mount â—alvary which Image in the reign of Tiberius the Emperour was brought to Rome and there honourably reserv'd and shew'd to the people every munday and thursday Several other Images of Christ were made even by those who liv'd in his one time as for example there was one made by the woman whom he heal'd of the bloody flux which was set up in the city Penades where several miracles were wrought upon the account of it as Eusebius in his 7 book c. 14th Sozomenus in his 5th book c. 20 and Damascenus in his first book de Imaginibus do relate for a certain herbe which grew at the foot of that Image when it came to be so high that it cou'd touch the hem of the Image it receiv'd vertue to heal all kind of distempers and as Sozomenus testifies when Juliaâ— the Emprour order'd to fall it down and to place his own Image in stead of it his was immediatly consum'd by fire from heaven which miracle the Pagans seeing most impiously by the instinct of the divel brake our Saviours Image not considering that he who caus'd their Emprours Image to be burn'd might by the same power cause also fire to come down from heauen in order to burn both themselves and thier Emprour too only that his divine goodness and clemency had more patience to expect their conversion of which the Emprours Image was uncapable another Image of Christ was made by Nicodemus which a Christian 43. years after it was made carri'd from Jerusalem to Berith a Village in Syria where in deâ—ision of our Saviour's Passion it was by the Jewes crown'd whipp'd pierc'd c vs'd it with all manner of villany as they us'd our Saviour himself but not with out great miracle for as they pierc'd it there issu'd out of it aboundance of water and blood by which divers maladyes were cur'd and several Jewes conver ted seeing these miracles as Athanasius in his book de Passione Imaginis Domini c. 4th and Gregorie of Tours de gloria martyrum c. 21. do relate To which examples may be also added those Images of our blessed Lady one made by S. Luke which is to be seen at this very day in the Church of Loretta in Italiâ— and an other of hers whâ—ch Eudoxia sent from Jerusalem to Pulcheria which shee plac'd near her own seat in the Church that shee built in Constantinople as Nicepherus writes in his 14th book c. 2. Iâ— might Produce several other Images which were made worshipp'd by those of the Primitive Church If I had not suppos'd that any impartial reader might plainly perceive by what I have already produc'd that the vse of Images is no new Doctrine iâ— the holy Catholick Church and consequently that their worship and veneration is not prohibited by the second commandment as my adversary and his adherence do falsly teach for that which is prohibited by this commandment and also by the scriâ—ture in several places is to worship or adore any creature with that honour which is due to the Almighty God as formerly the Gentiles did when they made Idols and false Gods which afterwards they worshipp'd and ador'd even as if every one of them had been a true and an Eternal God wherefore they are alwayes believ'd by those of the Church of Rome to have been Idolators impious for soe doing which they wou'd not judge if themselves were guilty of the same crime or of any other of that kind therefore the worship which is peculiar to God is commonly call'd by the divines Cultus â—atriae that is to say a soveraign honour and the Church of Rome most strictly forbids all her members to give it to any creature therefore the honour veneration which shee alowes to be given to Images is not that of Latria or severaign as all the Fathers of the 7th General Council do declare in the 7th Action but it is an inferior kind of veneration call'd relative that is to say that they are worshipp'd in as much as they represent unto us Godly thingâ— and are instruments apt to move the people to thinke of what our Saviour the Saints have suffer'd done in this world so that they serve in a maÌ„ner as books to those who cannot read excites the people to great devotion pietv which other wise wou'd not have inter'd into their thoughts or imaginations â—o that the reader may take notice how uncharitable the pretended reformers do continually preach to their poor ignorant flock that the Papists are Idolators and impious by worshipping graven Images as Gods that thereby they might render the holy Catholick Church odious and abominable to the very simple people fearing that any of theâ— wou'd embrace her principles oâ— offer to find out the real verity of her uncorrâ—pted doctrine Chap. 9 Proving the invocation of Angels and Saints to be lawfull â— practis'd by those of the Primitive Church The Angels and Saints his a special care of us and we receive several benefits by their assistance and merits therefore it is lawfull to invocate them that they may interced for us to God the antecedent is manifest by the following texâ—s And the Angâ—â— of God call'd tâ— Hagaâ— ouâ— of heaven and said unto her what aileth thâ— Hagaâ— fear not for God hath haâ—â— the voice of the child Genesis c. 17. and the Angel of the Lord call'd unto him out of heaven and said Abraham Abraham lay not their hand upon the child neither do thou any thing unto him for I know that thou fearest God Genesis c. 22. v. 11. 12. The Angel which redeem'd me from all evil blesse these boyes Genesis c. 48. v. 16. Then the Angel of the Lord went forth smote in the camp of the Assytian an hundred and fouâ— score five thousand Isaiah c. 37. v. 36. Then the Angel of the Lord Answer'd said O Lord of hosts how long will thou not have mercy in Jerusalem and â—n the cityes of Juda against which thou hast indignation these three score and ten years Zechariah c. 1. v. 12. Michael one of the Princes come to help me there is none that holdeth with me in these things but Michael Daniel â— 10. v 13. 21. But while he thought â—â— these things behol'd the Angel of the Lord appear'd unto him in a dream saying Ioseph son of David fear noâ— to take unto thee Mary they wife for that which is conceiv'd in her is of the holy Ghost Matt. c. 1. v. 20. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto ye that in heaven their Angels do alwayes behold the face of my Father which is in heaven Matt. c. 18. v. 1â— And four twenty elders felldown before the lambe having every one of them harps and golden vials full of odours which are the prayers of the Saints Revelations c. 5 v. 8. and c. 8. v. 3. 4. and an other Angel came stood at the altar having a
account to impose the proof upon the lawfull possessors but among all methinks it seems very unfair for any that stiles himself of the church of England to deny this principle of lawfull possession since their own best writers do much insist upon it to make out their right against thoses secttaryes who like new swarms separated from the stock As the Presbyterians Anabaptists Quakers sosinians c. But to come to the present point let us see the arrogant challange of this proud Goliah which runs to this purpose Whosoever is deserious to find and embrace a church where the old incorrupted principles of christianity are taught such doctrines only as were maintain'd by the ancient and pure church even of Rome for upward of 300 years after christ let him embrace the present church of England where the said principles are duely profess'd the old church of Rome and the present church of England being the same in principles whereas the doctrines which the presnt church of Rome has added over and above what the church of England maintains wherein the said churches do now differ were never maintain'd by the said ancient church of Rome but newly brought-in some eight or nine hundred years others seven the most of theÌ„ 600 years after christ In justification of which charge we alwayes have and still do bid defiance to any Roman catholick liviÌ„g to bring any sufficient sentence out of any old doctor or father or out of any old council or out of the holy scriptures or any one example of the primitive church whereby it may be clearly and plainly prov'd 1 That there was any privat masse in the whole world at that time for the space of six huÌ„dred years after christ 2 That the communion was administred unto the people under one kind 3 That the people then had their common prayes in a toÌ„gue which they understood not 4 That the bishop of Rome was then call'd the universal â—ishop or the head of the universal church 5 That then the people were taught to believe that christs body is really or substantially in the sacrament 6. That then the people did fall down and worship it with godly honour 7. That in the sacrament after the words of consecration there reman only the accidents shew without the substance of bread and wine 8. That whosoever had then said the sacrament is only but a figure a pledge a token or remembrance of christs body had therefore been judg'd for an here tick 9. That images were then sett up in churches to the intent that the people might worship them 10. That then the people did invocate saints or pray to them 11. That then the people believ'd that there is a third place which commonly the Papists call purgatory 12 That then the people were forbiddeÌ„ to read the word of god in their own tongue If these thiÌ„gs be as we alleage it follows that whosoever maiÌ„taiÌ„e the aforsaid abus'd principles are not of the aÌ„cieÌ„t church of Rome but only of the preseÌ„t corrupted church of Rome if our allegatioÌ„s be false we desire to be disprov'd Before I come to any particular answer to the several points of this extravagant challange which the mans ignorance or vanity makes him belive unanswerable I will only thus in general retort his own argument upon himself that J may form his discurse in the true and right method Whosoever desires to find and embtace a church wherein the old incorrupted principles of christiaÌ„ity are taught and such doctrines only as were maintain'd by the ancient and pure church even of Rome for upwards of 300 years after christ let him embrace the present church of Rome wherein the said principles are duely profess'd the old and the present church of Rome being still the same in principles whereas the doctrines of those who now call themselues the church of England and wherein the said churehes do now differ were never maiÌ„tain'd by the aÌ„cieÌ„t church of Rome but rather impiously brought in by a series of hereticks who for those very doctrines were from time to time coÌ„demn'd by many general national and provincial councils and also by the most eminent fathers and doctors of the catholick church in those respective ages whose authorityes and very words I will hereafter produce in my answer to the several points heré controverted that every impartial reader may see how all the aspersions and calumnies rais'd by our pretended reformers against the church of Rome are but meer fictions without any toserable ground reason or authority In the mean time I think it is very plain that my retortion ought to take place before my adversaryes precaâ—ious sort of discourse and consequently that such a challange belogs properly to the church of Rome and not to any upstart sectary whatsoever for as J hinted before it is a principle in all well govern'd common-wealths that a peacable possessor ought not to be disturb'd untill by manifest proof he is convicted to be an unlawfull possessor but the church of Rome which undenyably was a peaceable possessor of thé true faith for the first 300 or as my adversary is willing to allows for six hundred years after christ was never convicted by any competent authority or proof that ever she fell from the true faith of Jesus christ therefore it necessarily follows that shee must be still suppos'd to retain the same true faith to this very day The major is manifest and a maxim in law and the minor J prove thus If the church of Rome could at any time be juridically condemn'd or declar'd to have fallen from the true faith it must have been either by some immediate revelation or commission from God as the written law was abrogated to make Place for the law of grace and as the high Priesthood was transfer'd from the house of Heli to an other family or by some other Church call'd and summon'd by the inspiration of the holy Ghost in some National or general Council as the Arians Macedonians Nestorians Pelagians Eutychians and many other Heresies were condemn'd in former times but neither of those can be alleag'd in the case propos'd the first is not so much as pretended nor can the later be alleag'd by any man in his wits for no National or General Council no nor any old Chronicles Registers Ecclesiastâ—al or prophane Histories makes tention that ever the Roman Church fell from the true faith so that if we except the inconsiderable dregs of coÌ„demn'd Heresies which lay hid in obscurâ— corners of the earth there waâ— no Church or society of ChristiaÌ„s extaÌ„t in the sixth seveÌ„th eighthâ— ninth c. Centuryes but were aâ—â— in communion with the Church oâ— Rome in their respective ages all the eminent Doctors Fatherâ— of those times seriously exposâ— her cause as the cause of Chrisâ— wherefore either the Church Rome kept the true faith inviolably all that while or Christ haâ— no true Church upon earth whicâ— is
the acts of the Apostles â— 5. v. 15. and c 19 v. 11. and St. Paul in his Epist to the Philippians â— 2. v. 10. commands us to honour the name of Jesus which is only asign or Image of our redemptioÌ„ as the name Iehoâ—a is of our creation which was in so great honour with the Jewes that the common people durst not utter it no nor the very Priests but only in the time of sacrifice and solemne benediction as Philâ— relates writing the life of Moses nay the very plate on which the name of God was written on the high Priest's forehead is calld the plate of sacred veneration Exodus c. 18. v 36. 38. and we read in the 22. c. v 26 of Ezekiel that God commanded the temple which was an Image of his heavenly house to be honour'd as a holy place and reprehended those Priest's who poluted it saving thus her Priests have violated my law and have prophaned mine holy thinks they have put no diference betwen the holy and prophenâ— Now let us see did those of the PrimitiÌ„ve Church ever use or worship Images Tertulian who liv'd in the 3 age in his 2 book de Pudici affirms that the Image of ChriÌ„st bearing a lambe on his sholders was graven on the chalices us'd in Churches St Gregory Nysen who liv'd in the 4th Century in his Oration of Theodorus sayes that the silent picture painted on the wall doth declare several things and that it is very profitable this same holy Father was wont to weep contemplating the Image of Abraham facrifizing his son Isaac as himself testifies in his ser preach'd in Constantinople S. Basil who liv'd in the same Century in his Epist to Julian the Emperour after numbering seyeral points of faith which himself believ'd brings in the Apostles Prophets and Martyers then concluds saying thus the characters of their Images I do honour and worship thiefly being this was deliver'd by the Apostles and not prohibited and why shu'd it not be shewed painted in all our Churches in hisser of Barlaam he also sayes the followiÌ„g words â—ye famous painters raise-up and extoll your arts in painting this saint's Image and likwise let Christ's Image be painted St. Hierome who liv'd in the year â—90 writing the life of Paula sayes that shee was wont to prostrate herself before the crucifix and ador'd it as if shee had beheld the Lord crucifi'd bâ—foâ—e her eyes S Crysostome in his ser quod veteris et novi Testamenti unus sit Legislator declar'd that himself lov'd a picture of melted wax full of piery and in his Liturgy he sayes that the Priest was wont to how down his head before the Image of Christ he makes also mention of Christ Image in his ser deferia quintâ— Caena Dâ—mini Paladius who liv'd in the same time in his 11th Epist relates that the Bishop of Jerusalem was wont yearly at the solemnitâ— of Easter to expose the crosse to be ador'd by the people he himself first adoring it St. Cyrill of Alexandria who liv'd in the 5 Century in his homily against Nestor sayes thus hail mother of God through whom the precious crosse is made famous and ador'd throughout the world Caelius Sedulius who also liv'd in the 5 Century in his 5th book sayes the following words neither is there any who dose not know that the Image of the crosse ought to bâ— worshipp'd S. Gregorie who liv'd in the same Century in his 7 book Epist 5 bids the Bishop Januarius to take the crucifix and the Jmage of the blessed virgin from the Jewes who did not give them the due veneration And in his 53 Epist which is to SecuÌ„dinus he sayes thus I do know that you long for our Saviour's Image that by contemplating it you might burn the more with the love of the Lord Eusebius writing the life of Constant the great relates that agreat many of Golden and Silver Images were put up in the Churches which he caus'd to be built in Palestine in his 7. book c. 14. he affirms himself to have seeÌ„ the Apostles Images which then were very old and in great veneration with the people Damas relates writing the life of St. Sylvester that the aforesaid Constantine commanded an Image of pure Gold to be made which he order'd to be put up in the Church wherein he was baptiz'd on the right hand of which he plac'd the Image of our Saviour and on the left hand the Image of St. John the Baptist he also order'd the Image of our Saviour of four Angels and of the twelve Apostles to be put up in the Church of St. John Latran in Rome in order to be venerated by the Christians Evodius in his 2. book writing of S. Stephen's miracles sayes that his Image was put up in the same Church wherein his reliques were pre serv'd and that agreat multitude-of people were vs'd to freqent that Church out of particular devotion who venerated both the Image his reliques The Disciples of S. Epiphanius plac'd his Image in the Church which they built in his honour and were wont to pray most fervently before the same Image as the Fathers of the 7th General Council do declare in the 6th Action St. Ambrose in his Oration of Theodosiu's death sayes that it was discreetly done of Helena to order the crosse where upon our Saviour was crucifi'd to be taken up our of the ground where the Jewes absconded it that it might be worshipp'd by the Christians and in his Epist de invention sanctorum Gervasy et Protasy he declares that he knew him who appear'd to himself to be S. Paul by his Image which he had before S Augustin in his first book de Consensu Evangelistarum affirms himself to have seen in several places Christ's Image painted betwen S. Peter and St. Paul's Images and in his 3th book of the Trinity c. 10. in his 2. de Doct. Christ c. 25. and also in his 3. book c. 9 he sayes that Images are very profitable in order to move the people to devotion Metaphrastes in the life of Constantine the great Euagrius in his 4tâ— book c. 26 and Damsâ—enus in his first book de Imaginibus do relate that a painter endeavoring to â—raw the Image of Christ whose splendour when he cou'd not behold our Saviour himself tooke a peece of white â—â—nen and saving it on his face imprinted there-on the Image of his divine countenance and after-wards sent it to King Abagarus who long'd to see our Saviour which Image after awhile out of of particular veneration was brought by Philip the General of Mauritiuâ—'s army unto the field and gain'd thereby a most glorious victory from the Persians as Theopaâ—es relates in his 17th book Marianus scotus in his Cronicles writing of the 39 year makes mention of an other Image painted after the same manner by our Saviour in a handkerchief offer'd to him by a devout woman call'd Veronica as he sweared carying the crosse to
golden censer there was given unto him much incense that he shou'd offer it with the prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar which was before the throne the smoake of the incense which came with the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God out of the Angels hands we read in the 2. book of the Maccabees c. 15. that Judas Machabeus had seen Onias the high Priest and Jeremiah the Prophet after their death interceding to God for the people of Israel and that this book is Canonical I will prove in my answer to the next point we read also in the 15 c. v. â— of Jeremiah that the Lord spoke unto him saying thus Tho' Moses and Samuel stood before me yet my minde cou'd not be towords this people cast them out of my sight and let thâ—â— go forth which words our Lorâ— wou'd not have said If Moses â— Samuel tho' dead were not woâ—â— to interced for the Jewes whiâ—â— may be confirm'd out of Exodâ— c. 32 v. 13. where we read thâ—â— Moses himself beg'd of the Lorâ— to shew his mercy to the peoplâ— for the sake of Abraham Isaac aâ—â— Israel his own servants for as Theodoret q. 67. on Exod sayeâ— Moses thinking himself so â—â— insufficient to pacifie the Lordâ— he sets down not only his oâ—â— promise but also the aforsaiâ— Patriarchs merits that the rebâ— the Lord might be more williâ—â— to have commisseration upon thâ— people and pardon them whicâ— then he did as is manifest by the 14 v. of the same chap. Moses also endeavour'd an other time to pacifie the Lord's fury thro' the aforsaid Patriarchs merits assistance as is evident out of Deut. c. 9. v. 27 wherre he sayes thus remember they servaÌ„ts Abraham Isaac and Jacob looke not unto the stoubbornness of this people nor to their wickedness nor to their sinne Was it not for the sake of Abraham tho' dead his son Isaac obtain'd several requests favours from the Lord Genesis c. 26. v. 3. 4 5. 24. wou'd not the Lord divide Salomon's Kindom give it to his servants If it had not been for the sake of David as may be seen ïn the 3 book of Kings c. 11. v. 11. 12. was it not for the sake of David Aby as obtain'd that his son Asa reign'd in Jerusalem as may be seen in the same book c. 15. v. 4. was it not also for the sake of David tho' dead the Lord sav'd the city of Jerusalem from being destroy'd by the Assyrians as is evident out of the 4th book of Kingâ— c. 19. v. 32 3â— â— 20. v. 6. when Salomon beg'd any great request from the Lord was not he wont to set down the merits of David that thereby he might the sooner obtain his request as may be seen in the 131. Psalm v. 1. 10. which is in the Protestant bible the 132. Psalm Now let the reader consider what a great happiness it is to have a faithfull friend and Patron in great honour and request with God almighty thro' whoâ—e merits and intercission one may obtain several benefits which otherwise wou'd not be granted as the premisses do evidently make-out for as God almighty was graciously pleas'd thro' the bountifullnesse of his infinite mercy to grant for the merits and intercession of these Patriarches who then were but in Limbo Patrum so many benefits and requests to those whom they protected in this world why also now in the law of grace wou'd not the same God most mercyfully grant us any lawfull request for the intercession and great merits of his holy Mother beloved Apostles faithfull Martyres and true Confessors who are in great honour and request residing with himself in â—eaven Especially being this dose not derogate to the honour of Christ as I will prove by the following passage If it be unlawfull to invocate Angel Saints either it is because they kâ—nown not what we say or because it wou'd derogate to the honour of Christ who is said to be the mediator betwen God man according to that of John in his first Epist c. 2. v. 1. not for the first as I have already shew'd and shall confirm it by the following examples We read in the 4th book of Kings c. 5. v. 26 that Eliâ—ha knew tho' abâ—eÌ„t Gehazie's Simonie and in the c 6th v. 12. that Elisha also knew what was said in the King of Syria's private Chamber in the 15th c. v. 10. of Luke that the Angels of God doth rejoyce at the conversion of a sinner which is the greatest secret that one can have yet it can be known to the Angels and also to the Saints in heaven either by a distinct revelation from the clear vision of God's essence or by the visioÌ„ of themselves as S. Gregorie in his 2. book of Dialogues c. 3. affirms saying thus what is it that there they know not where they know him who knowes all Neither dose it derogate to the honour of Christ for the Church of Rome certainly believes Christ to be the chief Mediator betwen God and man as St Paul affirms in his Epist to Timothy c. 2. v. 5. therefore she dose not allow to invocate Angels or Saints in order to obtain any request immediatly and directly from themsleves for she acknowledges that to be a folly consequently not to be in their power So that she only allows to beg of them to join their prayers intercessioÌ„ with those of the faithfull that thereby they might the sooner easier obtain from God their requests thro' the meriâ—â— and inâ—eâ—cession of Jesus Christ which is manifest out of St. Leo's 2 Oration de Jejunio and also by the publick Orations of the Church wherein she implores the intercession of Angels and Saints for she wou'd have them to be efficacious thro' the assistance and merits of Christ it is therefore they alwayes end with the following words Per Domiâ—um nostrum Jesum Christum Filiâ—m â—â—um qui tâ—cum vivit et regnaâ— in unitate spiritus sainti Deus per osnnia saecula saeâ—ulorum A men whereby the reader may plainly perceâ—ve that the invocations of Saints dose not derogate to the honour of Christ otherwise St Paul might be accus'd for beseeching the Romans Colossians Hebreâ—s Theslalonians to assist himself in his prayers and also to pray for him to God as is eâ—ident by St Paul's own Epistles to the Romans c 15 v. 30. to the Hebrews c. 13. v. 18. 19. to the Colossians c. 4. v. 3. in his first and sâ—cond to the Thessalonians c. 5 v. 25. c 3. v. 1 so that the Adversary must either Confess the invocation of Saints not to derâ—gate Christ's honour or else to condemn St Paul's Doctrine for I dâ—fie him ever to make-out that the intercession of those who live in this world is acceptable to God nâ—t the intercession of â—hose who are coÌ„firm'd in grace glory or that one is prejudice to Christ
for the Martyres as they did for other people who dy'd because they knew that they did not want their payers but they wanted the Martyres â—rayers and in his 29. Ser of the Saints speaking of St Peter's Miracles he sayes thus If then the shadow of his body coul'd relieve how much more now the plenitude of his vertue If then a certain noise of him passing â—prevaic'd to these who beseech'd him â—â— much 〈◊〉 â—his 〈◊〉 graâ—s â—f the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he may see â—ore of St 〈◊〉 Aâ—thorities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vâ—rbis Aposâ—oli â—â— his 〈◊〉 Qâ—â—◠〈◊〉 his book 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 4. and in â—◠〈◊〉 â—n the 19. â— of 〈…〉 〈…〉 proâ—◠〈…〉 with the Authâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 General Coâ—cil of 〈…〉 Faâ—ers 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â— earnest◠〈◊〉 Flâ—â—ianus then 〈…〉 themselves as 〈◊〉 â—â— by the â—â— Action we â—â—reâ—d in the Bishopâ— of Euâ—â—ps 〈◊〉 to â—â—eo the Empâ—â—â—r 〈…〉 in the â—ater end of this Council that they declar'd themselves to acknowledge that holy Proâ—erius was register'd in the Cathologue of Marty res that they beg'd God Almighty to be favourable mercifull to themselves thro' his intercessioÌ„ all which Authorityes do evideÌ„tly make out that the Catholicks of the Primitive Church where accustom'd to invocate Saints Chap. 10 Proving that Purgatory was believ'd by those of the Primitive Church For the better intelligence of this point let the reader know that altho' the sinners crime is forgiveÌ„ yet the sinner under gose some temporal punishment as is manifest Numb c. 12. v 1. 2 10 14 where we read that when the sin of murmuring was forgiven to Mary by Moses intercession yet in punishment thereof she had the leprofie for the speace of seven dayes and was oblig'd to levâ— the whole camp during that time When the Israelites sinn'd against God and offer'd to rebel against Moses tho' their sinnes â—eâ—e forgiven thro' the Lord's infinite mercy and by the intercession of Moses yet in punishmeÌ„t of their crime several of them dy'd in the wilderness and never â—as admited to come to the land of promise Num â— 14 v. 19. 20 â—â— â— 24 3 7. also when David sinn'd against the Lord his crime was forgiven but in punishment thereof his son dy'd the â— book of Kings â— 12 v 13 14 18 finally we read in St Paul's first Epist to the Cormthians â— 11 v 30 that several of the Cormthians were mortifi'd by the Lord and also that some of them dy'd because they receiv'd unworthily the holy Sacrament but then their sins has been forgiven as is evident by the 32 v where St. Paul sayes the following words but when we are judg'd we 〈◊〉 chastized by the Lord that we shu'd not be condemn'd â—hereby the reader may plainly 〈◊〉 that God dose not 〈◊〉 the punishment as 〈…〉 forgiven the 〈…〉 â—emency and infinite mercy changes that eternal punishment into some temporal affliction 〈◊〉 if the sinner dose not undergo in this world he must suffeâ— for it after his dâ—ath before ever he shall enter into the KiÌ„gdom of â—eaven for nonâ— is receiv'd there untill he is even as clean fâ—om all manner of sin and fault as he was immediatly after his Baptism as witnesseth that of Iohn 〈◊〉 c 21. v 27 This presuppos'd I may lawfully inferr that therâ— must be some place of temporâ—l punishment â—â— order to purifie and cleanse nosâ—â—ouls who doe not perform 〈…〉 world and 〈…〉 sins to which â—ternal punishmeÌ„t is not due for it wou'd be a most uÌ„reasonable thig of us to believe that he who immediatly has been in the state of grace and dyes suddenly after speaking an idle word or committing some other smal offence shu'd be oblig'd to everlasting torments even as he who suddenly dyes without any kind of repentance after committing murder adultry or some other great crime therefore being he cannot inter the into heaven by reason of that small offence he must go to some other place untill he is purâ—â—i'd which I shall prove by the following argument what ever the old and new Testament the holy Fathers and Doctors of the Primitive Church several Councils true and wonderfull revelations affirms ought to be believ'd by all Christians but the old and new Testament the holy Fathers and Doctors of the Primitive Church several Councils true and wonderfull revelation affirms that which the Church of Rome calls Purgatory to be a place of temporal punishment wherin some souls are chastiz'd and purifi'd after leÌ„ving this world therefore Purgatory ought to be believ'd by all Christians the consequence is evident â—s we shall see hereafter and the major cannot be deny'd by any true Christian as for the minnor I will prove it after the same order wâ—ereiâ—â—â—'s fâ—â—â—'d therefore I â—ill begâ—n 〈◊〉 the Auâ—â—oâ—â—es of the old Testament We finâ— in the 6â— Psâ—â—â— which is the 〈◊〉 â—n the 〈◊〉 English 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 â—18 〈◊〉 O sâ—â— c. 〈◊〉 â—8 â—t 〈…〉 his perpetualâ—y and â—o câ—asâ—en one in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is â—o punish hiâ— seveâ—ly 〈◊〉 this â—ite iâ— order 〈…〉 and so concluds wâ—â—â— the following words O Lord 〈◊〉 pâ—eas'd to 〈…〉 in this woâ—ld thâ—â— I 〈◊〉 â—ot wâ—nt thaâ— correctiÌ„g â—ire And it â—hall 〈◊〉 to pâ—sse that he that is leâ—t iâ— zâ—â—â— and â—e that remaineth in Jerâ—salem shaâ—l be call'd â—oâ—y when tâ—e Lord that haâ—e wash'd away the 〈◊〉 of the daâ—gâ—â—ers of zion shall have puâ—g'd the bloâ—d of Jerusalem from the â—idâ—t the â—o by the spirit of jugedment and by the spirit of burning Isaih c. 4. v 3. and 4. which text according to St. Augustin in his 20th book of the City of God c. 25. mâ—â—ns the releasment â—hich souls do get from the burning fire of Purgatory Micah c. 7. v. 7. 8. and 9 â— will look unto the Lord. I will wait for the God of my salvation my God will heare me rejoice not against me O! mine enemy when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darknesse the Lord shall be light onto me I will beare the indignatioÌ„ of the Lord because I have sinn'd against him untill he plead my case and execute judgement for me he will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousnesse Which words as St. Hierome affirms in his commentary on the last c. of I saiah means the releasment of those souls who do suffer in Purgatory fire Zechariah c. 9. v 11. you also by the blood of they covenant have brought forth your prisoners out of the pâ—t wherein there is no water Sâ— Peteâ— speakïg of those Prisoneâ—s in his 〈◊〉 Ep. c. 3. v. 18. 19 20 sayes thus for christ also hath once suffer'd for sins the just for the unjust that he might briÌ„g us to God beiâ—g put to death in the flesh but quickened by the spirit by which also he went and preach'd unto the spirits in prison which sometimes were disobedâ—ent when once the long suffering of God waited in the dayes of Noah while