Many account it honorable, to suffer, pain or loss, with patience, and to face danger and death with fortitude; but few think themselves honored by scorn and reproach.  Human nature is here attacked on its weakest side.

Some European scoffers, of high rank, during the last age took the lead in this mode of attack on Christianity; and have been followed by a countless throng of noble and ignoble, learned and unlearned, down to this day.  Few infidels are so modest as not to affect wit on the subject of religion; few witticisms so contemptible as not to meet the approbation and receive the applause of brother infidels.

That strong combinations have been formed against Christianity, and also against civil government, in the kingdoms of Europe, and that they have too successfully undermined both, is an acknowledged fact.

In the leaders of those conspiracies we discover all the traits of character, attributed in prophecy to the scoffers who should arise in the last days.  When every circumstance, in events so remarkable agree with the predictions, can doubt remain whether the predictions are fulfilled?

There hath been faith in this land.  It is not yet extinct.  But we are importing the principles, and practices of Europe.  “The Mockers of the last times” are now to be seen on this side the Atlantic.  “Many follow their pernicious ways.”  We have reason to expect the evils to increase till “The godly cease and the faithful fail” from among us. For when the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?  This land will also be overspread with infidelity!  “The whole world lie in wickedness!”

There may be partial revivals of religion, but no general reformation is to be expected; and after every refreshing, the declensions will probably be greater than before.  Fanatic emotions, here and there, may flatter some who are friends to religion, but they only serve to accelerate the spread of infidelity.

It is a gloomy thought!  The serious soul saddens; sorrow fills the good man’s heart, if, when he sees little regard paid to religion, he expects yet greater defections!  If when he sees but few of those who are rising into life, paying attention to the best things, he expects still fewer of their descendants to be wise and good!  Yea that the declensions will continue and increase, “till all flesh shall become corrupt, and the earth be filled with violence!” Would to God these expectations might not be realized; for they are exceedingly distressing.  But they appear to us to be dictated by the spirit of truth, and confirmed by the history of the world, and by the progress of events opening to view.

One consideration, however, ministers consolation, shining through the gloom; namely, the long, holy, happy period, which may be expected to follow the dark term now approaching.

By dark we mean only in a moral view.  Respecting arts and sciences, mankind may never have been more enlightened than at present.  But this is foreign to religion.  When Egypt, Greece, and Rome, were the seats of the muses, they remained as devoid of religious knowledge, as the most ignorant barbarians.  Arts and sciences may still flourish, and yet deeper researches be made into the arcana of nature, while religion is dying and atheism succeeding in its place.