CHRIST IN THE CLOUDS, OR GOD's coming to Judgement.  
A short Treatise, very necessary in these evil and dangerous times, for all those which desire that the day of the LORD may be their day of Joy.  Mark 13. Ver. 35.36. 
Watch, for ye know not when the Master of the House will come: Whether at Evening, or at midnight, or at the Cock-crowing, or at the Dawning; lest he come suddenly and find you sleeping.  
LONDON: Printed for J. Clark, W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger.   

Christ in the Clouds. OR, GOD's coming to Judgement.  
Atheism and Epicurism, are two Sins most heinous and deadly; the Atheist believes there is no God: him David confutes, Doubtless there is a God, that Judgeth the Earth. The Epicure believes there is no Judgement after Death: him Solomon doth seem to instruct, Remember that for all these things you must come to Judgement. There is no Christian, I think, but believes that there shall be a day of judgement, Mat. 24.30. But when this day shall come, none knows: for of that day and hour no man knoweth, neither the Angels of Heaven, but my Father only. But although no man's reach is able to determine when that Day and Hour shall be, yet may plainly be demonstrated and shown both from the Prophets and Apostles, that this Judgement day is near at hand, and will most suddenly come upon us.  
It is the mercy of the Holy Ghost to men in Holy Writ, to insert these Caveats, & to put Man in mind of the judgement day, and that for three special causes;  
1. That we may be terrified from sin.  
2. That we might be admonished to the true and sincere worship of God.  
3. That we might be strengthened in our Faith, lest the great terrible day should come upon us unawares, and so find us unprovided:  
Since the Foundation of the World, we know the time, when the Dissolution of the World shall be, we are altogether ignorant: yet we may justly Prophesy and Presage thus much, since Sin and Impiety is now come to that height, that it can by no succeeding Ages be aggravated, and that Virtue and Godliness are so despised & villifyed among impious men, that they can never hereafter be less esteemed: when cannot then perceive, or is so dust sighted, that is not able to apprehend and foresee the Dissolution to be at hand? Now is that Prophecy of Hosea verified: There is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the Land; which appeareth by the Cursing, Lying, Murders, Thefts, and Adulterers, which now abound: So that now as the Prophet Micah hath it, The Godly man is perished from the Earth, and there is no just man among the Sons of men. Thus Hosea, Micah, nay, all the Prophets do agree in one, whereupon saith St. Ambrose, When Righteous men perish from off the Face of the Earth, the Earth must needs perish also, because the godly are the Pith and Marrow of the Earth: For as the Tree without Pith and Moisture soon drieth up, so the present World must needs decay, when the Righteous that should uphold it, are not to be found in it: For this cause, as Esay hath it; In the City is left Desolation, and destruction is in the gates thereof, because of their manifold iniquities.  
Christ jesus himself said, As in the Days before the Flood, they were eating, and drinking, and Marrying, and giving in Marriage, till the day of the Flood came, and took them away: So also shall the Coming of the Son of Man be, by reason of the Profaneness, and too much Security. Suppose that this Prophesse shall be fulfilled upon our present times, and that GOD will say to us as he did to Noah, I will destroy you with the World: O how unhappy and miserable shall that Man be then, that hath not God for his Guide! But to the end we may the better discern that we are they, upon whom the ends of the World must come, there is no better a sign amongst those whom Christ himself gave before them this, namely: For the Gospel of the Kingdom shall be Preached in all the World, for a Witness to all Nations, and then shall the end come: which is as much as to say, according to St. Chrysostom; To accuse and reprove those that would not believe the Gospel. The same is that of Hilary: Then the Apostles being dispersed, throughout all the World, and the Gospel Preached, then shall the Fall of jerusalem be. Nevertheless, there are both Learned and unlearned of this opinion, that since the World, so long after these Prophecies, hath continued as before, that the end is not near, and that the World shall continue still immutable. But let them persevere in their opinions; for since S. Ambrose, Cyprian, Chry●ostom, and S. Gregory were of opinion, That since the Gospel in their time was Preached to all Nations, long after their time the World could not endure. Surely then it is most probable, that this is the Age in which the end must come.  
Now that we have some proof that the World cannot endure long, because the Gospel is said to be preached to all Nations. Here St. Jerome, who was of opinion that there was in his time no Nation that was ignorant of the Gospel of Christ: For he saith, Although they have no Preacher, yet they cannot but hear the Opinion of the Faith of their Neighbouring Nations.  
This Prosper confirms: No part of the World is without the Gospel of Christ, some of all sorts, and of all Nations, have knowledge of Christ. I could induce a Cloud of opinions, but let Ambrose serve for them all: The Gospel is Preached, the World may be destroyed. To conclude this point, since probably by this great motive we are induced to believe that the end is at hand, and that the day and hour thereof is uncertain, it shall stir us up to a more holy course of life, lest that our Desolation and Confusion overtake us unawares.  
But to the end that we may the better understand and believe what hath been before showed, the Word of God is a most firm Argument to inform us of the truth of Christ's sudden Coming, and that this present Age is the last Age of the World; For the spirit expressly saith, 1 Tim. 4. That in the later end some shall departed from the Faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and Doctrine of Devils, speaking Lies in Hypocrisy, and having their Conscience seared with a hot Iron, etc. And again, know this also: that in the last days perilous times shall come; for men shall be Lovers of their own selves, Covetous Boasters, Proud Blasphemers, disobedient to Parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truth-breakers, false-accusers, Innocent, despisers of those that are good; , Lovers of Pleasure more than God: having the form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof. Thus far the Apostle; which-words St. Cyprian handling, saith, All things that were foretold are fulfilled, and the end of the world draweth near: the Prophecies are come to pass, both in respect of the men and the minds; For now (if ever) is the perfection, or rather imperfection of all the sins the Apostle names to be the forerunners of the end. Why doubt we then, that the ●nd is not at hand? Or why fear we not rather, that a sudden end will prevent our procrastinated repentance? As bodies are sick before death, and as jufirmities and Sickness are the true forerunners of a separation between the ●ody and the Soul: even so fareth it with the World, it now languisheth and is corrupt, it now lies sick, and therefore it must needs come to Confusion, and to an end. For deadly sickness is a forerunner of death; all things now suffer their defect, and let no man wonder at it; for man is now born in such defect, in respect of the birth of man in former times: but what is wanting in the present-condition of man's Body, is supplied in the faculties of mind, and what is defective in the strength of his Members, is complete in the ripeness of his understanding, which is for the most part employed not in liberal, but in devilish Arts, not in the study of Learning, but in pleasure. Only Wit and Maturity is resident in Man, the only Idea, and representment of the Image of God in Man. What can we otherwise but think that the Time is at hand, wherein Mortality shall put on Immortality, wherein the burden of the flesh being laid aside the Glorious Body of the Church shall be coupled to her Glorious Head. The Communion of Saints shall be consummate and Christ shall enjoy his Spouse in continual Love and Union. In the mean time with Paul, Unhappy men that we are, who shall deliver us from the Body of death, that we may pass secure to the Body of Life.  
Then let every good Christian in these Wicked times wherein destruction hangs over our heads, with good Hezekiah Pray, Lord, I am oppressed, do thou undertake for me: and since the day of destruction is so near us, we entreat thee, since it is expedient for us, that thou wouldst teach us, So to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to Wisdom. And since thou hast pronounced that Servant happy, whom his Master when he came, found Vigilant and Watchful▪ Grant Lord, we beseech thee, that since it is manifest, that long it cannot be before the● come, that we may be fitted and prepared fo● thy Coming; and may be found with Oil i● our Lamps, and so in Holiness enter th● Bride-Chamber with joy; And let us, good Lord, think the day most near, lest whilst the Day of Death or judgement be thought to b●afar off, it prevent the improvement, and while long life is expected, it quickly forsake the Wicked and Guilty persons.  
Our minds are very desirous if we could, to know the Day of Death and Desolation. But if we could attain to the knowledge thereof, what would it profit us? Suppose the Consummation of this World to be after Ten, Twenty, or Forty, or an Hundred years, what is this material? Is not the Term of Life the Consummation of each Man? Why then art thou so troubled about the last day of judgement? Since as thy end leaves thee, judgement sh●ll find thee: And how suddenly Death shall find thee, thou art altogether ignorant: For as in other things, no●regarding things pertaining to our Souls, we altogether are busted in things common; saying, this man is an Adulterer, this man a Thief, this man a falsehearted fellow, that man proud: But no man hath a care far feeling his own sins far worse.  
So doth every man neglect his own end, he would fain learn when the general day of Dissolution shall be: Which Day, whether it be near or far off, it doth nothing concern us, so each man regard his several end, for since thou art Born, 'tis most certain thou must Die; And it is certain, after Death cometh judgement, that may be far off, yet thy last day is at hand: Therefore prepare thee for this day; For if this day find there unprovided, the day of judgement shall find thee so likewise, when thou shalt rue for it.  
Consider this, all ye that forget God, lest he tear you in pieces, and there be none to help: For our God shall go, and shall not keep silence; a Fire shall come before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him; For God himself is judge, and the day of judgement will quickly have an end, prevent the speed thereof: It will speedily come, prevent it I say, be thou speedily converted. And as the Prophet David adviseth us, Let us run before the face of the judge, with Confession of Our Faults, and true Contrition of the same; And the reason why thou knowest not his coming is, that thou mayest always be prepared for it: For it is in thine own power, now thou mayst expect his Coming: He therefore deferrs his Coming, that when he comes, he may not daunt thee. Behold, he is not yet conte he is in Heaven, thou art on Earth. He deferrs his Coming, do not thou defer this time of Repentance, lest thou for ever, then too late Repent thee of his Coming, For in that day it will be too late to Repent; Therefore pray not that his Kingdom come, which thou fearest coming; but rather correct thyself, that thou pray not against thyself. So daily he calls upon thee, that he may not that day contemn thee. He that shall then be thy judge, is now thy Advocate, and he now calls upon thee, that thou wouldst lead a Godly Life.  
Let us therefore set the day of judgement before our Eyes, which way soever we go, let us carry the Memory of it with us, and it will bring this profit with it, that we shall not only meditate on the Horror and Destruction of that day, but also wish for the accomplishment of the same, which makes the Wicked to tremble when they hear it approaches. Thus S. Chrysostom saith: Let us from among ourselves repeat these things and with others: There shall be a Resurrection, a day of judgement, and a Time of Examination of our Works, whether good or bad. And this will cause the minds both of good and bad, be not conversant in the Vanities and Pleasures of this World, and be not tempted to any Wickedness, but rather to undergo any Thing to be imposed upon them here, than to incur the intolerable punishments of everlasting Fire hereafter.  
This made David cry out: Establish my Flesh in thy fear, for I have been afraid to hear of thy Judgements. To conclude this Point, since we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may Receive the things done in his Body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad; and knowing the Terror and justice of the judge of all Men, that shall judge the world in Righteousness; and considering the punishment that then shall be imposed on the Wicked, that shall be turned into Hell with them that forget God: Let us hear and follow St. hilaries Advice, in all the course of our Lives: the Memory of the Last and Great judgement, is to be planted and grafted in our hearts: For happy is the man that doth what he must do, in Remembrance of the Last day: And why? Hear the words of Jesus the Son of Sirach, Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember thy end, and thou shalt never do amiss.  
Thus much shall suffice, that there shall be a Day of judgement, and that that day is near. Now somewhat remaineth to be spoken of the manner of this day, and the Terror thereof, that the Wicked being touched with the understanding of the same, might be driven nearer to God. In that Day, saith St. Paul, every man's Work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by the fire, and the fire shall try every man's Work, what sort it is.  
The Time is now come when judgement shall begin at the house of GOD, and if it first gins with us, what shall the end be of them that Obey not the Gospel of God? And if the Righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the  and Sinners appear? Where will they hid themselves in that terrible Day, wherein there shall be nothing but weeping and gnashing of Teeth, Howling. Lamentation and Repentance, too too late, when the Foundations of the Mountains shall be moved, and the Land be burnt with Fire? When as St. Peter saith, the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the Firmament shall melt with fervent heat, the Earth also, and the Works that are therein, shall be burnt up. When as God himself said in the Gospel, Mat. 24. The Sun shall be darkened, the Moon shall not give her Light, the Stars shall fall from Heaven, and the Powers thereof shall be shaken.  
Where will the Wicked than betake themselves? Where will Adulterers, Drunkards, where will Cursers, and Swearers appear? Where will the Luxurious, Deceivers, Proud, Unclean and filthy Persons be found? What (imhappy as they are) can they then plead for themselves, to appease the Anger of a Just judge of Heaven and Earth? Surely nothing. Howl ye therefore, O ye wicked that forget GOD: For the day of the Lord is at hand, it shall come as a Destruction from the Almighty; For the Lord shall lay the Land as desolate, and shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it: He will punish the World for their Evil, and the Wicked for their iniquity; He will cause the Arrogancy of the Proud to cease, and will lay low the Haughtiness of the Ambitious Worldling. What fear, and what horror, what terror and amazement shall there seize upon and possess those that are marked out for eternal Destruction? In the name of God let us therefore while we have time, rouse ourselves up while there is time; set us correct and amend ourselves, that were never brought to these tortures of Body and Soul: Let us rather prefer the simplicity of the Dove, and the chastity of the Turtle, the Spiritual feathers of Graces lift up your Souls up to Heaven by your Prayers, that so we may be always ready to resign our Souls and Bodies into the hand of our Redeemer, with joy, and Alacrity of Spirit.  
But that we may the better hear & understand the terror of that day to avoid the same, we will hear the Prophets what they foretell: Gird yourselves, and lament you Priests; howl ye Ministers of the Altar: lie all night in sackcloth, ye Ministers of my God, for the meat-offering, and the drink-offering is withheld from the House of God. Alas, for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as destruction from the Almighty, shall it come. Blow a Trumpet in Zion, and sound an Alarm in the holy Mountain, let all the Inhabitants of the Land tremble: For the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand: A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness: For great is the day of the Lord, and very terrible: sure 'tis a great day wherein so great a God, greatly to be praised, & to be above all gods, shall come to Judgement, & to reward all men for their do. 'Tis a great day, after which there shall be no change of clime, no course of dates shall follow, which day in itself shall contive either everlasting Condomnation, or Salvation without end.  
It is a very terrible day, and the Prophet Malachi seems to give the reason of it; For behold the day cometh, that shall burn as an Oven, and all the Proud, and all that do wickedly, shall be as stu●ble, and that day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts: Leaving them neither Root nor Branch. And as the Prophet David hath it, Our God shall come and shall not keep silence, a Fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him; he shall call to the Heaven from above, and to the Earth below, that he may judge his People. For God is Judge himself; who therefore will endure the fury of this day, where the Strong shall be thus weakened and oppressed, and where the Proud, and all that do wickedly, shall be burnt us as stubble: When witted not stand astonished, where the Root with the Branch shall the pluck● up and consumed? what wicked man, what sinner even dareth to appear where the ●ust shall scarce be saved, 1 Pet. 4.18. ver. But many men partly out of dull Stupidity, and partly being oppressed with crosses and vocations of this Life, do little esteem of the Tercour of this fast day; very earnestly to will and desire the 〈◊〉. But the Pronhet Amo. 5.18. doth threaten these men, saying, Woe unto you that desire the Day of the Lord, to what and is it for you? The Day of the Lord is darkness, and nor sight; as if a man did fly from a Lion, and a Lear meet him, or went into the house and leaned his hand on the Wall, and a Serpent hite him. You do saith he, apery evil to yourselves, in that you do rashly desire the Day of the Lord, for ye shall not walk in the light of God's countenance, because ye have not been Children of the light, but Children of darkness. There noisome darkness shall come upon you, whatsoever you shall then assay, you shall not shun Terror, you cannot abide Horeor. And if you may shun the face of the Lion of the Tribe of Judab, that you render not account for your sins, Yet that Bear the Devil, will run upon you, me●t you and punish you for the same. Or if you escape this Bear and enter into the house of your conscience to consider the Evils you have committed, and the Good you have omitted, the tormenting worm will seize upon your conscience. The Worm that Esaiah 66. speaks of, The Worm shall never die: and the Evangelish Mark 9 did testify the same; The Worm dyeth not, there, Fire never goeth ours, there, torments are endless. Neither is there in that Day any Partiality to be used: For the Kings of the Earth, Gentlemen Rich men, the great and chief Captains the Mighty men, every Bondman, and every Freeman, shall hid themselves in the Dens, and in the Rocks of the Mountains, and shall say to the Rocks and Mountains fall upon us, and hid us from the Face of him that litteth upon the Th●one, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great Day of wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? But when the Son of man shall come in the Majesty of his Glory, and the Holy Angels with him, before whom all Nations shall be gathered: he shall then separate them one from another, as the Shepherd divideth the Sheep from the Goats, and he shall set his sheep on his Right hand, and the Goats on the Lefthand, and the Ring shall say to them on the Right-hand, Matt. 25. Come ye Blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the World. But to them on the Lefthand, he shall say, Go ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels: And these shall go into Everlasting Punishment, but the Righteous into Life Eternal. To Conclude, this point, hear the Counsel of our Saviour Christ, Luke 31.24. Take heed, least at any time your Heart be overcharged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness, and cares of this Life, and so that Day come upon you unawares. For as a Snare it shall come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole Earth: Watch ye and Pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.  
Since therefore all these things are fuddenly expected to be fulfilled, and all that read the Scriptures may hear this both from Prophets and Apostles, Nay, and Christ himself: That it is a terrible thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God. It is a wonder, that since all things (as the Apostle saith) shall be dissolved, that now at length we become not pure, and walk in the Holy conversation and Godliness; looking for, and hasting unto the coming of the Day of God, wherein the Heavens being on Fire, shall be dissolve●, and the Element shall melt with Fervert heat, 2 Pet. 3.2. It is a Wonder that we do not deny all ungodliness, and worldly desires, and Lusts of the vesh, the Glory of the world, the deceitfulness of Riches, and the choking cares of all Earthly things, and exercise ourselves in all Sobriety and Goodness, looking for the Blessed hope, and the Glorious appearance of that great God and our Saviour jesus Christ.  
It ought therefore, to be our first and chief rate, in these dangerous and wicked Times, not being drowned in the Employments of this World, to have a care of our Salvation, and to make sure the Anchor of our hope and Faith: That our Souls suffer not Eternal. Shipwreck, 2 Timm. 3 5. Let us no●perswade ourselves that the Lord is not near, let us not say with them that Peter reprehended, where is the promise of his coming? For since the Fathers ●ell asleep, all things continue as they were since the Creation; For how long those things shall continue? the Lord of Hosts by the Prophet Hagga● doth declare, Yet once, it is a little while; and I will shake the Heavens and the Earth, the Sea and the dry Land. Now the Apostle Peter gives the reason why he is not yet come, Pet. 1.9. 'Tis his long-suffering (saith he) to us ward, not 〈◊〉 that any should perish, but that all should come to Repentance: Wherefore account that the long-suffering of the Lord is Salvation, and the diligent that you may be found of him in fear, without Spot, and ●an●e●ess: We must be diligent and watchful: The Grecians are gone aside, we have a Simon in us that will yield the place to them: We must continually watch, and have always an Eye to the watch, holding our Weapons 〈◊〉 our hands, unless we be min●●d at all time to be surprised, and yield at the pleasure of 〈◊〉 Enemy. For, The Day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the Night, in which th● Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Element shall melt with, fervent heat. Therefore be ye ready, for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of ma● cometh. Now they that defer the coming of the Lord, and say with that Evil servant, my Lord delayeth his coming, let us Eat and Drink and be Drunken: Tell them, the Lord will come in a day when they look not for him, and in an hour when they are not ware, and will cut them asunder, and will give them their portion with the unbelievers and Hypocrites, where there shall be weeping and waiting and gnashing of teeth, Luke 12.47.  
Now they that know these things and prepare not themselves, neither do according to the will of God, shall be beaten with many stripes, as the Apostle St. Luke hath in his Gospel pronounced.  
Let us endeavour therefore, that when the last day cometh, we may say with St. Paul, Tim. 4.7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the Faith; Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord that Righteous judge shall give me that day; But is this Crown laid up for thee alone? (O Paul) not only for me (saith he) but also for them that love the Lord jesus, and expect his appearance.  
O that this would take some impression in the heardest of hearts, that do sing a temporal Requiem here unto their Souls, lest while they think the Day of the Lord is farthest from them, it on the sudden come unto them, and so they be found in a condition too late to be amended, and by no means whatsoever to be avoided.  
To conclude all, gird up the Loins of your minds, be sober, and hope to the end: For the Glory that is to be brought to you, at the Revelation of jesus Christ as obedient Children, not walking after your former justs of Ignorance; Let your Loins I say be girded, and your lights burning, and you yourselves like unto them that wait for the Lord when he will return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, you may open immediately. Luke 12.36. Blessed is the Servant whom his Master when he cometh finds so doing; Of a truth I say unto you, he will make him Ruler over all he hath. Take ye heed. Watch and Pray, for ye know 〈◊〉 when the time is? For the Son of 〈◊〉 Man taking a far journey, who left his 〈◊〉 and gave Authority to his Servant, 〈◊〉 every man his work, commanding them wait. Watch ye therefore, for ye know, when the time is, for ye know not when master cometh? at Even, at midnight, of the Cock crowing, least coming suddenly, find you sleeping, and so cast you into 〈◊〉 there to remain world without end.  
From which the Lord Jesus keeps all, and that for his Mercies 〈◊〉 alone. To whom be rendred● Honour, Glory, Praise, and Tha●● giving, now and for ever. AMEN.  
FINIS.