Christ's certain and sudden appearance to judgment

2. Awake, sinners awake! Christ will certainly appear to Judgment; if there were only a peradventure of Christs coming to Judgment, methinks it should awaken the guilty, but when there is a certainty of it, how should it awaken you? as certainly as God is true, as certainly as the Scriptures are his Word, as certainly as you are creatures, and sinners; so certainly will the Lord Jesus Christ appear to judge the ungodly World for sin, at the last day. England hath of late been under ⟨p. 237⟩the stroke of several temporal Judgments; and England is in danger of further and greater calamities; God may put a more bitter Cup into our hands to drink, than yet we have tasted of; the danger of which should awaken secure sinners, because they cannot promise to themselves any shelter at such a time: yet there is a possibility that the Lord may be entreated to spare, and put up his Sword, and prevent our ruin, which we have deserved; but the day of Judgment is most certain; God, who cannot change, hath decreed it: God, who cannot lie, hath revealed it; the iniquities of the World, which are great, do call for it; therefore it must be, the day will certainly come; and yet can you sleep in sin? If a Thief knew after he had robbed his neighbour, that he should certainly be taken and judged, and condemned, and punished, it would affright him; you may know that Christ will certainly come to judgment, and that all guilty sinners shall be brought forth and condemned, and should not this awaken you, especially since if you sleep on, your damnation and eternal punishment, will be certain?

2. Awake, sinners awake! Christ will certainly appear to Judgment; if there were only a peradventure of Christs coming to Judgment, methinks it should awaken the guilty, but when there is a certainty of it, how should it awaken you? as certainly as God is true, as certainly as the Scriptures are his Word, as certainly as you are creatures, and sinners; so certainly will the Lord Jesus Christ appear to judge the ungodly World for sin, at the last day. England hath of late been under ⟨p. 237⟩the stroke of several temporal Judgments; and England is in danger of further and greater calamities; God may put a more bitter Cup into our hands to drink, than yet we have tasted of; the danger of which should awaken secure sinners, because they cannot promise to themselves any shelter at such a time: yet there is a possibility that the Lord may be entreated to spare, and put up his Sword, and prevent our ruine, which we have deserved; but the day of Judgment is most certain; God, who cannot change, hath decreed it: God, who cannot lie, hath revealed it; the iniquities of the World, which are great, do call for it; therefore it must be, the day will certainly come; and yet can you sleep in sin? If a Thief knew after he had robbed his neighbour, that he should certainly be taken and judged, and condemned, and punshed, it would affright him; you may know that Christ will certainly come to judgment, and that all guilty sinners shall be brought forth and condemned, and should not this awaken you, especially since if you sleep on, your damnation and eternal punishment, will be certain?