A08483:258
An exposition of the Symbol of the ApostlesAn exposition of the Symbole of the Apostles
An exposition of the Symbol of the Apostles, or rather of the articles of faith In which the chief points of the everlasting and free covenant between God and the faithful is briefly and plainly handled. Gathered out of the catechising sermons of Gasper Oleuvian Trevir, and now translated out of the Latin tongue into the English for the benefit of Christ his Church. By John Field.An exposition of the Symbole of the Apostles, or rather of the articles of faith In which the chiefe points of the euerlasting and free couenant betweene God and the faithfull is briefly and plainly handled. Gathered out of the catechising sermons of Gasper Oleuvian Treuir, and now translated out of the Latine tongue into the English for the benefite of Christ his Church. By Iohn Fielde.
London: printed by H. Middleton for Thomas Man, 1581
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Of the fruit of Christ his descension into hell.
Of the fruite of Christe his descention into hell.
THE sum therefore of either signification of Christ his descending into hell, (of which the latter agreeth more properly to the order of the articles of the faith) is, that Christ must throughly be humbled or rather forsaken of God, to the end that we might not be forsaken of GOD. First his divine nature not showing forth his power that he might feel the sorrows of death not only in the body, but also in the soul: moreover the same word, or rather divine nature keeping it self in secrete, and for a time not quickening that lump of flesh that it had taken: but permitting the body pulled from the soul for the space of three days, to be in the hand or power of the grave, that by all means, Christ might be thoroughly humbled and made of no reputation for us, to the end we might be assured that not only our souls are delivered from the sorrows of death; but that also all ignominy, and dishonour, is chased from our bodies by this Christ, and his merit, and by the efficacy and virtue of him at the length fully ⟨p. 180⟩to be taken away, albeit they be holden for a time shut up in the grave as it were conquered of death. To be short, faithful minds do conceive so much the greater confidence and trust of the love of God, and of that same full cleansing which is made by the son, as they see Christ to be made more humble and abject, & that without sin, and so much the dearer they see that their salvation did cost him.
THE summe therefore of either signification of Christe his discending into hell, (of whiche the latter agreeth more properly to the order of the articles of the faith) is, that Christ must throughly be humbled or rather forsaken of God, to the end that wee might not be forsaken of GOD. First his diuine nature not shewing forth his power that he might feele the sorrowes of death not onely in the bodie, but also in the soule: moreouer the same worde, or rather diuine nature keeping it selfe in secrete, and for a time not quickening that lumpe of flesh that it had taken: but permitting the bodie pulled from the soule for the space of three dayes, to be in the hand or power of the graue, that by all meanes, Christ might bee thoroughly humbled and made of no reputation for vs, to the end we might be assured that not onely our soules are deliuered from the sorrowes of death; but that also all ignominie, and dishonour, is chased from our bodies by this Christe, and his merite, and by the efficacie and vertue of him at the length fully