The Institution of Christian Religion

But it is not meet to overpass his going down to the hells,§8 wherein is no small importance to the effect of redemption. For although it appeareth by the writings of the old fathers, that that part which is read in the Creed was not in old time so much used in the Churches: yet in entreating of the sum of our doctrine, it is necessary that it have a place allowed it, as a thing that containeth a very profitable and not to be despised mystery of a right weighty matter. And there are also some of the old writers that do not leave it out. Whereby we may guess, that it was after a certain time added, and did not presently but by little and little grow in use in the Churches. But this certainly is out of question, that it proceeded of the common judgement of all the godly: For as much as there is none of the Fathers that doth not in his writings make mention of Christs going down to the hells, although after diverse manner of exposition. But by whom, or at what time it was first added, maketh little to the purpose. But rather in the Creed this is to be taken heed unto, that we therein certainly have a ⟨image 178⟩full and in all points perfect sum of our faith, whereinto nothing may be thrust, but that which is taken out of the most pure word of God. Now if any will not for precise curiosity admit it into the Creed, yet shall it straight way be made to appear plainly, that it is of so great importance to the sum of our redemption, that if it be left out, there is lost a great part of the fruit of the death of Christ. There are again some that think, that there is no new thing spoken in this article, but that in other words the same thing is repeated which was spoken before of his burial: forasmuch as the word Infernum, hell, is in the Scripture oftentimes used for the grave. I grant that to be true which they allege of the signification of the word, that Hell is oftentimes taken for the grave: but there are against their opinion two reasons, by which I am easily persuaded to dissent from them. For what an idleness were it, when a thing not hard to understand, hath ones ben set out in plain and easy words, afterward with darker implication of words rather to point toward it than to declare it.

But it is not meete to ouerpasse his goynge downe to the helles,§8 wherein is no small importaunce to the effecte of redemption. For although it appeareth by the wrytynges of the olde fathers, that that parte whiche is read in the Crede was not in olde time so much vsed in the Churches: yet in entreatynge of the summe of our doctrine, it is necessarie that it haue a place allowed it, as a thyng that conteyneth a very profitable and not to be despised misterie of a right weyghty matter. And there are also some of the olde wryters that doe not leaue it out. Whereby we maye gesse, that it was after a certayne time added, and dyd not presently but by little and little growe in vse in the Churches. But this certaynely is out of question, that it proceded of the common iudgement of all the godly: For as muche as there is none of the Fathers that dothe not in his wrytynges make mention of Christes goyng downe to the helles, although after dyuerse manner of exposition. But by whome, or at what tyme it was firste added, maketh litle to the purpose. But rather in the Crede this is to be takē heede vnto, that we therein certainely haue a