expected, the sapping of the foundations of the Mohammedan religion. So much for the promulgation of the gospel in the latter days.

...

The third series of events is the intestine troubles and heresies of the church. "In those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation neither shall be... and then if any man shall say to you, lo! here is Christ; or, lo! he is there, believe him not: for false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold I have told you all things*" The apostles, too, give us a

gloomy picture of the degeneracy and dark

*Mark. xiii. 19, 21, 22, 23.

ness of the last days. St. Paul instructs Timothy, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their ownselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof *.” The same apostle describes one remarkable apostacy in striking words, which, whether or not we interpret them of the apostate Church of Rome, convey the same general

* 2 Tim. iii. 1—5.

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truth: "That day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God... the mystery of iniquity doth already work, only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way: and then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming*." St. Peter speaks of those living in the last times, as

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presumptuous, self-willed, not afraid to

* 2 Thess. ii. 3, 4 7, 8.

speak evil of dignities *;" and in a passage of which I before quoted a part, predicts infidelity, declaring "There shall come in the last days, scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation for this they willingly are ignorant of that... the heavens and the earth . . . are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly ment." I will add but another testimony: it is that of St. Jude. "Beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how

*2 Pet. ii. 10.

+ 2 Pet. iii. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8.

that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts: these be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit *.”

I will make one remark on these quotations. If any objection be raised in regard to the expression "last days," and it be thought that it implies merely the time subsequent to Messiah, it is sufficient to observe, that, in several of the passages, the coming of Christ is especially predicted in connexion with the signs described.

And now, brethren, look around on the world, and see if you cannot somewhere discern symptoms of the accomplishment of * Jude, 17, 18, 19.