§. 2. The Apostles Creed.
The Creed was made upon this occasion (saith a 1.1 Rabanus Ma•…•…s) as our Ancestors have delivered unto us. The Disciples after the Ascension of our Saviour being inflamed with the Holy Ghost, &c. And being charged by the Lord to go to all Nations for the preaching of the Gospel, when they are to part one from another, they first make a common platform among themselves for their future preaching. Lest being severed in place, divers and different things should be preached to those that were invited to the faith of Christ. Being therefore together in one place, and filled with the Holy Ghost, they compose a short platform for their preaching, conferring together what they thought. And this they appoint to be given to them that believe, and to be called Symbolum, &c. Thus he, and very many others with him, conceiving that the Apostles supplied not only the matter of the Doctrine contained in the Creed, but the very form and words also.
For Peter said, say they, I believe in God the Father Almighty.
John, The maker of Heaven and Earth.
James, And I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord.
Andrew, Which was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary.
Philip, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.
Thomas, He descended into Hell: the third day he rose again from the dead.
Bartholomew, He ascended into Heaven: sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
Matthew, From thence shall he come to judge both the quick and the dead.
James the son of Alpheus, I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholick Church.
Simon Zelotes, The communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins.
Judas the brother of James, The resurrection of the flesh.
Matthias, The life everlasting. Amen.
Thus the hundred and fifteenth Sermon de Tempore, that goeth under the name of b 1.2 Austen: but apparent that it is not his, by this, that here is reckoned the descent into Hell, which in his book c 1.3 de Fide & Symbolo is quite omitted.
Now were this Tradition as true as it is punctual, it would readily plead for its own place in Chronology, namely, about this time at which we now are, before James his death, for he gave in his symbolum (according to this tradition) among the rest. But that this opinion of the Apostles casting in every one his parcel, is of no validity, but a pre∣sumptuous and false surmise, may be evinced by these Arguments.
First, d 1.4 Because the title of The Catholick Church, is neither used in any of the Apo∣stles writings, nor is it likely that it came into use till after the Apostles days, when the Church was dispersed into all parts of the earth.
Secondly, Because the Article He descended into Hell, is not owned or acknowledged at all by the Nicene Creed, nor by any of the ancientest Fathers next the Apostles times, in their reckoning up of the Articles of the Creed, as see instances in abundance in e 1.5 Polanus his Syntagma, lib. 6. cap. 21.
Thirdly, If the matter and words of the Creed had been from the Apostles themselves, why is it not then Canonical Scripture as well as any of the sacred Writ?
Fourthly, In the giving in of their several Symbols or parcels, after the manner opini∣onated before, there is so great disproportion and inequality, some giving so much, and some so little, that it maketh the contribution it self to be very suspitious.
Fifthly, The Summary Collection of the points of Christian Religion taught by the Apostles, and delivered by them to others to teach by, consisteth of two heads, Faith and Love, 2 Tim. 1. 13. But the Creed consisted of faith only. I rather think therefore, saith Mr. Perkins, that it is called the Apostles Creed, because it doth summarily contain the chief and principal Points of Religion, handled and propounded in the Doctrine of the Apostles; and because the points of the Creed are conformable and agreeable to their Doctrine and Writings.