without your own cordial co-operation. Doubtless it is he that must give you both to will and to do : but still you must " work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Though you are " drawn by God, and made willing by him in the day of his power," you are " drawn by the cords of a man" and from thenceforth act as willingly as ever you did in the ways of sin. Arise then to the work of repentance, and to ail open acknowledgment of the truth : so shall your chains be broken, and " Satan himself be bruised under your feet shortly."]
2 Tim. iii. 1, 2. This knoiv also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall he lovers of their own selves.
THERE is in the inspired writings frequent men- tion of what will take place "in the last days." But in these words very different and distant periods are referred to. Sometimes they designate the time of the Chi'istian dispensation^; sometimes the day of judgment^ ; and sometimes, as in our text, a sea- son between these, when very great and important changes will take place in the Church of Christ". Immensely important changes have already taken place, as in the successful efforts of Antichrist, both in the Mahomedan and Popish powers : and still further changes we look for in their overthrow. But it is remarkable, that every event predicted, as to take place at these distant periods, actually com- menced in the apostolic age : and St. John says, ''Even now are there many Antichrists'^." As for the evil spoken of in my text, the Apostle declares, that, though predicted as to occur " in the last days," it did exist at that very time, to a great extent^; and that, when it should prevail in the way that he de- scribed, very perilous and troublesome times would have arrived.
a Heb. i. 2. ^ Jam. v. 3. " 2 Pet. iii. 3.
d 1 John ii. IS. '^ ver. G— 9.