difficultplaces，perhapstheremaybeplaceleftaftertheresurrectionfortherepentanceofsomesinners。Andthereisalsoanotherplacethatseemethtoagreetherewith。ForconsideringthewordsofSt。Paul，“Whatshalltheydowhicharebaptizedforthedead，ifthedeadrisenotatall？Whyalsoaretheybaptizedforthedead？“*amanmayprobablyinfer，assomehavedone，thatinSt。Paul’stimetherewasacustom，byreceivingbaptismforthedead，asmenthatnowbelievearesuretiesandundertakersforthefaithofinfantsthatarenotcapableofbelievingtoundertakeforthepersonsoftheirdeceasedfriends，thattheyshouldbereadytoobeyandreceiveourSaviourfortheirkingathiscomingagain；andthentheforgivenessofsinsintheworldtocomehasnoneedofapurgatory。Butinboththeseinterpretations，thereissomuchofparadoxthatItrustnottothem，butpropoundthemtothosethatarethoroughlyversedintheScripture，toinquireiftherebenoclearerplacethatcontradictsthem。Onlyofthusmuch，IseeevidentScripturetopersuademethatthereisneitherthewordnorthethingofpurgatory，neitherinthisnoranyothertext；noranythingthatcanproveanecessityofaplaceforthesoulwithoutthebody；neitherforthesoulofLazarusduringthefourdayshewasdead；norforthesoulsofthemwhichtheRomanChurchpretendtobetormentednowinpurgatory。ForGod，thatcouldgivealifetoapieceofclay，haththesamepowertogivelifeagaintoadeadman，andrenewhisinanimateandrottencarcassintoaglorious，spiritual，andimmortalbody。
*ICorinthians，15。29
AnotherplaceisthatofICorinthians，3，whereitissaidthattheywhichbuildstubble，hay，etc。，onthetruefoundation，theirworkshallperish；but“theythemselvesshallbesaved；butasthroughfire“：thisfirehewillhavetobethefireofpurgatory。Thewords，asIhavesaidbefore，areanallusiontothoseofZechariah，13。9，wherehesaith，“Iwillbringthethirdpartthroughthefire，andrefinethemassilverisrefined，andwilltrythemasgoldistried“：whichisspokenofthecomingoftheMessiahinpowerandglory；thatis，atthedayofjudgement，andconflagrationofthepresentworld；whereintheelectshallnotbeconsumed，butberefined；thatis，deposetheirerroneousdoctrinesandtraditions，andhavethem，asitwere，singedoff；andshallafterwardscalluponthenameofthetrueGod。Inlikemanner，theApostlesaithofthemthat，holdingthisfoundation，JesusistheChrist，shallbuildthereonsomeotherdoctrinesthatbeerroneous，thattheyshallnotbeconsumedinthatfirewhichreneweththeworld，butshallpassthroughittosalvation；butsoastoseeandrelinquishtheirformererrors。Thebuildersarethepastors；thefoundation，thatJesusistheChrist；thestubbleandhay，falseconsequencesdrawnfromitthroughignoranceorfrailty；thegold，silver，andpreciousstonesaretheirtruedoctrines；andtheirrefiningorpurging，therelinquishingoftheirerrors。Inallwhichthereisnocolouratallfortheburningofincorporeal，thatistosay，impatiblesouls。
AthirdplaceisthatofICorinthians，15。29，beforementioned，concerningbaptismforthedead：outofwhichheconcludeth，first，thatprayersforthedeadarenotunprofitable；andoutofthat，thatthereisafireofpurgatory：butneitherofthemrightly。Forofmanyinterpretationsofthewordbaptism，heapproveththisinthefirstplace，thatbybaptismismeant，metaphorically，abaptismofpenance；andthatmenareinthissensebaptizedwhentheyfast，andpray，andgivealms；andsobaptismforthedead，andprayerforthedead，isthesamething。Butthisisametaphor，ofwhichthereisnoexample，neitherintheScripturenorinanyotheruseoflanguage；
andwhichisalsodiscordanttotheharmonyandscopeoftheScripture。Thewordbaptismisusedforbeingdippedinone’sownblood，asChristwasuponthecross，andasmostoftheApostleswere，forgivingtestimonyofhim。*Butitishardtosaythatprayer，fasting，andalmshaveanysimilitudewithdipping。Thesameisusedalso，Matthew，3。11whichseemethtomakesomewhatforpurgatory，forapurgingwithfire。ButitisevidentthefireandpurgingherementionedisthesamewhereoftheProphetZechariahspeaketh，“I
willbringthethirdpartthroughthefire，willrefinethem，“
etc。*2AndSt。Peterafterhim，“Thatthetrialofyourfaith，whichismuchmorepreciousthanofgoldthatperisheth，thoughitbetriedwithfire，mightbefounduntopraise，andhonour，andgloryattheappearingofJesusChrist“；*3andSt。Paul，“Thefireshalltryeveryman’sworkofwhatsortitis。“*4ButSt。PeterandSt。
PaulspeakofthefirethatshallbeatthesecondappearingofChrist；andtheProphetZechariah，ofthedayofjudgement。AndthereforethisplaceofSt。Matthewmaybeinterpretedofthesame，andthentherewillbenonecessityofthefireofpurgatory。
AnotherinterpretationofbaptismforthedeadisthatwhichI
havebeforementioned，whichhepreferrethtothesecondplaceofprobability：andthencealsoheinferreththeutilityofprayerforthedead。ForifaftertheresurrectionsuchashavenotheardofChrist，ornotbelievedinhim，maybereceivedintoChrist’skingdom，itisnotinvain，aftertheirdeath，thattheirfriendsshouldprayforthemtilltheyshouldberisen。ButgrantingthatGod，attheprayersofthefaithful，mayconvertuntohimsomeofthosethathavenotheardChristpreached，andconsequentlycannothaverejectedChrist，andthatthecharityofmeninthatpointcannotbeblamed；yetthisconcludethnothingforpurgatory，becausetorisefromdeathtolifeisonething；torisefrompurgatorytolifeisanother；asbeingarisingfromlifetolife，fromalifeintormentstoalifeinjoy。
AfourthplaceisthatofMatthew，5。25：“Agreewiththineadversaryquickly，whilstthouartinthewaywithhim，lestatanytimetheadversarydelivertheetothejudge，andthejudgedelivertheetotheofficer，andthoubecastintoprison。VerilyIsayuntothee，Thoushaltbynomeanscomeoutthence，tillthouhastpaidtheuttermostfarthing。“Inwhichallegory，theoffenderisthesinner；boththeadversaryandthejudgeisGod；thewayisthislife；
theprisonisthegrave；theofficer，death；fromwhichthesinnershallnotriseagaintolifeeternal，buttoaseconddeath，tillhehavepaidtheutmostfarthing，orChristpayitforhimbyhisPassion，whichisafullransomforallmannerofsin，aswelllessersinsasgreatercrimes，bothbeingmadebythePassionofChristequallyvenial。
ThefifthplaceisthatofMatthew，5。22：“Whosoeverisangrywithhisbrotherwithoutacauseshallbeguiltyinjudgement。Andwhosoevershallsaytohisbrother，Raca，shallbeguiltyinthecouncil。Butwhosoevershallsay，Thoufool，shallbeguiltytohellfire。“Fromwhichwordsheinferreththreesortsofsins，andthreesortsofpunishments；andthatnoneofthosesins，butthelast，shallbepunishedwithhellfire；andconsequently，thatafterthislifethereispunishmentoflessersinsinpurgatory。Ofwhichinferencethereisnocolourinanyinterpretationthathathyetbeengivenofthem。Shalltherebeadistinctionafterthislifeofcourtsofjustice，astherewasamongsttheJewsinourSaviour’stime，tohearanddeterminediversesortsofcrimes，asthejudgesandthecouncil？ShallnotalljudicatureappertaintoChristandhisApostles？Tounderstandthereforethistext，wearenottoconsideritsolitarily，butjointlywiththewordsprecedentandsubsequent。OurSaviourinthischapterinterpreteththeLawofMoses，whichtheJewsthoughtwasthenfulfilledwhentheyhadnottransgressedthegrammaticalsensethereof，howsoevertheyhadtransgressedagainstthesentenceormeaningofthelegislator。Therefore，whereastheythoughtthesixthCommandmentwasnotbrokenbutbykillingaman；northeseventh，butwhenamanlaywithawomannothiswife；ourSaviourtellsthem，theinwardangerofamanagainsthisbrother，ifitbewithoutjustcause，ishomicide。Youhaveheard，saithhe，theLawofMoses，“Thoushaltnotkill，“andthat“Whosoevershallkillshallbecondemnedbeforethejudges，“orbeforethesessionoftheSeventy：butIsayuntoyou，tobeangrywithone’sbrotherwithoutcause，ortosayuntohimRaca，orFool，ishomicide，andshallbepunishedatthedayofjudgement，andsessionofChristandhisApostles，withhellfire。Sothatthosewordswerenotusedtodistinguishbetweendiversecrimes，anddiversecourtsofjustice，anddiversepunishments；buttotaxthedistinctionbetweensinandsin，whichtheJewsdrewnotfromthedifferenceofthewillinobeyingGod，butfromthedifferenceoftheirtemporalcourtsofjustice；
andtoshowthemthathethathadthewilltohurthisbrother，thoughtheeffectappearbutinreviling，ornotatall，shallbecastintohellfirebythejudgesandbythesession，whichshallbethesame，notdifferent，courtsatthedayofjudgement。Thisconsidered，whatcanbedrawnfromthistexttomaintainpurgatory，Icannotimagine。
ThesixthplaceisLuke，16。9：“Makeyefriendsoftheunrighteousmammon，thatwhenyefail，theymayreceiveyouintoeverlastingtabernacles。“Thisheallegestoproveinvocationofsaintsdeparted。Butthesenseisplain，thatweshouldmakefriends，withourriches，ofthepoor；andtherebyobtaintheirprayerswhilsttheylive。“HethatgivethtothepoorlendethtotheLord。“
TheseventhisLuke，23。42：“Lord，remembermewhenthoucomestintothykingdom。“Therefore，saithhe，thereisremissionofsinsafterthislife。Buttheconsequenceisnotgood。OurSaviourthenforgavehim，and，athiscomingagaininglory，willremembertoraisehimagaintolifeeternal。
TheeighthisActs，2。24，whereSt。PetersaithofChrist，“thatGodhadraisedhimup，andloosedthepainsofdeath，becauseitwasnotpossibleheshouldbeholdenofit“：whichheinterpretstobeadescentofChristintopurgatory，toloosesomesoulstherefromtheirtorments：whereasitismanifestthatitwasChristthatwasloosed。
Itwashethatcouldnotbeholdenofdeathorthegrave，andnotthesoulsinpurgatory。ButifthatwhichBezasaysinhisnotesonthisplacebewellobserved，thereisnonethatwillnotseethatinsteadofpains，itshouldbebands；andthenthereisnofurthercausetoseekforpurgatoryinthistext。
THEimpressionmadeontheorgansofsightbylucidbodies，eitherinonedirectlineorinmanylines，reflectedfromopaque，orrefractedinthepassagethroughdiaphanousbodies，producethinlivingcreatures，inwhomGodhathplacedsuchorgans，animaginationoftheobjectfromwhencetheimpressionproceedeth；whichimaginationiscalledsight，andseemethnottobeamereimagination，butthebodyitselfwithoutus；inthesamemanneraswhenamanviolentlypressethhiseye，thereappearstohimalightwithout，andbeforehim，whichnomanperceivethbuthimself，becausethereisindeednosuchthingwithouthim，butonlyamotionintheinteriororgans，pressingbyresistanceoutward，thatmakeshimthinkso。Andthemotionmadebythispressure，continuingaftertheobjectwhichcauseditisremoved，isthatwecallimagination，andmemory，and，insleep，andsometimesingreatdistemperoftheorgansbysicknessorviolence，adream，ofwhichthingsIhavealreadyspokenbrieflyinthesecondandthirdChapters。
Thisnatureofsighthavingneverbeendiscoveredbytheancientpretenderstonaturalknowledge，muchlessbythosethatconsidernotthingssoremoteasthatknowledgeisfromtheirpresentuse，itwashardformentoconceiveofthoseimagesinthefancyandinthesenseotherwisethanofthingsreallywithoutus：whichsome，becausetheyvanishaway，theyknownotwhithernorhow，willhavetobeabsolutelyincorporeal，thatistosay，immaterial，orformswithoutmattercolourandfigure，withoutanycolouredorfiguredbody，andthattheycanputonairybodies，asagarment，tomakethemvisiblewhentheywilltoourbodilyeyes；andotherssay，arebodiesandlivingandlivingcreatures，butmadeofair，orothermoresubtleandetherealmatter，whichis，then，whentheywillbeseen，condensed。Butbothofthemagreeononegeneralappellationofthem，demons。Asifthedeadofwhomtheydreamedwerenotinhabitantsoftheirownbrain，butoftheair，orofheaven，orhell；notphantasms，butghosts；withjustasmuchreasonasifoneshouldsayhesawhisownghostinalooking-glass，ortheghostsofthestarsinariver；orcalltheordinaryapparitionofthesun，ofthequantityofaboutafoot，thedemonorghostofthatgreatsunthatenlighteneththewholevisibleworld：andbythatmeanshavefearedthem，asthingsofanunknown，thatis，ofanunlimitedpowertodothemgoodorharm；andconsequently，givenoccasiontothegovernorsoftheheathenCommonwealthstoregulatethistheirfearbyestablishingthatdemonologyinwhichthepoets，asprincipalpriestsoftheheathenreligion，werespeciallyemployedorreverencedtothepublicpeace，andtotheobedienceofsubjectsnecessarythereunto；