But, before we are caught gazing on the imagination, we are bound to pause awhile to examine into facts; and, before we allow the mind to become unsettled in the ardent pursuit of a lovely theory, it is the imperative duty of all sober-minded, truth-seeking, men to look first at the word of God and learn whether, in the present dispensation, there is any hope that the vision will be realized. To decide this point, we have to examine into _the predicted condition of the visible church of Christ_. The question is, are we warned of a state of division, or are we not? Does prophecy represent the visible church of the latter days as giving an undivided and unerring witness to the truth; as dwelling harmoniously “in the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life,” and so prepared to welcome Christ with a united hymn of thankful joy? or does it foretell a state of things the exact opposite, _viz._ division, seduction, and vice, amongst professors? If the former be the state predicted, we may well sink into despair from its plain contrast with present facts: vice, heresy, and schism, are rampant in the body of baptized professors; whatever men think of the cause or remedy, all are agreed as to the fact. If the latter, we may look away from present anxieties and, falling back on God’s revealed purpose, may learn, even from the distractions of the church, the wisdom, the knowledge, and the unfathomable counsel of its Head. May God the Holy Ghost guide us into the path of truth. There are two ways in which we might profitably pursue our investigation. We might either take a wide range of Scriptural evidence, and give a cursory notice of many texts; or we might take one single passage and sift it thoroughly. We will adopt the latter method, and confine our attention almost exclusively to the third and fourth chapters of the second Epistle to Timothy. Three subjects will naturally arise in our examination of this prophecy. I. The period to which it refers. II. The persons to whom it refers, _i.e._ whether it speaks of men within or without the visible church. III. The state of things which it foretells. * * * * *