Yea, instead of weakening our faith, they may reasonably increase it.  And when we consider the assurances given us, that these declensions were to antecede the universal prevalence of true religion; they may also serve to increase our hope.

To shew that these declensions are foretold, and that we may expect yet greater abominations, than have hitherto appeared, is attempted in the following discourse.

When the son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?

That Christ is here intended by the Son of man; and that faith will be rare among men at the coming of his, referred to, are not doubtful matters.  But what coming of Christ is here referred to?  This is first to be ascertained.

The coming of Christ refers in the scripture, to several events.  Sometimes to his incarnation; sometimes to the destruction of Jerusalem, and the Jewish polity; sometimes to his coming to judgment; and sometimes to the beginning of that universal dominion which he is to exercise on earth in the latter days.  Each of these is the subject of several prophecies.

Christ’s incarnation, or his coming to dwell with men, and to obey and suffer for their redemption, was a principal subject of the old testament prophecies.  “To him gave all the prophets witness.”

The divine justice executed on the Jews, in the destruction of their chief city, and polity, is also termed Christ’s coming.  This was the subject of several prophecies of old.  It was foretold by Moses, and sundry others who lived before the gospel day; but more particularly by Christ, in person just before his sufferings.  To this event the desolations foretold in the twenty fourth of Matthew, and its parallels in the other gospels, had a primary reference.  The metaphors used to describe it are strong.  They have been supposed to refer to the general judgment; and they have, no doubt an ultimate reference to it.  But they refer, more immediately to another coming of Christ; his coming to render to the Jews according to their demerits as a people, soon after they should have filled up the measure of their iniquity by his crucifixion; which by the circumstances attending it, became a national act.

That this coming of Christ was particularly intended in those predictions, is, from several considerations apparent.  That the Christians of that age, who were conversant with the apostles, and instructed by them, received this to be the meaning of those prophecies, and that they fled at the approach of the Roman armies, and escaped the destruction which came on the Jews, are matters of notoriety.  And that this was the primary meaning of those prophecies, is further evident from an express declaration which they contain; “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away till all these things be fulfilled.”  This closeth the prophecy.  The whole must therefore have received a primary accomplishment, “before that generation did pass away.”  This was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus.