and from fome of the antient Fathers in Confirmation of this Doctrine.

To begin with the Liturgy of St. Clement. 1 made no mention of this Liturgy hitherto, (tho' it be as antient as thofe of St. James or St. Mark, and is put at the Head of all the Liturgies tranflated into English by Doctor Brett) because it was not ufed in any Church that I can find. However for it's Antiquity, we ought to have a great Value for the Doctrine and Practice which it recommends, as being of the pureft of Times, and next to that of the very Apoftles. This Liturgy then tells us, that in a Prayer defired by the Deacon, to be made by the Bishop, at the divine Sacrifice, these Words are read: Let us commemorate the holy Martyrs, that we may be deemed worthy, to be Partakers of their Tryal. Let us pray for all those who have died in the Faith. Here your Grace fees the Difference between the Martyrs and the other Faithful departed. The Martyrs are to be commemorated, and the other Faithful to be prayed for. The Martyrs are commemorated, that we may obtain the Grace to follow their Example, and the other Faithful are prayed for, that God may be Merciful to them, and forgive them the Sins they did not expiate and attone for, before they left this Life; what else can be the Meaning of this different Conduct of the Church, with Refpect to thefe different Sorts of Faithful departed? The Martyrs were then in Heaven, and the other Faithful not in Hell, out of which there is no Redemption, but in a third Place, where they were supposed to be in fuch Circumftances, as that they might be help'd and reliev'd by the Prayers and Oblations Offer'd for them to God;

and

and this third Place is what we call Purga

tory.

The Liturgy of St. James is fomewhat fuller upon this Head. For in the Prayer which the Prieft puts up to God after the Confecration of the holy Myfteries; the Deacon recommends to him to add thefe Words: For the Remiffion of our Sins, and the Reconciliation of our Souls, and for all that are under Affliction and Calamity, and that want the Mercy and Affiftance of God, for the Converfion of those that are in Error, and the Recovery of the Sick; for the Deliverance of Captives, and for the Repofe of our Fathers and Brethren that are Gone before us, Let us pray earnestly and fay, Lord have Mercy. The People Jay three Times: Lotd bave Mercy.

For the Repofe of our Fathers and Brethren.

They were then fuppofed, by the Church, to be in a State of Suffering and of wanting Repofe; and what is this, but to be in a third Place which we call Purgatory,

In St. Mark's Liturgy, we read this Prayer at the End of the Anaphora: Give Reft, O Lord, our God, to the Souls of our Fathers and Brethren, who are departed in the Faith of Chrift: Be mindful of our Forefathers, from the Beginning of the World, of the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoftles, Martyrs, Confeffors, Bishops, Saints, &c. And again when the Deacon has read the Dypticks of the Dead, the Prieft bows down. and prays after this manner: Give Reft to the Souls of all thefe, O Lord our God, in the Tabernacles of thy Saints; Difpence unto them in thy King

dom

dom thofe good Things which thou haft promifed, which Eye hath not feen, nor Ear beard, neither bave enter'd into the Heart of Man; which thou baft prepared, O God, for those who love thy boly Name. Give Reft to their Souls, and vouch fafe them the Kingdom of Heaven.

In the Liturgy of St. John Chryfoftom, when the Deacon makes an End of reading the Dypticks, and Remembring fo many of the Dead and living as he thinks fit, the Prieft prays thus for the living: For Health, Protection, and Remiffion of the Sins of N. the Servant of God.

For the Dead, he says:

For the Reft and Forgiveness of the Soul of thy Servant N. give it Reft, O God, in a pleasant Place, where there is no Sorrow or Mourning, but where it may rejoyce in the Light of thy Coun

tenance.

For the Reft and Forgiveness of the Soul of thy Servant N. It wanted then Reft and Forgive nefs. It was then in Pain for want of this Rest and Forgiveness. And is not this then, to be in Purgatory?

In the Liturgy of St. Bafil, when the Dypticks are read, the Prieft prays after the fame Manner, both for the Living and the Dead. For the Living he prays for Health, and Protection, and Remiffion of the Sins of N. the Servant of God.

For the Dead, he fays:

For the Reft and Forgiveness of the Soul of thy Servant N. Give it Reft, O God, in a pleasant Place, where there is no Sorrow or Mourning.

In

In the fame Liturgy as ufed in the Patrzar chate of Alexandria, after the Dypticks are. read by the Deacon, the Priest says.

Receive their Souls, O Lord, grant them Reft, and vouchsafe them thine heavenly Kingdom. This Liturgy then, fuppofes they were not as yet, (tho' Dead) in the Kingdom of Heaven. Nor would it put up any Prayers for them, had it fuppofed them to have been in Hell. It muft therefore,fuppofe them to be in a third Place, where they wanted Reft and Forgivness of their Sins which furely is to be in Purgatory.

In the Ethiopian Liturgy, Where the Priest prays for all the People, for the King, for all Chriftians, for Travellers, for the Fruits of the Earth, for the Bishops of the Church, and for Men in all Stations; He adds thefe Words for the Dead : Give Reft to our Fathers, and Brethren, who are fallen asleep, and departed from us in the Orthodox Faith.

In the Liturgy of Neftorius, who as I observed before, together with his Sect has been condemned for Herefy in the Council of Ephesus, and who has had no Commerce or Communication in facred Rites, with any of the Orthodox Believers, thefe 1250 Years, the Piieft prays thus for the Dead: We pray and befeech thee, O Lord, thro' this Oblation, to be mindful of our Forefathers, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apofties, Martyrs, Confeffors, Teachers, Bishops, Priefis, Deacons, and all others, who have been Partners in our Miniflry, and are gone before us, and all our Brethren in Chrift, who are departed this Life in the true Faith, whofe Names thou knoweft; and to remit and Pardon through the

Pe

Petitions and Interceffions of those who have pleafed thee, all the Sins, and Offences committed against thee.

Here it is worthy our Notice, that this Liturgy prays God to be mindful of the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoftles, Martyrs, Confeffors, and of others whom it fuppofes to have pleafed God, and to defire that God may remit and Pardon the Sins and Offences of other deceased Souls thro' their Petitions and Interceffions.

In the Liturgy of Severus who, as I obferved before likewife, together with his Sect have deferted the Church thefe 1200 Years and more: The Priest puts up this prayer: Remember, O Lord, the Priests, Deacons, Subdeacons, Readers, Singers, Expounders, Confeffors, Monks, and those who have vowed perpetual Virginity: Give them Courage, and a becoming Modefty, and remember all Conditions of Men who are departed in Chrift, and for whom thefe Oblations are offer'd N. B. This Liturgy, not only prays for the Dead, but also offers Sacrifices for them.

It is very hard, My Lord, to add any thing to fuch authentick Evidence. Thefe Liturgies are the ftanding and perpetual Monuments of the Faith and Practice of the Apoftles. The three firft are as antient, as the Apoftles themfelves; and the most modern of the Reft is 1200 Years old and more. St. Bafil and St.John Chryfoftom, were Men of fo great Piety, Learning, and Zeal for the Orthodox Faith, that we may fafely pronounce upon their fayings.

And Neftorius and Severus, were indeed, great Men, tho' unfortunately prepoffeffed in Favour of their own prejudicate Notions, which made them forfake the Catholick Communion, and drew

great