The Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Divided into three parts, dialogue wiseThe Christian disputations, by Master Peter Viret. Deuided into three partes, dialogue wise

Theophilus. Sith then that hell was for the reprobate, it followeth then necessarily, that the souls of the elect should go into Purgatory. If it he so, to what end serveth the Limb? For you ¹do say, that all the Patriarchs, Prophets and true ⟨image 226⟩faithful, which are departed out of this world before the death and passion of Jesus Christ, were there kept and detained, and they could not go into Paradise, until such time as Jesus Christ had satisfied for them. Wherefore I do conclude, according to your doctrine, either that the Limb and Purgatory were all one place and lodging, or else that the one of them two was void and superstitious: or that there was but one, or for to speak the truth, neither the one nor the other. For if the Limb were for to receive the faithful that dyed in the faith of the promise made unto Abraham, what need was there any more of Purgatory? bad they not Purgatory sufficient enough in the Limbs? Were they not sufficiently tormented to be excluded from Paradise, and deprived from the joys thereof, and from the fruition of the glory of GOD, as you do affirm? For what more greater torment can a faithful man have then to be deprived from such a good thing? That is not only a Purgatory, but a very hell.

Theophilus. Sith then that hell was for the reprobate, it followeth then necessarily, that the soules of the elect shoulde goe into Purgatorye. If it hée so, to what ende serueth the Limbe? For you ¹doe saye, that all the Patriarches, Prophetes and true ⟨image 226⟩faythfull, whiche are departed out of this worlde before the death and passion of Iesus Christe, were there kepte and deteyned, and they coulde not goe into Paradise, vntyll such time as Iesus Christe had satysfied for them. Wherefore I doe conclude, accordinge to your doctrine, eyther that the Limbe and Purgatorye were all one place and lodginge, or else that the one of them two was voyde and supers•uous: or that there was but one, or for to speake the truth, neyther the one nor the other. For if the Limbe were for to receiue the faythfull that dyed in the fayth of the promyse made vnto Abraham, what néede was there anye more of Purgatorye? bad they not Purgatorye suffycient inough in the Limbes? Were they not sufficientlye tormented to bée excluded from Paradise, and depryued from the ioyes thereoff, and from the fruytion of the glorye of GOD, as you doe affirme? For what more greater torment can a faythfull man haue then to bee depryued from suche a good thinge? That is not onely a Purgatorye, but a very hell.