Popery condemned by scripture and the fathers - End Time Deception

312 POPERY CONDEMNED BY
tation. We view some sins as more grievous
than others, both in their nature and aggravations
;
and therefore we believe, that when God
brings every work into judgement, he will
render
to every man according to his works.
Still,
however, we believe the punishment of all to
be perpetual, because we know no part of the
divine law which promises life to an offender
after the infliction of death. Had the R. attended
to the nature of laws, he would have
perceived the absurdity of such an idea. It
would have shown him, that death, which is
the
wages of sin, is not a punishment designed for
the reformation of offenders. It supposes the
existence of these repugnant to the interests of
society ; and therefore it involves in it both a
punishment and a total exclusion. We have,
on this account, judged the doctrine of purgatory
equally inconsistent with the law of God
and the common principles of equity.
The R. is rather unlucky in his illustrations
of the venial nature of some sins. '^ We Ca-
*'
iholics," says he, " do think that some lies
" are venial." All persons who tell lies, he must
allow, come naturally under the denomination
of liars ; and these, says the scripture, " shall
" have their part in the lake which burneth with
'•
fire and brimstone :'* and the R. must beware
of thinking this
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merely a purgatorial business
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