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ly that the Defcent into it is the fame with Burial. And perhaps there is good Ground to believe, that this was the Original Senfe of that Word in this Article. At least I am perfuaded, that in Pfal. 16. II. which is quoted and applied by St. Peter, Acts 2. 27, 31. and upon which the Belief of the Defcent into Hell is generally grounded, it is to be underftood in this Senfe. But then 'tis plain, that our Church by the Defcent into Hell means fomething different from the Burial of Chrift. For fhe manifeftly diftinguishes the one from the other. This is evident from the Words of the Article. The Question therefore is, how that Man, who believes that the Word Hell in Pfal. 16. 11. and Acts 2.27,31. betokens nothing but the Grave (as the Reader may perhaps find good Reason to do) can honestly fubfcribe this Article.

I answer, that the Church excludes no Sense of the Word Hell in this Article, except that which faies, that by Hell is meant the Grave. Wherefore the Church very freely allows us to fubfcribe this Article in Bishop Pearfon's Senfe, who faies, that Hell betokens the State of departed Souls. And that our Savior did go into the State of departed Souls, is acknowledged even by thofe who believe that the Word Hell in Pfal. 16. 11. and Acts 2. 27, 31. betokens the Grave. So that tho' they interpret thofe Texts in the Senfe before mention'd, yet they acknowledge the Truth of what the Church allows them to mean by Chrift's Defcent into Hell. And confequently they may fubfcribe it. For the Church does not require them to declare, that the Word Hell in Pfal. 16. 11. and Acts 2. 27, 31. fignifies the State of feparate Souls; but only to fubfcribe to the Defcent into Hell in general; whe ther it be prov'd by thofe, or by any other Texts:

and

and this they may certainly do in the Senfe before mention'd.

'Tis true, those who fubfcribe after this manner, must then understand the Word Hell in the Article, in a Sense very different from that in which 'tis us❜d in thofe Texts; and perhaps in a Senfe very different from that in which 'twas understood by the greater part of that Convocation which paffed the Article it felf: but then it must be remembred, that Words are but arbitrary Signs, and that the Signification of them may by inveterate and allow'd Practice be alter'd, or even chang'd fometimes to the quite contrary, as we find by a Variety of Inftances in our own Tongue. And therefore that Perfon, who fubfcribes the Word Hell in a Sense which the Church allows (tho' it be different from what it bears in fome other Places, or perhaps from what was firft intended by the Covocation it felf) does very honestly.

It may be objected perhaps, that the Church diftinguishes the Defcent into Hell, not only from the Burial, but alfo from the Death of Chrift: whereas, if by the Descent into Hell we mean his Departure into the State of feparate Souls; then the Death of Chrift, and his Defcent into Hell, are the fame thing; becaufe a Man's dying implies his Departure into the State of feparate Souls. But I answer, that tho' a Man's Departure into the State of feparate Souls be the Confequence of Death, confidering that State and Order of things which God has appointed; yet 'tis not Death it felf. For Death betokens only the Separation of Soul and Body; and 'tis poffible in the Nature of the thing, that this Separation may be made, altho' the Parts feparated fhould from the Moment of their Separation ceafe to be. Wherefore Death

and

and the Descent into Hell, are really diftinct in themselves, tho' the one, by virtue of God's Appointment, certainly follows the other.

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The FOURTH ARTICLE.
Of the Refurrection of Chrift.

HRIST did truly rife again from Death, and took again his body, with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith be afcended into beaven, and there fitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day.

This Article contains Four Propofitions.

1. Chrift did truly rife again from Death, and took again his Body, with Flesh, Bones, and all things appertaining to the Perfection of Man's Nature.

2. Chrift did, with his faid Body, Flesh, &c. afcend into Heaven.

3. Christ shall return from Heaven to judge all Men at the laft Day.

4. Chrift fitteth in Heaven, until he return to judge all Men at the Laft Day.

The First Propofition. See Bishop Pearson on the Fifth Article, beginning at He refe again; and the Fourteenth Chapter of the Second Part of the First Volume of Dr. Jenkin's Reasonableness and Certainty of the Chriftian Religion, and the Twenty eighth Chapter of the Second Volume of the faid Book; and the Eleventh Section of Dr. Whitby's General Preface to his first Volume of Annotations.

The

The Second, Third and Fourth Propofitions. See Bishop Pearfon on the Sixth and Seventh Articles.

The FIFTH ARTICLE.

Of the Holy Ghoft.

HE Holy Ghoft proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one Subftance, Majesty, and Glory, with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.

This Article contains Three Propofitions.
1. The Holy Ghoft is very and eternal God.
2. The Holy Ghoft is of one Subftance, Maje
fty, and Glory, with the Father and the Son.
7. The Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father
and the Son.

The First and Third Propofitions. See Bishop Pearfon on the Eighth Article. But concerning the Third, fee alfo Numb. 3. of the Appendix to the Paraphrafe with Annotations on the Common Prayer, p. 287, &c.

The Second Propofition is therefore true, because there can be no more Gods than One, according to the Sixth Propofition of the First Article.

The SIXTH ARTICLE.

Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation.

HR

TOLY Scripture containeth all things necessary to Salvation fo that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any

man

man, that it should be believ'd as an Article of the Faith, or be thought requifite or necessary to Salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand thofe Canonical books of the Old and New Testament, of whofe autho rity was never any doubt in the Church.

Of the Names and Number of the Canonical

Genefis.
Exodus.

Leviticus.

Numeri..

Books.

Deuteronomium.

Fofhue.
Fudges.
Ruth.

The I. Book of Samuel.

The II. Book of Samuel.
The I. Book of Kings.
The II. Book of Kings.
The I. Book of Chronicles.
The II. Book of Chronicles.
The I. Book of Efdras.
The II. Book of Efdras.
The Book of Hefter.
The Book of Job.

The Pfalms.

The Proverbs.

Ecclefiaftes, or Preacher.

Cantica, or Songs of Solomon.
Four Prophets the greater.

Twelve Prophets the lefs.

And the other Books (as Hierome faith) the Church doth read for Example of Life, and Inftruction of Manners; yet doth it not apply them to establish any Doctrine; fuch are thefe following,

but

The

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