epistle ad Avitum, we find the place somewhat otherwise expressed,) saith that
"such as depart out of this world after the common course of death are disposed of according to their deeds and merits, as they shall be judged to be worthy, some into the place which is called hell, others into Abraham's bosom, and through divers other places or mansions."
And in his commentaries on Leviticus, he addeth further:
"Neither have the Apostles themselves as yet received their joy; but even they do expect, that I also may be made partaker of their joy. For the saints departing from hence do not presently obtain the full rewards of their labours; but they expect us likewise, however staying, however slacking."
Then touching the purging of men after the resurrection, he thus delivereth his mind in his commentaries upon Luke:
"I think that even after our resurrection from the dead we shall have need of a sacrament to wash and purge us; for none can rise without pollutions."
And upon Jeremy:
"If any one be saved in the second resurrection, he is that sinner which needeth the baptism of fire, which is purged with burning, that whatsoever he hath of wood, hay, and stubble the fire may consume it."
Which in his 5th book against Celsus he doth explicate more at large.
Neither doth Lactantius show himself to vary much from him in either of those points; for thus he writeth:
"When God shall judge the righteous, he will examine them by fire. Then they whose sins shall prevail, either in weight or number, shall be touched with the fire and burned; but they whom perfect righteousness and the ripeness of virtue hath thoroughly seasoned, shall not feel that fire; for from thence have they something in them that will repel and put back the force of the flame. So great is the force of innocency, that that fire shall fly back from it without doing any harm, which hath received this power from God, that it may burn the wicked and do service to the righteous. Yet, notwithstanding, let no man think that the souls are presently judged after death. All of them are detained in one common custody, until the time come wherein the great Judge doth make trial of their doings."
In like manner doth St. Hilary write of the one part:
"All the faithful, when they are gone out of the body, shall be reserved by the Lord's custody for that entry into the heavenly kingdom, being in the mean time placed in the bosom of Abraham, whither the wicked are hindered from coming by the gulf interposed betwixt them, until the time of entering the kingdom of heaven do come."
And thus of the other:
