Christ's certain and sudden appearance to judgment

that he should snatch them like fire-brands out of the fire; and pluck them out of the snare of the devil, that had almost dragged them into Hell; O how will they be astonished to remember Gods infinite pity and love, and the power of his rich grace that did work salvation for them? especially when they perceive how dreadful the misery is which they were hastening unto? I have heard of a man who in the night galloped over a high bridge which was broken down all but a narrow plank, which Gods providence directed his horses feet upon; which if they had slipped never so little on the one side or the other, horse and man had fallen into the deep stream, and been drowned; which the man did not know till the next morning; but then, viewing the place, and considering the danger he had so narrowly escaped, was struck with such astonishment at it, that he fell down dead in the place. When some of Gods people shall go away from Hell at the last day, and look behind them into the bottomless-pit, and take a view of the streams of fire and brimstone, which are running in the burning lake; and remember how they have galloped over those streams, when they were in the career of their sins; and by how narrow a plank they passed over them; that if they had slipped but a little aside, they had fallen into the lake, from whence they could never have got out; when they shall remember how near they were to Hell, and how narrowly they have escaped such horrible torments; •urely they will be struck with such admiration and joy which now they could not bear, ⟨p. 153⟩but would over-whelm their spirits, and bring immediate death upon them; but then their nature will be strengthened to bear this joy, which might be enough to sweeten an eternity, if they had no other happiness than the consideration of the misery from which they have been so wonderfully delivered. Thus concerning the going away of the righteous from the wicked, and the miseries which they shall endu•e.

that he should snatch them like fire-brands out of the fire; and pluck them out of the snare of the devil, that had almost drag'd them into Hell; O how will they be astonished to remember Gods infinite pitty and love, and the power of his rich grace that did work salvation for them? especially when they perceive how dreadful the misery is which they were hastning unto? I have heard of a man who in the night galloped over a high bridge which was broken down all but a narrow plank, which Gods providence directed his horses feet upon; which if they had slipt never so little on the one side or the other, horse and man had fallen into the deep stream, and been drowned; which the man did not know till the next morning; but then, viewing the place, and considering the danger he had so narrowly escaped, was struck with such astonishment at it, that he fell down dead in the place. When some of Gods people shall go away from Hell at the last day, and look behind them into the bottomless-pit, and take a view of the streams of fire and brimstone, which are running in the burning lake; and remember how they have galloped over those streams, when they were in the carreer of their sins; and by how narro a planke they passed over them; that if they had slipped but a little aside, they had fallen into the lake, from whence they could never have got out; when they shall remember how neer they were to Hell, and how narrowly they have escaped such horrible torments; urely they will be struck with such admiration and joy which now they could not bear,