A14233:41
A discourse of the religion anciently professed
A discourse of the religion anciently professed by the Irish and British. By James Usher Archbishop of Armagh, and Primate of IrelandA discourse of the religion anciently professed by the Irish and Brittish. By Iames Vssher Archbishop of Armagh, and Primate of Ireland
London: printed by Robert for Partners of the Irish Stock, 1631London: printed by Robert for Partners of the Irish Stocke, 1631
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.
The Grecians allege this for one of their arguments against Purgatory: that whereas ftheir Fathers had delivered unto them many visions and dreams and other wonders concerning the everlasting punishment, wherewith the wicked should be tormented in Hell; yet none of them had declared any thing concerning a purgatory temporary fire. Belike the Doctor was afraid, ⟨p. 23⟩that we would conclude upon the same ground; that S. Patrick was careful to plant in mens minds the belief of Heaven and Hell, but of Purgatory taught them never a word. And sure I am, that in the book ascribed unto him, De tribus habitaculis, (which is to be seen in his Majesties Library) there is no mention of any other place after this life, but of these two only. I will lay down here the beginning of that treatise; and leave it to the judgement of any indifferent man, whether it can well stand with that which the Romanists teach concerning Purgatory at this day. gThere be three habitations under the power of Almighty God: the first, the lowermost, and the middle. The highest whereof is called the Kingdom of God, or the Kingdom of Heaven, the lowermost is termed Hell, the middle is named the present World, or the circuit of the earth. The extremes whereof are altogether contrary one to another: (for what fellowship can there be betwixt light and darkness, betwixt Christ and Belial?) but the middle hath some similitude with the extremes. For in this world there is a mixture of the bad and of the good together. whereas in the Kingdom of God there are none bad, but all good: but in Hell there are none good, but all bad. And both those places are supplied out of the middle. For of the men of this world, ⟨p. 24⟩some are lifted up to Heaven, others are drawn down to Hell▪ namely, like are joined unto like, that is to say, good to good, and bad to bad: just men to just Angels, wicked men to wicked Angels; the servants of God to God, the servants of the Devil to the Devil. The blessed are called to the Kingdom prepared for them from the beginning of the world: the cursed are driven into the everlasting fire that is prepared for the Devil and his angels, Thus far there.