there are three points to which I now propose to invite the attention
of all into whose hands this paper may fall。
I。 In the first place； I ask you to observe the occasion of these words
being spoken。 What made this fiery； impulsive disciple cry out； 〃To
whom shall we go？〃 The verses which precede our text supply an answer。
〃From that time many went back； and walked no more with Him。 Then said
Jesus to the twelve； Will ye also go away？〃
There you have recorded a melancholy and most instructive fact。 Even
from Christ Himself； who 〃spake as never man spake；〃 and did works of
matchless power； and lived as no one ever lived； holy； harmless；
undefiled； and separate from sinners； even from Christ many； after
following Him for a time； went away。 Yes！ many； not a few； many in the
noontide blaze of miracles and sermons； such as earth had never seen or
heard before； many turned away from Christ； left Him； deserted Him；
gave up His blessed service； and went back；some to Judaism； some to
the world； and some； we may fear； to their sins。 〃If they did these
things in a green tree； what may we expect in a dry？〃 If men could
forsake Christ； we have no right to be surprised if His erring； weak
ministers are forsaken also in these last days。
But why did these men go back？ Some of them； probably； went back
because they had not counted the cost； and 〃when tribulation or
persecution arose because of the word〃 they were offended。 Some of them
went back because they had totally misunderstood the nature of our
Lord's kingdom； and had dreamed only of temporal advantages and
rewards。 Most of them； however； it is very clear； went back because
they could not receive the deep doctrine which had just been
proclaimed；I mean the doctrine that 〃eating Christ's flesh and
drinking Christ's blood〃 are absolutely necessary to salvation。 It is
the old story。 As it was in the beginning； so it will be to the end。
There is nothing which the dark； natural heart of man dislikes so much
as the so…called 〃blood theology。〃 Cain turned away in his proud
ignorance from the idea of vicarious sacrifice； and the Jews who fell
away from our Lord； 〃went back〃 when they heard that they must 〃eat the
flesh and drink the blood〃 of the Son of man。
But there is no denying the fact that these Jews who 〃went back〃 have
never been without followers and imitators。 Their succession； at any
rate； has never ceased。 Millions in every age have been admitted into
the Church by baptism； and begun life as professing Christians； and
then； on ing to man's estate； have turned their back altogether on
Christ and Christianity。 Instead of 〃continuing Christ's faithful
soldiers and servants；〃 they have bee servants of sin； the world；
and unbelief。 The defection is continually going on： it is an old
disease； and must not surprise us。 The heart is always deceitful and
desperately wicked； the devil is always busy； and seeking whom he may
devour； the world is always ensnaring； the way of life is narrow； the
enemies many； the friends few； the difficulties great； the cross heavy；
the doctrine of the gospel offensive to the natural man。 What
thoughtful person need wonder that multitudes in every age go back from
Christ？ They are brought within the outward fold of the Church in
childhood； and then； on ing to manhood； they throw off all religion；
and perish miserably in the wilderness。
Yet I am bold to say that the disposition to go back from Christ was
never so strong as it is in these days。 Never were the objections to
vital Christianity so many； so plausible； and so specious。 For it is an
age of free thought and liberty of action； an age of scientific
inquiry； and determination to question and cress…examine ancient
opinions； an age of greedy pursuit of pleasure and impatience of
restraint； an age of idolatry of intellect； and extravagant admiration
of so…called cleverness； an age of Athenian craving for novelty and
constant love of change； an age when we see on all sides a bold but
ever shifting scepticism； which at one time tells us that man is little
better than an ape； and at another that he is little less than a god；
an age when there is a morbid readiness to accept the shallowest
arguments in favour of unbelief； and a simultaneous lazy unwillingness
to investigate the great fundamental evidences of Divine revelation。
And； worst of all； it is an age of spurious liberality； when； under the
high…sounding phrases of 〃No party spirit！ no bigotry！〃 and the like；
men live and die without having any distinct opinions at all。 In an age
like this； can any thinking Christian wonder that departure from Christ
is mon？ Let him cease to wonder； and not waste his time in
plaints。 Let him rather gird up his loins like a man； and do what he
can to stay the plague。 Let him set his feet down firmly in 〃the old
paths；〃 and remember that the defection he sees is only an old
plaint in an aggravated form。 Let him stand between the dead and
living； and try to stop the mischief。 Let him 〃cry aloud； and spare
not。〃 Let him say； 〃Stand to your colours； the battle of Christianity
is not lost： will ye also go away？〃
I dare believe that many young persons into whose hands this paper may
fall are often sorely tempted to go back from Christ。 You launch forth
into the world； perhaps； from quiet homes； where the primary truths of
Christianity were never called in question for a moment； to hear all
sorts of strange theories broached； and strange opinions advanced；
which contradict the old principles which you have been taught to
believe。 You find to your astonishment that free thought and free
handling of sacred subjects have reached such a pitch that the very
foundations of faith seem shaken。 You discover to your amazement that
cleverness and religion do not always go together； and that it is
possible for the highest intellect to be ready to thrust God out of His
own world。 Who can wonder if this state of things is a rude shock to
the tender faith of many young persons； and that； reeling under it；
they are tempted to go back from Christ； and throw away Christianity
altogether？
Now； if any one who reads this paper is tempted in this fashion； I
entreat him for Christ's sake to be firm； to play the man； and resist
the temptation。 Try to realize that there is nothing new in the state
of things which now perplexes you。 It is nothing but the old disease
which has always plagued and tried the Church in every age； even from
the day when Satan said to Eve； 〃Ye shall not surely die。〃 It is only
the sifting process which God permits； in order to separate the wheat
from the chaff； through which we must all pass。 The world after all；
with its pitfalls and snares for the soul； with its petitions and
struggles； its failures and successes； its disappointments and its
perplexities； its perpetual crop of crude theories and extreme views；
its mental conflicts and anxieties； its extravagant free thought； and
its equally extravagant superstition；the world is a fiery furnace and
ordeal； through which all believers must make up their minds to pass。
The temptation to cast off your first faith and go back from Christ is
sure to meet you sooner or later； as it has met millions before； in one
form or another。 To realize that in resisting it you are only resisting
an old and often beaten enemy of the soul； is one half the battle。
And； as I ask you not to be surprised at the temptation to leave
Christ； so also I entreat you not to be shaken by it。 What though
scores of men you know give way under the assault； cast off their
Christian armour； neglect their Bibles； misuse their Sundays； and live
practically without God in the world？ What though clever men； promising
men； the sons of parents who never dreamed of such things； forsake the
banner under which they were enrolled； and bee mere nothingarians；