Further they holde that our fire, if it be compared with the fire of Purgatorie, doth resemble only a painted fire. Séeke their Doctours in this pointe, on the fourth booke of Sentences, the 20. distinction.
By whome Soules are tormented in purgatorie.
This question also they moue, by whome the Soules in Purgatorie are tormented. Wherfore their opinions are very diuers, and disagréeable among themselues.
Richardus de Media Villa a Franciscan Frier, writeth vpon the Maister of Sentences, and saith, he verily beléeueth that soules are caried by good Angels, into the places of torment, but yet that they themselues do not torment them, because they shall become at length fellow citizens with them. Neyther yet are they punished by Deuils (who after this life do no longer tempte men) but only by the méere iustice of God. And yet (saith he) it may so come to passe, that the Deuils be present at the doing thereof, and reioyce at their tortures. I thought good to repeate these things of Purgatorie somewhat at large, the rather for that the reader might sée, that their Doctours do disagrée in a matter of great weight, by which they haue both robbed men of their wealth, and plunged them into very great miserie.
Papists feigne that soules returne to earth againe.
Héervnto they adde, that the spirits, as well of the good, as the ill, do come and are sent vnto men liuing, from hell. And that by the common lawe of iustice, all men at the day of Iudgement shall come to their trial from hell: and that none before that time can come from thence. Farther they teache, that by Gods licence and dispensation, certaine, yea before the day of Iudgement, are permitted to come out of hell, and that not for euer, but only for a season, for the instructing and terrifying of the liuing. Héervppon they recite diuers kindes of visions, that certaine Clarkes, and Laye persons being damned, bothe men and women, haue appeared to their ghostly fathers, and others, and haue opened vnto them the causes of their damnation: all which to rehearse héere were lost laboure. And that the soules which be in euerlasting ioye, or in Purgatorie, do often appeare, it may be séene in Gregories Homelies and Gregories Dialogues, who writeth that Peter and Paule, and other Saintes, did not onely appeare vnto holie men, but did also conducte their Soules vnto Celestiall ioye. Moreouer that God doth licence soules to return from those two places, partly for the comfort and warning of the liuing, and partly to pray aide of them. And yet that those soules doo not here represent themselues to be séene of men, when, and how often soeuer they list themselues. No doubt these men shewe themselues to haue a sharpe wit and profound knowledge.
VVhether we may wish to see spirits.
These Doctors moreouer moue this question, whether we may request without offence, that the soules of such as are departed, may shewe themselues to be beheld and séene of the liuing.
To riue asunder this crabbed knotte, they bring this wedge: that if this request proceede of some good intent, without the spot of lightnesse & vanitie, that a man might vnderstand the state of some friend, neighbour, benefactour, or of his parents, or some other, therby to helpe and relieue them speedily of their torments, it is no offence at all: because dead mens soules doo of their owne accord shew them selues vnto the liuing, to receiue helpe of them, and therefore nothing can let vs to aske this thing at Gods hand. Of this opinion is Thomas of Aquine.