Considerations For Wednesday Why The Gospel Of DOOMBS-DAY Is Read Upon The First Sunday in Advent: A Plaine Path-way To Heaven Thomas Hill 1634

BOSCH, Hieronymus 

Hell: Fall of the Damned 

1500-04

GOSPEL Luke 21. 25-33 

 At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: men withering away for fear and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved; and then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand." And He spoke to them a similitude: "See the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh; so you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen I say to you, this generation shall not pass away till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."

Wednesday Meditation

It happeneth sometimes, that when we set one about some piece of work, and see him do it not only negligently but untoward, and clean against our mind and intention; we not only snatch it, as it were out of his hands, but even break it in pieces, for anger and dislike of the careless workman.

So almighty God, having created this goodly world, and all things in it for the use of man, and set him to work his salvation in the right use thereof, to Gods, honor and glory: finding at the day of doom, that man hath so neglected this his work, and so abused his creatures, transforming his work committed to his care into a monstrosity, by sin; will not only take them all away from his father use, but as in a great fury dissolve them, and tear them in pieces the whole frame of the world, depriving the sun of his light, turning the moon into blood, and hurling the stars from heaven, making the earth to tremble and quake, the sea to roar, and such like disjointing of this great fabric; And after all these afflictions, punisheth man himself, the unworthy abuser of his works; dealing with him as with a vessel tainted with some loathsome liquor, that can never be cleansed and sweetened, and therefore casteth it into the fire.

So almighty God, who loveth above all things the purity of our souls, and hateth the ugly filth of sin which defileth them; if he find any at the time of death tainted therewith, and not truly penitent for it; taketh such an unhappy soul, as soon as it is severed from the body, and casteth it into hell fire, in detestation of sin, and at the day of the latter judgment, will also throw the woeful body into the same furnace of hell, to keep it company forever; although he had redeemed them with his most precious blood.