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.

Hill.

Héere you confesse that Augustine doubteth, and yet you say that in the matter in controuersie betwéene you and me he doubteth not, but proueth it by the Apostolicall and pro∣pheticall testimonies: for he willeth vs to hold it firmissima fide, with a most firme faith, and saith that none but an In∣fidell will dony it. He doubteth whether the Fathers were in hell, or whether they were conuerted in hell by Christs preaching, as some did affirme vntruly, and many such like thinges, little or nothing appertaining to the question we

haue in hand. But ad Dardanū. he doubteth not. Fo. 3. col. 272. Fo. 10. col. 1410. Fo. 3. col. 213. & 702. Fo. 6. 788. Fo. 10. 899. 989. In all these places and in many other he telleth without doubting, that he descended into hell, and the end why. To strike a terror into the diuels, and to tri∣umph ouer them: It pleaseth you to make your selfe merry with S. Augustines infirmity, I pray God you will with Saint Augustine acknowledge your owne, which by and by shal be laide before you. You wonder at S. Augustine, but we wonder at your teachers and you, for you confesse S. Augustine to builde vpon Dauid and Peter, and yet you labour to ouerthrow this building, how deceitfullye it shall now appeare. You say that hell signifieth the sorrowes of hell, sometime I graunt it dooth: Héereupon you make this argument: sometime it signifieth the sorrowes of hell, therfore it dooth so in the 16. Psalme. I deny your argumēt, and that you haue spoken an vntruth, the holy Ghoste by Peters mouth shalbe a witnes against you. For you say it is spoken of the sorrowes which Christ suffered vpon the crosse, Peter saith it is spoken of the resurrection: and in the resurrection I am sure Christ suffred no tormentes or sor∣rowes. Peters interpretation is thus, Act. 2. 32. He knowing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soule should not be left in hell, neither his flesh to see corruption. Now then héere is an answere to your demaund: these woords are spoken of the resurrection, a mat∣ter of ioy and not of torments, for Dauid saith in the person of Christ, Therefore did my hart reioyce, and my tung was glad. And moreouer also my flesh shal rest in hope. If Christ at this time did reioyce, how was he sorrowfull? if he were glad, how was he tormented? if he did rest in hope, how was it true also that he was afflicted with torments? And héere you vtter another vntruth, that Christ did svffer his whole torments on the crosse, which is most vntrue: for he suffered some in the Garden, when he said, Math. 26. 38. My soule is heauye vnto death. And some in Caiphas

house, aud some vnder Pilat: but all his torments and sor∣rowes were ended on the crosse, which I think you would haue said. Last of all the woords of the text that commeth af∣ter, aswell as the woords going before do proue, that it can∣not be spoken of Christs sorrowes, for they are these. Thou shalt shew me the path of life, in thy presence is the ful∣nes of ioy, and at thy right hand are pleasures for euer∣more. Sith then Dauid both before and after maketh men∣tion of ioy and pleasures for euermore, and as Peter saith these woordes proue the resurrection of Christ: I maruaile how you dare to contradict the meaning of the holy Ghoste. You speake not now contrary to Augustine, or Ambrose, or Hill, but contrary to Dauid and Peter themselues: you boast your selues to be the best Christians, but I shal hard∣ly beléeue you are better Christians then Dauid and Peter, In the conclusion you vtter blasphemy, for Sheol being ta∣ken sometime for the sorrowes of hell, and sometime for the place of hell, you say it standeth at the curtesie of the reader, to take it as to him shall séeme probable. Are Gods woords to be interpreted after our pleasure? Hillary was of a bet∣ter minde: he saide

as God was the author of the Scrip∣tures, so God must be the Interpreter:

he opened the wittes of the Desciples going to Emaus, so let vs pray that he may open our wittes that we may perfectlye vnderstand the Scriptures.