A probleme propounded by Francis Dillingham, in which is plainely shewed, that the holy scriptures haue met with popish arguments and opinions.

Of Purgatory.

THe papistes teach Purgatory, a place after death, in which the godly must be purged from their

sinnes, having not perfectly satisfied in this life. Now let vs see how the Scripture meets with this conceite: In the 7. chap: of the Romans, Paul cryeth out after this manner, O wret∣ched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death! I thank God through Iesus Christ our Lord. Some might say, Paul, if thou beest so miserable, then thou art in the state of damnation; marke how the Apostle answereth this doubt: Now then, there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus, which walke not after the fleesh but after the spirit. Nay saith the Apostle, though I am miserable in my selfe, yet am I happy in Christ Iesus, and not only I, but all that are godly. And heere by the way let vs obserue a poynt in Divi∣nity we teach that sinne is euery breach of Gods law deseruing the curse. This must be vnderstood with

this exception, except a man be in Christ Iesus: sinne of it self deser∣ueth the curse, but in Christ it is ta∣ken away. To proceed, as this place preuenteth purgatory, so doth ano∣ther place also in the 2. of the Cor. 5. Chap. 1. vers. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be dis∣solued, we haue a building giuen of God, that is, an house not made with hands, but eternall in the heauens. In the 17. v. of the former chapt. these are S. Paul his words: For our light affliction which is but for a moment, causeth unto us a farre more excellent and eternall weight of glory. Some man might demand, when shall we haue this glory? the Apostle answe∣reth, when our earthly tabernacle is dissolued. But heere some will say, why did the Fathers pray for the dead? although I haue answered this obiection in another treatise, yet

here I will speake somewhat of it. Hil∣debert in his 4 epistle being exhorted by his friend to pray for a Queene, saith that he did preuent his exhor∣tation: Oratis (saith he) quidem orari pro ea, sed credimus eam plus posse suis adiuuare, quàm agere nostris precibus adiuuari. We beleeue that she rather helpeth vs by her prayers, then that she neede be helped by our prayers. Yet (saith he) Vestram tamen praecessi∣mus exhortationem, We preuented your exhortation, ergo, they pray∣ed for those that were in heaven. Alcuinus in his booke De diuints offi∣ciis, cap. 43. hath these words, Ali∣quibus in locis generaliter pro omni∣bus defuncttis omni tempore, exceptis Penticostes et festis diebus, oratur in officio vespertinali. At evēing pray∣er in some places they pray gene∣rally for all the dead at all times, ex∣cept the dayes of Pentecost & festi∣vall

dayes. Ergo, prayer for the dead being made for all, establisheth not Purgatory; for I am sure all the dead are not placed by Papistes them∣selues in Purgatory.