Christ's certain and sudden appearance to judgment. By Thomas Vincent, sometime Minister of Maudlins…

Suppose that the heavens should just now open, and you should hear the sound of the last Trumpet, and Jesus Christ should descend with a glorious train of Angels into the air; then all you that are believers, and have got an interest in Christ, would immediately be caught up in the clouds, to meet with the Lord: but all you that are impenitent and unbelievers, would be left behind: and think what terror would fall upon you, to see us caught away from you; it may be some of you might come hanging about me and others, when you see us arrayed in shining garments, and suddenly changed into the glorious likeness of our Lord, and called by the Angels to go up to him; O take us up along with you! What will you leave us behind you! Alas, what can I do for you? I must say, I told you of this time and things before: but you did not seriously regard it, […] as to prepare; I called you often to repentance, and preached Jesus Christ unto you, and showed you the way of Salvation: but you would not accept of him, ye refused him, and lived in the neglect of your own Salvation. I told you, if you did not forsake such and such sins, they would be your ruin: and yet you would not be persuaded to leave them, I forewarned you of the miseries which would come upon you at Christs coming, but you would not take warning Fain would I have had you all along with me to meet my Lord, and if I could have been instrumental to convert and turn you unto him, my joy and Crown would have been the greater. O how glad should I have been of your company in this Triumph: some did hearken and believe, some did awaken when they were called, and repent, and reform their lives: some were […] and did forethink, and make provision for this day: […] […] see how they shine, see the mirth and joy in their count […] see the fruit of their tears, and self denial, of their […] […] Love an•holie walking: Now, now, we are going together to our Lord whom we have sought, served, and trusted for our happiness: and ••that you would have hearkened, and been persuaded to have joined your selves to our number, that we might▪ have gone together: and O that you would have joined your selves to our Lord and have bad fellowship with the Father, […] his Son Jesus Christ, and broken off your fellowship wi••• th•• ⟨p. 44⟩unfruitful works of darkness, and workers of iniquity: