by her own single strength, in opposition to the passions and interests, the pride and prejudices, of mankind. The nations of the earth have been instructed and reformed by the voice of her preachers; and, although the age of miracles has ceased, God hath not failed to confirm his word "with signs "following;" the signs of virtue, benevolence, and piety. It is only when the mind is employed in considering what passes within itself, and within its own observation, in measuring the contracted circles of domestic life, or examining the varieties of individual character, that the power of Christianity is found to be defective, is found to be not productive of that abundance of fruit, of exquisite appearance, of delicious flavour and nutritious quality, which might be expected from an abstract consideration of the purity of its precepts, and the force of its obligations.

If our religion had been a system of human invention, its authors could not have reflected on its intrinsic excellence, without entertaining the most sanguine anticipations of its entire and unqualified success. He who "knew what was in man," ," the strength

of his infirmities as well as of his abilities, and they who were actuated by the Spirit which "searcheth all things," and seeth from the beginning to the end of time, encouraged no such expectations. The apprehensions which they conceived concerning the latter times and full ages of the Gospel dispensation, and which they delivered with a prophetic spirit, are embodied in the prophecy, which concludes with the words of the text, as the sum and substance of it. "This know also," saith the Apostle to Timothy, "that in the last

days perilous times shall come. For men "shall be lovers of their own selves, covet

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ous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, dis"obedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, "without natural affection, truce-breakers, "false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors,

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heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures "more than lovers of God; having a form "of godliness, but denying the power "thereof "."

I. The several terms of this prophecy are

b 2 Tim. iii. 1-5.

worthy of serious consideration; and it is of importance to ascertain whether our lot is not cast in "perilous times," when the faithful are full of alarm and apprehension of the things that are coming upon the earth, and convinced of the necessity of peculiar care and circumspection, that they may neither offend others, nor be themselves offended. Has not the love of self predominated, and engaged men in the pursuit of personal pleasures and personal interests? Is there not a covetousness betrayed by too many in the sordid accumulation of the riches of this world, and the appropriation of its honours and emoluments to themselves and their families? Is there not a boastfulness and a vehemence in asserting the little praise which has, or has not, been deserved, with an unworthy pride, and ambition of distinction? Are there not "blas

phemers," calumniating both God and man, and is there not a spirit of disobedience to parents, an aversion from their just control and authority, and a desire of premature independence? Are not many "unthankful" for favours conferred, and

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many also ungracious in the manner of conferring them? Are there not men “unholy," and destitute of genuine piety? And are not the manners of many parents towards their offspring such as imply the want of natural affection? Are there not ،، truce-breakers," men that, on the most frivolous pretences, violate the most solemn engagements, and who are also irreconcileable in the animosities which they indulge? Do not the records of our courts proclaim many "false accusers," and our streets exhibit many ،، incontinent" persons, abandoned to unlawful gratifications? Have the "fierce" disappeared, and put on the mildness and gentleness of Christian manners? Or have the " despisers of those "that are good" laid aside the contemptuous spirit, and delighted to esteem their brethren before themselves? Have no "traitors" been found in offices of public or of private trust and confidence; or have no “ heady”and precipitate. men experienced the effects of an unwise and unjust speculation; or no "highminded" ones exhibited the fooleries of upstart insolence?

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Have not the multitude been "lovers of pleasures more than of God," and put on "the form of godliness," without possessing "the power thereof ?"

The answer to these questions will determine, how far we are implicated in the prophecy of the Apostle. Without insisting upon its minuter details, or appropriating them all to existing circumstances, it will certainly be admitted, that it is an unwise and undiscerning spirit, which proclaimeth to the world that the times in which we live are times in which the righteous may rejoice, times of self-complacency and mutual congratulation, in which "all good "men" hail" the peculiar glories of these "latter days," and the "pledge of brighter hopes in prospect c." The several terms of the prophecy may be resolved into selflove, into a love of pleasure and of those things which appear to constitute a man's happiness in the world, without reference to the love of God; and in immediate connexion with this selfishness is the easy

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c Christian Observer, vol. xv. p. 402.

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