ANSWER.

The place of Daniell 4.24. (according to the vulgar Tran∣slation a) speaketh of redeeming sinnes in regard of the fault and eternall guilt, and not onely of temporall punishment. Also of redeeming sinnes in this life, and not of redeming them in [ C] Purgatorie. Besides if Nabuchadonosor were an vniust person b, Esa. 14.15. then according to your owne position, he could not make satisfaction for sinne. Lastly, the punishment threat∣ned and foretold in that Scripture, is such, as Bellarmine c him∣selfe confesseth, belongeth not to the Court of Penance, and Papall Indulgences. And if Popes Pardons, and Romish Satis∣factions could deliuer sinners from frenzie, and losse of out∣ward goods, and temporall dominion, the mad-men in Bedlam, and decayed merchants, and other afflicted persons throughout the Christian world, would become suitors to his Holinesse, to [ D] insert these, and other such like temporall calamities into the Patent of his Indulgences and Iubilees.

Also the place of Daniell is vnderstood litterally of breaking of sinnes by almes-deeds: as if one preaching to an extortio∣ner, should say, Breake off thy sinfull courses, by imitating Za∣cheus, &c. Now what merit is there in this, or what immediate [ E] satisfaction to God? for this is rather satisfaction to man in re∣gard of ciuill iniurie.

Lastly, there is no ground either in Scripture, or in Traditi∣on, for this Romish doctrine, to wit, the temporall paine of Page  547 personall sinne remaining after this life, may be remooued or [ A] expiated by humane satisfactions: for whatsoeuer is spoken in holy Scripture, or by antient Fathers, concerning redeeming sinnes by Satisfaction, belongs to the fault, and eternall paine of sinne, as well as to the temporall punishment; and the sa∣tisfaction must be performed by the delinquent person him∣selfe, in this present life. Also the redemption or satisfaction possible to be performed by man, is by way of deprecation onely, and not by iust compensation. And (if there were a Pur∣gatorie) because the paines thereof would be proportioned [ B] and stinted by the diuine Will and Decree, it could not rest in the power of any creature to mittigate and remooue the same: but euerie soule descending into that place of darkenesse (if any such lake were) must continue in torment vntill it had paid the vttermost farthing. For if in this present world, which is a time of mercie, after satisfaction performed by penitent persons themselues, or by the redundant merits of Saints a, and after the said satisfactions are applied by Papall Indulgences, no temporall paine ceaseth infallibly, no not so much as the paine of one tooth, but the same continueth as before: It is altoge∣ther [ C] improbable to imagine (vnlesse diuine Reuelation were extant to prooue the same, and which is not) that it is other∣wise, or in a contrarie manner, touching any paines after this life. And Papalls abuse the testimonies of Scripture, making them grounds of Popes Pardons, because the said Scriptures treat of worldly pressures and afflictions inflicted vpon iusti∣fied persons; for example, triall, humiliation, preuention, &c. (as appeareth in Dauid b, 2. Sam. 12.) and not of the inuisible torments of Purgatorie.