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

& now the whole World seeth their death and ruin to be inevitable, that there was •o contending with, no resisting or flying from these armed Waters, which God had sent to execute his vengeance upon them for their sins; we may imagine something of the horrible perplexity of their minds: O how did they look one upon another, when such a judgment as this was come upon them which they never looked for! how did they speak! how did they weep! how did they cry and shriek! what distress was there then upon all Nations, and how did their hearts fail them▪ and sink within them through fear, when they looked upon the flood that was come upon the earth; when they heard the winds blowing, and waves roaring, and saw no way of escaping? Then they which had heard Noah foretell and threaten them with this judgment▪ too late believed the truth of his words, which before they did not regard▪ then they which had seen Noah b•ild the Ark, and had accounted him no better than mad, were convinced of their own f•lly and madness, that they did not with him take some course for the defence of themselves at this time; the• they were persuaded of Noah •s wisdom above all others on the earth▪ and could have wished that they had imitated his wisdom, in building for themselves such another Ark, or that they were with him in his; and possible some, when the waters were come, and Noah was shut in by God i• his Ark▪ might run to the place & endeavour to clamber into it, and he washed off with the stream.

& now the whole World seeth their death and ruine to be inevitable, that there was •o contending with, no resisting or flying from these armed Waters, which God had sent to execute his vengeance upon them for their sins; we may imagine something of the horrible perplexitie of their mindes: O how did they look one upon another, when such a judgment as this was come upon them which they never looked for! how did they speak! how did they weep! how did they cry and shreek! what distress was there then upon all Nations, and how did their hearts fail them and sink within them through fear, when they looked upon the flood that was come upon the earth; when they heard the winds blowing, and waves roaring, and saw no way of escaping? Then they which had heard Noah foretell and threaten them with this judgment too late believed the truth of his words, which before they did not regard then they which had seen Noah bild the Ark, and had accounted him no better than mad, were convinced of their own flly and madness, that they did not with him take some course for the defence of themselves at this time; the thoy were perswaded of Noah s wisdome above all others on the earth and could have wished that they had imitated his wisdom, in building for themselves such another Ark, or that they were with him in his; and possible some, when the waters were come, and Noah was shut in by God i his Ark might run to the place & endeavour to clamber into it, and he washed off with the stream.