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

3. And especially, He will take an account of their works of Mercy, Mat. 25. 35, 36. I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, & ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me, I was in Prison, and ye came unto me, &c.

It will even astonish and confound the righteous to hear such language as this from the Lord Jesus Christ: when he appears in such glory, they will be ready to question, when he was in any want, and received relief at their hands: When saw we thee an hungry, or a thirst, or naked, and ministered any help. We received all from thee, but we could give nothing to thee: thou didst relieve us, and redeem us out of the deepest poverty and misery in which we were sunk, and should have perished without thy help: but what relief hadst thou from us; Then the King will answer and say unto them, v. 40. Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it to one of the least of these my Brethren, ye have done it unto me. At such a time and such a time, the poor came to you for relief making use of my name, whose backs for my sake ye clothed, and whose bellies you refreshed, and whose necessities you supplied, that was done unto me; though they were poor, they were my brethren: some of my servants were brought into straights for Conscience sake, and you received them, or sent help to them: you received me then, and gave help to me, and I am come to give you a thousand sold reward. Were this truth more effectually believed, what a forwardness would there be in Christians to works of mercy: surely they would look upon that part of their estate as best improved: which in such works is bestowed. Christ doth not mention any other use which they put their money unto, which if worthy to be compared, would be made mentioned of▪ he doth […] speak of so much laid out in building, so much laid out in clothing, so much laid out for […] so much laid up in portions for Children: all this the wicked can do: but so much laid out to the poor, and […] in them, which is the only part ye have ⟨p. 35⟩