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I. WHY DO MEN GO AWAY?

1. Because they cannot bear Christ's doctrine. "This is a hard saying." There are many points in the gospel offensive to human pride.

2. For the sake of gain.

3. Because terrified by persecution. Although the fires of Smithfield are extinguished there is much persecution still. Godless husbands tyrannize over their wives; employers over their servants; workmen over each other.

4. Out of sheer levity. In a list of wrecks you will find some which have gone down through collisions, or by striking on a rock; but sometimes you meet with one "foundered at sea"; how, no one knows, on a calm day. So there are many who make shipwreck of faith in easy circumstances. At the space of a moment they profess Christianity, and then suddenly, to everybody's surprise and without troubling themselves about it, renounce it.

5. Through wicked companions and unequal marriages. It is hard to keep religion when one pulls one way and one another.

6. For the sake of sensual enjoyments.

7. Through change of circumstances.

(1)  Some because they have become poor and cannot look and do as they did.

(2)  Some because they have become rich and religion is unfashionable with the set to which they now belong.

8. Unsound doctrine occasions many to apostatize.

9. Laziness causes others to turn aside. They do nothing, and as a consequence soon have nothing to do.

II. WHAT BECOMES OF THEM?

1. Some are very unhappy, and return.

2. Others are hardened in their obduracy and go from bad to worse.

III. WHY SHOULD NOT WE GO AS OTHERS HAVE GONE? Only because of the grace of God.

IV. IF YOU WOULD BE PRESERVED FROM FALLING you must —

1. Keep humble and rely on the Holy Spirit of God.

2. Be jealous of your obedience, be circumspect.

3. Watch and pray.

4. Shun profane company.

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

WEB: At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.