156 SERMONS upon the S E R M. XX. SERMON XX. MATTH. XXV. V. 32, 33. And before him fhall be gathered all Nations ; and he fhall fe parate them one from another, as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep from the Goats. And he [ball fit the Sheep on his Right Hand, but the Goats on the Left. E now come to the fecond General, the prelenting the parties to be Judged ; and there we have, t. The Congregation, And all Nations [hall be gathered before him, 2. A Segregation : (t.) As to Company ; He fhall [operate them one from another, as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep from the Goats. (2.) As to place and pollute; And he fbal let the Skeet on the right hand, and the Goats on the left. Firfi, The Congregation All the Dead 'hall rife, and being rifen, fhall be ga- thered together Into one place, or great rendezvous. According to the Analogy of Faith, we may gather this point: Do&rine, That in the general Judgment, aft that have lived from the beginning of the world, unto that day, (ball without exception from the leafl to the great- ell, appear before the Tribunal of Chrifl. This Point will be heft Illuftrated and fet forth to you, by confidering the re." - veral diftinaions of Mankind. (t.) The molt obvious diflinïlien of Mankind, is of grown Perfons and Infants: And if all there are prefented to the Judgment, it will go far in the decifion of the point that we have in hand ; grown Perfons are thole whore Life is continu- ed to that Age wherein they come to the full life of realon ; Infants are thole that die before they are in an ordinary way capable of the Dofrine of Life : Now for grown Perlons, the Scripture rs written purpofely for them ; and thew - eth that they (hall be judged according to the difpenlatron they are under : as to Infants or leffer Children, the Cafe is more difficult and oblcure. 'Tis likely that all fhall rife in the Stature and Condition of grown perlons, that is to fay, in fuch a State of Body and Mind, as they may fee, and hear, and underftand the Judge : When they were born, they were born with a rational Soul, which though according to ordinary courfe lyeth Idle for a while, and doth not difeover_its felt in any humane and rational a &ions, 'till the Organs be fitted and matured ; yet that it ihould be 1hll burYed in the Body, and perpetually fleep, as being hindred by its Organs, or Inftruments of operation, Reafon will not permit us to conceive; becaufe, 'ris contrary to its natural aptnefs and difpofition, as all() the end of- its Creation. We cannot conceive that God fhould form the Spirit in Man which is Immortal, in a Body, in vain, and to no purpofe; therefore Children (hall rife again :
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