The Great Assize · §34 · John Wesley

How will you escape

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How will you escape? Will you call to the mountains to fall on you, to the rocks to cover you? Alas, the mountains themselves, the rocks, the earth, the heavens, are just ready to flee away. Can you prevent the sentence? With what? With all the substance of your house, with thousands of gold and silver? Blind wretch. You came naked from your mother's womb, and more naked into eternity.

Hear the Lord, the Judge. Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Joyful sound. How widely different from that voice which echoes through the expanse of heaven, Depart, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. And who is he that can prevent or delay the full execution of either sentence? Vain hope. Lo, hell is moved from beneath to receive those who are ripe for destruction. And the everlasting doors lift up their heads, that the heirs of glory may come in.

1771 text

How will ye escape? Will ye call to the mountains to fall on you, the rocks to cover you? Alas, the mountains themselves, the rocks, the earth, the heavens, are just ready to flee away! Can ye prevent the sentence? Wherewith? With all the substance of thy house, with thousands of gold and silver? Blind wretch! Thou camest naked from thy mother’s womb, and more naked into eternity. Hear the Lord, the Judge! Come ye blessed of my Father! inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Joyful sound! How widely different from that voice, which echoes through the expanse of heaven, Depart, ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels! And who is he, that can prevent or retard the full execution of either sentence? Vain hope! Lo, hell is moved from beneath, to receive those who are ripe for destruction! And the everlasting doors lift up their heads, that the heirs of glory may come in!

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