Reasons for Departing from Popery - Tapa blanda

Reseña del editor

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1829. Excerpt: ... On Purgatory. Amongst the variety of human inventions of which the system of popery is chiefly composed, that of purgatory is not the least notorious. At first sight, this strange garrison may appear, to some, difficult to storm, being fortified by the united efforts of many interested friends. In it are the priest's bank, and the layman's last refuge. But although it may appear almost impregnable, yet, in the name of our God, we will set up our banners, and level the artillery of the gospel at its tottering bulwarks. And in a reconnoitre so important, it will be necessary, first, to examine its basis and superstructure, and the magnitude of its strength. Its advocates tell us, that it is built on the authority of God, and is a middle state, in which departed souls who, being not entirely purified from their sins here by penance and good works, are purified by some means appointed by God, but unknown to us, and then received into heaven, where nothing that is defiled can enter; for when souls depart this life, there are some so pure and perfect as to be translated immediately into heaven. Others die in their sins without repentance; these descend into hell. Others neither have lived so wickedly as to deserve hell, nor yet so perfectly pure as to be forthwith admitted to the state of bliss, but are to pass through a purging fire. See Council of Trent, Session 6. Now, the question again recurs,--Where is Christ here? Every lover of him may say with Mary, "They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him;" for penance and purgatory have become bis rivals in the plan of human redemption; the inventions of men are superadded to his blood, which alone "Cleanseth from all sin I", It appears also, that those infallible advocates of purgatory...