I read the promises which Jesus made to the thief on the cross, when
he said to him, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom."
Luke, 23:42, 43. If there were such a place as purgatory, and if any
one were likely to be subjected to its fires, surely it would have
been this malefactor, condemned by human, laws, and probably guilty
of many crimes: yet our Saviour replies, "Verily, I say unto thee,
_to-day_ thou shalt be with me in Paradise."

I read in the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, that "there is now
_no_ condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Rom. 8:1. A
doctrine altogether opposed to that of purgatory, which teaches that
Christians are, after this life, subjected to a process of torments
before they are free from condemnation.

I read in the Epistle to the Hebrews, that "it is appointed to men
once to die, but after this the judgment," Heb. 9: 27, which clearly
proves that the destiny, both of the bad and good, is irrevocably
fixed from the moment of their death; and that there is no purgatory,
from which masses, prayers, or rather gold and silver, can deliver any
one.

I read also in the first Epistle of St. John, that "the blood of Jesus
Christ," the Son of God, "cleanseth us from _all_ sin," 1 John,
1:7, which excludes all other kinds of purification, and formally
contradicts the doctrine of purgatory. Finally, I read in the book of
Revelation, that "blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from
henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their
labours, and their works do follow them."