pense; Christ the Lord descended, not to suffer, but to liberate from suffering the holy and the just who were held in painful captivity, and to impart to them the fruit of his passion. His supreme dignity and power, therefore, suffered no diminution by his descent into hell.
Having explained these things, the pastor will, next, proceed to teach that the Son of God descended into hell, that, clothed with the spoils of the arch-enemy, he may conduct into heaven those holy fathers, and the other just souls, whose liberation from prison he had already purchased. This he accomplished in an admirable and glorious manner, for his august presence, at once shed a celestial lustre upon the captives; filled them with inconceivable joy; and imparted to them that supreme happiness which consists in the vision of God; thus verifying his promise to the thief on the cross: " Amen, I say to thee, this day thou shall be with me in Paradise." [1] This, deliverance of the just was, long before, predicted by Ozeas, in these words: " O Death! I will be thy death, Hell! I will be thy bite:" [2] and also by the prophet Zachary: " Thou, also, by the blood of thy testament, hast sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water ," [3] and lastly, the same is expressed by the Apostle in these words: " Despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them confidently, openly triumphing over them in himself." [4]
However, to comprehend still more clearly the efficacy of this mystery, we should frequently call to mind, that not only those who were born after the coming of the Saviour, but, also, those who preceded that event from the days of Adam, or shall succeed it to the consummation of time, are included in the redemption purchased by the death of Christ. Before his death and resurrection, heaven was closed against every child of Adam; the souls of the just, on their departure from this life, were borne to the bosom of Abraham; or, as is still the case with those who require to be freed from the stains of sin, or die indebted to the divine justice, were purified in the fire of purgatory.
Another reason, also, why Christ descended into hell is, that there, as well as in heaven and on earth he may proclaim his power and authority; and that " every knee of things in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, should bend at his name." [5] And here, who is not filled with admiration and astonishment when he contemplates the infinite love of God to man! Not satisfied with having undergone for our sake a most cruel death he penetrates the inmost recesses of the earth, to transport into bliss the souls whom he so dearly loved, and whose liberation from prison he had achieved at the price of his blood!
We now come to the second part of the Article, and how indefatigable should be the labours of the pastor in its exposition;
