Lesson 13: On Purgatory

1. What is purgatory?

A place of punishment in the other life, where some souls suffer for a time, before they can go to heaven. Matt. xii. 32.

2. Do any others go to purgatory besides those who die in venial sin?

Yes; all who die indebted to God's justice on account of mortal sin.

3. When God forgives mortal sin, as to the guilt of it, and the eternal punishment it deserved, does he* require temporary punishments to be suffered for it I

*\ es; very often, for our correction — to deter us from relapsing into sin; and that we should make some atonement to his offended justice and goodness. Num. iv. 23, and 2 Kings, xii. xiii. xiv.

4. Can the souls in purgatory be relieved by our

prayers and other good works?

A. Yes; being children of God, and still members of the church, they share in the communion of saints — and the scripture says, it is a holy and wlwlesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins. 2 Mace. xii. 46.

5. What means the communion of saints?

It means that all who belong to the true church, by their prayers and good works assist each other.

6. Is it sufficient for salvation to be members of tho true church?

No; we must avoid evil and do good. Pet. i. 3?

7. What good shall I do that J may h*we life everlasting? Matt. xix. 16.

If thou wilt enter into life, says Christ, keep tke commandments. Matt. xix. 17.

8. What commandments am I to keep?

The ten commandments of God.