I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard SOLOMON. 0000 Clipstone: PRINTED BY J. W. MORRIS. Sold by Button & Son, Gardiner, Ogle, and Williams, Price One Shilling. 141. k. 517. 201 CONTENTS. PREFACE On the general nature and particular - On the symptoms of a backsliding On the injurious and dangerous ef- science unlamented On the means of recovery PAGE. 4 7. 34 50 68 PREFACE. THE following pages were occasioned by the Writer's observing several persons, of whom he had formerly entertained a favourable opinion, and with whom he had walked in christian fellowship, having fallen, either from the doctrine, or practice of pure religion. A · view of their unhappy condition made a deep impression upon his mind. If he has been enabled to describe the case of a backslider to any good purpose, it has been chiefly owing to this circumstance. He hopes that, though it was written with a special eye to a few, it may yet be useful to many. THE BACKSLIDER. WHETHER the prefent age be worse than others which have preceded it, I shall not determine; but this is manifeft, that it abounds not only in infidelity and profligacy, but with great numbers of loofe characters among profeffing chriftians. It is true there are fome eminently zealous and fpiritual, perhaps as much fo as at almoft any former period: the difinterested concern which has appeared for the diffufion of evangelical religion is doubtlefs a hopeful feature of our times: yet it is no lefs evident that others are in a fad degree conformed to this world, inftead of being transformed by the renewing of their minds. Even of thofe who retain a decency of character, many are funk into a Laodicean lukewarmnefs. Profeffors are B |