As concerning the very soul itself, immediately after that it departed from the body; it remained not idle, but it descended into the lower parts. Which words declare nothing else, but that it entered into the same state, which the rest of the souls separated from the bodies have experience of; the which are either chosen into the fellowship of saints, or else are thrust out into everlasting destruction, with the spirits of them that be damned. And assuredly, both the one and the other; as well the society of the godly spirits, as also of them that should be damned, felt the presence of the soul of Christ. For the spirits of the faithful (who as Christ says in Luke, while he makes mention of that unhappy rich man, and of most happy Lazarus) rested in a very quiet place, which there is aptly called The bosom of Abraham, that they being all endued with one faith of that holy patriarch, should wait for salvation, through Christ, which there was named from Abraham. Those spirits (I say) rejoiced with great consolation, and gave thanks unto the excellent God, who had delivered them by the hand of the mediator; and because he had performed that thing, which he so long before had promised. Also the other spirits, which were appointed to damnation, felt the coming of the soul of Christ. For (as we read in the first epistle of Peter, the third chapter) To them the spirit of Christ preached. Which may be understood after this sort; namely, that he might reprove them for their obstinacy and unbelief, wherein they were hardened against the word of God, and against the godly admonitions, which ever among were propounded unto them, while they yet lived: or else, that he even then showed unto them, that same wholesome and most true word. Which word, seeing they, being always like to themselves, did obstinately reject; and being dead, retained still that incredulity which they did being alive, they themselves gave a most manifest testimony against themselves of their most just condemnation; especially, seeing they might not any longer pretend any manner of ignorance. Thus the wisdom of God through his judgments carries perfect praise and renown. And here we are to crave of God, that he will vouchsafe to give unto us such a mind, as we esteem not more of our perverse lusts, than of a stinking carcase, which is already laid close in a sepulcher: and that he will so open our heart, to embrace his holy promises; least while our ears are stricken only with the outward sound of them, we wickedly resist the truth and certainty of them. It is our part also, that seeing Christ, by so many labours and sufferings, approved himself for certainty to be very man; we being comforted by his help, should plainly meditate divine and heavenly life. And having so great a benefit given of God, by the death and burial of Christ; we should do him no small wrong, if we would in very deed think, that our own works avail anything for reconciliation of us unto him: when as we profess rather by this article of faith, that he was pacified with mankind, by the only death of Christ, and by his bitter passion.
He rose again the third day, he ascended into heaven, he sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
If Christ, that only son of God, who came down unto us, and for our salvation was slain by a most bitter death of the cross, had shrunk, or not been able to have sustained death; and being closed in the sepulcher, had tasted the force of corruption, as other men do: how might we have confidence to be saved by him, that had not been able to save himself? In like manner, as if a man that would proffer his help to one perishing in the water, leaps with good courage into the water: nevertheless, he himself, while he endeavours to save another, perishes, being swallowed up in the deep of the water; can he that perishes himself, bring any help to him that is perishing? Undoubtedly no other commodity can come thereof, but that the loss grows to be double; if unto the death of the first, there is also added the death of a second, who by his death should bring so much the more loss, in how much his life was more pure and holy. So then it altogether behooved, first, that for our salvation Christ should deliver himself from death: then, to persuade us most fully, that by faith in him salvation is obtained for us. Wherefore, they who beheld him hanging upon the cross, did reproachfully cast him in the teeth with these things; Let him save himself, and we will believe him; he saved others, himself he cannot save. And he rose again from death: wherein he expressed forth a greater power, than if he had then descended from the cross. He strove in such sort with death, as he mightily conquering and destroying the same, might not be retained thereby. For this cause do we here confess, that he was raised up the third day, according to the Scriptures; and that by his Father’s decree he ascended into heaven, and that he sits at the right hand of the Father. By which article of our faith we now suck out most sweet comfort; namely, that Christ is exalted for our salvation. And here fall out two things most worthy to be noted; the first is, what manner of exaltation and new glory of Christ the same was; the second, what profit may redound to the faithful thereby.