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

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 ⟨p. 178⟩or precious stones, it must be tried by fire, as well as hay or stubble; whereas, purgatory fire is only for hay and stubble. And this sufficiently clears the place from any such corrupt gloss, which would build hay and stubble, even from that very text that threatens fire to such Doctrine.

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 Expositours 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 Catholiques 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 sinnes 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