The difference or dissent.
We differ from the Papists touching purgatorie in two things. And first of all, for the place. They hold it to be a part of hell into which an entrance is made onely after this life: we for our parts denie it, as hauing no waraant in the word of God: which mentioneth onely two places for men after this life, heauen and hell, with the two-fold condition thereof, ioy and torment, Luk. 16.25, 26. Ioh. 3.36. Apoc. 22.14, 15. and 21.7,8. Matth. 8.11. Nay we finde the contrarie, Reu. 14.13. they that die in the Lord are saide to rest from their l•bours: which can not be true, if any of them goe to purgatorie. And to cut off all cauills: it is further said, their workes, that is, the reward of their workes,*follow them, euen at the heeles, as an Acoluth or seruant doth his master. Au∣gustine saith well, After this life there remaines no compunction or satisfaction. And, Here is all remission of sinne: here be temptations that mooue vs to sinne: last∣ly here is the euill from which we desire to be deliuered: but there is none of all these. And, We are not here without sinne, but we shall goe hence without sinne. Cy∣ril saith, They which are once dead can adde nothing to the things which they haue Page 996 done, but shall remaine as they were left, and waite for the time of the last iudge∣ment.Chrysost. After the ende of this life, there be no occasions of merits.
Secondly, we differ from them touching the meanes of Purgation. They say, that men are purged by suffering of paines in Purgatorie, whereby they satisfie for their veniall sinnes, and for the temporal punishment of their mor∣tall sinnes. We teach the contrarie, holding that nothing can free vs from the least punishment of the smallest sinne, but the sufferings of Christ, and purge vs from the least taint of corruption, sauing the blood of Christ. Indeede they say, that our sufferings in themselues considered, doe not purge and satisfie, but as they are made meritorious by the sufferings of Christ: but to this I op∣pose one text of Scripture, Heb. 1. 3. where it is said, that Christ hath purged our sinnes by himselfe: where the last clause cuts the throat of all humane satis∣factions and merits: and it giueth vs to vnderstand, that whatsoeuer thing purgeth vs from our sinnes, is not to be found in vs but in Christ alone: other∣wise it should haue bin saide, that Christ purgeth the sinnes of men by them∣selues, as well as by himselfe: and he should merit by his death, that we should become our owne Sauiours in part.
To this place I may well referre praier for the dead: of which I will pro∣pound two conclusions affirmatiue, and one negatiue. Conclus. I. We hold that Christian charitie is to extend it selfe to the very dead: and it must shew it selfe in their honest buriall, in the preseruation of their good names, in the helpe and releefe of their posteritie, as time and occasion shall be offered. Ruth 1.8. Ioh. 19.23.
II. Conclus. We pray further in generall manner for the faithfull departed, that God would hasten their ioyfull resurrection, and the full accomplish∣ment of their happines, both for the bodie and the soule: and thus much we aske in saying, Thy kingdome come, that is, not onely the kingdome of grace, but also the kingdome of glorie in heauen. Thus farre we come: but nearer the gates of Babylon we dare not approch.
III. Conclus. To pray for particular men departed: and to pray for their deliuerance out of purgatorie, we thinke it vnlawfull: because we haue neither promise nor commandement so to doe.
