No. XI. A NOTE CONCERNING THE FALLING AWAY BEFORE THE SECOND COMING OF THE MESSIAH: REFERRING TO Vol. I. p. 383, in the Octavo Edition; AND TO P. 257, in the Quarto Edition. IT T has been thought lately, by fome very ferious and learned perfons, in confequence of the declaration of the Apoftle, in his Second Epiftle to the Theffalonians, (chap. ii. ver. 3,) and in confequence of those remarkable words of our Lord himself, Luke, Luke, chap. xviii. Ver. 8. When the Son of Man cometh, SHALL HE FIND FAITH UPON THE EARTH? that there fhould be a total falling away from the believing in CHRIST, in every nation upon earth, before the second coming of The Lord: and that not even one believer fhould be found:-and that, therefore, that Second Advent muft yet be far-far distant ;— because, notwithstanding the present so dreadfully general prevailing state of infidelity, there are nevertheless fo many fincere, pious, humble Chriftians ftill in the world. But this furely is too hafty, and too vehement a conclufion :-for all the words of Holy Scripture, we may venture fairly to affirm, muft fo be taken as to be ever perfectly confiftent one with another. And as ftrong as the words of Our Bleffed Lord already referred to are ;-and as ftrong as those words of the Holy Apoftle are ;-those others of Our Lord fhould alfo be well remembered, when, approving the firm faith which Peter expreffed in HIS being the ANOINTED CHRIST, THE MESSIAH,He declared, Matthew, Ver. 18. Matthew, chap. xvi. upon this rock I will build my Church: and THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT. Which furely they would do, if all faith were to be swept entirely away from the earth. We should remember alfo,-those words in the Epiftle to the Hebrews: Chap. ix. Ver. 28. Chrift was once offered to bear the fins of many; and unto them THAT LOOK FOR HIM, SHALL HE APPEAR THE SECOND TIME, without fin unto falvation. We fhould likewife remember the words of Our Lord Himself, spoken to the Jews, and to the whole Jewish nation: Matthew, chap. xxiii. Ver. 39. Ifay unto you, Ye shall not feé me henceforth; TILL YE SHALL SAY, Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. And we should remember, that it is written in the unerring words of Prophecy, Bb VOL. III. Daniel, |