Gods full discharge of sin excludeth all remainder of punishment to be endured in this world, or elsewhere by way of satisfaction for the sin forgiven. For it any satisfaction remain to be done, the discharge is not full. Derogatory therefore to the absolute fullness of Gods discharge is the doctrine of our Adversaries in this point. For they hold that after sin is forgiven,1 there may remain a guilt of punishment to be satisfied for, sometimes in this life, sometimes in another life, namely in Purgatory, sometimes in both.2 But by such punishments for sin, sin would again be called to mind and memory, to view and sight, to reckoning and account, which cannot stand with the forementioned Scripture phrases of not remembering, not imputing, covering, casting behind the back, casting into the bottom of the sea, blotting out, &c. We deny not but that Saints whose sins are forgiven, may notwithstanding be punished in this life (as for the fiction of Purgatory it deserveth rather to be hissed at, then by arguments refuted) but withal we say, that those punishments are neither expiatory, nor satisfactory, nor yet vindictive for sin. If they were, Christs expiation, satisfaction, and suffering might be thought insufficient. The punishments which are inflicted on them whose sins are forgiven,3 are as a medicinable corrosive, but not a judicial revenge.
GOds full discharge of sinne excludeth all remainder of punishment to be endured in this world, or elsewhere by way of satisfaction for the sin forgiuen. For it any satisfaction remaine to be done, the discharge is not full. Derogatory therefore to the absolute fulnesse of Gods discharge is the doctrine of our Aduersaries in this point. For they hold that after sinne is forgiuen,1 there may remaine a guilt of punishment to be satisfied for, sometimes in this life, sometimes in another life, namely in Purgatorie, sometimes in both.2 But by such punishments for sinne, sinne would againe be cald to mind and memorie, to view and sight, to reckoning and account, which cannot stand with the forementioned Scripture phrases of not remembring, not imputing, couering, casting behinde the backe, casting into the bottome of the sea, blotting out, &c. We denie not but that Saints whose sinnes are forgiuen, may notwithstanding be punished in this life (as for the fiction of Purgatorie it deserueth rather to be hissed at, then by arguments refuted) but withall we say, that those punishments are neither expiatorie, nor satisfactorie, nor yet vindictiue for sinne. If they were, Christs expiation, satisfaction, and suffering might be thought insufficient. The punishments which are inflicted on them whose sins are forgiuen,3 are as a medicinable corsiue, but not a iudiciall reuenge.
- 1Concil. Trid. §. 6. cap. 14. & §. 14. cap. 12.
- 2Bellar. de Purg. lib. 2. cap. 1. & 9. & de Poenit. l. 4. cap. 2.
- 3Dolor medicinalis, non sententia poenalis. Aug. in Psal. 138.
