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

thee, against all that that thou canst allege of the ancient Doctors, in the favour of Purgatory. Yet nevertheless the better ¹to vanquish and pull thee down. I will yet show forth unto thee some sentences of the most ancient Doctors. Mark what Tertullian saith. It seemeth unto every one that is wise, which have heard sometime spoken of the fields Ehseus, that it hath some local determination which hath ⟨p. 195⟩been called Abraham's bosom, for to receive the souls ²of his children, and that the same region or country is not celestial, but it is yet never the less more higher then hell, in which the souls of the righteous do rest, until such time as the consummation of the things, restoreth the resurrection of all men, through perfect reward. I do not praise that which Tertullian hath determined of the place, without witness of the Scripture, but I ³think it a very dangerous thing to define of such things without witness of the same, and I had rather stay my self upon the sentence of saint Augustine, which saith, that it should be very good, that an uncertain thing of which not only the Scriptures do make no mention of it, but do speak the contrary, that one should affirm nothing: And allegeth the sentence of Seneca, saying: Thou oughtest to affirm nothing of uncertain things, but keep thy judgement inoerteyne. Also Tertullian propounded not the same, but as an advise, not as a biffinitive sentence, and an article of faith. Yet nevertheless, although that he said it, that sentence serveth me, for to show unto thee that it was no question, in Tertullian's time, of Purgatory, after the manner as you have taken it. For he putteth but one place indifferently for all the elect, and children of Abraham, which have been and shall be until the latter resurrection. It well appeareth, that he was of opinion, that they were not yet in the celestial habitations and chiefest felicity, but yet nevertheless he assigneth unto them Abraham's bosom, in which all the souls of the faithful do rest generally, without putting any difference between those of the ancient fathers, and ours, nor making mention of pain nor any Purgatory. In like manner Ireneus, who was next the time of the Apostles, is not of an opinion very much contrary and differing. For