trous rites, and superstitious fooleries that once deformed her. We should rejoice to see the Romish Church following her example by returning to the truly Catholic standard of primitive times. But we fear this is too much to hope for. For, however much she may be modified and restrained by circumstances, when struggling for existence and growth amidst the evangelical light and free institutions of a Protestant country,—the errors which need reform are so deeply grafted into her system as to be essential to her existence; and although, from time to time, "God's people may come out from her, that they be not partakers of her plagues,'—yet her proud claim to infallibility and unchangeableness is an effectual bar to her reformation. If not reformed, we believe she is destined to be overthrown. We may have mistaken the meaning of prophecy; and if so, we pray God to forgive it as a mistake of ignorance, not of wilfulness. But if we are not mistaken, this spiritual Babylon, which has so long been exulting in her pride and luxury, her wealth and power, must fall. Her doom is written by the pen of inspiration. The Lord will consume her by the

. “ spirit of his mouth, and destroy her with the brightness of his coming!'

While meditating upon these awful themes of prophecy, we should not only watch against the indulgence of an uncharitable proscriptive spirit, and be careful to love the persons of men even in condemaing their errors ;-but we should also carefully guard against the insidious influence of a proud self-complacent feeling, as if we were the exclusive favorites of heaven, and the Protestant world, of which we form a part, were free from all that is offensive in the sight of God. There are other systems, as those of Infidelity and Atheism, for example, which are far more odious and pernicious than any forms of superstition and error which have yet passed under our review. In the factions, schisms, and heresiesin the contempt of authority, the resistance of law, the spirit of rebuke and blasphemy, which mark these “ last days,”—we may find existing evils, no less distinctly predicted in prophecy-no less antichristian in their character, than the corruptions of Popery, or the abominations of the Arabian imposture.

It was our design to have finished this branch of the subject on the present occasion; but so much time has been occupied already, that it must be deferred till the next Sunday evening. And now, friends and brethren,

what shall we say to you in conclusion ? Is it enough that we call your attention to the prominent evils which the prophetic spirit foretold ? Is it enough that we enable you' to perceive a fulfilment of God's word in the monstrous antichristian systems which have established their baleful power on earth, and are to be destroyed at the coming of our Lord? Wo be to us if we make the study of prophecy a matter of speculation, and attend to it merely to gratify our curiosity! We should make it a matter of deep personal concern, having a direct bearing upon our spiritual welfare and our everlasting destiny. When Jesus shall come again, it will be to deal not only with nations and communities, but with individuals also. We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and every one of us give an account of himself to God.' He will not only overthrow false systems,-but sentence all impenitent sinners to everlasting destruction from his presence, and from the glory of his power.

In the great contest between light and darknessholiness and corruption-God and Antichrist-every individual of our race is actively engaged on the one side or on the other. Which cause have we espoused? On which side are we doing battle? If, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, we are fighting under his banner against sin, the world and the devilwhen the Lord cometh, we shall receive a crown of life. But if we remain worldly, careless, impenitent, and unconverted, we shall be numbered amongst his enemies, and have our portion with the workers of iniquity.

May we all "give diligence to make our calling and election sure! May our loins be girded about,

-our lamps trimmed and burning, and we our selves like those who wait for the coming of their Lord!' For behold, He cometh-and blessed are they who shall be prepared for his coming!

LECTURE FOURTH.

ANTI

HERESY, SCHISM, INFIDELITY, AND OTHER

CHRISTIAN INFLUENCES.

2. TIMOTHY, CHAPTER, III. VERSE 1. “ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”

In prosecuting our inquiry as to the leading events depicted in the prophetical parts of the New Testament as antecedent to the second coming of our Lord, we have presented some reflections in reference to the rise, progress, and desolating influence of the great Arabian Imposture—which, by the power of the sword, spread the dominion of the Koran over extensive regions of the East, and proved a terrible scourge to those Christian Churches which had been corrupted by false doctrines and idolatrous usages. We also attempted to show that the same prophecies which, in such graphic but metaphorical language describe the desolating march of the anti