The contemplations upon the history of the New Testament. The second tome now complete : together with divers treatises reduced to the greater volume / by Jos. Exon.

Sect. 2. Indulgences and Purgatory against Scripture.

THese two then are so late come strangers, that they cannot challenge any notice taken of them by Scripture; neither were their names ever heard of in the language of Canaan: yet the wisdome of that all-seeing Spirit hath not left us without preventions of future Errours, in blowing up the very grounds of these humane devices.

[ D] The First and main ground of both is, the remainders of some temporal punishments to be pay'd after the guilt and eternal punishment remitted; the driblets of Venial sins to be reckon'd for when the Mortal are defraied. Hear what God saith;* 1.1 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Loe, can the Letter be read that is blotted out? Can there be a back-reckoning for that which shall not be remembred I have done away thy transgressions as a Cloud.* 1.2 What sins can be lesse then transgressions?* 1.3 What can be more clearly dispersed then a Cloud? Wash me, and I shall be whiter then snow. Who can tell where the spot was, when the skin is rinsed?* 1.4 If we confesse our sins, he is faithfull to forgive our sins, and to cleanse [ E] us from all unrighteousnesse. Loe, he cleanseth us from the guilt, and forgives the punishment. What are our sins but debts? What is the infliction of pu∣nishment, but an exaction of payment? What is our remission, but a striking off that score?* 1.5 And when the score is struck off, what remains to pay? Re∣mitte debita, Forgive our debts, is our daily Prayer. Our Saviour tells the Para∣litick, Thy sins are forgiven thee;* 1.6 in the same words implying the removing of his Disease. If the sin be gone, the punishment cannot stay behinde. We may smart by way of chastisement after the freest remission, not by way of revenge; for our amendment, not for God's satisfaction.

The Second ground is, a middle condition betwixt the state of eternal life [ F] and death, of no lesse torment for the time then Hell it self, whose flames may burn off the rust of our remaining sins; the issues wherefrom are in the power of the great Pastor of the Church. How did this escape the notice of our Sa∣viour? Verily,* 1.7 verily I say unto you, he that heareth my Word and believeth in him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and comes not into judgment (as the Vul∣gar it self terms it) but is passed from death unto life.* 1.8 Behold, a present posses∣sion,

and immediate passage, no judgement intervening, no torment. [ A]

How was this hid from the great Doctor of the Gentiles, who putting him∣self into the common case of the believing Corinthians,* 1.9 professes, We know that if once our earthly house of this Tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building of God, not made with hands, eternall in the Heavens? The dissolution of the one is the possession of the other; here is no interposition of time, of estate.

The Wise man of old could say,* 1.10 The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God; and there shall no torment touch them. Upon their very going from us they are in peace.* 1.11 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as S. John heard from the heavenly voice, From their very dying in the Lord is their blessedness. [ B]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Esay 43. 25.
• * 1.2

  Esay 44. 22.
• * 1.3

  Psal. 51. 7.
• * 1.4

  1 John 1. 9.
• * 1.5

  Mat. 6. 12
• * 1.6

  Ma••. 2. 5.
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.
• * 1.8

  John 5. 24.
• * 1.9

  2 Cor. 5. 1.
• * 1.10

  Wisd. 3. 1, 3.
• * 1.11

  Revel. 14. 13.