This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further information or permissions.
§. 1. THough the Scripture be a perfect revelation of all Divine Truth necessary to Salva∣tion, yet the Fundamental Articles of our Faith are so dispersed there, that it was fit and necessary for the Apostles to collect out of those sacred Wri∣tings, one plain and short Summary of the Funda∣mental Doctrines, which might be easily learned,
understood, and remembred by all Christians, and this is called The Apostles Creed; because it was Composed by the Apostles themselves, which may be proved, First, by Scripture, where we read of A Form of Doctrine(a), a form of sound words(b), A Rule(c), A Depositum committed to the Bishops trust(d), and of the Faith once delivered to the Saints(e) which the best Expositors, both ancient and modern, do understand of the Creed. Secondly, we may prove that the Apostles made this Form, by Authority, that is, by the con∣current testimony of the Church in all Ages, which is the best way we have to prove who were the Au∣thors of the several Books of Scripture. We might here produce the Testimonies of Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, S. Ambrose, S. Augustine, S. Hierom, Ruffinus, and many others, to shew, that the twelve Apostles made this Creed; but that of Sixtus Senensis may serve at present, who saith, All the Orthodox Fathers affirm that this Creed was composed by the Apostles themselves(f); which hath prevailed not only with the Romanists, but with Luther, Calvin, Beza, Peter Martyr, and the most learned and judicious Pro∣testants to receive this Creed, as being made and delivered by the Apostles. Thirdly, We may prove it also by Reason: for, first, It is certain in the very first Ages there was a Creed taught to the new converted Christians, which they were to re∣peat at their Baptism, and the very words then spo∣ken are yet upon Record in many Fathers, and are the same with this Creed. Secondly, We can shew
what Council or what Father made all other Creeds, but no Council or Father can be produced as Au∣thors of this, which therefore must needs descend from the Apostles. Thirdly, We are sure there was a Creed in the Church from the beginning, be∣fore any Heretick arose, and this is that Creed, be∣cause it is the shortest and plainest of all others, which are but so many Paraphrases upon this which is the Original of all the rest. But some may ob∣ject, first, If the Apostles made it, 'tis a wonder they did not write it down in Scripture. Answ. I reply, many other things, as the Sunday-Sabbath and Infant-Baptism were not written, but convey∣ed by Tradition, and of all other things this Creed was not fit to be written while the Heathens go∣verned the world, because this was the secret and mystery of Christianity, the watchword, that no Enemy ought to know; and when they taught it to new Converts, they obliged them never to reveal it to the Heathens, for fear they should profane and deride it, for which cause they saw not fit to com∣mit it to writing till persecution was ceased. Se∣condly, It is objected, If the ancient Councils had known of this Creed, they would not have made new ones. Answ. We reply, those Councils do declare they did not make any new Creed, only more largely expounded such Articles of the Apo∣stles Creed as the Hereticks disputed against, leaving still that of the Apostles as the Foundation. Third∣ly, If this be the genuine composure of the Apo∣stles, then it would be of equal Authority with the holy Scripture. I answer, The Creed and the Scripture are but the same Doctrine divers ways delivered, in writing there, and hereby Oral Tra∣dition; yet since the latter way in which the Creed
was delivered, is more liable to alteration and mi∣stake than writing is; therefore we confirm every Article of it by Scripture, and shew by its consent therewith, that it was never altered; and therefore to us it is of equal authority with the Scripture, be∣cause it is the same thing in a Compendium, and dif∣fers only in form, not in sense. Having thus pro∣ved this venerable Creed to proceed from such bles∣sed Authors, I shall, first, shew the parts of it; se∣condly, give a reason of its place and daily use in our Liturgy; thirdly, direct how to repeat it with profit.
§. 2. [The Apostles Creed] is a declaration of what we believe concerning God and concerning our selves. First concerning God; we believe, 1. In general, that there is a God, and but one God, Art. I. [I believe in God.] 2. That this one God is distinguished into three Persons; first the Father, described by his Nature and Works, [the Father Almighty, maker, &c.] Secondly the Son, described by his Name, his Office and Di∣vine Nature, Art. II. [And in Iesus Christ his only, &c.] By his Incarnation and Human Nature, Art. III. [who was conceived, &c.] And by his Works for our Redemption, viz. his Passion, Art. IV. [suffered under Pontius, &c.] his Resur∣rection, Art. V. [the third day, &c.] his Ascen∣sion to glory, Art. VI. [he ascended, &c.] his re∣turn to judgment, Art. VII. [From thence he shall come, &c.] Thirdly the holy Ghost, described by his Name and Office, Art. VIII. [I believe in the, &c.]
The second part of the Creed is what we believe concerning our selves, viz. First, That we are Mem∣bers
of a holy Society, called the Church, Art. IX. [The holy Catholick, &c.] Secondly, That we have many Priviledges thereby, 1. Mutually, [The Communion of Saints:] 2ly, Severally, we have priviledges, here, remission of sin, Art. X. [The forgiveness, &c.] and hereafter, 1. Resur∣rection, Art. XI. [The resurrection of, &c.] 2. Eternal Life, Art. XII. [And the life ever∣lasting, Amen.]
§. 3. The place of the Creed in our Liturgy is, First, immediately after the Lessons of Holy Scrip∣ture out of which it is taken; and since Faith comes by hearing Gods word, and the Gospel doth not profit without Faith, therefore it is very fit upon hearing thereof we should exercise and profess our Faith. Secondly, The Creed is placed just before the Prayers, as being the foundation of our Petitions; we cannot call on him, on whom we have not be∣lieved, Rom. x. 14. and since we are to pray to God the Father in the name of the Son, by the assistance of the Spirit for remission of Sins, and a joyfull re∣surrection, we ought first to declare, that we be∣lieve in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and that there is remission here and resurrection hereafter to be had for all true Members of the Ca∣tholick Church, and then we may be said to pray in Faith. And hence S. Ambrose and S. Augustine advise Christians to say it daily in their private De∣votions, and so our old Saxon Councils command all to learn and use it not as a Prayer (as some ig∣norantly or maliciously object) but as a ground for our Prayers, and a reason for our Faith and hope of their acceptance: Upon which account also, as soon as Persecution ceased, and there was no
danger of the Heathens over-hearing it, the Creed was used in the Publick Service. And there are many benefits which we may receive by this Daily use of it; for, 1st, This fixes it firmly in our me∣mories, that we may never forget this blessed rule of our Prayers, nor be at any time without this necessary Touchstone to try all Doctrines by. 2ly, Thus we daily renew our profession of fidelity to Almighty God, and repeat that Watchword which was given us when we were first listed under Christs Banner, declaring thereby that we retain our alle∣giance to him and remain his faithful servants and souldiers, and no doubt that will move him the sooner to hear the prayers we are now making to him for his aid. 3ly, By this we declare our unity a∣mongst our selves, and shew our selves to be members of that Holy Catholick Church, by and for which these Common Prayers are made; those who hold this one Faith, and those only, have a right to pray thus; nor can any other expect to be ad∣mitted to joyn in them; and therefore this Creed is the Symbol and badge to manifest who are fit to make these Prayers, and receive the benefit of them. Wherefore in our daily use of this sacred Form, let us observe these Rules: 1st, To be heartily thank∣full to God for revealing these Divine, mysterious and saving Truths to us; and though the Glory be to the Father, &c. be only set at the end of Athanasi∣us's Creed, yet the duty of thanksgiving must be performed upon every repetition of this Creed also. 2ly, We must give our positive and particular as∣sent to every Article as we go along, and receive it as an infallible Oracle from the Mouth of God, and for this reason we must repeat it with an Audi∣ble Voice after the Minister, and in our Mind an∣nex
that word [I believe.] to every particular Article; for though it be but once expressed in the beginning, yet it must be supplyed, and is understood in every Article: and to shew our con∣sent the more evidently, we must stand up when we repeat it, and resolve to stand up stoutly in de∣fence thereof, so as if need were, to defend it, or seal the truth of it with our blood. 3ly, We must devoutly apply every Article, as we go along, to be both a ground for our Prayers, and a guide to our lives; for if we rightly believe the Power of the Father, the Love of the Son, and the Grace of the Holy Ghost, it will encourage us (who are Members of the Catholick Church) to pray hearti∣ly for all Spiritual and Temporal blessings, and give us very lively hopes of obtaining all our re∣quests. Again, since these Holy Principles were not revealed and selected out from all other Truths, for any other end but to make us live more Holily; therefore we must consider, How it is fit that Man should live, who believes God the Father is his Creator, God the Son his Redeemer, and God the holy Ghost his Sanctifier; who believes he is a Member of that Catholick Church, wherein there is a communion of Saints, and remission for Sins, and shall be a resurrection of the Body, and a life everlasting afterwards. No man is so ignorant, but he can tell what manner of persons they ought to be who believe this, and it is evident that who∣ever firmly and fully believes all this, his Faith will certainly and necessarily produce a holy life. But for your better assistance, we will, by a brief Paraphrase, shew how this Application may be made.
§. 4. Art. 1. [I believe in] one infinite and eter∣nal [God,] a pure and invisible Spirit, distin∣guished into three Persons, the first of which is [the Father Almighty,] and the [Maker of] me and all Creatures in [Heaven and Earth,] as well as the Preserver of all things.
Application.] Wherefore I am obliged to love, fear and serve this my Almighty God, to ad∣mire his works, and use them soberly, as also continually to rely on his Providence and pro∣tection, as he is the Maker and disposer of all the World: I am also by this Faith encoura∣ged to pray to this one God, and to him only, for my self, and for all Mankind, for deli∣verance from all evil, and the supply of all our wants, trusting in his Power and Provi∣dence.
Art. 2. [And] I believe in the second Person of the glorious Trinity [Iesus Christ,] who is ve∣ry God equal to the Father, being [his only son] by eternal generation, and [our Lord] our Sa∣viour and Redeemer.
Applic.] Wherefore I am obliged to trust in this Mighty and Merciful Saviour, and to obey his precepts, rely on his attonement and submit to his Authority, because he is anointed to be a Prophet, Priest, and King. And I am en∣couraged to pray in his Name for all things necessary to my Salvation, which he hath un∣dertaken and will accomplish.
Art. 3. I also believe that this very Son of God is he [who was conceived] without sin [by the] power of the [Holy Ghost,] and taking our nature
upon him, was [born of the] blessed [Virgin Ma∣ry] being both God and Man in one Person.
Applic.] Wherefore I am obliged to be thankful to Jesus for this his condescension, to learn hu∣mility from thence, and to keep my flesh from all impurity, because Christ hath become In∣carnate, and I am encouraged to pray to him for relief in all the necessities of this frail e∣state, and for grace to make me partaker of his Nature, as he was of mine.
Art. 4. I believe further, That this Jesus, in or∣der to our salvation, [suffered] the wrath of God due to our sins, being unjustly condemned [under Pontius Pilate,] by whom he [was crucified] on a Cross, till with extream torments he was [dead;] and as to his Body, it was put in the grave [and buri∣ed;] as to his Soul, [he descended into Hell,] and conquered Satan in his own quarters.
Applic.] Wherefore I am obliged to forsake, hate, and mortifie those sins of mine which were the cause of his death, and to trust in the merits of this great Sin-offering: And I am encouraged to pray, by the vertue there∣of, that I may obtain Mercy, and being sup∣ported in death, and delivered from Hell, that I may attain the Kingdom of Heaven, which he thus purchased for me.
Art. 5. I believe also that to declare he had fully satisfied Gods justice, [the third day] af∣ter his death [he rose again from the dead,] a∣mong whom our sins and Gods anger had laid him, and now he lives again.
Applic.] Wherefore I am obliged to rise from the death of sin here, and to lay down my life willingly, in assurance of my own Resur∣rection: And I am encouraged to pray to my victorious Redeemer to rescue me from the power of Sathan, Death, and Hell, which he hath so fully overcome.
Art. 6. I believe also, That when Jesus had gi∣ven full proof of his rising again to life, [he as∣cended] and went up triumphantly [into heaven] from whence he came, [and sitteth] there now [on the right hand of God the Father Almighty] in great glory and power, pleading his merits for us.
Applic.] Wherefore I am obliged to trust in this glorious Mediator for the acceptance of my services, and for relief in all my troubles, and to seek those things that are above, and not those things that are on earth: And I am en∣couraged to pray with hope, notwithstanding my manifold failings and infirmities, that I may at last partake of his eternal Glory.
Art. 7. And I believe, That though Jesus be now so glorious in Heaven, yet [from thence he shall come] again at the end of the world [to judge] all men according to their deeds, both [the quick] who are then found alive, [and the dead] who departed long before.
Applic.] Wherefore I am obliged to judge no man, nor to revenge my self on any, but re∣fer all my Injuries to this great Tribunal, and by preparing my own account, and living holily, to take care I be not condemned at
that great day: And I am encouraged to pray to my Judge and Saviour, that I may daily re∣member this great Account, and live so as to have a merciful Sentence finally passed on me.
Art. 8. Furthermore, [I believe in] the third Person of the glorious Trinity, [the holy Ghost,] who is very God, equal to and proceeding from the Father and the Son, and is our Sanctifier, Com∣forter and Advocate.
Applic.] Wherefore I am obliged to obey the good motions of this blessed Spirit, nei∣ther resisting the grace he offers, nor neg∣lecting the means he useth to convey it: And I am encouraged to worship the Holy Ghost with the Father and the Son, praying for all sanctifying Graces, and a blessing upon all Gods Ordinances, that I may daily grow in Grace and in all Vertue.
Art. 9. I likewise believe this holy Spirit hath sanctified that Society of Christians throughout the world, called [the holy Catholick Church,] which Sathan never could, nor can destroy, because they are united to Christ their Head by Faith, and to one another by their mutual Charity, which makes [the Communion of Saints.]
Applic.] Wherefore I am obliged to hold fast the true Faith preserved in this Church, to joyn in the religious worship used by it, to convert the erroneous to it, and to live in Charity with, and do good to all the Members of it; and I am encouraged to pray for the conversi∣on of Sinners, Hereticks, and Schismaticks; for the prosperity and success of all its Gover∣nors,
and for the peace and piety of all that belong to it.
Art. 10. I believe also that those who are of the true Catholick Church, may, if they repent and believe, obtain [the forgiveness of] all their [sins,] by the Mercy of God in Christ, and by the Mini∣stry of those whom he hath commissionated to preach the Gospel.
Applic.] Wherefore I am obliged to repent me of my sins, and to believe in his promises, to be thankful for his Mercy, and to esteem his Ministers as being sent by him to reconcile us to himself: And I am encouraged to confess penitently, and hear the Absolution most thankfully, and daily to pray for forgiveness of my daily offences.
Art. 11. Likewise I believe, That though soul and body be separated by Death, yet we shall be restored to life again by [the Resurrection of the body,] which though turned to dust, shall be uni∣ted to the Soul again by Gods Almighty Power, who made it at the first.
Applic.] Wherefore I am obliged to keep my bo∣dy pure while I live, to resign my self, and my friends, up cheerfully when we dye, in assu∣rance I and they shall all meet alive again: And I am encouraged to pray that I may rise from sin here, and being faithful to the death, may have a joyful Resurrection hereafter.
Art. 12. And finally, I believe that after this Resurrection there shall follow [the life everlast∣ing] in which the wicked shall remain in endless
torments, and the righteous continue in eternal hap∣piness, without measure and without end: which Faith I seal with a hearty [Amen.]
Applic.] Wherefore I am obliged to spend the short moments of this life well, and to count nothing too grievous to suffer, or too hard to perform for so comprehensive and endless a felicity: And I am encouraged to pray to the Purchasor of this Eternal Life for Faith, Pa∣tience, and Perseverance, and that the hope of this Happiness may support me here, and the fruition of it be given to me hereafter: Amen.
§. 1. INstead of the shorter Creed of the Apostles, upon Trinity Sunday, and twelve other Festivals, one in each Month, this Church ap∣points we shall use the Creed of S. Athanasius, which more largely explains the great Mysteries of the Trinity, and of Christs Incarnation, and therefore we will briefly observe; First, That the Author of it was the great Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, who was cast out of his Bishoprick by the Arrians, and accused of Heresie to the Empe∣rors; and to purge himself from that false calum∣ny, he is said to to have composed this Creed, and presented it to Julius Bishop of Rome, about the year 340. and Nazianzen, who then lived,
mentions A Confession of his Faith presented to the Emperor, and received with great Veneration both in the East and West. Some passages also of this Creed are found in S. Augustine, and other very ancient Authors, as in Boetius, An. 510. in the 4th Coun∣cil of Toledo, An. 671. in Hincmarus, An. 850. in Katrannus of Corbey, and Aeneas Parisiensis, An. 874. A Copy also of it, with the Title of The Faith of S. Athanasius, is found in an old Saxon Psalter, writ∣ten about An. 924. And to this Father, the School∣men ascribe this Creed, and the Greek as well as the Latin Churches, the Reformed as well as the Romanists, do hold that Athanasius was the Author of it. Secondly, As to the Matter of it; it doth very fully and particularly condemn all the Heresies that were of old in the time of this great Bulwark of the Catholick Faith, forbidding us to confound the Persons of the Trinity with Sabellius, or to divide the substance with Arrius and Eunomius: It shews us against Arrius and Macedonius, that both the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God: It confesses Christ to be God, of the substance of his Father, against Samosatenus and Photinus, and Man of the substance of his Mother, against A∣pollinaris; yet he is not, as Nestorius dreamed, two, but one Christ, not by confusion of Sub∣stance, as Eutyches held, but by Unity of Person: So that this Creed is the Quintessence of ancient Orthodox Divinity, and the means to extirpate all those accursed Heresies, some of which our Age hath seen revived, and therefore we have more need to hold and repeat this usefull Creed: And if any scruple at the positive denying Salvation to such as do not believe these Articles, let them re∣member; such as hold any of these Fundamental
Heresies are condemned in Scripture, 1 John ii. 22, 23. Chap. v. 12. and the Doctrines are called damnable Heresies, 2 Peter ii. i. From whence it was the Primitive Custome, after a Confession of the Orthodox Faith, to pass an Anathema against all that denied it: Wherefore let us firmly believe it, and devoutly use it, blessing God for these clear explications of the sublime Mysteries of the Trini∣ty and Christs Incarnation, in which we must strive to understand as much as we can, and supply the rest with silence, submission and adorati∣on.
Rom. vi. 17.
2 Tim. i. 13.
Galat. vi. 16.
1 Tim. vi. 20.
Jude, vers. 3.
Sixt. Sen. Biblioth. l. 2. verb. Apostolus.