Pathmos: or, A commentary on the Reuelation of Saint Iohn diuided into three seuerall prophecies. The first prophecie contained in the fourth, fift, sixt and seuenth chapters. By Mr. William Cowper, Bishop of Galloway.

VERSE. 17.

For the great Day of his wrath is come, and who can stand?

THe day of Iudgement is called A great Day of wrath. First, because all the children of wrath shall be iudged in that Day, none excepted. Next, because all the Vialls of Gods wrath shall then be powred vpon them; an vniuersall deluge of all the plagues of God shall then ouerflow them: The wicked put the euill day farre from them, the vn∣faithfull seruant thinkes his Master will not come: Mockers will say, Where is the promise of his comming? As the kinsmen of Lot regarded not his praedicti∣on of Sodoms destruction, ab vno dicebatur, à mul∣tis ridebatur, it was spoken by one, and scorned by many: but they felt the force and fury of that scor∣ching fire shortly after: so no lesse assuredly shall all the wicked, who repent not, feele the weight of that terrible wrath both on their soulos and bo∣dies; they shall confesse at length, The great Day of his wrath is come, that Day, which wee despised,

that Day which we scorned, that Day which we thought would neuer be; That Day of the Lord is now come.

Two things perturbe, and confound the wic∣ked: The one is without them, the terrible pre∣sence of the Iudge, or wrath of the Lambe: Hee that is a Lambe to his owne, lookes to the wicked like a deuouring Lyon. And not without cause is the name of a Lambe here attributed to the Iudge; for sure it is, that iudgement iustly inflict∣ed, will not torment the wicked so much, as mer∣cy wilfully despised. Terrible will it be to them when they looke to the Lambe, who hath giuen mercy to so many, and so many times offered mer∣cy to themselues, and now see him refuse all mer∣cy to them, because they despised it; iustly, shall the meek face of the Lambe be turned to them in the terrible face of a Lyon: and (as I said) mercy despised, shall torment them more then iudge∣ment inflicted.

The other thing that perturbes the wicked, is within them, a sensible infirmity in themselues through the guiltie conscience, that makes them vnable to stand before the Lord; Who can stand? The wicked are as the chaffe which the winde driueth away, they shall not stand in iudgement. Let vs be∣ware of both these: see wee despise not mercy offered; let vs carefully purge our conscience: Who shall ascend into the Mountaine of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath innocent hands, and a pure heart: So shall that Day of the

Lord, fearefull to the wicked, be vnto vs a ioyfull day of Redemption, and of sweet Refreshment: The Lord grant we may so finde it.

Notes

• The last Day, a great Day of wrath, & why?
• Amos 6. 3.
• 2. Pet. 3. 3.
• Iudgement to come scorned by the wicked, vainely.
• Two things shall terrifie the wicked, in that last Day.
• 1 Without thē, the sight of the Iudge.
• ☜
• 2 Within them, a guilty con∣science.
• Psal. 1. 4, 5.
• Psal. 24. 4.