XX. I believe, that Jesus Christ descended into Hell.
Hereby I understand, that when our Lord dy’d, his Soul descended into Hell, and stay’d there as long as his Body remain’d in the Sepulchre.
By the Descent into Hell, I understand, that our Lord actually descended into those Places where the Souls are detain’d, that have not yet receiv’d the eternal Beatitude; and thereby he has not only demonstrated, that every thing which he had said of his Divinity was true, but that he was also the Son of God, as he had before prov’d by Abundance of Prodigies and Miracles. Indeed all Men who descended into those secret Places, descended into them as Slaves, but Jesus Christ descended into them free and victorious; he destroy’d the Power of the Devils, who exercis’d their Tyranny, and retain’d the Souls of Men there, by reason of their Sins. Jesus Christ being victorious, releas’d those Souls out of the Prison in which they were languishing, as St. Paul affirms, when he says to the Colossians, Chap. ii. Ver. 15. And having spoiled Principalities and Powers, he made a Shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
XXI. I believe, that on the Third Day Jesus Christ rose again from the Dead: When I say, that our Lord rose again, I don’t only understand that he came to Life again, but that he also rose again by his own inherent Power; which is particularly correspondent with Jesus Christ, and also proves his Divinity; the rather, because the Resurrection of the Dead is contrary to the Order of Nature, there being no Person that has the Power of passing from Death to Life. St. Paul
says upon this Head to the Corinthians, 2 Cor. Chap. xiii. Ver. 4. For though he was crucified through Weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God.
As the Godhead of Jesus Christ was never separated from his Body, he was able by his own Power to raise himself again, and to restore himself to Life. David had foretold this Truth, Psalm xcviii. Ver. 1. His Right Hand and his Holy Arm hath gotten him the Victory. Our Lord himself confirm’d this Truth, when he said in St. John, Chap. x. Ver. 17, 18. I lay down my Life, that I might take it again; and I have Power to take it again. In another Place he says, speaking to the Jews, St. John Chap. ii. Ver. 19. Destroy this Temple, and in Three Days I will raise it up.
When I say, that our Lord rose again the Third Day, I don’t therefore imagine, that he was Three intire Days in the Sepulchre; he was laid there on the Friday Night, and rose again the Sunday Morning following, which makes the Three Days. Jesus Christ plac’d this Interval between his Death and Resurrection, to shew, that he was truly Man; and at the same time that there might be no Doubt of his Death. I am firmly persuaded, that ’tis absolutely necessary to believe the Mystery of the Resurrection, which I take to be one of the most important Truths of our Religion, as St. Paul proves, who, speaking to the Corinthians, says in the Fifteenth Chapter, Ver. 14, 17. And if Christ be not risen, then is our Preaching vain, and your Faith is also vain; for ye are yet in your Sins. I believe also, that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was absolutely necessary in the first Place to shew the Justice of God, in rewarding him who had been set at
nought; and was so dutiful, as to give up his Life. The Apostle says to the Philippians, Chap. ii. Ver. 8. And being found in Fashion as a Man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Cross. Secondly, To maintain and strengthen our Hopes, which ought to be firm and constant. For since Jesus Christ rose again, we ought likewise to hope, that we shall one Day rise again. Upon this Subject St. Peter says in his first Epistle, Chap. i. Ver. 3, 4. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant Mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively Hope, by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead, to an Inheritance uncorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.
XXII. I believe, that Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the Right Hand of God, the Father Almighty.
By our Lord’s Ascension I understand, that Jesus Christ, after having completed the Mystery of our Redemption, ascended, as Man, with Body and Soul into Heaven, where he had been all along as God, being present in all Places by his Deity; that he ascended to it by his own Power, and not by any foreign Efficacy, like Elias, who was translated to Heaven in a fiery Chariot.