St. Jerom, L. C. “If he, whose work has burned and suffered loss, (as the Apostle says) shall lose the reward of his labour, yet shall he be saved by the trial of fire; so he whose work shall abide which he built upon, shall be saved without fire. Thus there will be some difference in the degrees of salvation.” Adv. Jovinan. L. ii. T. iv. Pars. 11. p. 215.—“As we believe the torments of the devil and of those wicked men, who said in their hearts, there is no God, to be eternal; so, in regard to those sinners, who have not denied their faith, and whose works will be proved and purged by fire, we conclude, that the sentence of the judge will be tempered by mercy.” Comment. in c. lxv. Isai. T. ii. p. 492.He establishes the same doctrine against the Pelagians, L. i. T. iv. Pars. 11. p. 501, &c.—In a letter of consolation to Pammachius on the death of his wife Paulina, he says: “Other husbands strew various flowers on the graves of their departed wives; but you bedew the venerable remains of Paulina with the sweet essences of charity; knowing, that as water quenches fire, so do alms extinguish sin. (Eccles. iii. 33.)” Ep. liv, ad Pammach. T. iv. p. 584.
CENT. V.
St. Augustin, L. C.—“Before the most severe and last judgment, some undergo temporal punishments in this life; some after death; and others both now and then. But not all that suffer after death, are condemned to eternal flames. What is not expiated in this life, to some is remitted in the life to come,[1] so that they may escape eternal punishment.” De Civit. Dei, L. xxi. c. 13. T. vii. p. 634.—“The prayers of the Church and of some good persons are heard in favour of those Christians, who departed this life,[2] not so bad as to
