Wesley Corpus

That those that die in a state of grace are yet in a state of torment, and are to be purged in the other world, is contrary to Scripture and antiquity. “There is no con demnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. viii. 1.) “Whom he justified, them he also glorified.” (Verse 30.) “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth: Who is he that condemneth?’” (Verses 33, 34.) As justification and condemnation are here opposed by the Apostle, so are condemnation and glorifica tion; and he that is justified, upon the same reason that he cannot be condemned, shall be glorified. Now, the elect are justified before they go out of this world; and consequently shall have nothing laid to their charge in the next. “The servants of God then have peace, then enjoy quiet rest and security; when, being drawn from these storms of the world, we arrive at the haven of our everlasting habita tion and security; when, this death being ended, we enter into immortality.” (St. Cypr. de Mortal, sec. 2.) “To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke xxiii. 43.) Paradise is acknowledged to be the seat of the blessed. (Bellarm. de Sanct. Beat., l. 1, c. 3, Testim. 4.) Now, if there was a purgation necessary for sinners, he that believed and repented not till the last moment of his life, might be well supposed to need it; and should have been sent rather to purgatory than paradise. After the night of this life there is no purgation; and “it is better to be corrected and purged now, than to be sent to the torment there, where the time of punishing is and not of purging.” (Greg. Nazianz. Orat. 15, in Plag. Grand.) Q. 22. Of what continuance is the punishment of that state? A. It is but for an appointed time; and the person is to continue in it till he is purged from his sin, and has suffered the punishment due to it. (Catech. Ibud.; Bellarm. De Purg., l. 2, c. 8, sec. Quantum ad primum.) REPLY. The state that believers immediately enter upon after death, is said to be “life” for the comfort, and “ever lasting” for the continuance, of it.