QUESTION XVI. 38S ether world are represented in scripture, it is always for the actual transgressions of persons who are capable of knowing, chusing and refusing good or evil, which infants are not capable of doing ; for the word of God gives us this very character of an infant; Is. vii. 16. viz,'that he knows not to refuse the evil, and chase the good. Let us look into the texts where future judg- ment 'and future punishments are described. hc. xi. 9. t0 Re- joice, O young man, in thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment," and chapter xii. 14. It is only visi- ble works of the life, or secretworkings of the thoughts, that is, moral actions, " that God will bring into judgment, whether they be good or evil." Mat. xii. 30. "' livery idle word that . men shall speak, they shall give account thereof 'in the dayof judgment." Mat xxv. 41, 42. " Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, for was an hungered and ye gave me no meat ; I was naked and ye clothed me not, &c." Ruin. ii. 3, á, 6. as 'I'hinkest thou, O main, who judgest them which do such things, and dost the same, that thou shalt escape the judg- ment of God ? Thou treasurest up to thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, whowill render to every man according to his deeds." 2 Cor. v. 10 " We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in the body, accord- ing to that which he bath done, 'whether it be good or evil." Allthis refers only to the actual works of men. Nor canI find in the whole book of God, any one syllable of the punishment of infants, either in their souls or bodies after this life ; all that the scripture reveals of punishment in a world to come, whether it be in a separatestate, or at the resurrection, falls upon those only who have been guiltyof actual personal transgressions, And are proper objects of a judgment. VII. You will ask here, " Is there no resurrection then for the bodies of the infants of good and pious persons, who have repented of their sins, returned to God, and accepted of the covenaht of grace in all its extent, for time and eternity? Is there no happy rising-day for the dying children of those parents, who have laid a humble claim to God as their God, and the God of their seed, and have devoted themselves to him according to the language of God's covenant with Abraham ??o not these blessings come upon the Gentiles through Jesus Christ? Gal. iii. 14. You will' ask, whether I myself have not explained the covenant of grace, with the blessings of it, to extend to the children of believers, or good men, under question XII.section VI ? And must' all these children lie in the grave and under the power of death for ever ? Doth not God's being.theirGod imply their resurrection ? Doth not Christ himself ,rove the reaurrec- VOL. iv. B n
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