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 becomes worse  than  the  first. No man  putting  his hand to  the  plough  and  turning  back  is  worthy  of the  kingdom  of  God. " Go,"  said  Christ  to  the adulterous woman,  "  go  and  sin  no  more  lest  something worse  befall  thee." The higher  up  one  stands, the greater  his  fall  if  he  stumble,  and  a  relapse  is always  worse  than  the  original  illness. So, too, apostasy in  word  or  deed  is  more  grievous  than  even infidelity or  heresy,  "  for,"  says  St.  Peter,  "  it  were better  for  a  man  never  to  have  known  the  truth  than after  he  hath  known  it  to  turn  away."

Brethren, faith's  triumph  over  the  world,  though marred by  these  reverses,  is  still  a  glorious  victory. " All  power  is  given  to  Me,"  says  Christ,  "  in  heaven and  on  earth." That statue  of  Nabuchodonosor's dream  was,  according  to  Daniel,  a  figure  of  the world's principalities,  and  the  stone  cut  out  of  the hillside without  hands,  which  crushed  the  statue  and afterwards became  a  great  mountain  and  filled  the whole earth,  was  Christ  the  Lord. He is  the  star  of Jacob,  which,  once  arisen,  draws  all  to  Himself. With His  faithful  sons  and  daughters  ever  at  His side, He  is  so  leading  others  from  afar  that  whatever of  humanity  is  best  among  the  nations  is  already His. His victory  is  no  carnal  one,  but  with  the  eye of faith  we  can  see  that  our  prayer,  "  Thy  kingdom come,"  is  being  daily  answered,  for  the  kingdom  of God  which  is  within  us  is  being  broadened  day  by day  and  more  firmly  established.

Brethren, let  us  be  active  in  the  fight,  that  we  share the victory. Let us  turn  from  whatever  of  unbelief