which cometh of the Lord, and that that man was happy that had his quiver full of them." 1 But what is now more common than those expressions which more than imply that they are "an incumbrance and misfortune?" How rare, also, the instances of such "children and nephews" as those spoken of by St. Paul, 1 Tim. v. 4.? E'er they have entered upon their teens, thousands are committed to the dubious influences of foreign culture, physical and mental, scientific and religious; while thousands more, alienated from their early homes by parental apathy, are precipitated upon the wide ocean of adventure, heedless of what awaits them; and all this based upon that Atheistic, anti-social principle, of which we have already spoken, and which teaches "that we should love all men alike; and that the preferences which we show to the more intimate relationships is a prejudice, and an offence to uniformity and equality of love; and, in an age when liberality is the object of universal worship, and public opinion of men, not the word of God, is the common law, nothing else is to be expected but a dissolution of the bonds of natural affection, and the increase of crime in every direction." But another mark of these last days ;

10. "Truce-breakers." This "refers to that state of mind, which, if it enters into covenant, does so without intending to be bound by it, but to break it whenever the passions or expediency invite." Hence, nations violate the laws of neutrality. The same may

1. Ps. cxxvii,

be said of public pledges and principles. In all the departments of business "the same recklessness of oaths and engagements" are proverbial among men. But, more appalling still is the prevalence of this "truce-breaking" spirit in the church. Apply this subject to those solemn obligations assumed at baptism. "Oh! how lightly is the covenant entered into in the first instance, and how awfully despised and trampled under foot afterwards!" The same may be said of the assumption of baptismal vows at confirmation, the recipients of that sacred rite, in numerous instances, making no further advances; and if they do, their obliging themselves to a more holy life by a participation of the holy Eucharist, furnishing no evidence that they rightly "discern the Lord's body."

11. "False accusers." Upon this characteristic it is unnecessary that I enlarge. The universality of its prevalence among all classes, precludes the necessity of adducing evidence of its existence. "Charity envieth not," and "thinketh no evil." But of all the viperous brood of the censorious, wanton, and malignant, there is not one left to "cast the first stone;" and in the church, as well as out of the church, are to be found those who habitually cater to the appetites of the lovers of scandal, and innocence and purity ofttimes seeks refuge in the cold earth, from the pestiferous breath of an inuendo.

12. "Incontinent," or the surrendering of oneself to the dominion of unbridled appetites. See this ex-. emplified in an inordinate ambition after display in the costliness and magnificence of our "ceiled houses"-in

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our equipage-in our effeminacy and luxury-in our immoderate love of dress-of indulgence in "vain and foolish talking and jesting," 1 and of frequenting those scenes of vice and profligacy, which pander to and consequently awaken, all the baser passions of our nature. With a late writer on this subject, I add, that "I do not feel justified in going at large into the proofs of direct sensual incontinency. I will satisfy myself with appealing to the testimony of all moralists who have had an opportunity of observing the state of society abroad and at home. There never was a period when the habits of men were so generally profligate. But *** I would draw a veil over this part of my

painful subject."

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13. "Fierce." The fruit of incontinent indulgence, as just described. He who has not obtained the mastery over his other passions, will scarcely aim at imitating the example of "the Prince of Peace," who was "meek and lowly in heart," in curbing that unruly member, the tongue. This unhallowed instrument "sets on fire the course of nature!” 1 Nor can history record the period when this fire raged with more unabated fury and extent than now. What, brook a contradiction! Let the results of intemperate language in high places answer. Grave of Cilley, answer! and, as in our own, so in other countries, this fierceness of spirit now rages with redoubied fury. "The law of honor" seeks satisfaction at the sacrifice of human

1. Hag. i., 4.
3. Matt. xi., 29.

2. Isa. ix., 6
4. James iii., 6.

life for the most trivial affront. And this fire, burning thus fiercely in the breast of the statesman, spreads its destructive ravages to a most fearful extent, though perhaps in a different form, among the lower orders of all classes. "Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame!" 1

14. "Despisers of them that are good." The "good" here are those who, like Enoch of old, "walk with God?" But "they (the scornful) that sit in the gate speak against them, and they are the song of the drunkard.” 3

15. "Traitors." Yes. Many, now having "the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof," upon the manifestation of the ascendant anti-christian principle, Infidelity, like Judas of old, will give the traitorous kiss, and betray into the hands of the "man of sin and son of perdition" thousands of the deluded votaries of Deism, modern Unitarianism, and Socinianism. And, as though to render this work doubly sure, and as the righteous retribution of heaven upon them for their wilful blindness, "God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness..”

16. "Heady."

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17. "High-minded." These characteristics may well go together. They are but streams which flow

from the same corrupt source with those of boasting, pride, disobedience, fierceness, &c. Hence, they "despise government-they are self-willed-they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities." Their language is, "with our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own; who is Lord over us?"

18. "Lovers of pleasure, more than lovers of God." As connected with a form of godliness, we are to understand this characteristic as descriptive of an inordinate fondness for the mere pomp and outward circumstance of religion; the gratification of an excessive fastidiousness as to the matter and manner of the preacher, the quality of the music, &c. Hence the present predominating love of novelty and excitement, and the running from church to church, as from one theatre to another; so that not unseldom the judicious, able, time-worn, though unassuming minister of Christ, is exchanged for the clerical comedian.

Then, too, this disposition is seen in unchecked indulgence in the pleasures and amusements of the world, in which nominal professors of religion so largely participate. All indulgence with such is considered as "harmless," "innocent," and the like, that falls not under the imputation of "notorious evil living."

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Nor can we pass that class of "lovers of pleasure, more than lovers of God," who, not content with the

1. 2 Pet. ii., 10.

2. See the Rubric to Communion Service. Book of Common Prayer.