CHAP. XII
An imperfect description of the Coming of our
Saviour, and of the World on Fire.
CErtainly there is nothing in the whole course of
Nature, or of Humane affairs, so great and
so extraordinary, as the two last Scenes of them, THE
COMING OF OUR SAVIOUR, and the BURNING
OF THE WORLD. If we could draw in our
minds the Pictures of these, in true and lively colours, We should scarce be able to attend to any
thing else, or ever divert our imagination from these
two objects. For what can more affect us than the
greatest Glory that ever was visible upon Earth, and
at the same time the greatest Terror. A God descending in the Head of an Army of Angels, and a
Burning World under his feet.
These are things truly above expression; And not
only so, but so different and remote from our ordinary thoughts and conceptions, that he that comes
nearest to a true description of them, shall be look'd
upon as the most extravagant. 'Tis our unhappiness
to be so much used to little trifling things in this life,
that when any thing great is represented to us, it
appears phantastical: An Idea, made by some contemplative or melancholy person. I will not venture
therefore, without premising some grounds out of