II.

OF THE WORD, OR SON OF GOD, WHICH WAS MADE VERY MAN,

The Son, which is the Word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin, of her substance: so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead aud Manhood, were joined together in one Person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God, and very man ; who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men.

Q. What is the word of the Father?

A. The Son, begotten from everlasting, of the Father; the very, and eternal God; of one substance with the Father.

Q. Whose nature did he take?

A. Man's nature, in the womb of the blessed virgin, of her substance.

Q. What two whole, and perfect natures, were joined together, in one person, never to be divided?

A. The Godhead, and Manhood.

Q. What do they constitute?

A. One Christ, very God, and very Man.

Q. What did Christ undergo to reconcile his Father to us?

A. He truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried.

Q. For what else did Christ suffer?

A. To be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also, for the actual sins of men.

Scripture Proofs.

Micah v. 2. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me, that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. John i.1. Isaiah xl. 3.

John i. 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the onlybegotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John x. 30. I and my Father are one.

Matthew i. 23. Behold a Virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Isaiah vii. 14.

Philippians ii. 6, 7. Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man.

1 John ii. 2. And he is the propiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

This article is evidently directed against those

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who consider Jesus Christ as a mere man and deny the doctrine of the atonement. When man, by transgressing the "holy, just, and good" law of his Creator had fallen under its curse, God was pleased of his infinite compassion to provide a ransom for his deliverance from that curse and its penalty; the Father of mercies sent his only-begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him; thus God was manifest in the flesh." He "put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." And now the way is opened for the reconciliation of fallen man to his offended God, the Socinian feels no need of redeeming love, God help him: the Antinomian sees no need of holiness, God help him too: the humble follower of the Lamb, feels his need of both. O may the self-dependent learn "there is none other name given under Heaven, whereby man can be saved, but that of Jesus Christ!" Let the inquiring and awakened soul hear the voice which says "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved;" and, let the adoring Christian trust and know, that on the Redeemer's Cross he has an "anchor for his soul, both sure and steadfast." "Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift." A religion without a Saviour, is the temple without the Shechinah; and its worshippers will desert it.

III.

OF THE GOING DOWN OF CHRIST INTO HELL.

As Christ died for us, and was buried; so also is it to be believed that he went down into Hell.

Q. As Christ died for us, and was buried, what is further to be believed concerning him? A. That he went down into hell.

Scripture Proofs.

Ephesians iv. 9, 10. Now that he ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens.

Acts ii. 27. Because thou will not leave my soul in Hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

It seems probable, (says the late Bishop of Lincoln,) that this doctrine of Christ's descent into Hell was first introduced into Creeds, for the purpose of declaring the actual separation of Christ's body and soul, in opposition to those who asserted that the crucifixion produced only a trance, and that Christ did not really suffer death.' I give a

full and undoubting assent unto this, as to a certain truth, (says Bishop Pearson,) that when all the sufferings of Christ were finished on the Cross, and his soul was separated from his body, though his body were dead, yet his soul died not; and though it died not, yet it underwent the condition of the souls of such as die: but because there was no sin in Him, and He had fully satisfied for the sins of others which He took upon him: therefore as God suffered not his Holy One to see corruption, so He left not his soul in Hell, and thereby gave sufficient security to all those who belong to Christ, of never coming under the power of Satan, or suffering in the flames prepared for the Devil and his angels; and thus, and for these purposes, may every Christian I believe that Christ descended

into Hell.'

say,