It's a slippery slope - downhill.

Concerning the departure from sound doctrine in the English churches in the 17th century, Robert Schindler likened this to a downhill slope, and titled his paper, "The Down Grade". Here is the final paragraph of his first paper on the subject.

"These facts furnish a lesson for the present times, when, as in some cases, it is all too plainly apparent men are willing to forego the old for the sake of the new. But commonly it is found in theology that that which is true is not new, and that which is new is not true."

How many have just now for the first time read of the "Down Grade Controversy". I believe it was George Santayana who coined the phrase, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

This is where we are today in the church in America.