also it is to be believed that he went down into hell.d

CHRIST'S DESCENT INTO HELL.

d That Christ descended into hell is not expressly asserted by any of the evangelists; but they all relate that he expired upon the cross, and that after three days he again appeared alive; and therefore it may be inferred, that in the intermediate time his soul went into the common receptacle for departed souls. But a more direct proof of this proposition may be found in St. Peter's sermon, after the effusion of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost, in which he applies to the resurrection of our Saviour the passage in the Psalms: "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Christ's soul must have been in hell, since God is here represented as not finally leaving it there, but as reuniting it to the body of Christ, after a certain interval: and therefore as Christ died for us, and was buried; so also is it to be believed that he went down into hell. It is to be observed, that the word rendered "hell," in the above passage, both in the Septuagint translation of the Psalms, and in the Acts, is "Adns, hades, or the world of separate spirits.

ARTICLE IV.

Of the Resurrection of Christ."

CHRIST did truly rise again from death," and took

a This article is the main pillar of the Christian faith, and as such could not be omitted in any formula of Christian doctrine. 1 Cor. xv. 17. "If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins."

again his body, with flesh, bones, and all things ap. pertaining to the perfection of man's nature, where

There are four branches in this article: 1. Concerning the truth of Christ's resurrection. 2. The completeness of it. 3. His ascension and continuance in heaven. 4. His returning to judge all men at the last day.

RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.

b We have the authority of St. Peter for asserting that the resurrection of Christ was foretold by the Psalmist, and our Saviour himself repeatedly foretold his resurrection, Matt. xvii. 22, 23. And to the Jews he speaks of his resurrection as a clear demonstration of his divine mission. John ii. 19, 21. Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up: ... but he spake of the temple of his body." Matt. xxviii. 6." He is not here; for he is risen, as he said: Come, see the place where the Lord lay." Acts ii. 32. "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses."

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COMPLETENESS OF HIS RESURRECTION.

c 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." 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." Acts x. 40, 41. "Him God raised up the third day, and shewed 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."

ASCENSION OF CHRIST.

d As the resurrection of Christ was foretold by David, so also was his ascension, Psal. lxviii. 18. "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive." Christ himself also predicted his ascension, "Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father." That Christ really ascended into heaven with the same body with which he lived and died, and rose again, is declared by St.

C

with he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth, until he return to judge all men at the last day.'

Mark, and by St. Luke, both in his Gospel and in the Acts of the Apostles. Luke xxiv. 50. "And he led them (his apostles) out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them: and it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." Mark xvi. 19. "So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."

CHRIST'S CONTINUANCE IN HEAVEN.

e The sitting of Christ at the right hand of God is foretold in the Old Testament, and asserted in the New: Psalm cx. 1. "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Christ applied this passage to himself, and it is quoted by St. Paul, as describing the superiority of Christ to all created beings: Heb. i. 13. "To which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool ?" Christ himself expressly foretold his sitting at the right hand of God. Luke xxii. 69. "Hereafter shall the Son of Man sit at the right hand of the power of God."

CHRIST'S FUTURE JUDGMENT.

f 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 he will render to every one according to his works. 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." Acts i. 11. "This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts xvii. 31. "God hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that Man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."

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.

PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY GHOST.

The first part of this article is directed against the Socinians and the Jews, who hold that the Holy Ghost is not a person, but an energy, operation, quality, or power.

In this article there are two propositions: first, that the Holy Ghost proceeds both from the Father and the Son; secondly, that he is of one substance, majesty, and glory, with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God. The first of these is expressly asserted by our Lord, 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." Elsewhere he is equally called the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ. Rom. viii. 9. "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

DIVINITY OF THE HOLY GHOST.

© The distinct personality of the Holy Spirit appears from the distinct agency and operations ascribed to Him; 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 is Christ's, and shew it unto others." (John xvi. 14.)

The proper Deity of the Holy Spirit appears from divine honours being ascribed to him; 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.) Divine acts are attributed to Him; such as to know and teach all things, "the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God, that we might know the things which are freely given us of God. Which things also we speak not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but in the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth." 1 Cor. ii. 10. 13. "The Holy Ghost shall teach you all things." John xiv. 26. "He shall guide you into all truth." John xvi. 13. Such also as to impart life. "It is the Spirit that quickeneth." John vi. 36. "Except a man be born of the Spirit." John iii. 5.

To blaspheme or sin against the Holy Ghost, is a crime of the first magnitude. Matt, xii. 31, 32. “Peter said to Ananias, Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? Thou hast not lied unto man, but unto God." Acts v. 3, 4. 9. Thus it appears that the Holy Ghost is very and eternal God, equal with the Father and the Son, and together with them to be adored and invoked.

ARTICLE VI.

Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for
Salvation.a

HOLY Scripture containeth all things necessary to

a This article is levelled against the traditions of the Papists, who allow the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures; but assert, that the books of the New Tettament do not contain the whole of a Christisn's faith.

The five first articles relate to the foundation of all religion, the existence of a God, and to the characteristic doctrines of