I Suppose that Mary,1 Martha, Peter & Paul prayed unto God, but yet not as our adversaries teach us to pray for the dead: that is, that God would be merciful to their souls, and deliver them from the fire of purgatory, and receive them into eternal life: but they prayed, that unto the glory of god they might be restored to this life. And do they think that Lazarus,2 Eutiches and Tabitha were in the fire of purgatory, and after their death suffered prayers? I suppose they dare not affirm it. And therefore they bring us such examples as serve not their purpose, but are only to blear the eyes of the simple. But if they say, they were in Purgatory, then I pray you, how prove they the same. But some of them ⟨p. 82⟩affirm & say. If Lazarus were in hell, then could he not be delivered, for in hell there is no redemption: but if he were in heaven, then had he wrong to be brought again to this earth of misery. And here therefore they conclude, that there must needs be a third or middle place. To these I answer: first that hereby they have not proved this middle place to be purgatory, but that it may be as well some other place only known unto God. Secondly I say that their whole argument is false & vain. Lazarus (as the scripture there techeth) was Christs friend, and therefore his solo was received into the bosom of Abraham after his death, like as we may see in the other Lazarus, of whom Luke speaketh. ca. •6. Neither had he any injury offered him, when his soul (to the setting forth of Gods glory) was again coupled to his body: for all creatures do of right and duty serve their creator. The Lord said unto the these hanging on the cross, This day shalt thou be with me in paradise, & yet the. 3. day he rose again, & did not thereby suffer any wrong. &c. ⟨image 93⟩Truly I think that if these men which are called the Spirituality, were compelled to bestow so much money for the dead upon the laypeople, as they for this matter do receive of them, their fire of Purgatory would not burns so hot, and their prayers would come down to a lower price. But if this doctrine of Purgatory be so necessary: how cometh it then to pass I beseech you, that the Caste Churches in Grecia did never receive it, nor know of it, until the time of Eugenius the fourth, at which time very shortly after, Constantinople was taken by the Turk.
I Suppose that Mary,1 Martha, Peter & Paule prayed vnto God, but yet not as our aduersaries teache vs to pray for the dead: that is, that God would be merciful to their soules, and delyuer them from the fire of purgatorie, and receiue them into eternall life: but they prayed, that vnto the glory of god they might be restored to this life. And do they thinke that Lazarus,2 Eutiches and Tabitha were in the fire of purgatorie, and after their death suffered prayers? I suppose they dare not affirme it. And therfore they bring vs such examples as serue not their purpose, but are onely to blere the eyes of the simple. But if they say, they were in Purgatory, then I pray you, howe proue they the same. But some of them ⟨p. 82⟩affirme & say. If Lazarus were in hell, then could he not be deliuered, for in hell there is no redemption: but if he were in heauen, then had he wrong to be brought agayne to this earth of miserie. And héere therfore they conclude, that there muste néedes bée a thirde or midle place. To these I answer: first yt hereby they haue not proued this midle place to be purgatorie, but that it may be as wel some other place only knowē vnto God. Secondly I say that their whole argument is false & vaine. Lazarus (as the scripture there techeth) was Christes frende, and therfore his soulo was receiued into the bosome of Abraham after his death, like as we may sée in the other Lazarus, of whome Luke speketh. ca. •6. Neither had he any iniury offred him, when his soule (to ye setting forth of Gods glory) was agayne coupled to his body: for all creatures doo of right and dutie serue their creator. The Lord said vnto the these hanging on the crosse, This day shalt thou be with me in paradise, & yet the. 3. day he rose agayn, & dyd not thereby suffer any wrong. &c. ⟨image 93⟩Truely I thinke that if these men which are called the Spiritualtie, were compelled tobestow so much money for the dead vpon the laypeople, as they for thys matter doo receyue of them, their fire of Purgatorie woulde not burns so hotte, and their prayers would come downe to a lower pryce. But if thys doctrine of Purgatorie bée so necessarie: howe commeth it then to passe I beséeche you, that the Caste Churches in Grecia dydde neuer receyue it, nor knowe of it, vntill the tyme of Eugenius the fourth, at whiche tyme very shortely after, Constantinople was taken by the Turke.
- 1Howe and wherefore the apostles did pray.Hovve and vvherfore the apostles did pray.
- 2Where Lazarus was that time he was dead.Where Lazarus vvas that time he vvas dead.
