The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Use of Admonition, To embrace those days of light and Revelation, which God brings into the world. Do not dote upon thy own Opinions; thy old corrupt Doctrines and Worship: It's no longer night, the day appeareth. It's true, such a day is very terrible to men, who are wholly corrupted with their errors: As Mal. 3. The Prophet speaking of his coming to purify the sons of Levi, crieth out; Who may abide the day of his coming? It's as terrible (you heard) as the Day of Judgment to them. Certainly, to superstitious and idololatrical persons, the day of Reformation is a terrible day: They cannot abide the purity and holiness of it. Do not dispute, but wisely observe when God causeth such days to arise upon thee; thy blindness will be the more inexcusable.

Ʋse of Admonition, To embrace those daies of light and Revelation, which God brings into the world. Do not dote upon thy own Opinions; thy old corrupt Doctrines and Worship: It's no longer night, the day appeareth. It's true, such a day is very terrible to men, who are wholly corrupted with their errours: As Mal. 3. The Prophet speaking of his coming to purify the sons of Levi, cryeth out; Who may abide the day of his coming? It's as terrible (you heard) as the Day of Judgment to them. Certainly, to superstitious and idololatrical persons, the day of Reformation is a terrible day: They cannot abide the purity and holinesse of it. Do not dispute, but wisely observe when God causeth such daies to arise upon thee; thy blindnesse will be the more inexcuseable.

Because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is.

We now proceed to the manner, or Instrument, by which the Day of God shall declare it, and that is by fire. This is the place that hath raised much fire of contention, while Expositors differ about the interpretation of fire. Austin (as you have heard) thought it one of Paul's hard places, to be understood; and is so modest, that he professeth he had rather learn from others, then dictate any thing himself. This Text the Papists make the chief place for Purgatory; therefore Bellermine lib. 1. de Purga. cap. 5. is very large in the explication of this place, calling it as difficillimum for tilissimum, &c. one of the most difficult places of the whole Scripture, and yet most profitable, because the Catholics build their Ecclesiastical Doctrines on this place, viz That there are venial sins, and that there is Purgatory. Indeed, he doth in part Orthodoxly expound the fire in this verse, saying, Herein we do not dissent from Calvin and Martyr; but he would establish it on verse 15. Of which in its time. But it's well, that if there be such a fire, it's only of hay and stubble, and will not last long. By Purgatory fire, they mean a severe punishment, though not altogether so terrible as Hell; in which place they go, that are good for the main, but yet have many sins cleaving to them, from which they were not purged in this life. If you ask for a text of Scripture, some say, It cannot be proved by Scripture, but only it's a Church tradition: Others, as Bellarmine, labour to prove it by Scripture, but by very obscure texts, such as these are. Now, necessary things, to Faith or Salvation, are some where or other, laid down plainly in Scripture. But that this is only a probatory fire, and not a a purgatory, as they hold, appeareth by this clear Argument. They hold that only wicked actions shall come into the purgatory fire, but the Apostle makes all actions, good or bad, to come under this fire. The fire shall try every mans work. If it be gold