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

you know I ventured my life for you, to preach to you, when the Arrows were flying so thick about you: I ventured my liberty for you my health for you, and was often spent for you, and amongst you, that I might be instrumental to call and save you: but when the thunder of Judgment was a little over, and out of hearing, you quickly drop asleep, and the voice of preaching could not enter into your ears and awaken you: Alas! why do you look upon me now with such rueful countenances, and stand with such trembling joints, and speak so earnestly unto me, as if something might yet be done for you, and are loath to l•t me go from your company? Alas! what can I do for you now? should I stay and Preach unto you again, and call, and in••ite you to Jesus Christ, and open the treasures of the Gospel, and now you will open your Ears and Hearts to receive? Alas! now the Mystery of God is finished, the treasures of the Gospel are shut up and sealed, and the day of Grace is quite spent and gone, and cannot be recalled: could not you have opened before, when you know I knocked often, and hard, in my Masters Name for entertainment? I called, but you refused, I stretched out my hand, and lifted up my voice like a Trumpet, but you did not regard and follow the counsels which were given unto you: and now my preaching work is done for ever, should I stay & pray with you, and for you, that God would pardon your sins, or d•fer your Judgment but a little while, if it were but for a week or a day that you might prepare your accounts, and O how presently you will make your peace with God, how readily would you accept of Christ on any terms: do any thing, suffer any thing, deny self, take up Cross: O how diligent would you be in the service of God, and resist Satan & take heed of sin: alas poor souls! all these desires are too late: I have prayed with you and for you, and you have had warning and time to prepare your accounts, and have bin called to these Duties before, but now the Oath is sworn by ⟨p. 46⟩him that liveth for ever and ever, that time shall be no longer; now the […] of God is shut, and no Prayer can enter.

you know I ventured my life for you, to preach to you, when the Arrows were flying so thick about you: I ventured my liberty for you my health for you, and was often spent for you, and amongst you, that I might be instrumental to call and save you: but when the thunder of Judgment was a little over, and out of hearing, you quickly drop asleep, and the voice of preaching could not enter into your ears and awaken you: Alass! why do you look upon me now with such ruful countenances, and stand with such trembling joynts, and speak so earnestly unto me, as if something might yet be done for you, and are loath to lt me go from your company? Alas! what can I do for you now? should I stay and Preach unto you again, and call, and inite you to Jesus Christ, and open the treasures of the Gospel, and now you will open your Ears and Hearts to receive? Alass! now the Mystery of God is finished, the treasures of the Gospel are shut up and sealed, and the day of Grace is quite spent and gone, and cannot be recalled: could not you have opened before, when you know I knocked often, and hard, in my Masters Name for entertainment? I called, but you refused, I stretched out my hand, and lifted up my voice like a Trumpet, but you did not regard and follow the councels which were given unto you: and now my preaching work is done for ever, should I stay & pray with you, and for you, that God would pardon your sins, or dfer your Judgment but a little while, if it were but for a week or a day that you might prepare your accounts, and O how presently you will make your peace with God, how readily would you accept of Christ on any terms: do any thing, suffer any thing, deny self, take up Cross: O how diligent would you be in the service of God, and resist Satan & take heed of sin: alas poor souls! all these desires are too late: I have prayed with you and for you, and you have had warning and time to prepare your accounts, and have bin called to these Duties before, but now the Oath is sworn by