"Take heed that no man deceive you." -Matt. xxiv. 4.

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It will be remembered by a large part of this numerous congregation, that I gave public notice a few days since, that, at this time, I would deliver a discourse on the meaning of the scriptural expression, the "END OF THE WORLD." It may be thought strange by some, that I should select, as my text, the words which I have read. "What have they to do with the end of the world?" it might be asked. "Take heed that no man deceive you! What connexion has this with the subject which the speaker proposed to discuss?" I reply, that it has a very direct connexion. It is an admonition which the Lord Jesus gave his apostles, at the same time when they inquired of him, "What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Mark, the end of the world. That was the point on which they desired information; and the Saviour immediately replied, "Take heed that no man deceive you.”.

The same language I now address, my hearers, to you. Take heed that no man deceive you. "Deceive us on what subject?" saith the hearer. I reply, Take heed that no man deceive you, on the very subject about which Christ was speaking; take heed that no man deceive! you,

in regard to the coming of Christ and the end of the world. The admonition was important then, while the event was yet future, but not far distant; it is important now, for, although the event to which the Saviour referred, has long since passed, yet there are those who misapply the language he used, and who would have us believe, that he predicted the destruction of the material universe, which they say is very shortly to come to pass. In this way they fill the hearts of many with injurious anxiety and dread. I say, therefore, my hearers, unto you, "Take heed that no man deceive you.”

But the hearer will inquire, "Do you think anybody wishes to deceive us?" I reply, I know not. I would fain indulge the hope, that no one has such a design. I do not desire to judge rashly. You are all aware, that it has been proclaimed, with a great deal of confidence, that the material universe is to be destroyed in the year of our Lord 1843. Some. people have, perhaps, sincerely believed this, and to them it has been a subject of the most thrilling anxiety; many others, it may be, have professed to believe it, for purposes which it is not expedient here to name. It has been publicly proclaimed in our peaceful village, by a person who is an utter stranger to almost the whole of us, and who has availed

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Miller, the author of the absurd theory of the end of the material universe in 1843, was invited into Cambridgeport by certain persons connected with the Baptist socie ty. The Baptist meetinghouse was opened to him, and the Baptist clergyman took a seat with him regularly in the pulpit, and took part in the services. So far as we know, no other clergyman in the town of Cambridge gave the slightest countenance to Miller's vagaries.

himself of the opportunity, to speak in terms of high reproach of a portion of our fellowcitizens, who, we trust, are not less disciples of the Saviour than himself. As the multitude. have always been accustomed to run greedily after any wonderful and strange thing, however improbable in itself, so it is not surprising that large numbers have attended the Lectures of the individual referred to.

But the hearer will still be disposed to ask the speaker, "Do you not think the man is sincere ?” I reply again, I do not know. A man may be in a very great error, and yet be very sincere. A man may be much deceived himself. You are in danger of being deceived by two classes of persons. First, by those who are dishonest, and who intentionally deceive the community; and, secondly, by those who are credulous, who are readily deceived themselves, and who, of course, very honestly deceive others. Now it makes no difference to which of these classes the man may belong, who has recently addressed the citizens of this village. It does not mitigate the deception at all, because the man who has deceived you is himself in an error. What advantage is it to you, if you are in error, that the individual who led you into it was as honest in the deception as yourself? Are you any the less deceived on that account? You are not. I say then unto you again, "Take heed that no man deceive you." /

Some persons take the ground, that although they do not themselves believe that the material earth will be dissolved, in 1843, yet it will do no hurt for people in general to believe it; because, if the end of the world should take place at that

time, people will be prepared, having believed it beforehand; and if it should not take place in the specified time, no harm will ensue from their having believed it, as they ought to be prepared at all times. But is this sound reasoning? Are you satisfied with it yourselves?

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Let us try this kind of apology for deception. You tell your neighbour, that within three years his house will be burned, and that perhaps his wife and children, and it may be even himself, will be destroyed in the flames. You see that it distresses him, that it gives him many sleepless nights and anxious days. When you are asked, "Why do you torment your poor credulous neighbour in this cruel manner?" you reply, "O, it is best for him to be prepared; his house may be burned down; who can say it will not be? and if he believes it, he will certainly be prepared; and then if it is not burned down in that time, he suffers no injury, because he comes off so much better than he expected to." Would you be satisfied with such a miserable apology for deceiving and tormenting the credulous?

Suppose you should go to a happy, affectionate, confiding family of children, and make them believe that within three years their parents would die, and they would be left orphans, and be thrown upon the stinted charities of this cold world for their subsistence. If you were the father, would you not demand an explanation of the man who should thus trifle with the happiness of your family, and sport with the fears of your credulous children. Suppose he should say, "O, it is best for your children to be prepared. You may die, and they may be left orphans within three years.