On Fiery Judgment

St. Columbanus ca. 543-615

Men, created out of the earth and making a brief sojourn on the earth return almost at once to the earth and then, a second time, on orders from God, are yielded up and put forth by the earth, and at the end of time tried by passing through the fire, which in some way will dissolve the earth and mud; and if, after the counterfeit coin has melted, there remains gold or silver or some other useful matter from the earth, the fire will show it. (Instructiones, Instructio 9)