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

4. That though many hundred years be past since the promise, that the Lord would come quickly, yet there is not a failure, in regard of God; for though the time be long, in regard of our account, who are of so short continuance; and time seems tedious to us, because of the miseries of our short life; yet in regard of the eternal God, the time is but short, for in his sight a thousand years is out as one day, and by that account there are not yet two days past since the promise. Vers. 8.

4. That though many hundred years be past since the promise, that the Lord would come quickly, yet there is not a failure, in regard of God; for though the time be long, in regard of our account, who are of so short continuance; and time seems tedious to us, because of the miseries of our short life; yet in regard of the eternal God, the time is but short, for in his sight a thousand years is out as one day, and by that account there are not yet two dayes past since the promise. Vers. 8.

5. The reason of Gods protracting this appearance of Jesus Christ to Judgment, is for our sakes; it is from his longsuffering to us ward, that hereby he might lead us unto repentance, Verse. 9. The Lord hath a number to be called, some of which may be unborn, others not yet new-born, but scattered amongst the wicked; but when the Elect▪ are all called, and persuaded to repent, and believe, and ⟨p. 166⟩are gathered into Gods Family, I doubt not but the Lord Jesus Christ will be here immediately. The Lord Jesus surely now will come within a short time; the certain time of his appearance is unknown, Matth. 24. 36. But of the day and hour knoweth no Man, no not the Angels, but the Father only; this is a secret which God hath locked up in his own breast, it is written in the Book of this Decree, and however other things are revealed and unfolded to Men, yet the leaf where this i written is folded up and sealed, so that none can read it; yet surely it cannot be long before the mystery be finished, and Christ be revealed from Heaven; yet a little while and he will be here, he stands at the Door, and the Door will quickly be opened, and then he will make his appearance.