For first Christ teacheth that the faithful are made all pure in him, although there remain some part of infirmity in them, whereof they have need to be cleansed, for he manifestly saith: He that is washed, hath no need save to wash his feet: for he is clean altogether, John. 13. and. 15. And S. Paul teacheth the same, Romans. 7. and. 8. where he showeth, that many things are yet wanting in the faithful, which are not imputed unto them because of their faith in Christ. And therefore in the articles of our faith we confess, that we believe the remission of sins, the resurrection of the body, & the life everlasting. And as we believe so shall it be unto us: we believe our sins are forgiven us, ⟨p. 77⟩and therefore they are so. Furthermore when we say sins: we do not only mean the fault, but also the punishment due for the same. Wherefore when the sins for the which we are punished, are forgiven us, how then I pray you are we unclean? Or if sin be quite •akē away, why then should they suffer, as though they were not remitted. Wherefore if they had true faith in Christ, then shall they live for ever: but if they believed not, then are they damned. And this doth our faith teach us, which is confirmed, Isaiah. 53. and John. 3. 5. 6. and. •. Chapters. Secondly1 we blame in their doctrine, that they ascribe perfect purity to perfect repentance, which purity is only had by the death, blood, & merits of Christ. For if purity were had by our merits, then is Christ dead in vain. But Christ is not dead in vain, therefore purity cometh only by the grace of God, through faith in the death of Christ. Acts. 1•. Gala. 7. and. 1. John. 1. But how feeble an argument that is, which they say, that the souls requite ⟨image 88⟩with their punishments in the fire of Purgatory, which before they wanted, to perfect repentance, we have heretofore showed, when we entreated of Faith and Works, proving then those things which we both do and suffer, not to be worthy of that joy whereof in the life to come we are made partakers by Christ. Thirdly we blame in their doctrine of Purgatory, that they attribute not purity to the blood of Christ only, without the which yet nothing can purge us: but without all authority of Gods word, they feign unto us I know not what kind of fire, to the which they without all shame attribute our purging.
For firste Christe teacheth that the faithfull are made all pure in hym, althoughe there remaine some parte of infirmitie in them, whereof they haue néede to be clensed, for he manifestly saithe: He that is vvashed, hath no nede saue to vvashe his feete: for he is cleane altogether, John. 13. and. 15. And S. Paul teacheth the same, Romanes. 7. and. 8. where he sheweth, that many things are yet wanting in the faithfull, which are not imputed vnto them bicause of their faith in Christe. And therfore in ye articles of our faith we cōfesse, that we belèeue ye remission of sinnes, the resurrectiō of the body, & the life euerlasting. And as we beleue so shal it be vnto vs: we beléeue our sinnes are forgiuen vs, ⟨p. 77⟩and therfore they are so. Furthermore when we say sinnes: we doo not onely meane the faulte, but also the punishemente due for the same. Wherefore when the sinnes for the whiche we are punished, are forgiuen vs, howe then I pray you are we vncleane? Or if sin be quite •akē away, why then should they suffer, as though they were not remitted. Wherefore if they had true fayth in Chryst, then shall they liue for euer: but if they beléeued not, then are they damned. And this dothe our fayth teach vs, whiche is confirmed, Esai. 53. and John. 3. 5. 6. and. •. Chapters. Secondly1 we blame in their doctrine, that they ascribe perfecte puritie to perfecte repentaunce, whiche puritie is onely had by the death, bloud, & merites of Christ. For if puritie were had by our merites, then is Christ dead in vayne. But Chryst is not dead in vayne, therefore puritie commeth onely by the grace of God, throughe faythe in the deathe of Chryst. Actes. 1•. Gala. 7. and. 1. John. 1. But howe féeble an argument that is, which they say, that the soules requite ⟨image 88⟩with their punishmentes in the fire of Purgatorie, which before they wanted, to perfecte repentaunce, wée haue héeretofore shewed, when wée entreated of Faythe and Workes, prouing then those things which we both do and suffer, not to bée worthy of that ioye wherof in the life to come we are made partakers by Chryste. Thirdly wée blame in their doctrine of Purgatorie, that they attribute not puritie to the bloude of Chryste onely, without the which yet nothing can purge vs: but without all authoritie of Gods worde, they fayne vnto vs I knowe not what kinde of fire, to the which they without all shame attribute our purging.
- 1We are not counted pure for our own works sake.
