A learned and excellent treatise containing all the principall grounds of Christian religion. Set downe by way of conference in a most plaine and familiar manner. Written first in French by maister Mathew Virell, after translated into Latine: and now turned into English for the vse of our country-men.

The second part of the Apostles Creede, which is of faith in Christ.

Theoph.

We haue spoken largely inough of the first part of the Creede, the matter therfore requireth that we come to the second: which is cōcerning the sonne, of whom thou saydest we were redeemed, and that he did continually make intercession for vs.

I do therfore demand of thee, in which articles that redemption and intercession is contained?

Mat.

* 1.1 Indeede redemption hath chiefly the foun∣dation in the article of the death & passion of Christ, which is as it were the price of our redemption: For by it, ioyning thereto the resurrection, we were de∣liuered from the tyrannie of the deuill, and brought into the libertie of Gods children, which Christ him

selfe witnesseth in these wordes, The sonne of man is come into this world to giue his life a price of redemp∣tion * 1.2 for many.

Concerning his intercession: it is ioyned by Paule with the article of sitting at the right hand of God, as a part thereof. These be his wordes, What is he that * 1.3 shall condemne? It is Christ which is dead, yea rather which is raised vp from the dead, who also is at the right hand of God, and maketh intercession for vs. For because the sitting at the right hand of the father, is referred to the dignitie, whereunto he is aduanced with the father, by a similitude taken from kings, which are wont to place those at their right hand, that be most welcome and acceptable to them, & whom they desire to haue most honored therefore doth he ioyne his intercession with it, to the end we might know, that Christ bestoweth the great authoritie he hath with his Father in this, that by the benefite of his death, he might become mercifull vnto vs.

Theoph.

Forasmuch as in these three articles of the death, resurrection, & the sitting of Christ at the right * 1.4 hand of the Father, the chiefe points of our saluation be conteined, why were the other articles put into the Creede, especially seeing it is a summe, & as it were an epitome or abridgement of the things which are to be beleeued to our comfort and saluation?

Mat.

It was that our faith might be the better de∣fenced, against the temptations of the deuill and the flesh.

Theoph.

I do desire to haue these things declared by thee more at large, and to be instructed, to what temp∣tation, each article of the faith is opposed or set a∣gainst, that if at any time neede shall be, I may make my vse of them.

Matth.

* 1.5 The things which haue bene spoken by me in the former Chapter, of the person and office of Christ, there is no cause in this place to repeat. This onely I will shew, that each article is placed in most exquisite order, to the end we might acknowledge in

Christ, remedies against euery kind of spirituall sick∣nesses, and against all the punishments which we haue deserued. * 1.6 As first of all, we indeed be conceiued in sinne, by meanes whereof it is that wee are the chil∣dren of wrath. The remedie against this euill, is that, which in the first place we beleeue of Christ, * 1.7 namely, that he was conceiued by the holy Ghost, that we may know our conception to be sanctified in Christ, so as now euen from our first beginning, we are by him con∣secrated to God the Father.

Theoph.

Why was it necessarie, that for these things Christ should be conceiued by the holy Ghost?

Mat.

Because the naturall order of humane gene∣ration is defiled and corrupted, so as it was altogether necessarie, that the holy Ghost should haue the worke in that conception, to purge and cleanse the substance of the virgin of whom he was conceiued, and that thus he might be pure, and farre from the blot of originall sinne, wherewith if he had bene defiled, he himselfe should haue needed a redeemer and mediator, so farre should he haue bene from redeeming vs, and from be∣ing able to reconcile vs to God the Father. Ad here∣unto, that there can be no ioyning of the Godhead, with that that is vncleane.

Theoph.

* 1.8 Wherefore, hauing mentioned his concep∣tion, is it by and by added, that he was borne of the vir∣gin Marie?

Mat.

It was to teach vs, that he did not onely take our nature, as one which was made of a woman, as Paule speaketh: * 1.9 but also that we might know him to be that verie redeemer and Messias promised to the fathers: for as much as he was borne of a virgine des∣cending from Adam and Dauid, according to the Pro∣phesies of the Prophets, and that in the time and place by them appointed.

Theoph.

Why was it necessary that his mother should be a virgin?

Matth.

That both in his conception and natiuitie, the worke of God might the more plainer appeare,

and that there might be nothing whereby to darken it neuer so little.

Theoph.

Declare the other articles.

Mat.

Because after our conception and birth, for the innumerable sinnes by vs daily committed, we had deserued to suffer euen in this life all manner of re∣proches and contumelies, and besides in time to come hereafter, most grieuous torments both in soule and body, it is expresly mentioned, that Christ suffered all those things for vs, when it is sayd, * 1.10 he suffered vnder Pontius Pilate: for vnder him, for vs or in our steed, he was bound, railed vpon, beaten and crowned with thornes Moreouer, we had deserued most cruell death with reproch and shame, this also Christ suffred for vs: * 1.11 For he was crucified between two theeues, which kind of death was accursed of God himselfe, for it was ap∣pointed for euill doers & wicked men. * 1.12 But by dying he ouercame death, so as death is now to vs, not deadly, but making aliue. * 1.13 Moreouer, the Iudge is named vnder whō he suffered, not so much to proue the certainty of the story, as to teach vs that Christ, notwithstāding he were most iust & innocent, was for vs condēned before an earthly Iudge, as a guiltie person, that by his most vniust condemnation, we should haue full absolution and discharge before the Iudgement feate of God.

Theoph.

I desire to haue that more largely declared by thee, which I heard euen now of the death of Iesus Christ; namely that by dying he ouercame death, so as it is not now deadly vnto vs, but making aliue.

Matth.

* 1.14 That thou mayest vnderstand these things rightly, it is to be knowne, that death whē it wold haue swallowed vp Christ, in whō is the foūtaine of life, was it selfe swallowed vp of him, so as he became deadly to death, according to the Prophesie of Hosea; * 1.15 O death I wil be thy death. Seing therfore by the death of Christ, death is swallowed vp in victorie, now the faithfull are deliuered frō the tyrannie of it. There is no cause then, why we should feare it, nay rather let vs be bold to prouoke, and as it were to challenge death with the A∣postle

crying out, * 1.16O death where is thy victorie?

Theoph.

But it doth still daily exercise it tyrannie v∣pon the faithfull, for it killeth them.

Mat.

* 1.17 Nay rather cleane contrariwise: For while it seemeth to kill them, it deliuereth them from a thou-and deaths, that is to say, from the innumerable trou∣bles of this world, to the end they may liue most bles∣sedly in the heauens.

Theoph

Let vs go forward to the rest.

Mat

We had deserued, that our bodies after death, should be thrust into the graue, which is deaths prison, and that our soules should be cast downe into hell, to be tormented with euerlasting paines.

Christ, that he might remedy both these euils, would haue his body buried, that so he might pursue death it selfe being ready to dye, into his owne hold, that is to say into the graue: whose nature therfore he changed, so as it is no more to vs the goale of death, but a place appointed of God, wherin our bodies are kept against the day of the glorious resurrection.

For this cause the scripture affirmeth, * 1.18 that the faith∣full departed, are not dead but a sleepe. Whereupon it came to passe, that the fathers of the primitiue church named those places wherein the bodies of the faithful were buried 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is to say, sleeping places.

Moreouer, Christ would tarrie in the graue some dayes, that so it might certainly appeare, that he was dead indeede. But then he descended into hell for vs, * 1.19 when he endured those most extreme torments and sorrowes, euen the wrath of God, which we had deser∣ued. Now those were the euerlasting punishments, * 1.20 which we should haue suffered.

Vpon the feeling of these sorrowes, he sweat bloud in the garden, and not for feare of bodily death, for o∣therwise he should haue bene the most fearefull of all other men.

Moreouer these sorrowes caused, * 1.21 that in the verie agonie he cryed out; my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Yet, not that God euer forsoke him, but

because hee was in out steed, and offred himselfe to his Father as a baile for vs, it was necessarie that his diui∣nitie should be hidden for a time, vntill the humanity had suffered all the things, which both here and in the world to come we had deserued Howbeit, the punish∣ment which in respect of vs was eternall and endlesse, in Christ was made temporarie and hauing end, be∣cause he himselfe is eternall and infinit, and therefore he put an end to those euerlasting punishments, wher∣unto we were accursed.

Theoph.

But this article of Christs descending into Hell, is placed in the Creed after his buriall: where∣fore it seemeth, that it cannot be referred vnto those paines which he suffered before death: for the order it selfe is against it. Moreouer, this selfe same thing seemeth to bee contained in another article, euen in that he suffered vnder Pontius Pilate, in which words, not those paines onely are to bee vnderstood, which hee suffered in his body, but those also which he suf∣fered in his soule.

Mat.

This article of Christs descending into Hell, cannot otherwise be expounded, but as it hath beene expounded of me: for if it be referred to his buriall, as some would haue it, bringing for the confirmation of their opinion those places of Scripture, wherein the graue it selfe is called by the name of Hell, it shall bee nothing else, but a repetition of that which is farre more plainely set out in the former Article: which in∣deede doeth not agree to so short a summarie as the Creede is. Much lesse is this article to be vnderstood, of Christs soule going downe into the place of the dam∣ned. For Christ said to the theefe, this day shalt thou * 1.22 be with me in Paradise. Moreouer, there was no such thing further required, for as much as all things were finished vpon the Crosse: for he said a little before his death: it is finished. Concerning the order or method, * 1.23 it hath beene before declared by vs, that they which wrote this Creed, looked vnto this, that in each article they might set before vs, the seuerall remedies, which

be ministred vnto vs by Christ, against all kindes of temptations and spirituall discases. Therefore they would not onely expresse the paines which he suffered in his body, but also the fearefull torments which he suffered in his soule, and which vnto vs are most ter∣rible, for these we haue deserued to endure for euer in Hell it selfe▪ the temptations whereof farre excee∣deth that which ariseth of the afflictions of this life, yea and of bodily death. Wherefore hauing compre∣hended all these paines generally in this Article; hee suffered vnder Pontius Pilate, afterward they would handle them particularly. And first of all, those which * 1.24 he suffered in body, in these words, Hee was crucifi∣ed, dead, and buried: for they purposely ioyned his buriall, that as it were in one rowe they might com∣prehend all things, which appertaine to the abasing of his body. Which being declared, they added those horrible torments, which he suffered in his soule, in these words; Hee descended into Hell. Which they did, to the end we may vnderstand, that Christ when hee had suffered all the things, which we should haue suffered in Hell, did as much, as if by a locall descen∣ding, hee had descended into Hell it selfe; and that therefore we are free from it.

Theoph.

Now do I verie well allow the exposition of this article which you haue deliuered, as that which bringeth vs no small comfort. Yea I do verie well like the order it selfe. For it is easier to applie the suffe∣rings of Christ to our selues, when they are reckened vp in that order wherein we should haue suffred them, then in any other.

Mat.

Thou iudgest rightly: for the temptation of the second death, that is to say, of the punishments which abideth for vs in hell, is wont to come into our minds, after the temptation of the first death.

Theoph.

Declare vnto me the other articles.

Mat.

* 1.25 The resurrection followeth, by the which Christ ouercame, death, hell, sinne, yea and the Diuell him∣selfe, and triumphing ouer them, and leading them

captiues, * 1.26 he ascended into Heauen, whither he is gone vp with the greatest glorie, not so much for himself, as thereby to open a way for vs, and to take possession of it in our name, vntill our soules come to possesse it after death, and body and soule together after the re∣surrection. But because so long as we here liue, euen after wee are by faith made partakers of Christs gifts, wee fall into manie sinnes, which are wont to trou∣ble our consciences, and to weaken our faith, it is by and by added, * 1.27 that he sitteth at the right hand of the Father, to the end we might know, and be assured of that intercession which hath before beene mentioned. And so we might vnderstand, that after hee had once suffered death vpon the Crosse for our sinnes, he doth continually offer the merit thereof vnto his father for vs, and therefore causeth the father himselfe to be fa∣uourable vnto vs. Which thing Paule sheweth in these words; Christ is at the right hand of the Father, * 1.28 and maketh request for vs.

More, he vseth that great authoritie whereunto hee is aduanced, to the gouernment & help of his church, against all the hurtes that might come vpon it, and to the accomplishment of our saluation Finally, because (such is the weakenes of our faith) some feare of con∣demnation may assaile our mindes in that last daie, * 1.29 wherein the Lord will render to euerie one according to his workes: therefore that this temptation may bee met with, it is said further; that Christ which is our in∣tercessor, shall also be our Iudge. And this is the mea∣ning of that article, * 1.30 wherein we beleeue that hee shall come to iudge quicke and dead: euen that we might be without all feare of condemnation; and contrariwise, certainly know, that by the sentence of the Iudge him∣selfe, we shall obtaine saluation.

Theoph.

Who are those quicke, and dead, who thou sayest shalbe iudged of Christ?

Math.

The quicke, are they which at that daie shall be aliue, who also as Paule saith, * 1.31 shall bee changed in the twinckling of an eye: and the dead are they, whom

death before shall haue taken out of the companie of the liuing.

Theoph.

But is it necessarie, that the dead should rise againe in that daie, of whom iudgement was giuen be∣fore, whether they be good or euill?

Mat.

These thinges shall not let their appearing at that daie, and that for two causes.

1 The first, because that first iudgement, pertaineth onely to the soule: but the later to the whole man.

2 The other is, that that particular iudgement may be proclaimed before all men, and so there maie be a more manifest declaration of God his righteous∣nesse.

Therefore the Scripture affirmeth, that in that day both good and bad shalbe iudged by Christ accor∣ding to their workes: which without doubt shall bee brought to light, as it were manifest testimonies, either of the faith, or the vnbeliefe, lying hid in the heart, al∣though faith it selfe, or vnbeliefe in those that come to years, be special causes either of the saluation or dam∣nation of men, as it is declared by the Iudge himselfe; * 1.32 He that beleeueth in me, is not condemned: but hee which beleeueth not, is condemned alreadie, because he hath not beleeued in the name of the onely begot∣ten Sonne of God.

Theoph.

* 1.33 I do now at length acknowledge all the ar∣ticles which appertaine to the faith in Christ, to be in∣deed profitable, yea necessarie to the establishment of our faith I would notwithstanding know, why in the Scriptures his death onely is for the most part spoken of, as in that place of Paule, * 1.34 We are reconciled by the death of his sonne.

Mat.

By such kind of speeches, the scriptures, desirous of breuity and shortnes, of the chiefe part nameth the whole. Neuerthelesse, sometimes his resurrection also * 1.35 is ioyned because in it Christ ouercame death, where∣upon it is, that the force of Christs death hangeth vp∣on his resurrection. For if Christ be not raised vp (saith Paul) * 1.36 our faith is vaine. This also is to be noted by the way, that the death of Christ is not seldome vnder∣stood

by his bloud, because that powring out of his bloud, amongst other things, which he suffered for vs, is verse excellent and notable.

Theoph.

Bring forth some testimonies for it.

Mat.

They are to be found euerie where in the ho∣ly writings. Peace being made by the bloud of Christ, by him he hath reconciled all thinges to him selfe, as well those that bee in earth as those that be in heauen, that is to saie, both those that be in the Church alrea∣die receiued into heauen, as those that bee yet in the militant Church below.

* 1.37 We were redeemed not with corruptible things, as siluer or gold: but with the precious bloud, as of a Lambe without spot, and vndefiled, euen of Christ. * 1.38 We are iustified by the bloud of Christ.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The founda∣tion of our redemption.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 20. 28
• * 1.3

  Rom. 8. 34.
• * 1.4

  Why there be in the Creed more articles of Christ then these three.
• * 1.5

  The vse of the articles of the faith against the sundry tēp∣tations.
• * 1.6

  Psal 51. 7. Ephes. 3.
• * 1.7

  Conceiued by the holy Ghost. Math. 1. 20
• * 1.8

  Borne of the virgin Marie. Gal. 4. 14. Mat. 1. 13.
• * 1.9

  Gal. 4. 4. Mat. 1. 23.
• * 1.10

  Suffered vn∣der Pontius Pilate.
• * 1.11

  Crucified. Mat. 27. 35
• * 1.12

  Dead.
• * 1.13

  Mat. 27. 50
• * 1.14

  How Christ brought death to death.
• * 1.15

  Hos. 13. 14.
• * 1.16

  1. Cor. 15 54.
• * 1.17

  Death deli∣uereth the faithfull frō innumera∣ble deaths.
• * 1.18

  Acts. 7. 60. 1. The. 4. 13
• * 1.19

  He descen∣ded into hell.
• * 1.20

  Mat. 26. 38
• * 1.21

  Luc. 22. 44. Mat. 27. 46
• * 1.22

  Luc. 23. 43.
• * 1.23

  Ioh. 19. 39
• * 1.24

  The order of the arti∣cles which respect Christ.
• * 1.25

  The third day he arose againe.
• * 1.26

  Act. 10. 46 Ephe. 4. 8. He ascēded into heauen Act. 1. 9.
• * 1.27

  And sitteth at the right hād of God the father almightie.
• * 1.28

  Rom. 8. 34.
• * 1.29

  Mat. 16. 27
• * 1.30

  Frō thence he shall com•• to iudge quick and dead.
• * 1.31

  1. Cor. 15. 52
• * 1.32

  Ioh. 3. 18. & 5. 24.
• * 1.33

  Why Christs death is mē∣tioned oft∣ner in the Scriptures, then the o∣ther things he did for vs
• * 1.34

  Rom. 5. 10.
• * 1.35

  Rom. 4. 25.
• * 1.36

  1. Cor. 15. 14
• * 1.37

  1. Pet. 1. 19
• * 1.38

  Rom. 5. 9.