Purgatory surveyed, or, A particular accompt of the happy and yet thrice unhappy state of the souls there also of the singular charity and wayes we have to relieve them : and of the devotion of all ages for the souls departed : with twelve excellent means to prevent purgatory and the resolution of many curious and important points.

A Prefatory address to the Catholike Reader.

Dear Reader,

THe drift of this Treatise is not to prove Purgatory but taking it for granted as a prime maxime of Catho∣licism, that God has a suffering Church in the other world, besides that which triumphes in heaven and is mili∣tant here upon earth, the design is to set it forth in such lively colours, as may not only express its nature (as far as we are able to judge of it at so great a distance) but raise your thoughts, first to a compassionate care for the present, of procuring all possible relief for such distressed souls, as are already faln under the lash of those merciless torments, and secondly to a provident prevention for the future, that the like mischief may not involve your selves hereafter. Now this being the chief aime of these my labours, I am put up∣on a kind of necessity of giving you the trouble of this Prefatory address. For should this Survay of Purgatory fall

into any other hands but yours, it could look for no better entertainment, then to be laid aside for wast paper, such as would be some strange Map, or Survay of another world which had no other subsistance but in the brains of the Painter. For why should the enemies of truth, whose belief reaches only to heaven and hell, amuse themselves with the consideration of a third place, for which they can find no place in their Creed. And yet, though I presume, this will be its common fate, when it meets with such persons, yet I am very confident the judicious Protestant, if he can but find in his heart to peruse these Papers, (especially the fifth Survay) will find more then enough to convince him of this middle state of Souls, which we call Purgatory.

Now to say the truth of this Trea∣tise, I know not well how to profess my self the Author, nor yet the Translator of it. Not Author, for I must ac∣knowledge the maine bulke and sub∣stance of what I offer to be borrowed of the Reverend Father Steven Binet of the Society of Jesus

Not a bare Translatour, because I am to do my self so much right, as to tell you, that I have not tied my self so wholly, to that worthy persons method, or matter, as not to yeeld a little now and then to my own genius, but have so made use of his learned pen, as to dispose, abridge or enlarge, where I took it to be more for your satisfaction, in this conjuncture of time and place wherein I was to puhlish it.

As for the language, I have taken care, neither to have it so bald, as not to sute a little with this eloquent age we live in, nor yet so flourishing and luxuriant, as to dry up the foun∣tains of devotion, which I seek to open. And if all my endeavours prove but so lucky, as to occasion the releasing of any one soul, out of Purgatory, or the conveying of any other into heaven, without passing that way, I have my end, which is only the greater glory of God, and the good of souls There was a Roman Emperour, would ne∣ver dine, but he would be feeding his eyes, and his thoughts with the contem∣plation of the torments of hell, and the

pleasures of the Elizian fields, which he had caused to be curiously painted, and exposed, for that purpose, in his dining room I do not press you to use any such devotion or pictures, I only offer you this Survay of Purgatory, which I beseech you to look often upon, and withall to have an eye still upon heaven, and the best meant how to send souls thither, and to follow them your selves, without stepping a side into Purgatory, for believe it, if you come once there, you will find it a very rest∣less and uncomfortable lodging which I pray God you may all timely prevent, and I earnestly beg your good prayers that the like mercy may not be deuied.

Your most devoted Servant R. T.