A07146:1073
The relics of Rome containing all such matters of religion, as have in times…The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times…
The relics of Rome containing all such matters of religion, as have in times past been brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherents: faithfully gathered out of the most faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and now newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singular profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times past bene brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherentes: faithfully gathered out of the moste faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and nowe newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singuler profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.
London: printed by John Day, 1563London: printed by Iohn Day, 1563
Title page typeset from the transcription.
The Relics of Rome. › Of Purgatory.The Reliques of Rome. › Of Purgatorye.
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.
Where this place of Purgatory is: none of our purgatory rakers or proctors thereof is able to declare.1 Diverse of them have diverse opinions in this behalf: as it is an hard thing for liars and taleforgers to agree, in all points among themselves, so alone is the truth perfect and constant, and without verities or discord. Some of them affirm and say, that it is in a certain place even next unto hell under the earth. Some hold that it is not nigh unto hell, (for then might it seem that such as are in Purgatory, should never ascend and come unto heaven,) forasmuch (as we read in the Gospel of Luke)2 that there is so great a space between them that are above and them ⟨image 227⟩that are beneath, that they which are above, can not come down to them ye are beneath: neither can they that are beneath, come up to them that are above.) But above in the air, yea and that in torrida zona, because that after they be sufficiently purged,3 they may be nigh and go straightways unto heaven. Some other say, that they be neither beneath near unto Hell, nor yet above nigh unto Heaven, but according to the dispensation and appointment of god, diverse souls are diversly placed, some here, some there, some in this place, some in that place: some beneath some above, some in the middest, according to their deserts, but all suffering pains either more or less, till sufficient satisfaction be made for their sins either by themselves in pains suffering, or else by other in Mass singing, in alms giving, in watching, in praying, in pilgrimage going, in the popes pardons buying, &c. The tales and lies, which the papists have invented concerning the places of souls after their departure, is to much wonderful and marvellous. In Longobardica historia: ⟨p. 199⟩in Legenda aurea, in vitis patrum, in the Festival, &c. shalt thou find examples plentifully: which books in times paste were better known and more preached to the simple people, than the true and pure word of God.
Where thys place of Purgatorye is: none of oure purgatorye rakers or proctoures thereof is able to declare.