Scoffers in the Present Age
WHATEVER other periods of the Christian era Jude's prediction, that "scoffers should come," may apply to, it cannot be denied that it is fulfilled in ours. For however quiet the surface of things may appear immediately about ourselves, however seldom the bolder and louder pretensions of infidelity may be heard just here, where religious professions hold a certain historical and presumptive sway, and are thus identified with civil and conservative interests, be sure you have only to extend your studies a little to find that these also are those times when mockers have come, separating themselves from Christian fellowships, walking after their own ungodly lusts, not only forsaking Christ but rejecting and denying him,—and denying him that they may with more shameless guilt forsake him,—and making open or crafty war upon his cause.—Independent.