Wilson on Article XXII: Of Purgatory

a For the Scripture doth acknowledge but two places after this life : the one proper to the elect and blessed of God, the other to the reprobate and damned souls ; as may be well ga- thered by the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, (Luke xvi. 22, 23.) — These words, as they confound the opinion of helping the dead by prayer, so they do clean confute and take away the vain error of Purgatory, which is grounded upon this saying of the Gospel, (Matt. v. 20.) ” Thou shalt not depart thence, until thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.” Now doth St. Augus- tine say, that those men which are cast into prison after this life, on that condition, may in no wise be holpen, though he would help them never so much. And why ? Because the sen- tence of God is unchangeable, and cannot be revoked again. — Therefore let us not deceive ourselves, thinking that either we may help other, or other may help us by their good and chari- table prayers in time to come. For, as the Preacher saith, (Eccles. xi. 3.) ” When the tree falleth, whether it be toward the south, or toward the north, in what place soever the tree falleth, there it lieth :” meaning thereby, that every mortal man dieth either in the state of salvation or damnation ; according as the words of the Evangelist John do also plainly import, saying, (John iii. 36.) “He that believeth on the Son of God hath eternal life : but he that believeth not on the Son shall never see life, but the wrath of God abideth upon him.” — As the Scrip- ture teacheth us, let us think that the soul of man, passing out of the body, goeth straightways either to heaven, or else to hell ; whereof the one needeth no prayer, and the other is without re- demption.— The only Purgatory, wherein we must trust to be

a Behold the Lamb of God, which your conscience from dead works, taknth away the sin of the world! Heb. ix. 14. When he had by John i 29. Christ loved the himself purged our sins, sat down, Church, and gave himself for it 5 &c. Heb. i. 3. Worshippers once that he might sanctify and cleanse purged, should have had no more it with the washing of water, by conscience of sins. Heb. x. 2. By the word. Eph. v. 25, 26. The one offering he hath perfected for blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us ever them that are sanctified. Heb. from all sin. 1 John i. 7. Ye are x. 14. To-day shalt thou be with clean through the word which 1 me in paradise. John xxiii. 43. I have spoken unto you. John xv. 3. heard a voice from heaven saying Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, unto me, Write, Blessed are the ye are justified, in the name of the dead which die in the Lord from Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, God. ] Cor. vi. 11. How much that they may rest from their la- more shall the blood of Christ, who bours : and their works do follow through the eternal Spirit offered them. Rev. xiv. 13. himself without spot to God, purge

b Pardons, “Worshipping and Adoration, as well

saved, is the death and blood of Christ ; which if we apprehend with a true and stedfast faith, it purgeth and cleanseth us from all our sins, even as well as if he were now hanging upon the cross. — This then is that Purgatory, wherein all Christian men must put their whole trust and confidence ; nothing doubting, but if they truly repent them of their sins, and die in perfect faith, that then they shall forthwith pass from death to life. Horn. xix. 3.

b Christ’s disciples did leceive this authority, (of the keys,) not that they should hear the private confessions of the people

but to the end they should go, they should teach, they

should publish abroad, the Gospel, and be unto the believing a sweet savour of life unto life ; and unto the unbelieving and un- faithful a savour of death unto death : and that the minds of godly persons being brought low by the remorse of their former life and errors, after they once began to look up unto the light of the Gospel, and believe in Christ, might be opened with the word of God, even as a door is opened with a key : contrariwise that the wicked and wilful, and such as would not believe, nor leturn into the right way, should be left still as fast locked and shut up, and, as St. Paul saith, wax worse and worse. This take we to be the meaning of the keys, and that after this sort men’s consciences be either opened or shut. Jewell. See also Art. XXXIII.

c As in the first commandment he commandeth that himself alone be honoured and worshipped, so in the second he restrain-

b To the Lord our God belong- soever believeth on him shall not

mercies and forgivenesses, though be ashamed. Rom. x. 11. Come

we have rebelled against him. Dan. unto me, all ye that labour and are

ix. 9. Who shall lay any thing to heavy laden, and I will give you

the charge of God’s elect’ It is rest. Matt. xi. 28. He breathed on

God that justifieth. Rom. viii. 33. them, and saith unto them, Receive

There is forgiveness with thee that ye the Holy Ghost: Whosesoever

thou mayest be feared. Ps. cxxx. 4. sins ye remit, they are remitted

Who is a God like unto thee, that unto them; and whosesoever sins

pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by ye retain, they are retained. Matt,

the transgression of the remnant of xx. 22, 23. (See the interpretation

his heritage? He retaineth not his of this on Art. XXXIII.) The Scribes

anger for ever, because he delight- and the Pharisees began to reason,

eth in mercy. He will turn again, saying, Who is this which speaketh

he will have compassion upon us; blasphemies? Who can forgive sins

he will subdue our iniquities, and but God alone? Luke v. 21.

thou wilt cast all their sins into the c Thou shalt not make unto thee

depths of the sea. Mic. vii. 18, 19. any graven image, or any likeness

I even I am he that blotteth out of any thing that is in heaven

thy transgressions for mine own above, or that is in the earth be-

sake, and will not remember thy neath, or that is in the water under

sins. Is. xliii. 25. He that believ- the earth : thou shalt not bow down

eth on him is not condemned. John thyself to them ; for I the Lord thy

iii- 18. The Scripture saith, Who- God am a jealous God. Ex. xx. 4.

T 2

of Images as of Reliques, and also li invocation

eth us from all superstition, and from all wrongful and bodily inventions, forasmuch as the worshipping of him ought to be spiritual and pure ; and chiefly he frayeth us from the most gross fault of idolatry. Norvell, p. 12.

Q. Why is it not lawful to express God with a bodily and visible form ? A. Because there can be no likeness or agree- ment between God, which is a Spirit eternal, unmeasurable, in- finite, incomprehensible, severed from all mortal composition, and a frail, bodily, spiritless, and vain shape. Therefore they do most injuriously abate the majesty of the most good and most great God, when they go about in such sort to mak* resemblance of him. Noivell, p. 12.

Q. Have they not then said well, which affirm that images are unlearned men’s books ? A. I know not what manner of books they be ; but surely, concerning God, they can teach us nothing but errors. Nowell, p. 13.

Q. What manner of worshipping is that which is here (in the second commandment) condemned? A. When we, intending to pray, do turn ourselves to portraitures or images ; when we do fall down and kneel before them vrith uncovering our heads, or with other signs shewing any honour unto them, as if God were represented unto us by them ; briefly, we are in this law for- bidden, that we neither seek nor worship God in images, or, which is all one, that we worship not the images themselves in honour of God, nor in any wise by idolatry or superstition abuse them with injury to his majesty. Otherwise the lawful use of making portraitures and of paintings is not forbidden. Nowell, p. 12.

It is very perilous to set any images or pictures in churches,

Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear ye up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land to bow down unto it ; for I am the Lord your God. Lev. xxvi. 1. Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the crafts- man, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall nnswerand say, Amen. Deut.xxvii. 15. Hezekiah removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made : for unto those days the children of Israel did burn

incense to it; and he called it Xe- hushtan. 2 Kings xviii. 4. I am the Lord : that is my name : and my glory will 1 not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Is. xlii. 8. The stock is a doctrine of vanities. They are vanity and the work of errors : in the time of their visitation they shall perish. Jer. x. 8, 15. The idols he shall utterly abolish. Is. ii. 18. He feed- eth on ashes \ a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he can- not deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand. Is. xliv. 20. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men, judge ye what I say. 1 Cor. x. 22. Little children,

of Saints, is a tbnd thing, vainly invented, and

which are properly appointed for the only worshipping of Cod. Nowtt, p. lo.

To desire an image of God, coineth of infidelity, thinking- not God to be present, except they might see some sign or image of him. — No image can be made of Christ, but a lying image, (as the Scripture peculiarly calleth images lies,) for Christ is God and man. Seeing therefore that for the Godhead, which is the most excellent part, no images can be made, it is falsely called the image of Christ. Which reason also serveth for the images of saints, whose souls the most excellent part of them can by no images be represented and expressed. Wherefore they be no images of saints, whose souls reign in joy with God, but of the bodies of saints, which as yet lie putrilied in the grave. Fur- thermoreno true image can be made of Christ’s body, for it is unknown now of what form and countenance he was. Horn.

d Thus then it is plain, by the infallible word of truth and life, that in all our necessities we must flee unto God ; direct our prayers unto him, call upon his holy Name, desire help at his bauds, and at none other’s : whereof if ye will yet have a further reason, mark that which followeth. — There are certain conditions most requisite to be found in every such a one that must be called upon, which if they be not found in him, unto whom we pray, then doth our prayer avail us nothing, but is altogether in vain. The first is this, that he, to whom we make our prayers, be able to help us. The second is, that he will help us. The third is, that he be such a one as may hear our prayers. The fourth is, that he understand better than we ourselves what we lack, and how far we have need of help. If these things be to be found in any other saving only God, then may we lawfully call upon some other besides God. But what man is so gross, but he well understandeth that these things are only proper to

keep yourselves from idols, (images, deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify

see Horn, xiv.) 1 John v. 21. God me. Ps. 1. 15. It shall come to

is a Spirit; and they that worship pass, that whosoever shall call on

him must worship him iu spirit the name of the Lord shall be de-

and in truth. John iv. 24. livered. Acts ii. 21. Thou, when

d Do not err, my beloved bre- thou prayest, enter into thy closet,

thren. Every good gift aud every and when thou hast shut thy door,

perfect gift is from above, and pray to thy Father which is in

coineth down from the Father of secret; and thy Father which seeth

lights, with whom is no variable- in secret, shall reward thee openly,

ness, neither shadow of turning. Matt. vi. 6. Verily, verily, I say

James i. 17. It is better to trust in unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask

the Lord, than to put confidence the Father in my name, he will

in man. It is better to trust in the give it you. John xvi. 23. After

Lord, than to put confidence in this manner pray ye when ye

princes. Ps. cxviii. 8, 0. Call upon pray, say, Our Father, &c. Matt,

me in the day of trouble, I will vi. 9. Luke xi. 2. Come unto me,

grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God.

him which is omnipotent, and knoweth all things, even the very secrets of the heart? that is to say, only and to God alone: whereof it followeth, that we must call neither upon angel, nor yet upon saint, but only and solely upon God, as St. Paul doth write : (Rom. x. 14.) ” How shall men call upon him, in whom they have not believed ?” So that invocation or prayer may not be made without faith in him on whom they call ; but that we must first believe in him, before we can make our prayer unto him ; whereupon we must only and solely pray unto God. For to say that we should believe either in angel or saint, or in any other living creature, were most horrible blasphemy against God and his holy word : neither ought this fancy to enter into the heart of any Christian man, because we are expressly taught, in the word of the Lord, only to repose our faith in the blessed Trinity ; in whose only name we are also baptized, according to the express commandment of our Saviour Jesus Christ, hi the last of St. Matthew. — But that the truth hereof may the better appear even to them that be most simple and unlearned, let us consider what prayer is. St. Augustine calleth it a lifting up of the mind to God ; that is to say, an humble and lowly pouring out of the heart to God. Isidorus saith, that it is an affection of the heart, and not a labour of the lips. So that, by these places, true prayer doth consist not so much in the outward sound and voice of words, as in the inward groaning and crying of the heart to God. — Now then, is there any angel, any virgin, any patriarch or prophet among the dead, that can understand or know the meaning of the heart ? The Scripture saith, (Psal. vii. 9. Rev. ii. 23. Jer. xvii. 10. 2 Chron. vi. 30.) It is God thatsearcheth the heart and the reins, and that he only knoweth the hearts of the children of men. As for the saints, they have so little knowledge of the secrets of the heart, that many of #ie ancient Fathers greatly doubt whether they know any thing at all that is commonly done on earth. Horn. xix. 2.

He that cannot be saved by faith in Christ’s blood, how shall

all ye that are weary and heavy

laden, and I will give you rest

and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matt. xi. 28. Unto the church

of God, which is at Corinth with

all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord : Grace be unto you, &c. 1 Cor. i. 2. As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. And Peter took him up, saying, Stand up, I myself also am a man. Acts x. 25,

26. I fell at his feet to worship him, and he saith unto me, See thou do it not : I am thy fellow- servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus : wor- ship God. Rev. xix. 10. Unto him that is able to do exceeding abun- dandy above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ .Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Eph. iii. 20, 21.

he look to be delivered by man’s intercessions ? Hath God more respect to man on earth, than he hath to Christ in heaven ? ” If any man sin,” saith St. John, (1 John ii. 1, 2.) ” we have an advocate with the Father, even Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins.” Horn. xix. 3.

Q. But God doth to our salvation use the service of angels, that wait upon ns, and therefore do hear us ? A. That is true. But yet it appeareth no where in the word of God, that God would have us pray to angels, or to godly men deceased. And sith faith resteth upon the word of God, and what is not of faith is sin, I said rightly it is a sure token of infidelity to for- sake God, to whom alone the Scriptures do send us, and to pray to, and crave help of angels, or godly men departed this life, for calling upon whom there is not one word in the holy Scrip- tures. Q. But seeing charity never falleth out of the hearts of

the godly, even while they be in heaven they are careful for us, and do desire our salvation ? A. That cannot be denied ; yet it doth not follow that we must therefore call upon them, unless we think that we must call for the help and succour of our friends, be they never so far from us, only because they bear us good-will. — That were to give to them an infiniteness to be present every where, or to give them, being absent, an understanding of our secret meanings, that is, as much as a certain Godhead, and therewithal partly to convey to them our confidence and trust, that ought to be set wholly in God alone, and so to slide into idolatry. But forasmuch as God calleth us to himself alone, and doth also, with adding an oath, promise that he will both hear and help us ; to flee to the help of other were an evident token of distrust and infidelity. And as touching the holy men that are departed out of this life, what manner of thing, I pray you, were this, forsaking the living God, that heareth our prayers, that is most mighty, most ready to help us, that calleth us unto him, that in the word of truth promiseth and sweareth, that with his divine power and succour he will defend us ; forsaking him, I say, to flee to men dead, deaf, and weak, which neither have promised help, nor are able to relieve us, to whom God never gave the office to help us, to whom we are by no Scrip- tures directed, whereupon our faith may surely rest, but are un- advisedly carried away, trusting upon the dreams, or rather dotages, of our own head. Nowell, p. 78, 79.