Now we come to our questions. Simeon said,1 Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace▪ so Paul saith, I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ: they doubted not as the Papists do, what should become of them after death: for one saith that he goes to Christ, & the other saith that he goes to peace: therefore it seems that Purgatory was not yet ⟨p. 531⟩found, when the just men went to peace. This is one of the fruits of a godly life, it hath hope (saith Solomon) in the end:2 in death it warranteth a man of life,3 & when the flesh saith, fear, and the serpent, despair, it makes the flesh crouch, and the serpent fly, & the soul rejoice while death is opening the prison door, that she may fly to her country from whence she came. Therefore what shall I say to Purgatory, if Paul go to Christ, & Simeon go to peace? Some say that it is in the air: some say that it is in the earth, some under the earth:4 some a little above hell. Thus Nebuchadnezzar cannot assoil his own dream. You must understand that Purgatory is like your painted Sepulchres, which are framed more for the living then for the dead: for you know that the locusts of Rome live by Trentals, and Dirges, and Masses for the dead, as the Silversmiths in Ephesus lived by Images:5 and therefore as they were loth that Images should go down: so they are loth that their Purgatory should be quenched: for it is the gainfullest lye in all Popery, for out of this lake issue their Masses and Dirges, and Trentals for the dead. They are said for the dead, but they make for the living: For the dead have no portion of all that is done under the sun. do what you will, say what you can, Masses, Dirges, or Trentals, they have no portion in ⟨p. 532⟩it, for they have received their reward already, and the tree lieth where it fell: yet these foolish virgins hope for oil of the wise virgins, and think they shall be payed for other mens labours, and alms, and trentals, & pilgrimages and Masses: as though they never read that the just shall live by his own faith, 6that he which believeth shall not go to judgement,7 but pass from death to life, that they that die in the Lord rest from their labours: how do they go presently into Paradise,8 if they stay at Purgatory, and fire & torments? Hath Christ satisfied for us, & must we now make satisfaction for our selves?9
Now wee come to our questions. Simeon said,1 Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace▪ so Paul saith, I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ: they doubted not as the Papists doe, what should become of them after death: for one saith that he goes to Christ, & the other saith that he goes to peace: therefore it seemes that Purgatorie was not yet ⟨p. 531⟩found, when the iust men went to peace. This is one of the fruits of a godly life, it hath hope (saith Salomon) in the end:2 in death it warranteth a man of life,3 & when the flesh saith, feare, and the serpent, despaire, it makes the flesh crouch, and the serpent flye, & the soule reioyce while death is opening the prison doore, that she may flie to her countrey from whence she came. Therefore what shall I say to Purgatorie, if Paul go to Christ, & Simeon goe to peace? Some say that it is in the ayre: some say that it is in the earth, some vnder the earth:4 some a little aboue hell. Thus Nabuchadnezzar cannot assoile his owne dreame. You must vnderstand that Purgatorie is like your paynted Sepulchers, which are framed more for the liuing then for the dead: for you know that the locusts of Rome liue by Trentals, and Dirges, and Masses for the dead, as the Siluersmiths in Ephesus liued by Images:5 and therefore as they were loth that Images should goe downe: so they are loth that their Purgatorie should bee quenched: for it is the gainfullest lye in all Poperie, for out of this lake issue their Masses and Dirges, and Trentals for the dead. They are sayd for the dead, but they make for the liuing: For the dead haue no portion of al that is done vnder the sun. doe what you will, say what you can, Masses, Dirges, or Trentals, they haue no portion in ⟨p. 532⟩it, for they haue receiued their reward alreadie, and the tree lieth where it fell: yet these foolish virgins hope for oyle of the wise virgins, and thinke they shall be paied for other mens labours, and almes, and trentals, & pilgrimages and Masses: as though they neuer read that the iust shall liue by his owne faith, 6
- 1Luk. 2. 29.
- 2Pro. 14. 36.
- 3Prou. 11. 7.
- 4Dan. 4. 1.
- 5Act. 10. 25.
- 6Gal. 3. 11.
- 7Joh. 5. 24.Ioh. 5. 24.
- 8Reu. 14. 15.
- 9Luk. 16.
