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

5 The fifth Antecedent to the judgment is their meeting with the Lord in the Air: 1 Thes 4. 17. Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the Air. We have spoken of the meeting of the Soul and the Body▪ of the meeting of the Saints with the Angels: of the meeting of the Saints with the Saints: all which meetings will be very delightful, but the meeting of the Saints with the Lord himself will be beyond all. O how sweet will the sound of Christs coming be unto them before they see him? when they hear the long expected shout, and the sound of the last Trump! This, this will be music indeed in their ea•s: Then then they will lift up their heads with joy: and do! us think how transporting the ⟨p. 29⟩first glance of their eye will be upon the Lord Jesus Christ when they see him yet afar off clothed with such brightness and beauty: never did their eye behold such an object before: they admired to see the Saints, and to see themselves so transformed, but how will they admire to see the Lord in such glory? if so be that some of his Disciples did gaze after him with wonder, when he was taken from them, and ascended into Heaven, Acts 1. 11. With what wonder will all his Disciples (most of which never saw him in the flesh, none of which saw him in such glory) then gaze upon him when he shall come down from Heaven? Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing back into Heaven? say the Angels, this same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner, as ye have seen him go into Heaven; If you look and wonder now at his going, how will you look and wonder at his coming▪ which will be as surely, but far more gloriously? But when they are come nearer unto Christ, & have a fuller view of him: O what thoughts! what affections! what joys will there then fill their souls! O what workings, what beatings of heart? what transports and ravishment of spirit will they have! O how would they be overwhelmed with this sight, and utterly unable to bear it, if they were not strengthened beyond their present capacity! And is this the Saviour and Redeemer of the World? O glorious Son of Righteousness!

5 The fifth Antecedent to the judgment is their meeting with the Lord in the Air: 1 Thes 4. 17. Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the Air. We have spoken of the meeting of the Soul and the Body of the meeting of the Saints with the Angels: of the meeting of the Saints with the Saints: all which meetings will be very delightful, but the meeting of the Saints with the Lord himself will be beyond all. O how sweet will the sound of Christs coming be unto them before they see him? when they hear the long expected shout, and the sound of the last Trump! This, this will be musick indeed in their eas: Then then they will lift up their heads with joy: and do! us think how transporting the