The great assize; or, Christ's certain and sudden appearance to judgement. Being serious considerations on these four things, death, judgment, heaven, and hell. By Mr. Stevens, minister. To the tune of, Aim not too high, &c. Licensed according to order.

The Great Aſſize; Or, Chriſt's certain and ſudden appearence to Judgm • nt. Being ſerious conſiderations on theſe Four Things, Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. By Mr. Stevens, Miniſter. To the Tune of, Aim not too high, &c.

Licenſed according to Order.

depiction of Christ in glory

depiction of hell mouth

HEre is preſented, clearly to the eye, A little World, new made moſt gloriouſly, To day here ſtands proud man like flowers ſprite; But look to morrow, and he's weather'd quite. How happily might fallen man have liv'd, For ever, had he not his Maker griev'd: His num'rous Off-ſpring never would eſpy, Thro' that black Curtain of Mortality. Alas how faſt the daies of man paſs by, Swifter than Weaver's Shuttle they do fly; As ſoon as Death does end his days ſo ſoon, Man muſt appear before the great Tribune. Death will no ſuccour to a King afford, For diff'rence make twixt Begger and a Lord; For Beauty, Riches, favour ſhall obtain, He'll take no Bribes to linger out their pain. Methuſalem you ſee by Death was told, That dye he muſt, tho' he was ne'er ſo old, Like Fruit, when almoſt ripe, Storms can it ſhake; So Youth, when almoſt Man, Death may him take.

The Rich Man truſting to his Riches. And yet, how proud Man is this ſide the Grave! As if he never ſhould an Exit have; (Vaunting poor Worm) and up and down the world His buſie carping thoughts with care is hurld. He's wealthy grown, and proud of bags of treaſure, Truſting in Riches; raking all the pleaſure His heart can wiſh for; nay, he does controul The checks of Conſcience to his precious Soul: Says to himſelf, Soul, take thine eaſe, and ſpend Thy time in mirth, ne'er think it will have end: Thus! thus! the Sinner does abuſe his God, And chooſes Vice, inſtead o' th' vertuous Rod. He Swears, & Damns, & imprecates God's wrath, To ſtrike him dead; but ah! to die he's loath: He Damns his very Soul, were it not juſt That God ſhould do ſo too, and ſay, Be curſt? Roaring and Ranting is his Helliſh Note, Qauffing ſo long until his ſenſes float, Drunk, like a Beaſt, he ſtaggers up and down, Sleeps like a Hog, and is a Devil grown. But Oh! if God thus angred, ready be To ſay, thou Fool, I do require of thee, Thy ſoul, this night, come, give a juſt account To what thy Stewardſhip does now amount. How dumb & ſenſeleſs would he ſtand, to ſee Hell ready to devour him preſantly, Calls to the Rocks, and ſtrives to get a place, Therein to hide him from God's angry face. But yet, ſuppoſe God ſuffers him to live, Adds mercy unto mercy, and does give Him yet a longer time of life, and trys, If he'll Repent before death ſhuts his eyes. He ſees that time runs round like to a wheel, And wrinckled Years upon his brow does ſteal. Beſides gray hairs on's crazy head doth grow, Scatter'd it lies like to a drift of Snow,

skeleton in the grave

A foggy dimneſs doth his ſight aſſail, Striking into his head, his eyes they fail, His tongue does faulter, and his hands they ſhake, And with the Palſie every limb does quake. His glaſs moſt run, he's even out of breath, Ready to yield his life to conquering death, Who will no longer favour his old age, But is reſolved in his death ingage. If peeps behind the Curtain in his face, Then draws the Schene, then breavful is his caſe, His tongue does quiver, and his veins does ſtart, Like ſticks aſunder; nay his very heart Ceaſes its motion, with his vitals, ſoon, And now alas! he's colder than a ſtone: His Kinsfolks dear his dying eyes do ſhut, So from his Bed he's in a Coffin put. Thus ends his Earthl'y ſplendour, and his pleaſure' Wife, Children, Kinsfolk, and his bags of treasure, Are left behind, enjoy the ſame eſtate A little while, but follow muſt his fate. Nay, they're not ſure to keep it half a day, For Death does oft ſweep Families away, The Infants inſtantly bereav'd of Mother, Husband from Wife, the Siſter from her Brother. Behold this figure, ſee the glaſs does run, Therefore Repent before thy time is gone, Both Young and Old have this before your eyes, You're born to happineſs or miſeries. O therefore wretched man this very day, Strive by Repenting tears to waſh away Thy ſins, and then no doubt thy Lord will be In love and mercy reconcil'd to thee.

The manner of Chriſt's coming at the Day of Judgment. Serene, like as the days of Noah were, So ſhall the coming of God's Son appear, Eating and Drinking, men will merry make, And carnal Souls Security will take. And like the thief who cometh in the night, So will the Son of Man in glory bright, Come down with numerous Angels, and the ſound, Of trumpets ſhrill, whoſe voice unnerves the ground The dead arise, Lord, what a horrour here Is to the wicked, who muſt ſtrait appear, And come to Judgment, O how this begins, To bring to mind their many wretched Sins. O what sad ſhrieks they make, and clam'rous cries, To ſee Hell gaping juſt before their eyes, The Heav'ns to melt away with fervent heat, The Earth a burning underneath their feet.

The Bleſſed State of the Godly. But happy, ever happy are the Sheep Of Chriſt, who joy for evermore will keep, When he ſhall ſay to Saints, come come thee hither, You of my choſen Flock, bleſt of the Father. The kingdom now enjoy for you prepar'd Before the heav'ns were made or world was rear'd, Oh what ſoul raviſhing ſweet news is this. Angels attend them preſently to bliſs.

The miſerable State of the wicked. But dark! what grief the Damned does attend, Who have no Advocate to ſtand their Friend, Sentence muſt paſſed be, go, go to dwell In Firey Burnings in the Lake of Hell. Depart with Devils which did you entice To hate your Saviour, and cleeve to Vice, Go to that Everlaſting Pit, and lye Howling with Firey Fiends perpetually. O what a wretched ſight 'twill be to ſee The Devils dragging them to miſery, Husbands to ſee their Wives convey'd to Bliſs, Whilſt they 'mongſt Damned, quite Salvation miſs. Son from the Father, Father from the Son, Muſt parteſt be in the great Day of Doom, Praiſing of God, and own it to be juſt, Their own Relations are with Devils curſt. The Godly they to Heaven take their flight, Whilſt wicked take their courſe to Hell out-right, Lord let us watch continually; and pray That we may be prepar'd for that Great Day. Give us Repentance, that while here we live, We may the offers of thy Son receive, Then feed our ſouls, good God, with thy rich Grace, That we may ſtand before our Saviour's Face.