5. _Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen._ The eminence which you once occupied. Call to remembrance the state in which you once were. The duty here enjoined is, when religion has declined in our hearts, or in the church, to call to distinct recollection the former state――the ardour, the zeal, the warmth of love which once characterized us. The _reason_ for this is, that such a recalling of the former state will be likely to produce a happy influence on the heart. Nothing is better adapted to affect a backsliding Christian, or a backsliding church, than to call to distinct recollection the former condition――the happier days of piety. The joy then experienced, the good done, the honour reflected on the cause of religion, the peace of mind of that period, will contrast strongly with the present, and nothing will be better fitted to recall an erring church, or an erring individual, from their wanderings than such a reminiscence of the past. The _advantages_ of thus “remembering” their former condition would be many; for some of the most valuable impressions which are made on the mind, and some of the most important lessons learned, are from the recollections of a former state. Among those advantages, in this case, would be such as the following:――(a) It would show how much they might have _enjoyed_ if they had continued as they began, how much more real happiness they would have had than they actually have enjoyed. (b) How much _good_ they might have done, if they had only persevered in the zeal with which they commenced the Christian life. How much more good might most Christians do than they actually accomplish, if they would barely, even without increasing it, _continue_ with the degree of zeal with which they begin their course. (c) How much greater _attainments_ they might have made in the divine life, and in the knowledge of religion, than they have made; that is, how much more elevated and enlarged might have been their views of religion, and their knowledge of the Word of God. And (d) such a recollection of their past state as, contrasted with what they now are, would exert a powerful influence in producing true repentance; for there is nothing better adapted to do this than a just view of what we might have been, as compared with what we now are. If a man has become cold towards his wife, nothing is better fitted to reclaim him {65} than to recall to his recollection the time when he led her to the altar, the solemn vow then made, and the rapture of his heart when he pressed her to his bosom and called her his own. ¶ _And repent._ The word here used means to change one’s mind and purposes, and, along with that, the conduct or demeanour. The _duty_ of repentance here urged would extend to all the points in which they had erred. ¶ _And do the first works._ The works which were done when the church was first established. That is, manifest the zeal and love which were formerly evinced in opposing error, and in doing good.