The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reverend father, M. John Calvin, compendiously…The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reuerend father, M. Iohn Caluin, compendiously…

8 The article of Christ descending ⟨image 96⟩into hell, was not altogether but by little and little used in the Churches, neither yet is it utterly to be refused, as many do, or as other would have it to be confounded with the former Article.

8 The article of Christe descending ⟨image 96⟩into hell, was not altogether but by litle and litle vsed in the Churches, neyther yet is it vtterly to be refused, as many doe, or as other woulde haue it to bee confounded with the former Ar••cle.

9 They also are deceived which interpret that Christ did nothing but descend to the souls of the Fathers, which were shut in Limbo, but Limbus is nothing else but a Fable. And those three places of Scripture do nothing make for them,¹ which of the unskilful are wont to be alleged for the establishment thereof. For the Prophet David speaketh of their deliverance, that in far countries are cast captive in bonds. And Zechariah compareth the Babylonical overthrow wherein the people was oppressed, to a dry pit, or bottomless depth, and therewithal teacheth, that the salvation of the whole Church is as it were a coming out of the deep Hells. Most true it is that Christ shined to the godly by the power of his holy spirit, that they might know that the grace which they had only tasted ⟨p. 90⟩of by hope,² was then delivered to the world: on the other side that did more plainly appear to the reprobate, that they were excluded from all salvation.