For if God did not spare angels
who sinned
but gave them over to pits of gloom
having held them captive in Tartarus
who held them until judgement…
and
did not spare the ancient world
but protected
Noah the eighth
(and seven others)
a preacher of righteousness
when he brought
a flood
upon an ungodly world,

and if he
having reduced to ashes
the cities of Sodom, and Gomorrah
he condemned {them to destruction]
having set a warning-example
a sign
of the things to come
for the ungodly
and
if he rescued righteous Lot
having been troubled
by the lawless lifestyle
of the wicked people
(for, the righteous man
living among them
tormented his righteous soul
daily
by what is seen and what is heard
by lawless deeds)
(if so…) the Lord knows how to deliver
the godly from trial,
and how to keep the ungodly
for punishment
at the day of judgement
especially those who go after
the flesh in its corrupt lusts
and those who despise authority (of the Lord).

Keep us, O Lord, while we tarry on this earth,
in a serious seeking after thee,
and in an affectionate walking with thee,
every day of our lives;
that when thou comest,
we may be found not hiding our talent,
nor yet asleep with our lamp unfurnished,
but waiting and longing for our Lord,
our glorious King, for ever and ever.

Richard Baxter (1615-1691)