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ARTICLE III.

Of the going down of Christ into Hell.

As Christ died for us, and was buried, so also is it to be believed, that he went down into Hell.

Went down, &c.] The soul of Christ went is adov, to Hell, that is, the state of souls separated from their bodies. See Acts ii. 27. Thou wilt not leave my soul in Hell.

See also Irenæus." Since our Lord was in the middle Adv. Hær. "of the shadow of death, where the souls of the dead. 5. c. 31. "were, and then rose again with his body, and after his "resurrection was taken up into heaven; it is manifest,"

&c.

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c. 55.

And Tertullian. "If Christ, who is God, yet, as man De animá, too, was dead and buried according to the Scriptures, "and also satisfied this law by going through the form "of human death amongst those who are dead in Hell," &c.

And St. Cyprian. "He was not to be overcome by Test. adv. "death, nor to remain in Hell."

See also Pearson on the Creed, Art. V. Hammond's Pract. Cat. B. V. Sect. 2. Nowelli Cat. p. 70, 71. Field of the Church, B. V. Chap. 19.

Judæos, l. 2. n. 24.

ARTICLE IV.

Of the Resurrection of Christ.

CHRIST did truly rise again from death, and took again his body, with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature; wherewith he ascended into Heaven, and there sitteth, until he return to judge all men at the last day.

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Did truly rise] For he rose again with the same body, which was crucified and buried. See Matt. xxviii. 6. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

See also Ignatius. "I knew him alive in the flesh, "even after his resurrection, and believe in him. And "when he came to those who were with Peter, he said "to them, Take hold of me, feel me, and see that I am "no unbodied Spirit."

See also Pearson on the Creed, Art. V. Scott's Christian Life, Part II. Ch. 7. § 13. Nelson's Festivals, Easter Sund. Homily of the Resurrection. Nowelli Catech. p. 71, 72.

Took again his body, &c.] See Luke xxiv. 39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

See also Irenæus. "Christ rose again the substance "of flesh, and showed his disciples the mark of the nails, "and the wound in his side; which are proofs that his "flesh rose again from the dead."

And Tertullian. "As to the truth of his rising again, "with his body, what can be clearer? since he said to "his disciples, who doubted whether he were not a spirit, yea, believed him to be a spirit, Why are ye troubled, "and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold," &c. Luke xxiv. 38, 39.

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All things appertaining, &c.] See John xx. 27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side. And Acts x. 40, 41. Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. See also Irenæus. "It was still one and the same Jesus Christ, to whom also the gates of Heaven were opened "to receive him in the flesh."

Ascended into Heaven] That is, the highest heaven, where he sits at the right hand of the Father, and intercedes for us. See Mark xvi. 19. So then after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

See also Nowelli Catech. p. 73. Pearson on the Creed, Art. VI. Scott's Christian Life, Part II. Chap. 7, Sect. 5. Nelson's Festivals, Ascension-Day.

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There sitteth] See Acts iii. 20, 21. He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the

heaven must receive, until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets, since the world began.

Until he return, &c.] A certain number of years, and even of days, is doubtless assigned for the duration of this world, though it is unknown to angels, as well as to us. At the end of which, Christ will return from heaven to judge all men, both the quick and dead; and then will he render to every one according to his works. See Acts x. 42. He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God

to be the judge of quick and dead. See also Irenæus. Adv. Hær. "He will come again in the same flesh, in which he . 3. c. 18. "suffered."

See also Nowelli Catech. p. 86. Nelson's Festivals, Ch. II. Pearson on the Creed, Art. VII. Sherlock of Judgment. Scott's Christian Life, Part. II. Ch. 7. Sect. 11.

ARTICLE V.

Of the Holy Ghost.

THE Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory, with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.

The Holy Ghost, &c.] Since these operations are attributed to the Holy Ghost, which cannot be ascribed but to a Person distinct from the Father and the Son, such as to make intercession for the saints (Rom. viii. 27.) to come as sent by the Father in the name of Christ (John xiv. 26.) to take what was Christ's, and to show it unto others (John xvi. 14); and since those things are attributed to him, which cannot be ascribed to any other but God, such as to have the bodies of the faithful for his temples (1 Cor. iii. 16. and vi. 19.) and even to have the whole Church dedicated by baptism to him, as well as to the Father and the Son (Matt. xxviii. 19.) it necessarily follows that He is Very and Eternal God, equal with the Father and the Son, and together with them to be adored and invoked.

See Irenæus. "The Church which was planted through- Adv. Hær. "out the whole world, received of the Apostles, and their 4. 1. c. 2.

Adv. Prax

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disciples that faith, which is in one Lord Jesus Christ, "the Son of God, who was incarnate for our salvation; "and in the Holy Ghost, who spake by the Prophets."

See also the Homily on Whit-Sunday, Part I. Pearson on the Creed, Art. VIII. Scott's Christian Life, Part II. Ch.7. Sect. 1. Nelson's Festivals, Trin. Sund. Prideaux's Fasc. Controv. C. 2. Q.5,6. Andrewes on Acts xix. 1, 2, 3.

Proceeding from the Father] See John xv. 26. When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.

And the Son.] See 1 Pet. i. 11. where the Holy Ghost eam, c. 30. is called the Spirit of Christ.-See also Tertullian. "In "the mean time he poured forth the Holy Ghost, a gift "which he had received from the Father; the Third "Name of the Godhead, and the Third Person in the "order or rank of the Divine Majesty."

Apol. 1. c. 16.

Ib. c. 6.

1. 4. c. 17.

Of one Substance, &c.] See 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy: For the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. And 1 Cor. vi. 19, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? And Acts v. 3, 4. Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart, to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

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See also Justin Martyr. "Acknowledging the Son of "the true God himself, and placing him as next in order, "and then the Prophetical Spirit, we will show that we justly honour them." And again, "We worship and "adore the Prophetical Spirit."—And Irenæus. "He Adv. Hær." (meaning God the Father,) is ministered unto in every thing by his offspring and resemblance, that is, the "Son and Holy Ghost, his Word and Wisdom, whom "all the angels serve and are subject to." And again— "Because Wisdom also, which is the Holy Ghost, was "with God before the creation of all things; therefore, "he saith by Solomon, That the Lord by Wisdom hath Ib. 1.5. c.8. "founded the earth." Prov. iii. 19. And again-" Now "we receive some portion of his Spirit to perfect us, and

Ib. l. 4. c. 37.

"to prepare us for a state of incorruption, accustoming "ourselves, by little and little, to comprehend and bear "the Majesty of God."-And St. Cyprian. "If he be Epist. 73. "made the temple of God, I ask, Of what God? If he "answer, Of the Creator, he could not be his temple, "because he did not believe in him. If he say of Christ, "neither can he be made his temple, because he denies "Christ to be God. Or if he say, Of the Holy Ghost, yet, since these three are One, how can the Holy Ghost "be reconciled to that man, who is an enemy either to "the Father or to the Son?"

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Very and eternal God] The most notorious opposer of the Godhead of the Holy Ghost, was Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople. The Heresy itself is called the Heresy of the Pneumatomachi, or Fighters against the Spirit; as denying the Divinity of the Holy Ghost, and asserting that he is only a created Energy or Power, attending upon and ministering unto the Son. In order to put a stop to this Heresy, the first Council of Constantinople, to these words in the Nicene Creed, I believe in the Holy Ghost, added, The Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. See Pearson on the Creed, p. 325.

ARTICLE VI.

Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation.

HOLY Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an Article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the Name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church.

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