unknown during life: " I will discover thy skirts upon thy face." (Nahum iii. 5.)
The Master of the Sentences, with others, considers that the sins of the elect will not then be manifested, but be hidden, according to what David said, " Blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven, and whose sin is covered." (Ps. xxxii. i.)
On the contrary, S. Basil tells us, that the sins of the wicked shall be seen by all at a glance, as in a picture. S. Thomas observes that if, in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus Christ said, " I am He," all the soldiers who were come forth to take Him went backward and fell to the ground. What will it be when He, sitting as a Judge, shall say to the lost, " Behold, I am He Whom thou hast so much despised?" What will He do, when about to judge, who so did, being judged?
But let us hasten on to the sentence. Jesus Christ will, in the first place, turn towards the elect, to whom He will address these sweet words, " Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (S. Matt. xxv. 34.) Will it not be, indeed, great joy to hear the Judge exclaim, " Come, ye blessed children, come to the kingdom; no longer will there be any trouble for you; no longer any fear. Already you are, and ever will be, safe for ever. I bless the Blood which I once shed for you, and I bless the tears which you have shed because of your sins; let us quickly enter Paradise, where we shall be together for all eternity." And thus, singing Alleluias, the righteous will enter heaven in triumph, to possess, to praise, and to love God for all eternity.
On the other hand, the lost, turning to Jesus Christ, will say to Him, "And we, poor miserable ones that we are, what are we to do? " The Eternal Judge will then say, " Since you have renounced and despised My grace Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire." (S. Matt. xxv. 41.) Depart from Me, for never more do I wish to see you, neither to hear of you. Go, and go accursed, since you have despised My Blessing." And where, Lord, are the miserable ones to go? " Into everlasting fire." Into hell, to burn in the soul and in the body. And for how many years, and for how many ages? " Into everlasting fire," even for all eternity, whilst God shall be God. After this
