day, if by penance or other meanes in the Church, the said venial sinnes be before hand cleansed, there shal neede no purgiug at al, but they shal straight receiue the reward due to them.
13. Shal be manifest.] Vvhether our life and workes be pure and neede no cleansing, novv in this vvorld is hard to iudge: but the day of our Lord, vvhich is at our death, vvil make it plaine in vvhat termes euery mans life is tovvards God▪ for then Purgatorie fire shal reueale and proue it▪ for, vvhosoeuer hath any impure matter of venial sinnes or such other dettes, to Gods iustice paia∣ble and purgable, must into that fire, and after due paiment and cleansing, be saued through the same. Vvhere the vvorkes of the perfect men and such as died vvith al dettes paied, cleansed, or forgiuen, are quitted from the fire, and neuer incurre damage, paine, or losse thereby. The places of fathers expounding this for Purgatorie, be very many most euident, vvhich are cited in the last Annotation folovving.
1••. The day of our Lord shal declare.] That this purgation rather signifieth the place of Gods iu∣stice after our death, then any affliction in this life, the Apostles precise specifying of fire declareth, and of reuealing and notifying the difference of mens vvorkes by the same: vvhich is not done eui∣dently euer in this life: and namely the vvord, day of our Lord: vvhich commonly and properly si∣gnifieth in Scripture and namely in this Apostle (1 Cor. 3, 5. 2 Cor. 1, 1••. Philip. 1, 10. 6. 1 Thes. ••, 2. 2 Thes. 2, 2.) either the particular, or the general iudgement: and therfore that the trial spoken of, is not properly nor litterally meant any affliction or aduersitie of this life, as Caluin also cōfesseth, coyning a folish nevv construction of his ovvne. Vvhere you may note also in that mans Com∣mentarie, that this vvord, dies Domini, vvas so preiudicial against him and al other expositions of the trial to be made in this vvorld, that he vvould gladly haue (Domini) ou••, reading thus, A day shal ••••me vvhich shal open &c. Vvhere vnderstand, that if it vvere only Dies (as * in the Greeke) yet thereby also the Scripture is vvont to signifie the self same thing: as, 2 Tim. 1, 12. 28. and 2 Tim. 4, 8. and Heb. 10, 25, the day, as in this place, vvith the greeke article only, vvhich is al one vvith Dies illa, or Dies Domini.
15. As by fire.] S. Augustine vpon these vvordes of the Psalme 37. Lord rebuke me not in thine indignation, nor amend me in thy vvrath. For it shal come to passe (saith he) that some be amended in the vvrath of God, and be rebuked in his indignation. And not al perhaps that are rebuked, shalbe amended, but yet some there shal be saued by amending. It shalbe so surely, because amending it ••amed: yet so as by fire. but some there shalbe that shalbe rebuked, and not amended, to vvhom he shal say, Goe ye into euerlasting fire. Fearing therfore these more greuous paines, he desireth that he may neither be rebuked in indignation by eternal fire, nor amended in his vvrath. that is to say, Purge me in this life, and make me such an one as shal not neede the amending fire, being for them vvhich shalbe saued, yet so as by fire. Wherfore? but because here they build vpon this foundation, vvood, hay, stubble? for if they did build gold, siluer, and pretious stones, they should be secure from both fires, not onely from that eternal vvhich shal torment the impious eternally: but also from that vvhich shal amend them that shalbe saued by fire. for it is said, he shal be safe, yet so as by fire. And because it is said, he shalbe safe, that fire is cōtemned. Yea verely though safe by fire, yet that fire shalbe more greuous, then vvhatsoeuer a man can suffer in this life. And you knovv hovv great euils the vvicked haue suffered, and may suffer: yet they haue suffered such as the good also might suffer. for vvhat hath any malefactor suffered by the lavves, that a Martyr hath not suffered in the confession of Christ? These euils therfore that are here▪ be much more easie, and yet see hovv men, not to suffer them, doe vvhat∣soeuer thou cōmaundest. Hovv much better doe they that vvhich God commaundeth, that they may not suffer th••se greater paines? Thus far. S. Augustine. See S. Ambr. vpon this place 1 Cor. 3. & Ser. 20 in Psal. ••18. Hiero. li. 2 c. 13 adu. Iouinianum. Gieg. li. 4. Dialog. c. ••9. & in Psal. 1. P••nit. in principie. Origen. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. •• in c. 15. Exod. and b••. 14 in c. 24. Leuit.