The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-12-11
FOR THE Central PREsBTrERIAN.
"HE DESCENDED INTO HE'LL"
ApOs les Greed.

Apos les Greed.
This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. -
LUEE XXX: As.
Mr.. Elitor,-I have placed together By
wgy Of contrast the two foregoing sentences,
which have given rise to a vast amount OF
discussion both by Catholic and Protestant
divines; and viii preface some remarks upon
them by referring to personal Incident
Some years ago, spent few days in Alex
6 dria, and during my stay visited the old
Episcopal church in which General Wash
ilgton wOrshipped with his family; and in
Waich have been retained some mementos OF
the Washington family, auOng others a
hrge square high back pew, which compares
strangely with the other pews which are of
idern size aud form. My only companion
was lady of advanced age, and who for
tairty years or more had been devout com
muoieant in the Episcopal Church-the
mother Of three esteemed ministers of that
Church now laboriug in Virginia.
Oo one side of the pulpit the Ten Com
nandments were printed in large letters, and
on the other side the Apostles Greed. Point
ing to the latter, my companion surprised
ne BY asking the question if believed that
Jesus Christ descended into hell? Without
msang direct answer, asked her why
sac ba5 put such qussioa Co ne. +" ss-
C. .se -sne saia with great earuestness and
eu Dhasis-''I 10 not 5eiisue it. aud as often
ss 1t is repeated in our Church Service, |
invariably leave out these words "he de-
scended into hell When | reminded her
taat she was allowed to substitute the words
she went into the place of departed spirits,
she replied, that was true, but 1t did not sat
ISIS her mind, or remove the impression that
had preyed on her for years, that either form
Of expression was liable to the objection that
it seemed to be in direct conflict with the
words Of the Divine Saviour spoken on the
Cross to the penitent thief, "this day shalt
thou be with me in Paradise" that as to
the first form "he descended into hell it
vas not only repulsive to her sense of pro-
priety as intended to express the abode of
Christ for three days; but her reading had
led her to the conclusion that it was a POPtsh
Interpolation upon some ancient Greed, de-
signed to favor the PopIsh doctrine of Pur-
gstOry." My reply to this remark was
aoous this-that my own mind had been ls
boring under the same difieulty-that the
Apostles Creed, though not made part Of
the service in the Presbyterian Church, was
found in our Confession of Faith, and was
generally accepted as being consistent with
the sacred Scriptures, though no one placed
i. on the footing of an inspired production
aad that in point of fact my own course had
been the same with hers as to the words "he
descended into hell "
And BOW, Mr.. E litor, after the lapse Of
50 many years, and farther examination OF
tae subject, the impression then resting on
ny mind had been rather strengthened than
otherwise; and thinking it not unlikely that
others besides myself have felt some interest
10 the matter, offer the following views for
publication, laying no claim to originality,
bat hoping they may excite some exsmina-
ton and reading or a subject that has been
often and learnedly discussed.
FIRST, as to the historical question about
the Creed. At page A (yOl. y of Mos
helms Church History, We read as follows
There is extant a brief summary of the
principles of Christianity in that form which
bears the name of the apostles Creed and
which from the fourth century dO1CHVard,
was generally considered as production OF
the Apostles. All, however, who have the
least knowledge of antiquity, look upon this
opinion as entirely false, and destitute of all
foundation. There is much more reason in
ne opinion Of those who think that this
Creed was not all composed at once, but
from small beginnings was imPercepibly
augmented in proportion to the growth OF
boresy, and according to the e1igencies and
circumstances of the Church, from which it
vas designed to Danish the errors that daily
arose.
Secondly. AS to the "descent into hell
q. is, believe, agreed that it was made part
IF the Creed about the 5th century. In the
IOsh century, MOsheim informs US (Vol. 2
,. 24) "thO fssrs of PurgatOry, Of that Are