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.

The Contents.

The First Survey.

• PƲrgatory is layd open, with all the hellish paines, wherewith the souls are there tormented. Page 1.
• Sect. 1. Of the fire of Purgatory, and paine of sense. p. 5.
• Sect. 2. Of the worme and paine of loss. p. 21.
• Sect. 3. Other considerations much aggravating these paines. p. 44.
• Sect. 4. How long the souls are de∣tained in Purgatory? p. 57.
• Sect. 5. Whether their paines grow less and less p. 72.
• Sect. 6. A notable Example in con∣firmation of all the preced ut doctrine. p. 76.

The Second Survey.

• A glimpse of the Paradise of Purga∣tory,

• or of the ineffable joyes and heavenly consolations of the souls there. p. 81.
• Sect. 1. How these excessive joyes, can stand with their unspeakeable torments? p. 83.
• Sect. 2. Two main grounds of their comfort, the double assurance they have of their salvation and impec∣cability. p. 90.
• Sect. 3. More grounds of comfort, a∣rising from their voluntarily suffer∣ing, their disinteressed love of God, and exact conformity with his holy will. p. 100.
• Sect. 4. Another comfortable consi∣deration, drawn from the desire they have to make themselves wor∣thy of the sight of God p. 119.
• Sect. 5. Their suffering without merit & the free exercise of their vertues without impediment are to them speciall motives of comfort. p. 124.
• Sect. 6. They joy in the continual de∣crease of their paines, and influence of pure heavenly consolations. p. 133

The third Survey.

• That there is not in this world a more

• eminent, or prudent act of frater∣nal charity, then to help the souls in Purgatory. p. 142.
• Sect. 1. The greatness of the charity, to the souls in Purgatory, is argued from the greatness of their paines, and their helpless condition p. 148.
• Sect. 2. Our charity for the souls de∣parted is preferred before all other workes of mercy. p 155.
• Sect. 3. Of the great advantages we receive by this devotion for the souls in Purgatory. p. 168.

The fourth Survey.

• Of the powerful means to quench the flames of Purgatory p. 186.
• Sect. 1. What succour they receive from the Angels and Saints in heaven? p. 188.
• Sect. 2. Whether they are capable of being relieved by one anothers pray∣ers? p. 196.
• Sect. 3. That the dead may receive helpe from us that are living, and how we must be qualified to do them good? p. 206.
• Sect. 4. Of the particular wayes

• we have to helpe them. p. 216.
• Sect. 5. Certain questions resolved a∣bout the application and distribu∣tion of our suffrages. p. 233.
• Sect. 6. How dangerous it is to trust o∣thers with what concerns the sweet rest of our souls in the next world. p. 243
• Sect. 7. Some motives fetcht even as far as the other world, to stir us up to be mindful of the dead. p. 253.

The fifth Survey.

• How all Antiquity was ever devoted to pray for the dead. p. 269.
• Sect. 1. Of the natural iustinct of all Nations to honour and comfort the dead. p. 273.
• Sect. 2. The constant practise of the Church in all Ages to pray for the dead. p. 284.
• Sect. 3. A continuation of the same subject from the sixth age after Christ unto our dayes. p. 295.

The sixth Survey.

• Of twelve excellent meanes to prevent Purgatory, or to provide so for our selves as not to make any long stay there. p. 308.

• Sect. 1. The first. Perfect contrition. p. 309.
• Sect. 2. The second. To die in Reli∣gion. p. 313.
• Sect. 3. The third. To be an Aposto∣lical Preacher. p. 320.
• Sect. 4. The fourth. To serve the in∣fected. p. 318.
• Sect. 5. The fifth. A tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin. p. 333.
• Sect. 6. The sixth. An humble Pa∣tience. p. 341.
• Sect. 7. The seventh. Devotion for the souls in Purgatory. p. 347.
• Sect. 8. The eighth. To be a great almesgiver. p. 350.
• Sect. 9: Tbe ninth. Angelical purity. p. 360.
• Sect. 10. The tenth. A profound hu∣mility. p. 368.
• Sect. 11. The eleaventh. To com∣municate well and often p▪ 373.
• Sect. 12. The twelfth. A faithful and exact obedience. p. 382.

The Conclusion.

Many curious and important Questions are incidently resolved under the foregoing heads.