Publisher's Description

Andrew Fuller was, in my opinion, one of the greatest theologians, which modern times, or any times have produced. His writings are an almost inexhaustible mine of doctrinal, practical, and experimental truth, which every Christian and especially every minister, would do well to explore. No man better understood the Bible, or the human heart both in its unrenewed and its regenerate state. Among all his various practical treatises, there are few, if any, of greater value than that on BACKSLIDING. Like a most skillful physician, he explains, with singular ability, the nature of the disease, lays down the symptoms of it, and prescribes the method of recovery. — John Angell James

Endorsement

Fuller, Andrew: The Backslider: His Nature, Symptoms, and Recovery with biographical sketch by Michael Haykin and introduction by John A. James
I found this book on the subject of backsliding to be very helpful. Having seen some folks become backsliders it was an honest account of them but it is helpful also in encouraging watchfulness so that I myself do not backslide. The author writes with a balanced and I would argue biblical point of view. He holds to the sovereignty of God as taught in Calvinism namely the perseverance of the saints, but does not neglect the teachings on backsliding showing how it may show that one was never a Christians but also that a true Christians will come to repentance. Fuller says, "Backsliding, it is true, always supposes a profession of the true religion; but it does not necessarily suppose the existence of the thing professed."

The book has a helpful biographical sketch and then is four chapters. The author looks at what a backslider is in general first. Secondly he looks at the symptoms of backsliding which is basically not repenting of sin and how we may think that we have but what unrepented sin looks like. He then shows the dangers effects and consequences of unrepented or what he calls "sin lying upon the conscience unlamented". Finally in the last chapter He discusses the means to recovery from this state. The helpful lines in this book are too many to quote here.

I read this book under the recommendation of Dr. James Renihan and Michael Gaydosh's compiled list of a year with Baptist classics. I'm am enjoying finding the great theology in Baptist history.