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.

§. 2. The constant practise of the Church in all ages, to pray for the dead.

IT is a pleasure to observe, the * 1.1 constant devotion of the church

of Christ in all ages, to pray for the dead. And first to take my rise from the Apostles time, there are many learned Interpreters, will have that baptisme for the dead, of which the Apostle speaks. 1 Cor. 15. 29. to be meant only of the much fast••ng, prayer, almes∣deeds, and other voluntary af∣flictions, which the first Christians undertook for the relief of their deceased friends. But I need not fetch in obscure places, to prove so clear an apostolical, and early custome in Gods Church.

You may see a set forme of * 1.2 prayer for the dead prescribed in all the ancient liturgies of the Apostles, Besi••es St. Clement tels us, it was one of the chief heads of St. Peters sermons, to be dayly inculcating to the people, this devotion of praying for the dead, and St. Denis sets down at large, all the solemn ceremonies, and prayers, which were then used at funeralls, and receaves them no otherwise then as apostolical tra∣ditions,

grounded upon the word of God, and certainly it would have done you good to have seen with what gravity, and devotion that venerable Prelate performed the divine office, and prayer for the dead, and what an ocean of tears, he drew from the eyes of all that were present.

Let Tertullian speak for the next * 1.3 age. He tells us, how carefully devout people in his time, kept * 1.4 the Aniversaries of the dead, and made their constant oblations for * 1.5 the sweet rest of their souls. Here it is, says this grave Author, that the widow makes it appear, whe∣ther or no she had any true love for her husband, if she continue yearly to do her best for the com∣fort of his soul, to neglect so ne∣cessary a peece of service, were to tell the world, how she joys in his death, and was certainly long since divorced from him in af∣fection. Believe it, all love is not expressed in setting out the so∣lemnities of a noble f••••eral,

hanging roomes in black, and shutting out the sun at noonday, to lye buried in darknes, or ap∣pearing abroad with Coach and Lackies all in compleat Mourning, Howling and crying, and the like; there is often more ••eremony or vanity in all this then love. It is all rather to amuse the world, then to benefit the poore Soule, who God knows has more need of other helps, then these vain shews of Pride and Ostentation. All the day long you do nothing but whine and cry, your deare Husband is gone, and has left you such a debt, and so great a charge of children to provide for, that you know not which way to turn your self, and all this while it is not in your thoughts, what is be∣come of this dear Husband of yours, or what he suffers in the other world, and what need he has of better comfort then can spring from your unnecessary la∣mentations. Let your first care be to ransome him out of Purga∣tory,

and when you have once placed him in the Empireall hea∣ven, he will be sure to take care for you and yours. I know your excuse is, that having procured for him the accustomed Services of the Church, you need doe no more for him, for you verily be∣lieve he is already in a blessed state. But this is rather a poore shift to excuse your own sloath and lazinesse, then that you be∣lieve it to be so in good earnest. For there is no man, saye Origen, * 1.6 ••ut the Sonne of ••od can guesse how long, or how many ages, a soul may stand in need of the Pur∣gation of fire Mark the word ages, he seems to believe, that a soul may for whole ages, that is, for so many hundred years, be confined to this fiery lake, if she be wholy left to her self, and her own suffe∣rings.

It was not without confidence * 1.7 (sayes Eusebius) of reaping more fruit from the Prayers of the faithfull, that the honour of our

Nation, and the first Christian Emperour, Constantine the great, took such care to be buried in the Church of the Apostles, whether all sorts of devout people resort∣ing, to perform their Devotions to God and his Saints, would be sure to remember so good an Em∣perour: Nor did he faile of his expectation, for it is incredible as the same Authour observes, what a world of sighs and prayers, were offered up for him upon this occa∣sion.

Saint Athanasius brings an eli∣gant * 1.8 comparison, to expresse the incomparable benefit, which ac∣crews to the Souls in Purgatory by our Prayers. As the Wine (sayes he) which is lockt up in the Cellar, yet is so recreated with the sweet Odour of the flourish∣ing Vines, which are growing in the fields, as to flower a fresh, and to leap, as it were for joy; so the soules that are shut up in the cen∣ter of the Earth, feele the sweet incense of our Prayers, and are

exceedingly comforted and re∣freshed by it.

We do not busie our selves (saies Saint Cyrill) with plating crowns, * 1.9 or strowing flowers, at the Sepul∣chers of the dead; but we lay hold on Christ, the very sonne of God, who was sacrificed upon the Crosse for our sins, and we offer him up again, to his eternal Fa∣ther, in the dreadfull Sacrifice of the Masse, as the most efficacious means, to reconcile him not only to our selves, but to them also.

Saint Epiphanius stuok not to * 1.10 blast Aerius, for this damnable Heresie amongst others, that he held it in vain to pray for the dead, as if our prayers could not availe them.

Saint Ambrose prayed heartily * 1.11 for the good Emperour Theodosius as soon as he was dead, and made open profession, that he would never give over praying for him, till he had by his Tears and Pray∣ers, conveyed him safe, to the holy Mountain of our Lord, whe∣ther

he was called by his merits, and where there is true life ever∣lasting.

He had the same kindnesse for * 1.12 the soules of the Emperour Valen∣tinian, the same for Gratian, the same for his Brother Satyrus and others; he promised them Masses, Tears, Prayers, and that he would never forget them, never give o∣ver doing charitable Offices for * 1.13 them. And much about this time it was, that some out of too much care that the dead should as soon as might be, have all the comfort they could afford them, were grown into an abuse of making no scruple of saying Mass for them after Dinner, so that it was sound necessary that the Church should make a severe decree against it.

Will you honour the Dead * 1.14 (sayes Saint Chrysostome) do not spend your selves in unprofitable lamentations, chuse rather to sing Psalms, to give Alms, and to lead holy lives. Doe for them that which they would willingly

do for themselves, were they to return again into the world, and God will accept it at your hands, as if it came from them.

Saint Augustine is every where very full of this subject, but it may abundantly suffice here, to set down a part of the ardent pra∣yer, which he made for his good Mother after her death. Hearken to me I beseech thee (O my God) for * 1.15 his sake who is the true medicine of our wounds, who hung upon the Crosse, and sitting now at thy right hand makes Intercession for us. I know she has wil∣lingly, and from her heart, forgiven such as offended her, forgive thou also her sins, O Lord forgive her I beseech thee, and enter not with her into judg∣ment. Let thy Mercy overtop thy Ju∣stice, &c. And I verily perswade my self that thou hast already done what I desire; but yet accept, O Lord, this prayer, which I willingly make. For she, when the day of her death drew neer upon her, did not crave that her body might be sumptuously adorned, or embalmed with Spices and Odours,

nor desired she any curious or choice monument, or cared she to be conveyed into her own Country. They were not these things she recomme••ded to us, but only she desired to be remembred at the Altar, whereat she used to assist, without pretermission of any one day, &c. Let her therefore rest in peace with her husband, &c. And inspire O Lord my God, inspire thy servants, my brethren, that whosoever reads these my confessions, may at thy Altar, remember thy servant Monaca, with Patricius her husband, &c.

St. Paulinus, that charitable Prelate, who sould himselfe to redeem others, cold not but have a great proportion of cha∣rity, for captive souls in the other world. No, he was not only ready to have turnd slave himself, to purchase their freedom, but he became an earnest solicitour to others in their behalf, for in a letter to Delphinus, alluding to the story of Lazarus, he beseeches him to have at least so much compassi∣on, as to convey now and then a

drop of water, wherewith to coole the tongues of poor souls, that lye burning in the church which is all a fire.

I am astonisht, when I call to mind the sad regrets of the people of Africa, when they saw some of their Priests drag'd away to Mar∣tyrdome. The Author says, they * 1.16 flocked about them in great num∣bers, and cryed out alas! if you leave us so, what will become of us, who must give us absolution for our sins? who must bury us, with the wonted ceremonies of of the church when we are dead? and who will take care to pray for our souls? such a general be∣lief they had in those dayes, that nothing is more to be desired in this world, then to leave those be∣hind us who will do their best, to helpe us out of our torments.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Age.
• * 1.2

  Liturgia utrinsque. St. Jacobi. St. Math. St. Marci. St. Clem. ep. 1. St. Dion. Eccles. hier. c. 7.
• * 1.3

  2. Age.
• * 1.4

  Tertul. de cor. mil. c. 3.
• * 1.5

  de mono∣gam. c. 10.
• * 1.6

  l. 8. in Rom. c. 11. 3d. age.
• * 1.7

  4^th. ••ge. Euseb. l. 4. c. 60. & 71
• * 1.8

  q. 34. ad Antiochum
• * 1.9

  Cyril. Hie∣ros. in Cate∣chesi 5. my∣stag.
• * 1.10

  Heresi 7 5.
• * 1.11

  S. Ambr. in Orat. in Fun. Theodosii.
• * 1.12

  Oratione in Fun. Valent. in fun. Satyr.
• * 1.13

  Conc. Carth 3. can.. 29.
• * 1.14

  5. Age.
• * 1.15

  Lib. 9. Con∣fesse c. 13.
• * 1.16

  Victor utic. l. 2. de per∣sec. Wandal