with the Spirit from one Lord’s Day to another. They are only company for formalists, hypocrites, and those outside the Church. This is a great change. Oh, get your heart deeply moved by it!

1270“For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame” (Hebrews 6:4–6 NASB).

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