into hell A. He did so otherwise my Creed hath taught me something that is not to be beleeved Q. Some are of opinion that it is a Metaphoricall speech and signifies that he was truly dead A. I know there are some of that opinion but I see no reason why I should assent thereto Q. Why so A. For these five reasons First because u S. Luc. 16 23. Ne ipsos quidem inferos uspiam Scripturarum locis in bono appellatos potui reperire Aug. Ep. 99. de Gen. ad lit l. 12. c. 33. Hell does not signifie the place of the dead but the place of the damned as in the case of Dives Secondly our Saviours death was sufficiently expressed before in that it is said he was dead and not only so but he was buried And we bury not the living but the dead Thirdly * Calvin Instit l. 2. c. 16. §. 8. Calvin saith it is a battalogy or needlesse repetition and not probable that such vanity should be admitted into so compendious a briefe of our faith Fourthly it is contrary to the course of order after buriall to returne to his death as if he had suffer'd death a second time But it is methodicall and orderly ' after they had done with his body to acquaint us what became of his soule when he was dead and to tell us that it descended or went downe into hell Fifthly by the primitive Church his descent into hell is not accounted any part of his humiliation but the first degree of his exaltation Q. Where learne you this doctrine A. In Dr Nowels Catechisme where I find that x D. Nowels Cate. upon this Article by his descending into hell is meant that as Christ in his body descended into the bowells of the earth so IN HIS SOVLE SEVERED FROM THE BODY HE DESCENDED INTO HELL Q. Js not this D. Nowels private opinion A. No it is the resolution of those blessed Reformers under King Edward VI. For they tell us that y Art 3. in the three daies of Christs death His Body was in the Grave HIS SOVL IN HELL and his Deity every where Q. Was not this cast off as an erroneous opinion in Q. Elizabeth's daies A. No certainely for their Scholers in the Articles of 1562. say thus z Art 3. As Christ died for us and was buried SO ALSO IS IT TO BE BELEIVED THAT HE DESCENDED INTO HELL But a Art 2. we beleeve that Christ truly died and was buried it is therefore to be beleived that he truly descended into Hell But to say as we beleive that Christ truly died so doe we beleive that he was truly dead were a most absurd inference and would be hissed out of the Schooles Q. This manifests their resolution but is this agreeable to the Ancient Church A. There is not one Councell or probable Father in the first 500 yeares but is of this opinion And S. Austine is so resolute for this Article that he saith b Quis nisi infidelis negaverit fuisse apud inferos Christum Aug. ep 99. Whosoever denies Christs descent into Hell is no Christian And Athanasius in his Creed puts it in among those Articles whereof he saith c Athan. Creed which faith except every one doe keep WHOLE AND VNDEFILED without doubt he shall perish everlastingly Q. Where is this Hell that he went into A. d Eph. 4 9. In the lower parts of the earth then which nothing is lower So S. Paul And e Christum in corde terrae triduum mortis logimus expunctum id est in recessu intimo interno in ipsa terrâ operto infra ipsam cavato inferioribus adhuc abyssis superstructo Tertul. de animâ c. 55. Christus ad solvendos inferni dolores descendit Aug. ep 99. Tertullian makes his expression so full for the bowels of the earth that no man can doubt of his opinion Q. What went he thither for A. To triumph over Hell and to fulfill that of the Prophet f Hos 13.14 1. Cor. 15.55 O death where is thy sting O Hell where is thy Victorie To this opinion assents D. Nowell in his Catechisme Q. Are all of this opinion A. No truly some conceive that he sufferd the torments of hell in his Soul which cannot be For * Vel peccato vel damnatione mors animae intelligi potest Aug ep 99. first the paines of Hell are the death of the soul and in that sence it is said g Ezek. 18.4 that soule which sinnes shall surely dye But Christs soule never sinned and for h 1. S. Pet. 2.24 our sinnes he bare them in his Body 2ly The Scriptures teach us that i 1. S. Pet. 4.1 Christ suffered for us in the flesh and that k 1. S. Pet. 3.18 he was put to death in the flesh not in the soule no such thing in Scripture 3ly That soule which is united to the Deitie is not capable of Hell torments That were to make the soule of God subject to the Divell which cannot be imagined without blasphemy 4ly l Act. 2. 30 31. David being a Prophet said of the Resurrection of Christ that m Ps 16.11 Act. 13.37 his Soule was not left in Hell neither did his flesh see corruption If then this was spoken of his Resurrection it was not spoken either of his Death or Passion As then his body was in the place of corruption but saw but suffered no corruption so his soule was in Hell the place of torments but suffered no torment Q. How understand you these two sayings of his n S. Mat. 26.38 My Soule is heavy even unto death and o S. Mat. 27.46 My God my God why hast thou forsaken me A. The former he spake as he was man foreseeing his death at hand shewing that his Soule was exceeding sorrowfull as ours are to be parted from the body The other he spake because the Deity for a time had withdrawen her comfortable vision from the soule that so it might endure what sorrow it was any way capable of For if there were an exceeding sorrow in the soule to be parted a while from the body what excesse of sorrow was in it think you when the sight of God was subtracted from it since the vision of God is the highest comfort of the soule for p Ps 16.12 in his presence is the fulnesse of joy Q. What think you of his Resurrection A. After Christs soule had for three daies triumphed over Hell and all the powers thereof it was reunited to the body which arose from the grave without corruption and both were q Act. 2.28 filled with the joy of his countenance And to assure us of this his Resurrection r Act. 1.3 in his flesh he was conversant with his Apostles and Disciples forty daies Q. Which is the sixth Article A. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty
in Symb n. 13. Framed it was for this purpose that it might be the token of their unanimity and faith and that r Per quod agnosceretur is qui Christum verè secūdum Apostolicas regulas praedicaret Ib. n. 11. thereby it might evidently be seen who preached Christ truly according to the Apostles rules and who not It had been also contrary to the Apostles open profession who affirme that ſ 1. Cor. 2.1 they came not with excellency of speech or of wisedome but that t Rom. 6.19 they spake after the manner and custome of men Q. You take then the words of this Creed in the literall and plaine sense A. I doe so for u 1. Cor. 3.1 we are not taught at first as spirituall but as carnall men as babes in Christ because * Ib. v. 2. we are not able to beare strong meat we must be fed with milke And I have learned that x Hooker Eccles Pol. l. 5 §. 59. in Scripture where a literall construction will stand the furthest from the letter is commonly the worst Q That then we may fully discerne whether it may be taken in the usuall and ordinary sense let us take it asunder and weigh the particular words in the severall Articles How many Articles are there in this Creed A. Twelve Q. Which is the first A. I beleeve in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth Q. How understand you these words A. Accordingly as I utter them namely that God the Father is the God of all might and power and that y Act. 14 15. he made or created Heaven and Earth and the Sea and all things that are therein all these of nothing Q. Which is the second Article A. And in Iesus Christ his only Son our Lord. Q. Is he also God A. The Sonne of the same substance and nature with the Father z Nicene Creed God of God very God of very God a Athan. Creed Coeternall to the Father and coequall and our Lord with the Father Q. Is he also Almighty A. Without question he is b Col. 1.16 for by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible and c Ib. v. 17 by him all things consist Q. The third Article A. Who was conceived by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary Q. What is the meaning of this Article A. That d Gal. 4 4. in the fulnesse of time e Nicene Creed he was incarnate or made flesh of the Virgin Mary by the holy Ghost Q. Was he who is above and f Col. 1.17 before all things made flesh A. He that from all eternity is God with the Father in time was made man g Athan. Creed God of the substance of the Father begotten before the worlds and man of the substance of his mother borne in the world Perfect God and perfect man of a reasonable soule and humane flesh subsisting Q. Is not the holy Ghost his Father also A. No for in his Incarnation he took nothing of the Holy Ghost Only the Holy Ghost took the Seed of the Virgin Mary and made it flesh without the help of man or sense of the woman Which flesh united to the soule the second person in the Trinity assumed into his owne person and became h Ib. one Christ One I say not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the manhood into God Q. Is he not one as he is the Sonne of God and another as he is the Son of man A. No though he consist of two natures he is but one person i Ib. For as the reasonable soule and flesh is one man so God and man is one Christ Q. May then the Virgin Mary be said to be the Mother of God A. She may because she is mother of that man who is God k Ib. not by confusion of substance but by unity of person As Abraham is the Father of Isaac though not the Father of his soule so is she the mother of the second person in the Trinity though not the mother of his Godhead Q. Which is the fourth Article A. He suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he that very person that is the sonne of God and was borne of the Virgin Mary Q. Why did he suffer all this A. l Nicene Creed For us men and for our salvation for m 1. S. Pet. 2.24 he bare our sinnes in his owne body that we being dead unto sinne should live unto righteousnesse by whose stripes we are healed He suffered here that we might not suffer hereafter he endured the cursed death that we might escape the curse of the Law he dyed for a time that we might live for ever he was buried that he might sanctifie the grave and make it a place of rest for us Q. Did the second person in the Trinity suffer A. His person suffer'd though not each nature in his person As man but not as God for God cannot suffer Q. Who did he suffer for A. For all the sonnes of Adam He took not therefore upon him the person but the nature of man that so he might perfect this great worke of Redemption for all that are of the same nature with him Q. Are you sure of this A. The Scriptures have taught me so n S. John 8.16 So God loved the World saith our blessed Saviour that he gave his only begotten Sonne to the end that ALL THAT BELEEVE IN HIM should not perish but have life everlasting And St John o 1. S. Joh. 2.1 2. If ANY MAN sinne WE have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sinnes and not for ours only but also for the sinnes of the WHOLE WORLD And Saint Paul assures us that p Heb. 2.9 Christ tasted death for EVERY MAN What would we more Q. This is comfortable doctrine A. It is so and to this agrees the doctrine of my mother the Church of England who hath taught me q Artic. 17. to receive Gods promises in such wise as they are GENERALLY set forth to us in holy Scripture assuring me that our Saviour r Prayer before the Communion upon the Crosse made a full PERFECT and sufficient sacrisice oblation and SATISFACTION FOR THE SINNES OF THE WHOLE WORLD yea ſ Artic. 31. FOR ALL THE SINNES OF THE WHOLE WORLD both originall and actuall Q. How comes it then to passe that so many are damned A. Either for want of Faith or for want of obedience and repentance for t S. John 1.12 to as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sonnes of God Q. Which is the fifth Article A. He descended into Hell the third day he rose againe from the dead Q. How understand you this Article A. Literally as I doe the rest Q. Did Christ goe downe
Q. What doest thou believe in this Article A. That the body and soule of Christ ascended together into Heaven the highest place of blisse where they never were before and Å¿ Te Deum at that time he opened the Kingdome of Heaven to all believers Q. Doest thou understand these words in the litterall sense A. I doe so Q. Can we say according to the Letter that God hath a right hand A. No we cannot But both Scripture and Creed in this phrase or manner of speech stoop to the capacity of man and expresse unto us hereby that height of glory which is otherwise unexpressible to our understanding For it is that glory which no other eye hath seene nor care hath heard neither hath it enter'd into the heart of man to conceive And how can the tongue utter what the heart hath not conceived what is unconceivable is unutterable Q. Thou believest then that he is ascended into the highest place of glory A. I doe so and that not only in place but in power for t S. Mat. 28.18 to him is all power given both in Heaven and in Earth And yet in this height of glory he is in himselfe so humble and to us so gracious that u Ro. 8.34 he makes continuall intercession for us Q. What is the seaventh Article A. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead Q. Is this certaine A. As certain as he is God And herein is a main comfort for us that he who suffered for us and died for us and continually prayes for us shall be our Iudge Q. Shall he judge us as he is man A. He shall for * S. Io. 5.27 the Father hath given him Power and Authority to execute judgement BECAVSE HE IS THE SONNE OF MAN And as man x Heb. 4.15 he is touched with the feeling of our infirmities y Heb. 5.2 that so he may have compassion upon us weake wandring silly men and apt to be deceived For z Heb. 4.15 16. in all poynts he was tempted like as we are yet without sinne Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need Q. The eight Article A. I believe in the Holy Ghost a Nic. Creed the Lord and giver of life who proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne who with the Father and the Sonne together is worshipped and glorified who spake by the Prophets These are three Persons and but one God Thus b Athan. Creed we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Vnity neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the Substance Q. We may not indeed say there be three Gods but may we not say there are three Lords A. We may not for though c Ib. we be compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himselfe to be God and Lord yet we are forbidden by the Catholike Religion to say there be three Gods or three Lords Q. Why so A. Because Lord in respect of the three persons is a name of substance not of relation or property And in God there is but one Substance though threerelations Q. What meanest thou by relations A. God is called Father with relation to his Sonne or because he hath a Sonne The second person is called the Sonne because he hath a Father And the Holy Ghost is called so with relation to them both because he is the Spirit both of the Father and the Sonne for he proceeds from both Q. We have now the three Persons in the Trinity doe we not ascribe to every one of these a severall worke concerning man A. We doe so to the Father we ascribe our Creation to the Sonne our redemption and to the Holy Ghost our Sanctification As the Father created all so the Sonne redeemed all and the Holy Ghost sanctified me and all the elect people of God Q. Why to the Father is ascribed the Creation A. Because though the other two persons did joyntly and equally create with the Father yet the originall of that power is in and from him And yet d Athan. Creed none is afore or after other none is greater or lesse then another Q. Why to the Sonne our Redemption A. Because by his blood we are redeemed from death and Hell Q. Why to the Holy Ghost our sanctification A. Because it is his speciall worke to e 1. S. Pet. 1.2 Sanctify us by his guifts and graces Hence is it that we call him the holy Spirit because he is the Spirit that makes us holy Q. We acknowledge that the Sonne of God redeemed all mankind why doe we not also confesse that the Holy Ghost Sanctifies all mankind but the elect people of God A. Because Christ redeemes all that they may be sanctified but the Holy Ghost Sanctifies only those that believe in Christ or are baptised into Christ that so they may be his elect For we are f 1. S. Pet. 1.2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ So both these workes must concurre to our election Q. Which is the ninth Article A. I believe the Catholike Church the Communion of Saints Or g Nic. Creed I believe one Catholike and Apostolike Church Catholike for time and place Apostolike for faith and government Q. Why call you this Church a Communion of Saints A. Because it is a society of men that are Sanctified in Baptisme by Faith in Christ through the operation of the Spirit Q. What is a Church A. h Art 19. The visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithfull men in the which the pure word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duely ministred according to Christs Ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same Q. What doest thou collect from hence A. These three things 1. That the Church consists of Faithfull men that is of such who professe the Christian faith 2. The word of God must be sincerely Preached And thirdly The Sacraments must be duely ministred to the Congregation according to Christ's Ordinance Q. Js it lawfull for every Christian that will to preach the word and administer the Sacraments A. No i Art 23. it is not lawfull for any man to do so unlesse he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same Q. Whom judge you to be lawfully called and sent A. All those k Ibid. who be chosen and called to this work by men who have publike authority given unto them in the Congregation to call and send Ministers into the Lords Vineyard Q. Who have publike authority given them to call and send Ministers into the Lords Vineyard A. Onely Bishops in the Church of England as is to be seen Article 36. and in the Book of Ordination Q. Why doth this Church allow no other but Bishops to give