The peril of the times displayed. Or The danger of mens taking up with…

THE Peril of the Times Displayed.

2 Tim. •.5. Having a Form of Godliness, but denying the Power thereof.

WE need not to look far back for the Analysis of our Text. Paul, in the beginning of this Chapter, gives warning to Timothy of a great Apostasy that should come in the latter days, in which there should be a general defection of Professors. By the Last ⟨p. 14⟩Days, is in the Gospel intended, or in them is comprised, the whole time between Christ's Ascension. and the Great Day of Judgment. However, there are some earlier, and some later periods pointed to in this Aera. This Prediction may comprise generally the whole time: and this signifying, That the times of clear Gospel light, shall not be free from men of perverse minds, notwithstanding their making a profession of Christ. There may also be aimed in these words, the giving us a Description of the Apostasy of Antichrist, of which there are warnings not a few offered in the New-Testament; and indeed the Spirit of Antichristianism is here abundantly deciphered. But it is applicable to all times of defection among Professors of Christianity; and may have respect to the last and worst times, preceding the great Reformation which is expected, of which our Saviour, Luk. 18 8. When the Son of Man cometh, shall he find Faith on the Earth? The word Perilous signifieth, hard, difficult, molestful; and such times do expose men to danger, and are therefore Perilous. It intends, that it will be hard for a man to live ⟨p. 15⟩like a true Christian, because he will expose himself thereby. Now the Apostle doth not only give warning in general of such times, but he proceeds to characterize them, by the genius and carriage of men in them: for, they are the evil hearts and carriages of men that make the times evil. There are a great many notes which the Apostle here layeth down, which I shall not particularly enquire into: but the words of our Text contain in them one of these, and the last mentioned, but not the least: to all of which he subjoins in the latter end of this verse a direction to Christians how to carry it to such men, viz. to withdraw from their Communion. All the former that are mentioned, were open and flagitious Crimes that men fall into; but this directs us to a more covered wickedness, hiding it self under a pretence of Piety: of which sort of men there is the greatest peril of all.