The New York herald., 1845-02-04

tings OF tho Ancient Fathers-The Litur-
giles of the Early Churches, Oriental and
Latin-The Testimony OF Protestant Di-
vines, and the Records Of Holy Scripture.
| A LKcTURE DELIVERED ST. PErEn's CHURCH. SUNDAY
/ E,KSisc, FEB =, lsi5, BY THE REV. Da. PisE
"For Son Of Man shall esme in the sloy of his Father
'oh al MS Holy angsis and shall render every
| cordns to his Uorks"-ST. Matthews GospsL l6rH
| CHAP, 27TH VERSE.
In my lecture on last Sunday night, quoted at
least six unequivocal and ndisputable texts of
Scripture bearing upon the doctrine of Purgatory
| which Is the subject on which have been last
treating Let it be said that these six texts of
the Sacred Scriptures prove nothing with regard 10
this dogma, because certainly have every possible
right, by my own private understanding of Scrip
| ture-if think proper-to prove the doctrine Of
Purgatory from the texts in question; and no
reader of the Bible-no stickler for the universal
perusal Of the Scriptures without note or com.
ment-can presume to call my right on this subject
| in question because, by so doing, he would not
only intrench on my privileges, but also act
| in hostility to one of the very first princi-
pies of Professionalism, which says we are to
search the Scriptures for ourselves, and discover
according to the best OF our understandings, and
our own Interpretation, what they teach and what
| they do not teach. When our blessed Lord de-
Glazed in the text which | have Just read at the
commencement of this discourse, that he would
render unto every man according to his works, il
is evident, therefore, that when every man is sum.
| moned before the judgment seat of God, immed-
ately after death, he will have the sentence inct
ed upon him "according to his works." for "God
will render to every man according to his works"
Now, there are perfect works-there are imperfect
works-and there works perfectly evil. God
will, therefore, judge of all these three characters
Of works. Ifyour works, when summoned to ap-
pear before the supreme tribunal be perfectly good
then will God render unto you your perfect re-
ward, in remuneration of those good works. II
| on appearing before him, your works should ap-
pear perfectly evil, then will the sentence of eter.
nal punishment be pronounced upon you, in conse-
quence of these evil works. But if your works be
| but imperfectly good-or, not perfectly evil, and
| in this condition you appear before the Supreme
Judge-then must you be judged accordingly.
Then there is, as it were, an Intermediate judg-
ment; and it would appear from this text that
there likewise must be an intermediate place OF
atonement, where works not perfectly good, nor
perfectly evil may be expated. But that place
cannot be in hell, nor can that place be heaven
consequently, as "God shall render unto every man
mediate place of expiation-which place, in the
language of the church, we style Purgatory
and this doctrine is not merely held by me as my
own, but held in perfect conformity with the doc
trlnes held by some of the most venerable fathers
OF the primitive church. Among others, will quote
from st. Augustine IN an answer he wrote to Ro-
man Senator named Larentius, who had proposed
certain questions to him. He says "We cannot
but believe that the souls of the departed shall be
solaced by the piety of their neighbors, when they
offer tor them the sacrifice OF mediators and dstr-
member that these things are profitable only to
those who have lived in such manner as net to
render themselves unworthy Of profting, by them
ter there IS no manner OF hie SO good as not to
not to profit by them" &C. Thlsis the language Of
ST. Augustine, in which he corroborates my exposi-
eion Of the doctrine In question, when say there
different kinds Of works-hat is to say, works
perfectly good, works perfectly evil, and others be-
tween ,hese two kinds and which must be punish
ed by an intermediate judgment. In quoting, on a
previous occasion, the text from St Matthew, 18th
chap 32d verse, where it says that the sin against
tue Holy Ghost cannot be forgiven in this world
in the world to come, argued that as this par
tcular sin could not be forgiven in this world in
L the world TO come, there are sins which can be
forgiven in this world as well as in the world to
come, and added In proof OF this the authority Of
some OF the most ancient fathers OF the Church in
primitive times, who have interpreted these texts
| precisely as have done. Amongst others, for
| instance, ST. Augustine in the 2lst book Of his
work on " the City Of God;' St. Gregory, in
in the 66th homy on the Song OF Solomon; the
venerable and learned Bede; all these venera
BILE fathers of the church have given to the
texts the same meaning, and deduced from it as !
have done, the doctrine OF Purgatory. Likewise
the other text found in st. Luke, IL cap. seth
verse, where 1t IS said that there is prison out OF
which those who are indebted will not be permit
ted to pass until they pay the last mite-lhis text
say, is interpreted as have done, and quoted in
yindication OF the doctrine of Purgatory by St
Cyril. Tertulian, Ongen, and other most ancient
and venerable fathers OF the ancient church. St.
Cyril, 4h book Of EpstDes, says, it is one thing
to walt Tor pardon, II IS another thing TO arrive i'm
msdately in glory; It is one thing not to go forth
from the prison until have paid the last farthing
and it is another thing to receive our recompense
tor our faith and virtue; it is thing to suffer
long torments from fire. it is another thing to be
offered pure, &C." This is st. Cyri's interprcta-
ton Of that verse in St. Luke which have just re-
tered to, relating to that prison out Of which we
cannot pass without paying the very last farthing
Now it be said that the authority OF these fathers
sentiments, and cannot pass with us for authority
at the present day-I will merely make this re.
mark Suppose, It were possible that the
third aaxe n ,bs b i,
Tertuhan IN the third century, and all the other
| illustrous fathers Of the primitive church-sup.
| pose they were now present, convened in council
before us; and IT there be controversy with re
gard to the doctrine OF Purgatcry which could not
/ be decided by the sacred Scriptures, suppose
should ask St. Cypran if he believed in it, and he
| should answer yes-suppose l asked st. Ambrose,
| and he should answer in the same manner, and so
| on with all these lllusrious names; would it not
be sufficient authority for me, or for any Catholic
OF the present day, to establish the doctrine Of Pur.
gatory, when he finds it in conformity to the be-
lief OF these high authorities, and practised and
believed by all Christians in the primitive and pre-.
ages Of Christianity. In order to convince you
OF the authority OF the ancient fathers In the esl
nation Of the reformers themselves, hear the Ian.
guage OF Martin Luther, who, in the 9th volume OF
| the Weremberg edition of his works, in speaking
OF the authority Of these great fathers to whom
have referred in my preceding lectures, says,--
''These Papsts urge every day by this argument,
do you believe that these fathers have erredP-lt
| is hard 10 say that such men as Ambrose, Angus
tine and all those great personages, whose memories
| we cherish and whose piety we admire, should
| have erred" This is the language Of Luther, who
| in another mood, declared that the testimony of
| these fathers was not worth straw. But as be.
fore remarked, | do not bring forward as deciding
the controversy their authority, but as evl.
dence of the general belief Of all Christians Of those