We read of two sorts of signs, which go before the coming of Jesus Christ: Some that are more remote and transient, some that are more immediate and just at his coming. Those that are more immediate and just at his coming, ye read of in the 24. of Matth. vers. 29, 30. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from Heaven, and the powers of the Heavens shall be shaken, and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in Heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory. These are yet to come. But those that are more remote, all seem to be past already. Before the coming of Christ (says the Apostle) the man of sin shall be revealed; that is past. Before the coming of Christ, there shall false Prophets arise, and say, I am Christ, and another I am Christ; that is past. Before the personal coming of Christ, there shall be wars and rumours of wars; this is past ⟨p. 20⟩And before that day, there shall be great divisions, even in the matter of Religion; one saying, Lo here is Christ, and another, Lo there is Christ; this is already. And immediately before, and at his coming, men shall be smiting their fellow servants, eating and drinking with the drunken; this is already. The wise and the foolish Virgins, shall be all asleep; and was there ever a time, when both wise and foolish were more asleep then now? when men set themselves to sleep, they draw their curtains, put out their lights, and will have no more light come in; so now. When men are asleep, their senses are bound up that were open before, they see not, hear not, taste not, smell not; their senses are locked up. Sleep is, Ligatio sensuum. And was there ever time when mens senses were more bound up, that were formerly exercised, then now? are there not some that would pray, and hear, and read, that will not now? who have now thrown off all duties, ordinances, and means? Oh! what sleeping is here? was there ever such sleeping among professors as now there is? if ever wise and foolish virgins were asleep, they seem to be in our days; and shall we sleep also? will ye not rather watch and pray? watch and pray, pray and watch;
We reade of two sorts of signes, which go before the coming of Jesus Christ: Some that are more remote and transient, some that are more immediate and just at his coming. Those that are more immediate and just at his coming, ye reade of in the 24. of Matth. vers. 29, 30. Immediately after the tribulation of those dayes shall the sunne be darkened, and the moone shall not give her light, and the starres shall fall from Heaven, and the powers of the Heavens shall be shaken, and then shall appear the signe of the Sonne of man in Heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourne, and they shall see the Sonne of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and great glory. These are yet to come. But those that are more remote, all seeme to be past already. Before the coming of Christ (sayes the Apostle) the man of sin shall be revealed; that is past. Before the coming of Christ, there shall false Prophets arise, and say, I am Christ, and another I am Christ; that is past. Before the personall coming of Christ, there shall be warres and rumours of warres; this is past ⟨p. 20⟩And before that day, there shall be great divisions, even in the matter of Religion; one saying, Loe here is Christ, and another, Loe there is Christ; this is already. And immediately before, and at his coming, men shall be smiting their fellow servants, eating and drinking with the drunken; this is already. The wise and the foolish Virgins, shall be all asleepe; and was there ever a time, when both wise and foolish were more asleepe then now? when men set themselves to sleepe, they draw their curtaines, put out their lights, and will have no more light come in; so now. When men are asleepe, their senses are bound up that were open before, they see not, heare not, taste not, smell not; their senses are lock't up. Sleep is, Ligatio sensuum. And was there ever time when mens senses were more bound up, that were formerly exercised, then now? are there not some that would pray, and heare, and reade, that will not now? who have now throwne off all duties, ordinances, and meanes? Oh! what sleeping is here? was there ever such sleeping among professors as now there is? if ever wise and foolish virgins were afleepe, they seeme to be in our dayes; and shall we sleep also? will ye not rather watch and pray? watch and pray, pray and watch;
