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
behave our selves in Prayer A. With all devotion and reverence inward and outward meekly kneeling upon our knees Q. Why must we kneele at our Prayers A. I. Because it is a gesture best beseeming humble Petitioners II. It f Proprium est órationis officiuÌ„ Dei veneratio Tertul. de Orat c. 1. is a duty proper to Prayer III. The Church our Mother commands us to kneele at Prayers IV. g In oratio ne ex more geâ—ua fleximus arque incubuimus terrae Aug. de Civit. Dei l. 22. c. 8. It is agreeable to the custome of the ancient Church V. It is agreeable to the practice of our Saviour and his Apostles h S. Mat. 26.39 S. Luc. 22.41 Act 7.60 c. 9. 40. c. 20.36 who alwaies kneele or fall flat upon the ground at their prayers VI. It is Gods due in the second Commandement And our Saviour saith i S. Mat. 4.10 Thou shalt WORSHIP the Lord thy God And k Vox adorare idem significat quod prosternere se iucurvare aâ—geniculari Pet. Picherel de Imag. p. 225. to worship God is to kneele downe or fall downe before him These reasons I hope will bring us all upon our knees Q. I pray God they may Thou hast given me good satisfaction in the Creed the ten Commandements and the Lords Prayer now tell me how many Sacraments there be A. Two only instituted by our blessed Saviour as necessary for the salvation of all men to wit 1. Baptisme and 2. the Lords Supper Q. What meanest thou by this word Sacrament A. I mean an outward and visible signe of an inward and spirituall grace given unto us ordained by Christ himselfe as a meanes whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure us thereof Q. A little plainer if you can Q. A Sacrament is an outward and visible signe or element ordained by Christ to be given or bestowed upon us as a meanes whereby we may receive an inward and spirituall grace This he gives us as a pledge to assure us that as oft as we receive this Sacrament or element according to Christs ordinance so oft we receive this grace which is alwaies conveyed unto us by this Sacrament Q. How many parts are there in a Sacrament A. Two the outward and the inward Q. What is the outward part A. The matter and forme appointed and determined by Christ himselfe Q. What meanest thou by the matter A. The element or creature designed by Christ for this or that Sacrament Q. What meanest thou by the forme A. The words appropriated by Christ to this or that Sacrament Q. What is the element or matter appropriated to Baptisme A. l S. John 3.5 Water the pure element of water without art or mixture Q. What the forme or words A. m S. Mat. 28 19. I Baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Q. May no Person be baptised with other matter or words A. No for Christ who is the author of grace disposeth of his graces and the meanes whereby he conveyeth them unto us And it is in the power of no Person or Persons to alter these meanes unlesse it be also in his or their power to give grace at pleasure Q. These two then make this a perfect Sacrament A. They doe so namely n Acceldat verbum ad elementum fiet Sacramentum Aug. these words of Christ added to this element or matter prescribed by Christ Q. What is the inward and spirituall grace in Baptisme A. A death unto sinne and a new birth unto righteousnesse o Qui baptizatur ascendit liberatus à servitute corruptionis peccato factus filius Dei haeres ejus gratie cohâ—res autem Christi indutus ipsum Christum Concil Nic. Diatyp 5. For being by nature borne in sinne and the children of wrath we are hereby made the children of grace Q. Thou conceivest then that all sinnes are forgiven us in Baptisme A. I doe so so that we hinder not this grace by infidelity or impenitence Q. Why are you of this mind A. 1. Because I am taught by the Nicene Creed to beleeve one Baptisme for the remission of sinnes 2. This Church hath resolved it for p Rubricke immediatly before the Catechism a knowne truth that it is certain by Gods word that Children being baptised have all things necessary for their salvation and be undoubtedly saved 3. The Scripture assures us that q 1. S. Pet. 3.21 Baptisme doth now save us by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ that r Eph. 5.26 we are saved with the washing of water by the Word 4. That Å¿ Gal. 3.27 as many of us as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ that is as the Councell of Nice expounds it t Concil Nic. Diatyp 5. we descend foule and unclean into the Laver of Regeneration but we come forth unspotted and without sinne Q. What is required of persons to be Baptised A. 1. Repentance whereby they forsake sinne and 2. Faith whereby they stedfastly beleeve the promises of God made to them in that Sacrament Q. Why then are Infants baptised when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them A. Yes they doe perform them by their sureties who promise and vow them both in their names which when they come to age themselves are bound to perform Q. Is this agreeable to reason A. It is so It is no more then guardians do for their wards When Wards are under age their guardians undertake for them what those wards when they come to age are bound to performe Besides we sinned in others words and actions it may well therefore stand with reason that we be clensed from this sin by other mens words and actions Q. Why was the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ordained A. For the continuall remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ and the benefits which we receive thereby Q. What is the outward part or signe of the Lords supper A. Bread and Wine which the Lord hath commanded to be received Q. This the matter which the forme A. t S. Mat. 26.26 1. Cor. 11.23 c. The Lord Iesus in the same night that he was betrayed c. Q. What is the inward part or thing signified A. The Body and blood of Christ u Concludo realiter hoc est verè nobis in coenâ dari Christi corpus ut fit animis nostris in cibum salutarem Calvin in 1. Cor. 11.24 which are veryly and indeed taken and received of the faithfull in the Lords Supper Q. What body A. * Christus nobis offerâ— corpus ip sum in quo passus est ac resurrexit Calvin Ib. That body which was borne of the Virgin Mary and suffer'd upon the Crosse Q. Do we receive it after a Corporall manner A. No but after a spirituall manner That we receive it we believe but the manner we know not