XXXVI. By Purgatory, I mean a Place where the Souls of the Faithful who die in Grace are detain’d to suffer, till they are intirely purify’d from what hinders their enjoying celestial Light, into which any Thing that defileth, can in no wise enter, Rev. xxi. Ver. 27. The Church was always of this Opinion, and St. Justin Martyr own’d, that the Souls of Believers were in

extreme Necessity of being reliev’d by the Prayers of the Living: That Purgatory was an Article of Faith was what Pope Eugene declar’d, or rather he renew’d what had been all along believ’d by the Church. The Protestants are as much in the Wrong to say, that Purgatory is a new Invention of the Priests, as when they give the same Name to several other Articles of Faith that were always believ’d, tho’ they have been renew’d by several Councils, as often as the Church saw there was Occasion: For Instance, in the Fourth Century, in the Time of that Heretic Arius, the Council of Nice declar’d, that the Son of God was of the same Essence as the Father; yet this was a Truth which the Church had always believ’d. St. Augustin, to whose Opinions even the Heretics pay a Respect, assures me, that in his Time ’twas the Custom throughout the whole Church, and what had been establish’d by Tradition, to pray for the Dead, to the end that God might deal mercifully with them. These Prayers could only be for the Souls of Believers that were in Purgatory; for the Blessed, instead of having any Need of our Prayers, do themselves pray for us: And as to the Reprobate, Prayers can be of no Service to them; they are damn’d to all Eternity, and never can be releas’d out of their Pains: From hence I infer, that the Church has ever admitted a Third Place, which is Purgatory. Several ancient Councils assure me of this Truth, and particularly the Council of Carthage, Chap. XXIX. and since that the Holy Council of Trent. I also take that Passage in St. John’s Revelations, Chap. v. Ver. 13. to be a favourable Explanation of my Sentiments on the Subject of Purgatory; And every Creature which is in Heaven, and on

the Earth, and under the Earth, and such as are in the Sea, and all that are in them, heard I, saying, Blessing and Honour, and Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. I cannot think these Words can be apply’d either to Devils, or to the Reprobate; they must necessarily refer to the Souls suffering in Purgatory; these the Apostle meant by Creatures that are under the Earth, because ’tis certain, that the Devils and the Reprobate do not praise God.

Now, admitting it for a certain Truth, that there is a Purgatory, I believe, without making any Doubt of it, that we ought to pray for the Dead, and for the Deliverance of suffering Souls, because they are a Part of the Church, and a Part the more to be regarded, since, tho’ they suffer, they are sure one Day of enjoying everlasting Felicity. Besides, those Souls that are deliver’d by my Prayers, and by the Sacrifices offer’d up for them, do afterwards become my Friends with God. But tho’ these Reasons were not sufficient, the Church prays for the Dead, and that’s enough for me.

St. Austin and several of the Fathers of the Church assure me, that the Custom of Praying for the Dead came to them by Tradition from the very Time of the Apostles: And the Holy Scripture informs us, that this Custom was formerly establish’d in the Old Testament, which is clearly prov’d by that Passage in the Maccabees, Chap. xii. Ver. 43. And when he had made a Gathering throughout the Company to the Sum of Two thousand Drachms of Silver, he sent it to Jerusalem to offer a Sin-Offering, doing therein very well and honestly, in that he was mindful of the Resurrection: And in the same Chapter, Ver. 45.

It is a holy and good Thought to pray for the Dead, that they may be delivered from Sin.——Methinks these Passages plainly prove, that the Jews, of whom the true Church consisted before the Coming of our Lord, pray’d and sacrific’d for the Dead.

I believe therefore, that all manner of Persons may and ought to pray for the Dead: But the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass can only be celebrated by the Priests: and the Mass is profitable to him that says it, to the Person that causes it to be said, and to the Soul for whom it is said.

XXXVII. I firmly believe, that the Invocation of the Saints is very useful to us for our Salvation, and that ’tis not contrary to the Commands of God, as the Heretics affirm. For the Worship of God is nothing more than honouring God in his Saints, just as (if I may be permitted the Comparison) I honour my King by honouring his Ministers. Would God, who has commanded us to honour our Parents, Persons advanc’d in Years, our Governors and Superiors, forbid us to honour the Saints and Angels, who are his Ministers, and by Consequence our Superiors?

The Heretics, who so loudly condemn the Invocation of the Saints, and treat it as Idolatry, do nevertheless pray every Day in their Temples and particular Meetings, that it may please God to order their Guardian Angel to guide and preserve them. Now, if they grant, that an Angel is their Protector, can they, without Ingratitude, refuse Honour to their Benefactor? I believe with the Church, that the Angels and Saints preserve us, and deliver us every Day from several great Dangers both of Soul and Body. Charity

engages them to pray for us, and to offer up our Prayers and Tears to the Lord: They watch continually over us, and guard us without Intermission. For this Reason Jesus Christ recommends to his Disciples, Matt. xviii. Ver. 10. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in Heaven their Angels do always behold the Face of my Father which is in Heaven.