The world that now is; and the world that is to comeThe vvorld that now is; and the vvorld that is to come

3. These last Days will be so full of amazing Distractions, Disturbances, and Tribulations, that wise men shall be at their Wits end, not knowing what to do, nor what course to take for their own safety: And many eminent Professors of Religion will fall off from their former Principles and Practice, and be drawn aside to follow the ⟨p. 86⟩pernicious ways of ungodly men, and so fall in with the sins of those last Days here mentioned, 2 Tim. 3.1, 2, 3, 4. [Greek or Hebrew], Lovers of their own selves. Self-love is the Root of Apostasy, both Political and Ecclesiastical. When men of Name began to love themselves more than their most solemn Oaths, Vows, and Covenants, more than Truth and Righteousness, more than the good Laws of the Nation, and the just Liberties and Rights of the People, then began the last and greatest Political Apostasy. And when men of Eminency for Religion, began to love themselves more than the Ways and Worship of God, more than the Churches and Saints of God, more than Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God, then began the Ecclesiastical Apostasy of those last Days: This is one Sign that Christ gave his Disciples of the Ending Time of this world, Matth. 24.3, 4, 12. And as he sate upon the Mount of Olives, the Disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed ⟨p. 87⟩that no man deceive you. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. [Greek or Hebrew], Covetous, Danaeus in Loc. saith, [Greek or Hebrew] hic à Paulo dicitur, qui sive aurum, sive argentum, sive agros—sive quaslibet alias opes ardenter expetit & vitiose. [Greek or Hebrew] is often rendered studium pecuniae, the desire of money. And the love of money, saith the Apostle, 1 Tim. 6.10. is the root of all evil, which whilst some have coveted after, they have erred from the faith, &c. How much of the spirit of the world, and of the things of this world is crept into the hearts of many Professors, and Church-Members in these last Days, who consider not the Testimony of the Apostle against them,