hemselves and the Gog and Magog come emiah, when Edom and

vities are restored; of asen seed return to serve

is glory; of Job, when he lis Redeemer; and of Daniel, and in his lot. It will not do sings into being one thousand

last days, seeing they are every to happen during these last ure, thirdly, we are forced to admit ast days are the shutting in of the the ushering in of that glorious on to which we are looking forward; gecessarily driven upon this concluJave nothing left for us but to make the

and seeing that judgment is appointed a his own wisdom, and deserved by us our frowardness, yet in his grace revealed Ne hand, we should do our endeavour to

in mind how the tide sets, and not say it Fowing to the west, when it is setting directly away from it. But this is exactly the present case of the church, to think that we are steering full sail into the pacific and blessed region of time, when we are hurrying headlong, and as it were absorbed, stern foremost, into the jaws of an almost inevitable whirlpool. How much it is the duty of every man who loves the church, and is convinced of this fatal delusion, to speak out his conviction with all bold

ness, and warn his brethren with all lovingkindness, I leave you to judge. And this is what I have undertaken, and shall in these discourses prosecute, endeavouring to read upon the face of the times those very characteristics which are here described as belonging to the latter times.

Finally, my brethren, I pray you to observe how distinctly these things are written in the Scripture, how a simple reference to the concordance, and a mere perusal of the texts as they occur, will serve to clear up these prophetic matters over which it is the custom of self-sufficient men to cast so much doubt and ambiguity. I have done nothing more in this discourse than to peruse and set down in order certain texts of Scripture; and yet, I have no doubt, there is hardly a man present, who is not convinced that the events of the last times are, the judgment of the nations or Gentiles for all their oppressions of the saints, the restoration of the Jews, and the glory of the holy mountain, the glorious advent of the Lord, the resurrection of the dead, the blessedness and pacification of the whole earth. And now, though you know not when these days are to come, yet you can give me the more earnest heed while shewing you, as I proceed to do in these discourses, that the clearest evidences of them are even now revealed in the midst of us. These texts of Scripture which we have examined will enable you to confute a whole platform of society orators, who hope and speculate about the future according to their proud imaginations and vain wishes, not

according to the oracles of God: but what is more, it will enable you to do your part to set the deluded people right; and if not, it will give you the ground of many a mournful complaint unto God, of much sorrow and affliction on account of the blindness of the church. And oh, dear brethren, if these things are so, as we believe them to be, what manner of persons ought we not to be in all godliness and honesty! How watchful! how loose to the world! how ready for our change! how afflicted for the church! how hateful of the spirit of Antichrist, which winketh at all abominations! how desirous of Christ's coming, seeing things are waxing worse and worse! how true to our trusts, seeing the King is at hand! how diligent over the house to have it all in readiness! how very careful of our garments! how watchful against temptations! how prepared to resist them! how wise, how considerate! how full of faith and holiness! For, remember, there is a time when the door is shut and no more admission found: a time when there is no more buying of oil! They could not enter into Noah's ark, who would not be warned by Noah's preaching. And so I believe it will likewise be found, in that day, which shall come as a snare upon all that dwell on the earth. Therefore, give heed to these things, seeing that now, by more than the space of two years, I have given you warning of them. The Lord prepare us and make us ready. And, oh, may that day not overtake us as a thief!

39

SERMON II.

LOVERS OF SELF, COVETOUS, BOASTERS.

2 TIM. iii. 1.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come: for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters.

THOSE passages which we have examined in our former discourse are sufficient for establishing the general position, that the last times of the church are evil, and not good; apostate, and not faithful; and now for the more particular description of the evil times, we have to request your attention to the text (2 Tim. iii. 1): “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come: for men shall be lovers of their own selves."

But, before applying these characteristics of the last and perilous times of the Gentile dispensation, to the times in which we live, for your warning and instruction, it is necessary that I should explain a little in what body of men it is that I would identify them as being present. The body in which I would identify them as being present, is the Christian church; by which I mean all that have been baptized into Christ, and

Include the apostate stian Protestantism, y of Christ, and the deth on the true founast I allow no arbitrary gious world and the proclude the whole community one word, the whole of the believers in Christ as the God's will, all the baptized in De Father, the Son, and the Holy ter they believe these persons of Trinity to be equal or not; whether, they believe them to be persons or not.

and his Apostles, looking forward, d into what state this community of vity Gentiles would come in the last days. ere is the description of their state before the text. And I now assert that this very we hath been realized, or is fast realizing. which I undertake to exhibit to your convicJon, chiefly with the view of warning you and

structing you against the evils with which we are surrounded; not the less to be avoided because they are disguised, and concealed, and the very reverse is generally believed. I must therefore look into the Christian church widely and largely; and if there be any province of it which claims, and hath in a manner established for itself an exemption from these characteristics of the whole, it will be the more necessary to shew their application there, in order that