cients pray'd for many many of thofe, whom the Papists will acknowledge never were in Purgatory; as for Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apples, of whole happy Eftate it were Impiety to make any queftion. Secondly, Because we have many inftances of those who did believe and practice Prayer for the Dead, and yet never believ❜d a Purgatory,as particularly the Greek Church.

To this N. C. answers First, By denying that Prayers were made for the ApoAtles, Martyrs, or the Virgin Mary.

Secondly, That 'tis a fhameful Evasion to conclude, that the Primitive Church did not believe Purgatory, becaufe they pray'd for the Virgin Mary, and the Apoftles, and Martyrs.

That Prayers were made for Patriarchs, Prophets, &c. is evident from the Confli tutions of Clement, lib. 8. cap. 18. Offeri mus pro iis qui tibi placuerunt à feculo pro Sanctis Patriarchis, Prophetis, &c. Nay, as N. C. confeffes, The Roman Mifal doth the fame now; it offers up Prayers for, and in honour of the Apoftles, Martyrs, and the blessed Virgin Mary. But then (fays he) thefe Prayers are not intended for the delivery of their Souls from any Pains, c And who ever faid they were? But we fay that from hence it is evident, That Prayer for the Dead is not fuch an unanfwerable Argument to prove a Purgatory, © 2

becaufe

because many of those they pray for by their own Confeffion, never were in Purgatory; And the Church in the first Ages did not believe a Purgatory, tho they us'd fome fort of Prayer for the Dead. The truth is, 'twas an early custom in the Primitive Church, to make some kind of Memorial for the Dead, which quickly came to be us'd in form of a Prayer: they thought the Souls were not in perfect Reft and Happiness till the Refurrection; this Opinion they might probably imbibe from the Philofophy of Plato, which had too great an Influence on the Opinions of the firft Chriftians,and was one Reason why that Caveat of the Apostle was given to them,to beware of vain Philofophy. From hence Origen took his Notion, that after fome time the damn'd in Hell, and even the Devils, should be fav'd. And these Philofophical Opinions, by degrees, were form'd into a belief of Purgatory which has fince been fo fruitful of Errors and fuperftitious Practices, fuch as Indulgences, Maffes for the Dead, Vifions, Apparitions, &c. as have tended very much to the difcredit of the Chriftian Religion, and to propagate Irreligion and Atheism in the World; and then 'tis no wonder that this Handle was took hold of, to deprive the Church of thofe Revenues which were obtain'd by fuch ill Arts, and apply'd to fuch fuperftitious and unwarrantable Ufes.

of

Of INDULGENCES.

C

Oncerning Indulgences; there is fo much difference amongst the Popish Writers themselves, that 'tis a very difficult matter to form any juft Notion of the Doctrine of the Church of Rome about them.

The Council of Trent only tells us, That the Power of Indulgences was left in the Church by Chrift, and that the use of them is very helpful to Chriftian People; but doth not determine how and in what manner it is helpful, whether by freeing us from the Guilt or from the Punishment of our Sins; if from the Punishment, from what fort of Punishment; whether the Eternal, or Temporal, or the Cenfures and Difci pline of the Church.

'Tis true, N. C. tells us, That 'tis only from the laft; and that Indulgence is nothing elfe but a Relaxation, or Remiffion of fome part of (or all) thofe penitential Works to which a Sinner is liable by the ? Canons of the Church; which Remiffion is granted by the Paftors, but especially by the chief Pastor of the Church, upon fome weighty Confiderations, for the greater benefit and advantage of the Faithful in general. And that the Roman Church neither

neither means by Indulgences, nor pretends to any more than the lame Power, e which the Primitive Fathers both had and practis'd, i. e. of dispensing with or remitting the Penances prescrib'd by the Canons; nor did ever pretend to difpenf with any Man from Repentance for Sins, or Obedience to the Law of God. And that there is not one Divine or Cafuift in that Church who doth not hold, that it is 6 fmful and diabolical, even the Sin of Simon Magus, to give or receive any Money for Indulgences Tis confeffed indeed, that there have been many Abuses in this matter in, the Church of Rome, but that they are fo far from countenancing or abetting them, that it is their earnest Withes and the defire of their Hearts, that all fuch fhould be entirely abolish'd and taken away.

This is a very smooth and plaufible Apology for one of the vileft and most fcandalous Practices which we charge upon the Church of Rome, and a Reprefentation of Matter of Fact as far remov'd from Truth; as Light is from Darkness. But because His Grace has faid very little upon this Subject, fhall only make two or three Remarks on this Account which N. C. has given us, and fo, for this time, take leave of my Author.

And, Firft, will N. C, affirm, That Indulgence

dulgence is nothing else but a Remiffion of thofe Penitential Works, to which a Sinner is liable by the Canons of the Church? But if this was true, what need they talk for much of the Treasure of the Church? Why do their Indulgences run for the Dead, and those who are in Purgatory, as well as the Living? What need is there of the diftinctions of Plenary, more Plenary, and moft Plenary Indulgences, and fuch like? And, can there be any thing more evident, than that the Bulls of their Popes, promife a full pardon of all Sins, adfreedom from the Guilt as well as the Panifhment of Sine And can we imagine, that if the People did not thus understand them, they would part with fo much Money for the purchase of them?

to Secondly, He tells us, That the Roman Church means nothing elfe by Indulgences, but the fame Power which the Primitive Fathers both had. and practis'd. But this is evidently falfe; neither can he bring any Inftance of this Practice in the first Ten Centuries, twas a Doctrine that crept into the Romish Church after the belief of Purgatory was fettled, and upheld folely by the temporal Intereft of the Ropes, and the gainful Markets which they made by it. But this M. C. denies, and tells us, That 'tis finful and diabolical to give or receive any Money for Indulgences, nay, Q 4

the