The defence of the article: Christ descended into Hell VVith arguments obiected against the truth of the same doctrine: of one Alexander Humes. All which reasons are confuted, and the same doctrine cleerely defended. By Adam Hyll, D. of Diuinity.

Humes. Sectio 8.

Therefore to let this passe, your next reason is from that place of Paule Ephe. 4. 9. Now in that he ascended, what is it but that descended first into the lowermost partes of the earth. Where you holde out of the Hebrew, that the lowermost partes of the earth must needs signifie the pit of hell: which thing if it were so sure as you beare vs in hand, then were it a wonder that no diuine (I speake of the modester sort) did euer yet gather vpon that place hell, which they dare not dispute, where it were in the very center of the earth. But whereas you auouch so confidently, that Erets tacthioth doth signifie hel, as cō∣monly in the Hebrew tung, as our English name Hell is vsuall for that place among vs: though I meane not to stand with you for the tung, giue me leaue to dissent from you in this, for in some of the places which you cite, in my simple vnderstanding it cannot carrye that sence. You quote the 63. Psal. They which seeke my soule, shall go into the lowermost partes of the earth. This I think cannot be hell, for first it were a presumption for the Prophet to enter so farre into Gods secrets, as to iudge

his enemies. 2. It standeth not (me thinketh) with the affection of a godly minde to assigne that place to his enemies, out of the horror whereof there is no redemp∣tion, for the children of God do rather pray for their e∣nemies and wish their amendment. This place may wel be construed of the graue, and in my simple iudgement it is an argument to lay the pride of them which sought his soule, and a comfort to himselfe, that their enmitye must needs haue an end one daye, when the graue shall deuoure them. The woordes following confirme this sence. They shall fall on the edge of the Swoord. Psal. 63. which cannot be spoken but of temporall death.