第82章

difficultplaces)，perhapstheremaybeplaceleftaftertheresurrectionfortherepentanceofsomesinners。Andthereisalsoanotherplacethatseemethtoagreetherewith。ForconsideringthewordsofSt。Paul，“Whatshalltheydowhicharebaptizedforthedead，ifthedeadrisenotatall？Whyalsoaretheybaptizedforthedead？“*amanmayprobablyinfer，assomehavedone，thatinSt。Paul’stimetherewasacustom，byreceivingbaptismforthedead，(asmenthatnowbelievearesuretiesandundertakersforthefaithofinfantsthatarenotcapableofbelieving)toundertakeforthepersonsoftheirdeceasedfriends，thattheyshouldbereadytoobeyandreceiveourSaviourfortheirkingathiscomingagain；andthentheforgivenessofsinsintheworldtocomehasnoneedofapurgatory。Butinboththeseinterpretations，thereissomuchofparadoxthatItrustnottothem，butpropoundthemtothosethatarethoroughlyversedintheScripture，toinquireiftherebenoclearerplacethatcontradictsthem。Onlyofthusmuch，IseeevidentScripturetopersuademethatthereisneitherthewordnorthethingofpurgatory，neitherinthisnoranyothertext；noranythingthatcanproveanecessityofaplaceforthesoulwithoutthebody；neitherforthesoulofLazarusduringthefourdayshewasdead；norforthesoulsofthemwhichtheRomanChurchpretendtobetormentednowinpurgatory。ForGod，thatcouldgivealifetoapieceofclay，haththesamepowertogivelifeagaintoadeadman，andrenewhisinanimateandrottencarcassintoaglorious，spiritual，andimmortalbody。

*ICorinthians，15。29

AnotherplaceisthatofICorinthians，3，whereitissaidthattheywhichbuildstubble，hay，etc。，onthetruefoundation，theirworkshallperish；but“theythemselvesshallbesaved；butasthroughfire“：thisfirehewillhavetobethefireofpurgatory。Thewords，asIhavesaidbefore，areanallusiontothoseofZechariah，13。9，wherehesaith，“Iwillbringthethirdpartthroughthefire，andrefinethemassilverisrefined，andwilltrythemasgoldistried“：whichisspokenofthecomingoftheMessiahinpowerandglory；thatis，atthedayofjudgement，andconflagrationofthepresentworld；whereintheelectshallnotbeconsumed，butberefined；thatis，deposetheirerroneousdoctrinesandtraditions，andhavethem，asitwere，singedoff；andshallafterwardscalluponthenameofthetrueGod。Inlikemanner，theApostlesaithofthemthat，holdingthisfoundation，JesusistheChrist，shallbuildthereonsomeotherdoctrinesthatbeerroneous，thattheyshallnotbeconsumedinthatfirewhichreneweththeworld，butshallpassthroughittosalvation；butsoastoseeandrelinquishtheirformererrors。Thebuildersarethepastors；thefoundation，thatJesusistheChrist；thestubbleandhay，falseconsequencesdrawnfromitthroughignoranceorfrailty；thegold，silver，andpreciousstonesaretheirtruedoctrines；andtheirrefiningorpurging，therelinquishingoftheirerrors。Inallwhichthereisnocolouratallfortheburningofincorporeal，thatistosay，impatiblesouls。

AthirdplaceisthatofICorinthians，15。29，beforementioned，concerningbaptismforthedead：outofwhichheconcludeth，first，thatprayersforthedeadarenotunprofitable；andoutofthat，thatthereisafireofpurgatory：butneitherofthemrightly。Forofmanyinterpretationsofthewordbaptism，heapproveththisinthefirstplace，thatbybaptismismeant，metaphorically，abaptismofpenance；andthatmenareinthissensebaptizedwhentheyfast，andpray，andgivealms；andsobaptismforthedead，andprayerforthedead，isthesamething。Butthisisametaphor，ofwhichthereisnoexample，neitherintheScripturenorinanyotheruseoflanguage；

andwhichisalsodiscordanttotheharmonyandscopeoftheScripture。Thewordbaptismisusedforbeingdippedinone’sownblood，asChristwasuponthecross，andasmostoftheApostleswere，forgivingtestimonyofhim。*Butitishardtosaythatprayer，fasting，andalmshaveanysimilitudewithdipping。Thesameisusedalso，Matthew，3。11(whichseemethtomakesomewhatforpurgatory)，forapurgingwithfire。ButitisevidentthefireandpurgingherementionedisthesamewhereoftheProphetZechariahspeaketh，“I

willbringthethirdpartthroughthefire，willrefinethem，“

etc。*(2)AndSt。Peterafte