CONTENTS. Page SERMON I.-Introductory-to prove that the Last ture are the Conclusion of the Jewish II.-Lovers of Self Covetous...... Boasters III.-Proud....... Blasphemers IV. Disobedient to Parents V. Unthankful (not eucharistical) .... VI.-Unholy VII.-Without natural Affection......... 1 39 4.7 54 59 65 73 ... 100 124 153 VIII.-Truce-breakers (Covenant breakers)...... 171 IX.-False Accusers (Accusers).................................................. 191 X.-Incontinent (unbridled).... XII. Despisers of those that are good (not XIV.-Heady, high-minded........................ 326 than Lovers of God.................. 350 XVI. Having a Form of Godliness, but de- denying the Power thereof......... 379 INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE. THE LAST DAYS. 2 TIM. iii. 1—6. 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 pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. From such turn away. BEFORE proceeding to open this text, with which I have chosen to introduce this year's ministrations, I have an observation to make concerning our duties in common, with respect to the year which is past. And I pray you to give heed to it; for I shall do no more than mention it, in my great anxiety to act upon the subject in hand. God having, in his providence, preserved us through the perils and evils of the year which is past, we desire, this morning of the first Sabbath B of a new year, to begin our office of preaching, by exhorting you, his people, to take a retrospect of the year that is just ended; and to call to remembrance the most signal of the acts and dealings of God towards your souls, towards your families, and towards the church of Christ, more especially towards this individual church of which you are members; and, having recalled these the Lord's providences, whether prosperous or adverse, to speak of them all in his holy ear, and in the ear of his saints, with the suitable affections of joy or of grief, with just acknowledgment of his righteous hand, and patient resignation to his sovereign will. By which diligent and dutiful review and rehearsal unto the Lord, and unto those whom you admit into the confidence of your religious experience, it will come to pass, through the mercy of God and the admonitions of his Spirit, that your souls will be furnished with new faith and trust in the Almighty hand, which overruleth all; and you will receive new insight into the principles of his Divine government, and be endowed with new wisdom from above, to administer all things unto his glory. This duty, dear brethren, so becoming in a steward of God at all times and seasons, is especially so at this the commencement of a new time, when, in your secular affairs, you deem it necessary that every one of your agents, and stewards, and servants should make up his accounts for the year, and render you a faithful reckoning of all his intromissions: not to do so, argueth great remissness, great insensibility, or great unfaith fulness to the great Householder and Sovereign. And as in your secular affairs you strike a balance, first of profit and loss, to ascertain the fruits and rewards of your labours; and, secondly, of all the stock of goods which you have on hand to trade upon and profit by in the year ensuing: so would I have every one of you, first, endeavour to ascertain how much you have profited in the riches of knowledge, and wisdom, and holiness, from the means and opportunities you have had, during the past year; and, secondly, what amount and investment of the talents of the kingdom you now possess, for the end of increasing them to your own advantage, and devoting them to the glory of our Lord. Now this duty which I recommend to you all is one in which no man can help you, and which every one must discharge for himself, by faithful self-examination and careful observation of the hand of God: and therefore, having recommended it to you all, as my first counsel this year, I do now proceed to handle the subject contained in my text, which is, The evil character of the times in which we live. And this I do not out of any diseased appetite or censorious inclination, but for the admonition and warning of you, my people, that ye may know how much Divine grace, wisdom, and strength are necessary for the right conduct of |