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

4. And lastly, to name no mo•e, the suddenness and unexpectedness of Christs coming is set forth by the raining of Fire and Brimstone from Heaven upon Sodom, and Lots going out of that wicked place, Luke 17. 28,29,30. Likewise as it was in the days of Lot, they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded: But the same d•y that Lot went out of Sodom it rained Fire and Brimstone from Heaven. & destroyed them all: Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man shall be revealed. The Sodomites were notoriously wicked, they were worse than beasts, they would have effected violence, and buggered the very Angels which were sent 10 Lot; they were generally wicked, there were not so many as ten righteous persons in the place, though righteous Lot dwelt amongst them; it is likely there was not one righteous person, besides what was in Lots family; and though they were so wicked, and the cry of their sins was gone up to Heaven and the Lord was provoked unto so great displeasure by them; yet they are jovial and secure; they did not think in the midst of their peace, that sudden destruction was so near; Abraham with his servants had not long before delivered them out of the hand of Chedorlaomer, (against whom they had rebelled) and Am•aph•l, and the other Kings which had conquered them, and sack• the place; they did not think of a more furious enemy, who was arming himself against them, even the King of Heaven, against whom they had worse rebelled, and out of whose hands none could deliver them: They ate, and they drank, they did not think that their flesh, and all the provisions thereof should so soon be devoured by fl•mes; they bought, & they sold, they did little expect that both money and merchandise should be consumed so suddenly; they planted & they builded, they did no• in the least imagine that instead of showers of Rain from Heaven to water their Plants, to them make grow, they should have showers of Fire and Brimstone to […] up their plants, & burn down their houses to the ground. The Sodomites did not in the least look for such a Judgment as this: it is said,