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The major is evident, by the Churches decla∣ration of her own meaning in it.
The minor is proved; Thou also in the bloud of thy Testament hast let forth thy prisoners out of the lake wherein there is not water, Zach. 9. 11. (He speaks of Christ) He shall sit as purging fire, and shall purge the sons of Le∣v••, Mal. c. 3.
The work of every man shall be manifest, for the day of our Lord will declare it, because it will be revealed in fire, and the work of every one of what sort it is the fire shall tri••; if any mans work abide, he shall receive a reward (as Innocents, and Martyrs, and perfect Chri∣stians do, who go immediately to heaven) if any ones worke burne, he shall suffer loss, but him∣self shall be saved, yet so as by fire, 1 Cor. 3. 13. 14. 15. See a purging and punishing, yet saving fire: Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilest thou art on the way (in this life) with him, lest thy adversary deliver thee to the Judg, and the Judge deliver thee to the Goaler, and thou be cast into prison, Amen, I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence, till thou repay the last far∣thing, S. Matth. 5. 27. (A place of payment, and yet delivery at length.) Some sins shall neither be forgiven in this world, nor in the world to come, S. Matth. 12. 32. Therefore some, ac∣cording to our Saviour, are forgiven in the world to come, to wit, venial sins.
That the guilt of temporal punishment may and doth somtimes remain after the guilt of sin is pardoned, and the eternal punish∣ment remitted, is proved by these examples of holy Scripture. First by Adam, who was cast out of paradise for ever, and had his whole po∣sterity punished with concupiscence, death, and many other miseries, after his sin of
disobedience was forgive•• him, by meanes of that only sin. Secondly, By David, whose ••••n of adultery was punished with the death of his child, after his sin had been remitted, •• Kings 24. Thirdly, By Mary, Moses his sister▪ who after her sin had been forgiven her, was injoyn'd a penance for it of seven dayes, Num. 12. O King (saith Daniel) redeem thy sins with alms▪ c. 4. Do ye the worthy fruits of penance, S. Luke 3. 8.
IN the second Age Tertullian; Seeing we un∣derstand that prison which the Gospel demon∣strate•• to be places below, and the last f••rthing we interpret every small ••ault there to be punished, by the delay of the resurrection, no man will doubt but that the soul doth recompense somthing in the places below. L. de anima c. 58.
In the third Age S. Cyprian; It is one thing, being cast into prison, not to go out thence till he pay the utmost fa••thing, another, presently to receive the reward of faith, one thing being afflicted with long pains for sins to be mended, and purged long with fire, another to have purged all sins by suffer∣ings. Epist. 52. ad Anto••••.
In the fourth Age S. Ambrose; But whereas S. Paul says, yet so a•• by fire, he shews indeed that he shal be saved, but yet shall suffer the punish∣ment
of fire; that, being purged by fire, he may be saved, and not tormented for ever, as the infi∣dels are with everlasting fire. in c. 3. Epist. ad Cor.
In the same Age S. Hierome; This is that which he saith, thou shalt not go out of prison till thou shalt pay even thy little sins. in c 5 Matth:
In the fifth Age S. Augusti••; Neither could it be truly said of some, That they are nei∣ther forgiven in this life, nor in the life to come, unless there were some, who though they are not forgiven in this life, yet should be in the life to come l. 20. de civit. Dei c. 24 & l. 21. c. 13. And again, With that transitory fire whereof the Apo∣stle said, He shal be saved, yet so as by fire, not capital, but little sins are purged. Serm. 41. de Sanctis. And in a third place, He shal be safe, yet so as by fire: And because it is said, He shal be safe, that fire is contemned, yet that fire shal be more grievous then whatever a man can suffer in this life. Purge me, Lord, in this life, and make me such an one as shal not need that mending fire. in Psal. 37.
The Council of Sens has defined, That the fault by penance being taken away, there often re∣mains the guilt of temporal punishment, &c. which •••• to be purged by fruits of worthy penance, De∣cret. 12. An. Dom. 1431.
The Council of Florence has defined, That
such as shall die truly penitent in the charity of God, before they have satisfied for their commissi∣ons and omissions by worthy fruits of penance, their soules are purged with purging pains. Sess. ult. An. Dom. 1431.
Ob. THe impiety of the impious man shall not hurt him, at what day soever he shall be converted from his impiety.
Answ. It shall not hurt him, so as to ex∣clude him from grace, and everlasting life, I grant; but may make him guilty of temporal punishment.
Ob. If the tree fall to the North, or to the South, or in what place soever it shall fall, there it shall lie.
Answ. North and South may signifie Hell and Purgatory (for ought you know) and then nothing against us, but if you will needs have it signifie Hell and Heaven, yet is not Purgato∣ry excluded by that text; for it allowes of o∣ther places, Or in what place soever it fall, &c.
Ob. Blessed are the dead who die in our Lord▪ from henceforth now saith the spirit, they rest from their labours, for their works follow them, Apoc. 14.
Answ. This may be understood of Martyrs onely, who have no Purgatory. Calvin ex∣pounds,
Who die in our Lord; for our Lords cause; but it is rather spoken of the day of judgment, when it is said from henceforth: and after that there shal be no Purgatory.
Ob. When he shal give sleep to his Beloved, be∣hold the inheritance of our Lord Psal. 126.
Answ. That may be meant of the peculiarly Beloved, who need no Purgatory; but S. Au∣gustine expounds it of the general Resurrecti∣on, after which Purgatory shal cease.
Ob. Come O ye blessed▪ &c. and go ye accursed, &c. conclude all.
Answ. A•• relating to the day of judgment, of which they are spoken I grant it; as rela∣ting to the houre of death, I deny it; all do not presently either possess heaven, or enter hell.
Ob. S. Augustine sayes, Beware brethren, let no man delude you, there are but two places.
Answ. There is not any third place of e∣verlasting rest for infants, who die without Baptism, (as the Pelagians held) I grant: There is not any third place of temporal pu∣nishment, I deny; and so does S. Augustine in several places above cited.