St. Paul in his second epistle to the Thessalonians, after rectifying the mistake of those who thought the day of judgment then at hand, proceeded to inform them that there would be great declensions in the church before the end of the world.  “Let no man deceive you, by any means, for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth himself above all that is called God, or is worshipped; so that as God, he sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”  The antichristian defection is here evidently intended.  The apostle toucheth on the same subject in his first epistle to Timothy, and directs him “to put the brethren in remembrance of these things,” to prevent surprise when they should happen.  This was the first great declension which was to be permitted in the church.

In his second epistle to the same Christian bishop, written not long before his death, he resumes the subject of the defections which were to happen in the church, but with a more particular reference to defections of a different kind, and of a latter date.  Having exhorted Timothy to faithfulness in the discharge of official duty, he adds a reason; “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts, shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

This doth not answer to the Romish defection.  It was never the character of that church to “heap to themselves teachers.”  They never ran after those of other persuasions, who brought new doctrines.  Their errors were of the contrary kind.  They rejected and persecuted every teacher who did not derive from their infallible head, and teach as he directed.  But “itching ears” have misled many of those, who “are moved away from the hope of the gospel.  By turning to fables they have made shipwreck of faith, and fallen a prey to those who lie in wait to deceive.”

St. peter wrote with equal plainness of the general defections; but those of infidelity are the subject of his prophecies—­“There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heretics, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the truth shall be evil spoken of.”  The heresies here intended are depicted too minutely to be mistaken.  The heresiarchs are described as immoral, vain and proud, pretending to superior knowledge and penetration, despising law and government, and trampling them under their feet.