A01273:156
A disputacio[n] of purgatory madeA disputacio[n] of purgatorye made
A disputacio[n] of purgatory made by Joh[a]n Frith which is divided in to three books. The first book is an answer unto Rastell, which goeth about to prove purgatory by natural philosophy. The second book answereth unto Sir Thomas More, which laboureth to prove purgatory by scripture. The third book maketh answer unto my lord of Rochester which most leaneth unto the doctorsA disputacio[n] of purgatorye made by Ioh[a]n Frith which is deuided in to thre bokes. The first boke is an answere vnto Rastell, which goeth aboute to proue purgatorye by naturall phylosophye. The seconde boke answereth vnto Sir Thomas More, which laboureth to proue purgatorye by scripture. The thirde boke maketh answere vnto my lorde of Rochestre which most leaneth vnto the doctoures
Antwerp : S. Cock, 1531?
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Blessed are the deed which dye in the lord ⟨image 38⟩§50from hence forward / ye truly sayeth the spirit / that they may rest from their labours. But their works follow with them. This text they use in their soul masses as though it made for1 purgatory. But surely me thinketh that it maketh much against them. For let us enquire of all the […] and fautors of purgatory / wh• there the souls that must be prayed for / are departed in the lord or not? And they must needs answer that thy are departed in the lord / for the unfaithful which dye not in the lord must not be prayed for. And therefore must they be upright Christen souls which are tormented / for the other are all damned. Now saith the text te that all such deed as dye in the lord are blessed: but what blessedness were that to broil in purgatory? And if they would here feign a gloss (as their manner is when they are in a strait ever to seek a starting hole) and say that they are blessed because they are in a good hope / although they have not yet the rest / but must suffer before in purgatory: that evasion will not •his text suffer / for the text sayeth that they rest and are in peace as Isaiah also sayeth in the. […] 2that the righteous (and every faithful man is righteous in the sight of god as we have often proved before) when he departeth resteth in peace3 as in a bed. And sapiencie. iij. it is said that the righteous souls are in peace: And so is it not possible that there should be such a painful purgatory.
Blessed are the deed which dye in the lorde ⟨image 38⟩§50from hence forwarde / yee trulye saieth the sprete / that they may rest from their laboures. But their workes folowe with thē. This texte they vse in their soulemasses as though it made for1