othing imperfect. It is the pure
in heart who shall see GOD. Isaiah dare hardly approach the vision of
GOD'S glory on earth, because he felt himself to be a man of unclean
lips. The very heavens, the stars themselves, are not clean in GOD'S
sight. And at death, who is pure? Who is free from stain? Who is
perfect, that he should be fit to look upon GOD? Then, if no one that is
imperfect can enter heaven, and none are perfect at death, can we not see
what the work is that has to be done between death and the Resurrection?
It is this work of purification, that the soul may be fitted for the
vision of GOD in heaven. And this is what S. Paul is speaking of in the
text. The work begun in life, under the conditions of earth's life,
shall not stop at death, but, under new conditions, shall be carried on
to perfection until the day of Jesus Christ.

So far, then, we may say that we are treading on sure ground. But when
we go on to ask how shall this work and process of purification be
effected, and what is the nature and method of it, we are approaching a
stage in our enquiry about which, it may be thought, nothing but
conjecture remains, because nothing has been revealed. But let us see
what light may be thrown upon this question. And, that we may narrow our
enquiry within manageable limits, let us confine our attention for the
present to the condition of those of whom it may with truth and reason be
said that they died in the favour and grace of GOD, died in good hope of
salvation, surely trusting that their sins had been forgiven through the
blood of Jesus Christ, and that, however imperfect and blemished with sin
their lives had been, there was an assured forgiveness for them and a
good hope of eternal mercy. We will not define the exact limits of this
reasonable hope, nor attempt to show who are within or beyond those
limits. We will only, in general terms, speak of those who have entered
upon the Intermediate Life in a condition such as would make them capable
of perfect purification. Certainly it is impossible for any of us ever
to say of any one absolutely that he is incapable of such progressive
purification. It is not possible, in Christian charity, to pronounce
sentence upon any. And it may be, and we may indeed hope, that a vast
number, a much larger proportion than many now imagine, will prove on
their entrance into the Intermediate Life to be capable of such progress
of effective purification as may