"They are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and
have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation
fall away."--_Our Lord_.

"Well, then, did you not know about ten years ago one Temporary in your
parts who was a forward man in religion? Know him! replied the other.
Yes. For my house not being above three miles from his house he would
ofttimes come to me, and that with many tears. Truly I pitied the man,
and was not altogether without hope of him; but one may see that it is
not every one who cries Lord, Lord. And now, since we are talking about
him, let us a little inquire into the reason of the sudden backsliding of
him and such others. It may be very profitable, said Christian, but do
you begin. Well, then, there are in my judgment several reasons for it."
And then, with the older man's entire approval, Hopeful sets forth
several reasons, taken from his own observation of backsliders, why so
many men's religion is such a temporary thing; why so many run well for a
time, and then stand still, and then turn back.

1. The fear of man bringeth a snare, said Hopeful, moralising over his
old acquaintance Temporary. And how true that observation is every
evangelical minister knows to his deep disappointment. A young man comes
to his minister at some time of distress in his life, or at some time of
revival of religion in the community, or at an ordinary communion season,
and gives every sign that he is early and fairly embarked on an
honourable Christian life. He takes his place in the Church of Christ,
and he puts out his hand to her work, till we begin to look forward with
boastfulness to a life of great stability and great attainment for that
man. Our Lord, as we see from so many of His parables, must have had
many such cases among His first followers. Our Lord might be speaking
prophetically, as well as out of His own experience, so well do His