A plain exposition of the Apostles' creed, in questions and answers

It was in such a hope, that the first Martyr for our faith, Saint Stephen, while being stoned to death, "called upon GOD and said: LORD JESUS receive my spirit." And having said this, "he FELL ASLEEP."Acts vii. 59. 60.

And after him, those who die in a like faith, "FALL ASLEEP in CHRIST," looking forward to "the new Heavens and the new Earth," where there will be NO MORE DEATH, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; "for the former things are passed away."-1 Cor. xv. 18.-Rev. xxi. 1. 4.-Is. lxv. 17. Ixvi. 22.-2. Pet. iii. 13. Rom. viii. 10. 11.

36. Q. Did the holy men of old, look upon death as only a sleep?

A. Yes; for Job said: "Man lieth down, and riseth not: till heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of THEIR SLEEP."-Job. xiv. 12.

And David looking forward to his death and resurrection, said: "I will both LAY ME DOWN in peace, and SLEEP: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety;" and "as for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, WHEN I AWAKE, with Thy likeness."-Ps. iv. 8. xvii. 15.

37. Q. How were they enabled to fear death so little? A. Because they looked forward to their resurrection through CHRIST. For they died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."-Heb. xi, 13-16.

38. Q. On what day did CHRIST rise from the dead?

A. On the third day, after His death. He died, and was buried, on the day before the Sabbath, namely, on Friday; and He rose again on the first day of the week, namely, on Sunday.

St. John xix, 31. 42.-St. Mark xv. 42.-St. Matt. xxviii. 1.-St.Mark xvi, 1.-St. Luke xxiv. 1.—St. John xx. 1.

39. Q. What name did the Church give to the day, on which our LORD rose again from the dead?

A. It was called THE LORDS' DAY;" because it "is the day which the LORD hath made; and we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

For on that day, He declared openly that, no one could ever lay any thing to the charge of His Church: because HE DIED" FOR HER, and ROSE AGAIN,"

and IS ALIVE FOR EVERMORE." For that reason, the Church keeps that day holy, with thanksgivings to GOD, for that "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS," "IS RISEN INDEED."

Rev. i. 10. 18.-Ps. cxviii. 24.-St. John xx. 26. -Acts. xx. 7.-1 Cor. xvi. 2.-Jer. xxiii. 6.—St. Luke xxiv. 34.

ALMIGHTY FATHER, who hast given THY ONLY SON to die for our sins, and to RISE AGAIN FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION; grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may alway serve Thee in pureness of living and truth, through the merits of the same Thy SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. Amen.

Collect for the first Sunday after Easter.

ARTICLE VI.

HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, AND SITTETH

ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER

ALMIGHTY:"

1. Q. What is the sixth Article of your Faith? A. That JESUS CHRIST "went up into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty."

2. Q. When did the LORD go up into heaven?

A. Forty days after His resurrection.-Acts i. 3. 3. Q. How do you know that CHRIST Went up into Heaven?

A. First, because CHRIST Himself declared that He should ascend into heaven, from whence He was come.-St. John vi. 62. iii. 13.

Secondly, because He was "seen go up into heaven,” by His Apostles, "who were also witnesses of His resurrection."-Acts i. 9.-St. Luke xxiv. 51.

Thirdly, because Angels were sent from heaven, to tell the Apostles the reason for which CHRIST was gone up into heaven.-Acts 1. 10. 11.

4. Q. Quote the words of Scripture ;

A. First, CHRIST said: "No man hath ascended into heaven, but He that came down from Heaven, even the

SON of MAN which is in Heaven." "What if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where He was before?" St. John iii. 13. vi. 62.

Secondly, the LORD led His Apostles "out, as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them:" "And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven."

And thirdly, "while they looked stedfastly towards heaven, as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."St. Luke xxiv. 50. 51.-Acts. i. 10, 11. 5. Q. Why must CHRIST have ascended into heaven? A. In order тTO GIVE to HIS CHURCH, which he had saved by His precious blood, A PLACE in the kingdom of His Father. In My FATHER's house, are many mansions," said the LORD JESUS to His disciples; "I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU," "that where I am, there YE may be also. "-St. John. xiv. 2. 3.— xii. 26.-xvii. 24.

6. What sure proof have we that, as CHRIST was ONE WITH US in His sufferings and death, we are ONE with HIM, in His kingdom of Heaven?

A. Because HE WAS SEEN, by faithful witnesses, GO UP into heaven, WITH THE SAME BODY with which HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD. So that now, since our human nature has gone before, in Him, who is our Head, we

His members, have a sure hope to follow.

7. Q. What does the Scripture say?

A. Holy Scripture speaking of our SAVIOUR going up into heaven, says: this is the NEW AND LIVING WAY which He consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh." So that we now "have our hope as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, which entereth into that within the veil, whither the forerunner is for us entered, even JESUS."-Heb. x. 20. vi. 19. 20.

8. Q. What do you understand by a "forerunner?"

A. One who "goes before." Our LORD is "gone before" into heaven, to prepare a place for us, as He says Himself. For "God hath not only quickened us together with CHRIST, and hath RAISED US UP together; but He hath made us SIT TOGETHER IN HEAVENLY PLACES in CHRIST JESUS."-Eph. ii. 5. 6.

9. Q. In what character is CHRIST gone up into Heaven?

A. We have seen that, CHRIST, the SON OF GOD, came upon earth, as a PROPHET; for He was sent to teach men the only way in which they could be saved and come to GOD, namely through Him. But being OUR HIGH PRIEST, HE is gone up into heaven; where He sitteth at the right hand of God, as our KING. 10. Q. Did God give his people of old to understand that, CHRIST the MESSIAH, should ascend into Heaven ?

A. Certainly. In days of old, the HIGH PRIEST was wont to go into the "most holy place, at certain times, with the blood of sacrifices, in order to make propitiation for the sins of the people.-Heb. ix. 7.-Ex. xxx. 10.-Lev. xvi. 2. 11. 12. 15. 24.

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