The Elf-Fire of Purgatory, Title page – Dedication
IGNIS FATVVS.
OR, THE ELF-FIRE OF PVRGATORIE.
Wherein Bellarmine is confuted by Arguments both out of the Old and New Testament, and by his owne Proofes out of Scriptures and Fathers.
Also an Annexe to this Treatise of Purgatorie, concerning the distinction of Sinne in Mortall and Veniall.
By M. WILLIAM GVILD, Minister at KING-EDVVARD.
LONDON, Printed by AVGVSTINE MATHEVVES, and are to bee sold at Britaines Burse. 1625.
TO THE TRVELY Noble, Right Honourable, and Religious, IOHN, Earle of Laderdail, Lord Thirlestane, &c. one of his Maiesties most Honorable Priuie Counsell, &c. and to his most Religious Countesse and Ladie.
RIGHT HONOVRABLE,
THat inueterate-en…mie of Gods glory & mans good, hath neuer ceased from the beginning to intermi…e in the Lords field, his pes…ent popple amongst the good seed, setting a worke the Mysterie of iniquitie, euen then, when the Mysterie of mans redemption was begun to be published, and by force or fraud, either as a redde Dragon, or as a counterfeite of the Lambe, with implacable malice (but limit…ed power) hee hath euer assaulted the Church both in head and members:
Sometimes prouoking to sinne (as Balak … did the people in Ahabs time, as in sinnes o… opinion, contra verum.
This later is of two sorts either hereticall against the … against the Body. … The two preceding were old heresies who long ago hath receiued their iust condemnation: the later carry the … of their grosse guiltinesse, and clear conuiction, specially such as are against the Priesthood of Christ, consisting in full satisfaction, until sole inter… sufferings with Christs all-sufficient oblation: making that glorious worke to be as a Linsey-wolsey garment, and man to share in the glory of that, in the grace whereof he hath onelyonly ….
By which impious assertion, and illicit coniunction, Christ is degraded, his blood vilified, his merit maimed, his crosse curtailed, his death debased, and his sufferings stained, by those who of godlinesse hauehave made gaine, but not made their gaine to bee godlinesse: turning Gods Temple againe into a denne of theeues, and therein making Merchandise, not of Doues, but of Soules (as is fore-prophesied of them;Reuel. 18.13.) and hauehave raised againe the tables of Money-changers, which Christ once ouerthrew. As no more plainely their owne Mantuan affirmes,Mant. de colam temp. saying, Omnia venalia, Romae: then their owne Pope Pius confirmes,Aeneas Syluius ad 1. pereg. Ep. 66. saying, Nil absque argent… Romana curia donat. Nam peccatorum venia & Spiritus dona venduntur.
And indeed though these Subterranean Vulcans, and fire-worke men build vponupon straw, stubble,2 Cor. 3. and hay, their light assertion, without any more solid foundation, then the groundlesse conceit of a brainesicke head, and couetous heart can afford: yet they draw in from the seduced simple, most solid substance of gold, siluer, and large revenewes by a strange sort of Alchymie, Manus porrigentes indultrices, solùm manus porrigentibus adiutrices, but No pennie, no Pater noster, being better seene (as is truely said) in the Golden number of actuall reset, nor in the Dominicall letter of sacred and holy Writ.
Neither without cause does these Locusts that came from the bottomlesse pit smell of fire; or is it a wonder, that these that came out of the smoke of a great furnace, doe yet speak to poore soules of a fiery furnace; neither can any iustly admire, that they torment the conscience, whose power giuen them, is as the power of Scorpions, not to kill outright, by simply damning soules, (for so they should get no profit nor prey) but to torment them with the sure expecting of a Purgatory fire, out of which there is no release, but by the Suffrages, and Soule masses, and so like Beniamin, they rauen as a Wolfe▪ and as the name of the Prophets sonne was, they become speedie robbers, and swift to the prey, neuer resting cruelly to sting; and like Iobs miserable comforters▪ to propine to the dying soule in the greatest agony▪ and thirst for cooling comfort, such a bitter potion as Christ got on the Crosse▪ while the Lions teeth by some bootie be baited.
The zeale then which we all owe to Gods glorie, and louelove which we owe to our fellow members, (as yet perhaps vncome out of Babell) hath moued me at this time to take some paines in this argument to partie the seducers, and pitie the seduced, and by the sword of the Spirit, and Lampe of the Word to conuince the one, and conduct the other into the path of truth, if they may be cured.
Which paines, …ight Honourable, with no lesse affectionate heart, then an officious hand, I offer to your view, and dedicate to your Name, beseeching God that in all honour it may flourish, your soule by grace, and your estate with prosperitie; and that those singular gifts wherewith your God hath indued you, may still receiue a happy growth, for your better acquitall in that eminent station, wherein his wise dispensation hath set you, that his Name may bee glorified, his Church comforted, your Countrey benefited, your posteritie blessed, and your owne selfe eternally may bee saued in that great day.
Your Honours in all humble and heartie duetie, W. GVILD.