The Introduction .

THe knowledge of the Times and Seasons is very useful for all men . Without this the Husbandman can neither duly till his ground , nor sow his Seed , nor reap his Harvest . * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Time ( which according to the † † Ari. Phys. 4. c. 11. Philosopher , is , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the measure of motion ) is the necessary circumstance of Action , and † † 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Season , is Opportunitas rei gerendae , commoda , * * Erasm . the Fitnesse of the Time for the work of man , or the Production of Nature . Now its mans singular Prudence to discern the Times , that he may make the better improvement of every Season . For , † † Eccl. 3.1 . To every thing there is a Season , and a Time for every Purpose under the Heaven . Thus the Summer is the proper Season wherein the Prudent man ( with the * * Prov. 6.8 . Ant ) will make Provision for the Time of Winter . Thus the Wise man will prepare for Perillous Times , while he yet enjoyes a Prosperous Season . It s a piece of Prudence to † † Pro. 22.3 . foresee Perillous Times ; and to make Provision for them , while the Season lasts , is a Work of Wisdome . This Wisdome God teaches his Saints in his Word , and the Defect of this Prudence in the Foresight of future Dangers , is supplied by the Prophetick Revelation of his Spirit . By the * * 2 Tim. 3.16 . with 2 Pet. 1.20 , 21. Inspiration of this Spirit of Prophecy was the Apostle Paul enabled to give this Premonition unto Timothy ; This know also , that in the last Dayes P●rillous Times s●all come .

It is true , † † Acts 1.7 . it is not for us to know the times and the seasons which God hath put in his own power , having sealed them up from us in his secret Counsel . For * * Deut. 29.29 . secret things belong unto the LORD our God : But yet those things which are revealed belong unto us , and to our children for ever , that we may do all the Words of his Law , and obey his Will in the world . And therefore it does concern us to know the Times and Seasons which he hath revealed to us in his holy Word , and commanded us to take knowledge of , as in this Divine Prophecy ; This know also , &c.

The truth of the Prophecies manifested by the exact correspondency of future Events to former Predictions , is one good argument for the confirmation of the Truth , and Dignity of the Holy Scriptures . Who but that God , whose † † Ps. 147.5 understanding is infinite , can certainly and infallibly fore-see and fore-tel so long before , the things that shall come to passe so long after ? And do not our eyes in these dayes behold the Accomplishment of many things contained in the Scripture Prophecies , which ( even those of the latest Date , recorded in the New Testament ) were first given forth and committed to writing above fifteen hundred yeares ago ? How far the Prediction of Perillous Times , here in the Text , receives an accomplishment in the present age wherein we live , will easily apppear to any soberly wise Christian , that having first seriously perused the Context , shall lift up his eyes , and look abroad into the World , upon the men of this Generation .

For the Apostle having in the Words of the Text briefly exhibited his Prediction of Perillous Times , doth in the following Verses , give a lively Description of the persons that should make the Times so Perillous . Verse 1 This know ( saith he ) that in the last Days Verse 2 perillous Times shall come . For men shall be lovers of their own selves , Covetous , Boasters , Verse 3 Proud , Blasphemers , Disobedient to Parents , Unthankful , Unholy , without Natural Affection , Truce-breakers , False-accusers , Verse 4 Incontinent , Fierce , Despisers of those that are Good , Traitors , Heady , High-minded , Lovers of Pleasures more then Lovers of Verse 5 God ; Having a Forme of godliness , but denying the power thereof .

But to make way for a clearer Discovery of the Intent of the holy Ghost , in this part of the holy Scripture , we shall consider it according to the proper nature of a Prophecie , which respects the Future ; and so as a lively Mirror , it represents the Image of the After-Age , the Complexion of the Times to come . And thus in the Text ( whereunto we shall a while confine our selves , and thence descend to the Explication of the Context , from which we must fetch Light for the discovery of the times mentioned in the Text ) there are these three things to be taken into consideration , viz.

1. What these times shall be . 2. When these times shall be . 3. How Timothy was concern'd herein .

In the first of these we shall open the description which the Apostle gives of these Times , by the Adjunct : in the second , we shall enquire into the import of the Prediction , as to the determination of the Time of its Accomplishment ; and in the last , we shall consider the scope and intent of the Premonition given to Timothy concerning these Perillous Times .

The Description .

WE are in the first place to consider what these times shall be ? They shall be ( as the Apostle here stiles and describes them ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Vulgatus Tempora periculosa , Beza Molesta interpretatur : melius Tremellius è Syro , dura , Castalio difficilia Verterunt * * Scult. in loc. . Perillous times , hard , difficult , and troublesome times , as Interpreters a little varying in the Termes of Translation , agree in the Intent of the Word . They shall be times of Difficulty , Distresse and Danger . Dicitur & ipsum Tempus difficile quod expectationi non respondet , in quo homines difficulter se suaque tueri possunt ; ut in Peste , Bello , Fame publica . Nam ita 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est homini aut vivere , aut sua tueri † † Aret. in loc. . And time it self is then called Difficult , when it answers not our Expectation , and wherein men finde it difficult to defend themselves , and keep their own ; as in time of Plague , Warre , or Famine . For in these Cases its a difficult thing for a man to preserve his life or estate . So likewise upon the same Account , in Case of Schisme and Divisions in the Church ( which is a kinde of Civil War in the City of God ) or the Persecution of the Saints ( which is as the Invasion of a Forreign Enemy ) they may be said to be hard and difficult , troublesome and Perillous Times to the people of God . Such are the times spoken of in this Prophecy . They shall be cloudy and stormy Dayes to the Church and Saints . The Apostle raised upon the Mount of Vision saw a small cloud arising , which he knew would overspread the whole Church .

For this Prediction of the Evil of the Times , is a Prophetical Representation of the future State of the Church . And imports so much that their very * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Seasons of Grace shall become Days of Danger ; their very Opportunities of Doing or Receiving Good , shall be fenc't about with † † 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Difficulties , and fill'd with Dangers .

Moreover we are here to observe , that that is figuratively attributed to the Times , which is properly applyable to them that shall live in them . For properly time is not capable of any impressions of Good or Evil ; it can neither be priviledg'd with safety , nor opprest with Difficulty , nor exposed to Danger . But those are called hard and perillous times , wherein those that live in them , are exercised with difficulties and exposed to Dangers . Tempori tribuuntur ejusmodi Epitheta Metonymicè , propter ea quae in tempore contingunt , maximè propter hominum Mores ac studia † † Estius .

And therefore are the Times here called Perillous , because of those things which should fall out in those Times , especially because of the perillous Practises of the men of the Times . So likewise the Apostle elsewhere calls the * * Eph. 5.16 Days evil , because of the Evil men that liv'd in those days , and the Evil things that were done by those men , as Chrysostome well notes . What 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . † † Chrysost. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ( sayes he ) is the evil of the Day ? The Evil of the Day must needs be something about the Day . What is the Evill of the Body ? Sicknesse . What 's the Evil of the Soul ? Vitiousness . How then does he call the dayes evil ? how does he call the time evil ? He calls them not so for their Nature or Essence , or as they are Creatures , but for the things that are done in them . So that men are Authours of the Evils that fall out in the Times , and for this Cause are they called evil Times .

They are indeed bad men , that make the Times bad , hard Hearts , that make hard Times ; perillous Undertakings , difficult Designes , troublesome and tyrannical Intrusions , Actings , Impositions of men of proud , daring , and ambitious Spirits , that make these perillous , difficult , and troublesome Times . So the same Father determines upon this very Text. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * * Chrysost. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . .

Perillous Times shall come . He speaks not this to accuse the Dayes , or finde fault with the Times , but the men that should then be . For we are wont to call the Times good or bad , from the Things that are done by men in such Times .

And indeed , those are the worst Times that do produce the worst men , and wherein these men do accomplish their worst Designes , and execute their most mischievous Intentions . That 's the worst ground which is most overgrown with weeds , especially if such weeds , as neither any good Graine , nor wholesom Herbs , nor Fragrant Flowers will grow amongst them . And such are the Times whereof the Apostle here Prophecies , so that we may truly say of him , as Casaubon of Taci●us ; Ejusmodi tempora descripsit quibus nulla , unquam aut Virtutum steriliora , aut Virtutibus in imicitiora .

He hath describ'd such times , as never were any more barren of Vertues , or more pregnant with Enmity and opposition to all Goodnesse . Those Times that are most barren in Virtues , are ever most fruitful in Vices . Evils do most abound , when Goodnesse is banisht . Sin then reignes upon Earth , when † † Ultima Caelestum Terras Astra●a reliquit . Ovid. Righteousnesse flies up to Heaven . The Flowers are choaked , when the Weeds grow tallest . Thus was the * * Mat. 13.7 good Seed stifled amongst the thriving Thornes . When the Plague ( of sin , Errour and Profanenesse ) reigns , the Times must needs be Perillous .

Thus we see what these Times here predicted shall be ; even evil and perillous Times .

The Prediction .

COme we now , in the next Place , to enquire , When these Times shall be . This the Apostle tells us in these words ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in ultimis Diebus ( seu in Diebus novissimis ) instabunt . * * Vet. Be● .

They shall come ( they shall press upon us , and as it were , instantly overtake us ) in the last Dayes .

Now the Times of the Gospel in respect of the four thousand years that went before , even the whole space of Time from Christs first to his second Coming , from his Ascention into Heaven to his Return to Judgement , at the end of the world , is , in the Scripture-Phrase , called the last Dayes . So sayes the Apostle in his Epistle to the Hebrews † † Chap. 1. ver. 1 , 2. ; God who at sundry times , and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets , hath in these last dayes spoken to us by his Son . So the Apostle applies to his Times the Prophetick Prophecy of the Old Testament * * Act. 2.16 17 Joel 2.28 . ; This is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel , And it shall come to passe , in the last Dayes , ( saith God ) I will poure out my Spirit upon all Flesh . Of the same Import is that which the same Apostle speaks in his Epistle to the believing Jews † † 2 Pet. 3.3 , knowing this , that there shall come in the last Dayes scoffers , walking after their own lusts . The whole time therefore of the Evangelical Administration is here to be understood by the last Dayes , yet so as the later the time , the darker the dayes , unlesse in some lucid Intervals , and when those Illustrious Prophecies and Promises of the Old Testament , concerning glorious Gospel-times shall be fulfill'd . As , that * * Isa. 30.2 6 The Light of the Moon shall be as the Light of the Sun , and the Light of the Sun shall be sevenfold , as the Light of seven dayes . Yea , that † † Isa. 24.23 Then the Moon shall be confounded , and the Sunne ashamed , when the LORD of Hosts shall reigne in Mount Zion , and in Jerusalem , and before his Ancients gloriously . And that * * Hab. 2.24 The Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD , as the waters cover the Sea . Such may we expect the times to be , when the Lord shall fulfill his Promises concerning the † † Rev. 18.2 Fall of Babylon , and * * 2 Thes. 2.8 . destruction of Antichrist , the † † Rom. 11 25 , 26. Call and Conversion of the Jews , and the bringing in of the Fulnesse of the Gentiles . But otherwise the last Age , we may expect ( according to this and * * 2 Pet. 3.3 1 Joh. 2.18 Jude v. 18. Mat. 24 , 9 — 12 , 29. Rev. 8. and 9. and 20. other Predictions in the New Testament ) to be the worst Age , the last Dayes to be the worst Dayes . Thus we see how the last Dayes respect the whole time of the Gospel-Church , from the Apostles times to the End of the World . This is the Evening of the World , as the time before was the Morning . The nearer Night the greater darknesse , till the Glory of the Lord , like Lightning , shall break out of the Clouds . The nearer the Bottom● , the more Dregges . The Absence of the Sunne makes Night in the World : And the longer the time is it hath left us , the greater is our darknesse , till its Return shall make a new Day . Such is Christs Absence from his Church ; yet ( as we have seen ) some Beames of Glory shall be scatter'd upon Earth , before the King of Glory shall return from Heaven . Thus the Dawne precedes the Day ; but it s usually darkest immediately before the Dawne .

Now for our interpretation of the last dayes in this latitude , we have the general concurrence of the best Expositors , who all conclude the same thing with one consent . For ( to instance in some ) thus they speak upon this Text.

Sub extremis Diebus comprehendit universum Christianae Ecclesiae statum † † Calvin in loc. . Under the last days ( sayes the judicious Calvin ) the Apostle comprehends the whole state of the Christian Church .

Now the last Days Novissimi autem vel ultimi Dies numerandi sunt ab Adventu Christi ad Finem Mundi : Nam Tempus illud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur respectu Initii & Medii . Initium ab Adamo ad Mosen numeratur : Medium Temporis à Mose ad Christum : Ultimum igitur esta Christo ad ejus Reditum * * Aret in locum . . ( sayes Aretius ) are to be reckoned from the coming of Christ to the End of the World : For that Time is called the last Time , in respect of the Beginning and the Middle-time . The Beginning is reckon'd from Adam to Moses : The Middle-time from Moses to Christ : And so the last Time is from Christ to his second Coming , or his return to judgement .

Dicuntur autem Novissima Tempora , Hebraico More , non quae circa Mundi finem proximè erunt ; sed Posteriora quaeque suis Temporibus Novissima nominantur . Quanquam & tanto pejora futura sunt Tempora , quanto fini hujus Mundi & extremo Judicio fuerint proximiora † † Pelicanus in locum . . But now ( sayes Pelican ) they are called the last Times , after the manner of the Hebrews , not only which are nearest to the End of the World ; but all the times succeeding their owne Age are stil'd the last times . Although the times shall be so much the worse , by how much the nearer they are to the last Judgement , and the End of this World * * Mat. 24.24 . Luk. 21.12 .

And that the last Dayes must , in this Text , be necessarily understood in this Latitude , may yet more clearly appear , if we consider that they were already begun when the Apostle wrote this Prophecy , and that they are still continu'd to this Age wherein we live . That they were then already begun is manifest , in that the Apostle describing the Persons by several Properties , who by their ungodly Practises should make the Times so perillous , concludes his Description with this Cautionary Premonition to Timothy † † Verse 5. ,

〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . From such turne away : Or , turn such away ; Authoritatively admonish , reprove , reject them ; hold no familiar Converse or Correspondency with them . And that these times are to be intended to the following Ages , and are continu'd to this present Age wherein we live , is it not sufficiently manifest , in that these very Times are an evident Commentary upon this Text , and shew the Accomplishment of this Prophecy .

Thus we have seen when these Times shall be , and how long these last dayes shall last ; even from the Apostles Time to the End of the World .

The Premonition .

NOw come we in the last Place to consider of what concernment this Prediction of perillous Times was to Timothy . And the Apostles words upon his first entrance upon this Discourse do plainly declare , that it concern'd him to know this ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . This know also .

It much concerns Christians , especially Ministers of the Gospel , to know what perillous Times shall come upon the Church of God , and when they shall come .

All Christians are concern'd herein . It 's profitable for them to know before hand what perillous times shall come , that so they may not be unawares surprized by them , but duly prepared for them . For , Praemoniti Premuniti . Fore-warn'd Fore-arm'd .

And therefore it hath pleased the Lord , for the manifestation of that special Care which he hath of his Church , to reveal to his Servants by the Spirit of Prophecy , in all Ages , what evils his Saints should be exercised withal , and what perillous Times they should passe thorough to their Rest and Glory . It is he that brings Judgements upon his people for their sinnes , and yet reveales his Purpose to his Prophets , that they might call his People to Repentance for the Prevention of his Judgements . As it is said ; * * Am. 3.6 , 7. Shall a Trumpet be blown in the City , and the People not be afraid ? Shall there be Evil in a City , and the LORD hath not done it ? Surely the LORD God will do nothing , but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the Prophets . So we read , when God had a purpose to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah ( those lustful and licentious Cities ) with † † Gen. 19.24 Fire and Brimstome from heaven , * * Gen. 18.17 the LORD said , shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do ? No , he presently reveal'd it to him , and sent his holy Angels also to his servant † † Gen. 19.12 , -16. 2 Pet. 2 . 6-9 . Lot to forewarne him of the near-approaching danger , and to deliver him , by leading him out of that wicked City , destin'd to a dreadful Destruction , from it's inevitable overthrow . So God foretold the Israelites their * * Jer. 25.9 and 34.21 Ezek. 12.11 , &c. Captivity in Babylon , and Christ hath foretold Christians † † Mat. 10.22 , 23. Joh. 15.20 Mark 10.30 . 2 Tim. 3.12 . their Persecution in the World .

Praevisa minus laedunt . Evils fore-seen do less afflict .

Though Afflictions are the appointed Portion of the Saints on Earth , yet by the Fore-knowledge of these afflictions , they may be the better prepar'd to bear them with Patience . And therfore God hath never left his Church without a Prophetick Representation of her future condition . So to the History of his Church in the Old Testament , he hath adjoyned sundry Prophecies , and to the Doctrine of Christ in the New Testament , he hath annext a Revelation .

And if God have been pleased thus to reveale in his Word the evils that shall come upon his Church and Saints , and the perillous Times through which they shall pass in the World , they are doubtlesse much concern'd to take notice thereof . How else shall they prepare themselves for the Lords Visitations , or make a right Improvement of his holy Providences ? How else shall they provide * * Mat. 25.4 Oyle in their Vessels , that they may have their † † Luke 12 35. Lamps burning , when a Night of darknesse shall overcome them ? How else shall they make such due Provision for perillous Times , that they may hold up their Heads in a Day of distresse ? Doubtlesse as the Saints may loose a Harvest of Mercy , for want of improving a Day of Grace ; so may they fall into a Furnace of Affliction , for want of fore-seeing a Day of Wrath. And therefore Christ justly taxes the Pharisees that they could * * Mar. 16.3 discerne the Face of the Skie , but not the Signes of the Times . Yea , the Lord brings in the Fowles of the Heaven to give in evidence against his own People , for their clearer conviction of their Folly , and Stupidity in not discerning the Time of his Judgements . For sayes the Lord in Jeremy † † Chap. 8. ver. 7. ; Yea , the Stork in the Heaven knoweth her appointed Times , and the Turtle , and the Crane , and the Swallow observe the Time of their Coming , but my People know not the Judgement of the LORD . Hence it comes to passe , that , as some of the more foolish Birds , they are oft taken unawares in the snares of Gods judgements , as the Wise man observes ; * * Eccl. 9.12 For man also knoweth not his Time ; as the Fishes that are taken in an evil Net , and as Birds that are caught in the snare ; so are the sons of men snared in an evil Time , when it falleth suddenly upon them . How pathetically did the Lord Jesus Christ lament and bewaile the deplorable state and condition of Jerusalem , upon this very account , that they knew not , they consider'd not their great danger , but were senslesse and secure , notwithstanding all Warnings and Premonitions , at the very brink of their threatned destruction ? For thus is it recorded of him in the Gospel , that * * Luke 19.41 , -44. When he was come neere , he beheld the City , and wept over it ; Saying , If thou hadst known , even thou , at least in this thy Day , the Things which belong unto thy Peace ! But now they are hid from thine eyes . For the Dayes shall come upon thee , that thine Enemies shall cast a Trench about thee , and compass thee round , and keep thee in on every side , and shall lay thee even with the ground , and thy children within thee : and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another , because thou knewest not the Time of thy Visitation . And the Event ( we know ) fully answer'd the Prediction . Thus for want of a due Fore-sight of future Dangers , and a right Improvement of the Prophetical Discoveries of Perillous Times , a sinful and secure people may be suddenly swallow'd up into an inevitable Destruction .

Thus it nearly concerns all Gods people , to take special notice of these Predictions of perillous Times , that they may make a good improvement thereof for their spiritual advantage .

But now the Ministers of the Gospel are in a special manner concern'd herein . They are to search , know , and consider what perillous Times shall befal the Church according to the Prophecies of the holy Scriptures . This , that they may give Warning to the People , that they may meet the Lord by Repentance , and that those that feare the Lord may keep themselves pure from the Pollutions of the World , that so they may be preserv'd by his special Providence , when he shall come forth for the Execution of his Judgements . Thus the Lord warned the Old World by Noah , † † 2 Pet. 2.5 a Preacher of Righteousness , and the Israelites by sundry Prophets , before the Destruction of the one , and Captivity of the other . Thus did the People of * * Jona . 3.4 , 5 , 10. Nineveh prevent the Destruction threatned by turning to the Lord by † † Mat. 12.41 Luk. 11.32 Repentance upon the Preaching of Jonah .

I may say of Preachers what the Noble Verulam * * Bacons Essayes . spake of Princes ; Shepherds of People had need know the Kalendar of Tempests in State , which are commonly greatest , when things grow to Equality ; as natural Tempests are greatest about the Equinoctials . This that they may house the Lords Flock ( as the Servants of Pharaoh did their Cattel † † Exo. 9.20 ) till the storme be over-past .

The Ministers of the Gospel are the Watchmen of the City of God . They that stand upon the Watch-Towers of the Holy City , should blow the * * Isa. 58.1 . Trumpet of Gods holy Word , and discover the danger which they see threatned , and the Designes which they see managed against the Church and People of God . It s their Duty to warne the People of their sins , lest they perish in them , in the day of Gods Judgements . How strict is the Charge , which the Lord hath given to every Minister of his Word , in the Person of the Prophet Ezekiel ; and how sore is the Penalty , how dreadful is the danger of failing through unfaithfulnesse in the discharge thereof ! It surely concerns us , especially in these perillous Times , very seriously to consider it , us ( I say ) whom the Lord hath called forth to dispense his sacred Oracles , and hath committed to our charge the souls of his People .

Sonne of man ( saith the LORD to Ezekiel † † Ezek. 33.1 , -9. ) Speak to the Children of thy People , and and say unto them ; When I bring the sword upon a Land , if the People of the Land take a man of their Coas s , and set him for their Watchman : If when h seeth the Sword come upon the Land , he blow the Trumpet , and warne the People ; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the Trumpet , and taketh not Warning ; if the Sword come and take him away , his Blood shall be upon his own Head . He heard the sound of the Trumpet , and took not warning , his Blood shall be upon him : but he that taketh warning shall deliver his Soul . But if the Watchman see the sword come , and blow not the Trumpet , and the People be not warned : if the sword come and take any person from among them , he is taken away in his iniquity : but his blood will I require at the Watchmans hand .

So thou , O sonne of man , I have set thee a Watchman unto the House of Israel : and therefore thou shalt heare the Word at my Mouth , and warn them from me . When I say unto the wicked , O Wicked man , thou shalt surely die ; if thou doest not speak to warne the wicked from his way , that wicked man shall die in his iniquity , but his Blood will I require at thine Hand . Nevertheless if thou warne the wicked of his way to turne from it : if he do not turne from his Way , he shall die in his iniquity , but thou hast delivered thy soul .

* * Ezek. 3.20 , 21. Again , when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousnesse , and commit iniquity , and I lay a stumbling-block before him , he shall die : because thou hast not given him warning , he shall die in his sin , and his Righteousnesse which he hath done shall not be remembred ; but his Blood will I require at thine hand . Nevertheless , if thou warn the Righteous man , that the righteous sin not , and he doth not sin ; he shall surely live , because he is warned ; also thou hast deliver'd thy soul .

Thus will the Lord call the Ministers of his Word to account for the losse of those Souls , which through their unseasonable silence have perisht in their sins . O how much guilt then shall we draw down upon our own heads , if we do not warn our People of those sins whereof they are in danger in perillous Times , and do what lies in us to keep off guilt from their souls ! O how much doth it concern us to be Faithful to God in the discharge of this Duty ! It s a fearful thing to be charged with the Blood of souls at the Judgement Day .

Be this then my warrant for what I shall speak , in the following Discourse upon this Subject .

For this Text , Beloved Christians , gives me warrant to tell you that it much concerns you all to know , that in the last Dayes perillous Times shall come .

And if the Apostle John could say in that Age , † † 1 John 2.18 . Little Children , It is the last Time , and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come , even now are there many Antichrists , whereby we know that it is the last Time : much more may we of this Age , upon whom ( as the Apostle spake of his Time * * 1 Cor. 10.11 ) the Ends of the World are come , say , these are the last Dayes , this is the last Time . For if we consider the evils enumerated in the Context , and cast our eyes upon this Generation , shall we not say that this Prophecy in the Text looks full upon the present Age ? May we not ( with Hyperius ) apply this Prophetick Description of the Churches calamity to our present times ?

Instruit amplissimam Malorum Congeriem , & quoddam Vitiorum Mare . Quae omnia fi de ullis Temporibus à Christo nato dici potuerunt , certè de nostro seculo multo aptissimè verissiméque dici posse velimus nolimus fateri debemus . Imò vereor nè omnia feculi nostri Mala , ab Apostolo hic non sint satis enumerata . Adeo ferrea haec aetas nostra omnes aetates malitiâ videtur superare † † Andreas Hyperius in 2 Tim. 3 1 , 2 , &c. . The Apostle ( sayes he ) presents us with a mighty Mass of Evils , and sets before us , as it were , a Sea of Vices . All which , if they might be said of any Times since the Birth of Christ , we must needs confesse , whether we will or no , may with much more truth and fitnesse be spoken of this our Age. Nay I fear that all the Evils of our Age are not here fully enumerated by the Apostle ; so far doth this Iron Age wherein we live , seem to exceed in Wickednesse all other Ages . And therefore it must needs very nearly concern us to take notice of , and to prepare our selves for the perillous Times , which are prophecy'd of in the New Testament , and particularly in this present Text of Scripture ; This know also , that in the last Dayes perillous Times shall come .

It will be well worth our Time and Pains therefore to make a serious enquiry into these two things , viz. 1. What the Perillous Times are pointed at in this Prediction . 2. How Pious Persons ought to demeane themselves in these perillous Times .

In the former of these we shall fitly exhibit what may be further requisite for the Explication , and in the latter present you with the Application of this Text , as to that which is the main Scope , and principal Import of it .