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

And you that were under government in Families which had no Religion, could you so w•hingly imitate the Governors, and the ⟨p. 73⟩rest, in the neglect of Gods Worship? Could you contentedly go to Hell for company? is it any allevation of your grief & horror that all your Family is together? can your Masters or Fathers answer for themselves, or you? had not you a greater Master in Heaven, whom you should rather have obeyed? did not you understand your duty? and if you could not worship God more publicly, should not you have sought out retiring corners: if others would not pray with you, should not you have prayed alone by your selves: What if you had no example for it in your House, had you no precept for it in the Word: what if you were under command, and much business was required of you, and you were discouraged in such duties, could not you have found time when business was over, or before business began: could not you have redeemed time from sleep and recreations, rather than have neglected Gods Worship daily: would not God have encouraged and rewarded you: what if you had been scoffed at, and reproached for this: would not the favour and smiles of God have compensated the flours of men, would not Heaven have bin worth all the reproaches you could have undergone: could you eat, and drink, and sleep, and not to pray to God, which was more necessary than any thing, which is most necessary for your bodies: and if there was no worship of God at home, could not you have looked abroad: were there none lived near you who would have been glad of your company in the worship of God, and way to Heaven: could you find out no religious young men or women suitable to your degree, who would have quickened you, and heartened you against discouragements: did not you devote your selves rather to the service of some lusts, and were glad of any excuse when Conscience would have minded you of your duty towards God: Take them Devils bind them hand and foot.

And you that were under government in Families which had no Religion, could you so w•hingly imitate the Governours, and the ⟨p. 73⟩rest, in the neglect of Gods Worship? Could you contentedly go to Hell for company? is it any allevation of your grief & horrour that all your Family is together? can your Masters or Fathers answer for themselves, or you? had not you a greater Master in Heaven, whom you should rather have obeyed? did not you understand your duty? and if you could not worship God more publickly, should not you have sought out retiring corners: if others would not pray with you, should not you have prayed alone by your selves: What if you had no example for it in your House, had you no precept for it in the Word: what if you were under command, and much business was required of you, and you were discouraged in such duties, could not you have found time when business was over, or before business began: could not you have redemed time from sleep and recreations, rather than have neglected Gods Worship daily: would not God have encouraged and rewarded you: what if you had been scoffed at, and reproached for this: would not the favour and smiles of God have compensated the flours of men, would not Heaven have bin worth all the reproaches you could have undergone: could you eat, and drink, and sleep, and not to pray to God, which was more necessary than any thing, which is most necessary for your bodies: and if there was no worship of God at home, could not you have looked abroad: were there none lived near you who would have been glad of your company in the worship of God, and way to Heaven: could you find out no religious young men or women suitable to your degree, who would have quickned you, and heartned you against discouragements: did not you devote your selves rather to the service of some lusts, and were glad of any excuse when Conscience would have minded you of your duty towards God: Take them Devils bind them hand and foot.