44. Why is it added: "He descended into hell"?

That in my greatest temptations I may be assured that Christ my Lord, by His inexpressible anguish, pains, and terrors, which He suffered in His soul on the cross and before, has redeemed me from the anguish and torment of hell. 1)

1) Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him, he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Isa. 53:10.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matt. 27:46.

* The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. Ps. 18:5.

* The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gate hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Ps. 116:3.

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