Therefore that we may come to speak of the meaning of it, we must know that it hath four usual expositions, which we will rehearse in order, and then make choice of that which shall be thought to be the fittest. The first is, that Christs soul after his passion upon the cross, did really and locally descend into the place of the damned. But this seems not to be true. The reasons are these. I. all the Evangelists, and among the rest S. Luke,1 intending to make an c.exact narration of the life and death of Christ, have set down at large his passion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, and withal they make rehearsal of small circumstances, therefore no doubt they would not have omitted Christ local descent into the place of the damned, if there had been ⟨p. 373⟩any such thing. And the end why they penned this history was, that we might believe that Jesus is Christ the son of God;3 and believing, we might have life everlasting. Now there could not have been a greater matter for the confirmation of our faith then this, that Jesus the son of Mary who went down to the place of the damned, returned thence to live in happiness for ever. II. If Christ did go into the place of the damned, then either in soul or in body, or in his godhead. But his Godhead could not descend, because it is every where, and his body was in the grave. And as for his soul it went not to hell, but presently after his death it went to paradise, that is, the third heaven, a place of joy and happiness, Luk. 23.43. This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise: which words of Christ must be understood of his manhood or soul, and not of his Godhead. For they are an answer to a demand: and therefore unto it, they must be suitable. Now the thief seeing that Christ was first of all crucified, and therefore in all likelihood should first of all die, makes his request to this effect: Lord, thou shalt shortly enter into thy kingdom, remember me then; to which Christs answer (as the very words import) is thus much. I shall enter into paradise this day, and there shalt thou be with me. Now there is no entrance, but in regard of his soul or manhood. For the Godhead which is at all times in all places, cannot be said properly to enter into a place.
Therfore that we may come to speake of the meaning of it, we must know that it hath foure vsuall expositions, which we will rehearse in order, and then make choice of that which shall be thought to be the fittest. The first is, that Christs soule after his passion vpon the crosse, did really and locally descend into the place of the damned. But this seemes not to be true. The reasons are these. I. all the Euangelists, and among the rest S. Luke,1 intending to make an c.exact narration of the life and death of Christ, haue set downe at large his passion, death, buriall, resurrection, and ascension, and withall they make rehearsall of small circumstances, therefore no doubt they would not haue omitted Christ locall descent into the place of the damned, if there had beene ⟨p. 373⟩any such thing. And the ende why they penned this historie was, that wee might beleeue that Iesus is Christ the sonne of God;3 and beleeuing, wee might haue life euerlasting. Nowe there could not haue beene a greater matter for the confirmation of our faith then this, that Iesus the sonne of Marie who went downe to the place of the damned, returned thence to liue in happines for euer. II. If Christ did goe into the place of the damned, then either in soule or in bodie, or in his godhead. But his Godhead could not descend, because it is euery where, and his bodie was in the graue. And as for his soule it went not to hell, but presently after his death it went to paradise, that is, the third heauen, a place of ioy and happinesse, Luk. 23.43. This day shalt thou bee with me in Paradise: which wordes of Christ must be vnderstoode of his manhood or soule, and not of his Godhead. For they are an answere to a demand: and therefore vnto it, they must be sutable. Nowe the thiefe seeing that Christ was first of all crucified, and therefore in all likelihood should first of all die, makes his request to this effect: Lord, thou shalt shortly enter into thy kingdome, remember me then; to which Christs answere (as the very wordes import) is thus much. I shall enter into paradise this day, and there shalt thou bee with me. Now there is no entrance, but in regard of his soule or manhood. For the Godhead which is at all times in all places, cannot be said properly to enter into a place.
- 1Luk 1.3.
- c.Omnia asseq••to. [Greek or Hebrew].Omnia asseq••to. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 3Joh. 20.31.Ioh. 20.31.
