Again, whilst the soul is separated from the body, man cannot enjoy the consummation of happiness, replete with every good; for as a part, separated from the whole, is imperfect, the soul separated from the body must be imperfect; and, therefore, that nothing may be wanting to fill up the measure of its happiness, the resurrection of the body is necessary. By these, and similar arguments, the pastor will be able to instruct the faithful in this Article.
He should also, carefully explain, from the Apostle, who are to be raised to life. Writing to the Corinthians, St. Paul says, "as in Adam all die, so, also, in Christ all should be made alive." [1] Good and bad, then, without distinction, shall all rise from the dead, although the condition of all shall not be the same those who have done good, shall rise to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
When we say " all," we mean those who shall have died before the day of judgment, as well as those who shall then die. That the Church acquiesces in the opinion which asserts that all, without distinction, shall die, and that this opinion is more consonant to truth, is recorded by the pen of St. Jerome, [2] whose authority is fortified by that of St. Augustine. [3] Nor does the Apostle, in his epistle to the Thessalonians, dissent from this doctrine, when he says; " The dead who are in Christ shall rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air." [4] St. Ambrose explaining these words says, " In that very taking up, death shall anticipate, as it were by a deep sleep, and the soul, having gone forth from the body, shall in stantly return; for those who are alive, when taken up, shall die, that, coming to the Lord, they may receive their souls from his presence; because in his presence they cannot be dead." [5] This opinion is fortified by the authority of St. Augustine in his book on the City of God. [6]
But as it is of vital importance to be fully convinced that the identical body, which belongs to each one of us during life, shall, though corrupt, and dissolved into its original dust, be raised up again to life; this, too, is a subject which demands accurate explanation from the pastor. It is a truth conveyed by the Apostle in these words; " This corruptible must put on incorruption;" [7] emphatically designating by the word " this," the identity of our bodies. It is also, evident from the prophecy of Job, than which nothing can be more express: " I shall see my God," says he, " whom I myself shall see, and mine eyes behold, and not another." [8] Finally, if we only consider the very definition of resurrection, we cannot, reasonably, entertain a shadow of doubt on the subject; for resurrection, as Damas-
