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

2. The Lord Jesus Christ will come quickly, that is suddenly, and unexpectedly, especially in regard of the ungodly World. The day of the Lord will come as a snare upon all them that dwelt on the face of the whole Earth: Luke 21.34.35. And sudden destruction will then come upon the wicked, as pains on a Woman with Child: 1 Thess. 5 3 The Lord will come in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye; 1 Cor. 15. 52. As lightning cometh out of the East and shineth unto the West, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be: Matth 24. 27. Further, this coming of the Lord Jesus is set forth in Scripture.

1. By the coming of a Thief in the night, Rev. 16. 15. Behold I come as a Thief: 1 Thess. 5. 2. For your selves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a Thief in the night: 2 Pet. 3. 10. The day of the Lord cometh as a Thief in the night, in which the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise, &c. The Lord will not come like a Thief, in regard of any wicked purpose and design; but he will come like a Thief, in regard of the suddenness and unexpectedness of his coming. Men do not think of, they do not know of, they are not aware of, they do not desire the coming of Thieves: so the Lord will come at a time, which Men do not know of; when they […] not think of it, when they are not aware of it; and he ⟨p. 167⟩will be more unwelcome at his second appearance to the greatest part of the World, than a Thief, who comes suddenly in the night, and breaks in upon their Houses, to steal their goods and take away their lives; when the Lord Jesus shall suddenly unfold the Doors of Heaven, and come down in his glory, and summon the wicked to Judgment, how will they start, and be affrighted out of their deep sleep of security, and be filled with horror and amazement!