2. Nor do we thus find, in the old Doctors of the Church, a mere simple anticipatory protest against the modern Romish dogma, of Transubstantiation: we may note also, in the case of Raban and Bertram, a formal direct synchranical protest against the wild notion of Christ’s CORPOREAL or LITERAL or SUBSTANTIAL presence in the Eucharist, when, in the ninth century, and under the fostering management of Paschase Radbert, it was attempting to creep into the hitherto untainted Western Churches.
No sooner was the idle phantasy started; that The identical body and blood of Christ, in which he was born from the Virgin Mary, is literally and substantially received from the altar: than it was distinctly and openly opposed, on the specific ground, not only of its abstract scriptural falsehood, but likewise of its palpable novelty and its then scanty reception. For all these three points are clearly set forth by Archbishop Raban in his three very remarkable expressions, LATELY, and SOME INDIVIDUALS, and NOT THINKING RIGHTLY.
CHAPTER III.
PURGATORY.
From the Romish doctrine of Transubstantiation, I shall pass on to the Romish doctrine of Purgatory.
I. Respecting a Purgatory, into which the souls of all, save those who are immediately conveyed to Hell, pass forthwith after death; in order that, by its fiery pains, they may be purified from the remainder of their corruption, and at the same time by personal suffering may make satisfaction to God for their hitherto unexpiated offences: the Church of Rome, speaking through her organ the Council of Trent, thus defines and pronounces.
There is a Purgatory: and the souls, there detained, are assisted by the suffrages of the faithful and most especially by the acceptable sacrifice of the altar. [24]
II. Such is the authorised doctrine of the Roman Church: let us now see, whether the existence of a Purgatory in the unseen world be revealed in Scripture.
1. On this point, we may begin with very safely remarking: that, from the first verse of Genesis to the last verse of the Revelation, God’s written word, whether jewish or christian, SAYS NOT A SINGLE SYLLABLE concerning the existence of any such place as a romish Purgatory.
Whence, of course, it is EQUALLY SILENT, respecting the extraordinary alleged fact: that, Souls, there detained, are assisted by the suffrages or prayers of the faithful and most especially by the acceptable sacrifice of the altar.
2. But Holy Scripture is not merely SILENT on this subject: by anticipation, it even FLATLY CONTRADICTS the popish doctrine before us.