For doubtless, that inference of ours as to what had happened, would be a true inference.--It _will_ be the fact, I fear, before the end of all things; for it seems to be implied,--(a more heart-sickening sentence in all Scripture, I know not!),--that when the Son of Man cometh, He will not find the Faith on the Earth[386]. And if not _the Faith_ (τὴν πίστιν),--what then? _The Moral Sense?_ Hardly! for where was the Moral Sense when she _let go_ the Faith?--It was the fact, (if I read the record rightly,) eighteen centuries ago: for children had then forgotten their duty to their Parents; and the sanctity of Marriage was unknown; and (O prime note of a darkened conscience!) men not only _did_ things worthy of Death, but "_had pleasure in them that did them_." Read the first chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, and say what was _then_ the condition of the Moral Sense in man. Tell me, while your cheek is yet burning, whether you think Moral Science was _then_ competent to sit in judgment on a Revelation sent from the GOD of Purity, until GOD's own SON had republished the sanctions of the Moral Law, and informed Man's conscience afresh!... No Sirs. We are told expressly, that "as they did not like to retain GOD in their knowledge, GOD gave them over to a reprobate mind,"--"gave them up unto vile affections." And why? Hear the Apostle! It was because "when they knew GOD, they glorified Him not as GOD; neither were thankful:"--hence, they were suffered to become vain in their imaginations, and, "_their foolish heart was darkened!_"--In other words, the candle of the LORD, the light of conscience within them, was well nigh _put out_.