THE HISTORY OF THE Apostles Creed: WITH CRITICAL OBSERVATIONS On its feveral ARTICLES. CHA P. I. The Introduction; containing Several things relating to the Creed in general: The Encomiums given thereto by the Primitive Writers: The feveral Names by which it hath been called: Principally termed a Symbol: Two Reafons commonly alledged for that Appellation; the one taken from the manner of Common Suppers amongst the Ancients, which is fhewn B to to be weak and uncertain; the other taken from Military Affairs, where it denotes the Watch-words and Signs by which Soldiers knew each other; which is affirmed not to be the full and proper fignification of the Word, but that it is rather to be derived from the Marks and Tokens used by the Idolatrous Pagans in their facred Rites, called by them Symbola, which were two-fold, either Mute or Vocal: Inftances of both: Proved to have been Secret Marks or Words, revealed only to those who were initiated in their Myfteries, by means of which they were known to each other, and had free admiffion wherefoever they came, to the Services of thofe Deities whofe Symbols they had received; and that from the fame reasons, and in allufion thereunto, the Creed was called a Symbol by the Primitive Authors. A Tranfition from the Titles, to the Authors of the Creed: Some afcribe it to the Apostles; which by feveral reafons is demonftrated to be impoffible: That nevertheless it is Apoftolical and Ancient: Exceeding difficult to find out the precife Framers of it: The Authors thereof were many, and the Compofure it felf a work of time: One part of the Creed Creed was used by the Apostles, and left by them to their Succeffors: The Creed was always demanded at Baptifm both by the Apofiles and by thofe who came after them: The other part of the Creed was afterwards added by the Rulers of the Church, in oppofition to Herefies, as they appeared and Sprang up: In what fenfe the Apofiles are faid to be the Authors of one part, and the fucceeding Governours of the Church, Authors of the other: The Meaning of the Creed to be fetched from the Writings of the Fathers: The Creed firft conftantly read in the Eastern Church about five bundred Tears after Chrift; and in the Western near fix hundred: The Creed then read was the Nicene; into whofe room afterwards came the Apoftles; which is repeated. T HE great Refpect and Veneration that hath in all Ages been paid to the Apostles Creed, as it is ufually call'd, may in fome measure apologize for the writing this Effay, or any other Difcourfe about it. It would be not only te dious, but also infinite, to transcribe the Encomiums that every where abound in B 2 the um-hoc nexus infidelitatis abfol the ancient Writings of this fhort-Synopfis and Compendium of the Chriftian Faith. St. Auguftin calls it, a the Illumination of the Soul, the Perfection of Believers, by which the Bond of Infidelity is diffolved, the Gate of Life is opened, and the Glory of Faith is fhewn; little indeed in Words, but great in Myfteries; short so as not to oppress the Memory, yet comprehenfive fo as to exceed the Underftanding: Worthily therefore is this Creed to be attended unto, fince whatfoever is prefigured in the Patriarchs, declared in the Scriptures, or foretold in the Prophets, concerning the bleffed Trinity and the Mystery of our Saviour's Incarnation, Death and Crucifixion, is contained in it. Not much unlike to which 7.Caffian writes, that the Creed compre bends in it felf in few words the Faith of both Teftaments,and the fenfe of the whole Scripture. • Doctrina Symboli eft illuminatio animæ, plenitudo credentivitur, hoc vitæ janua panditur, hoc gloria confeffionis oftenditur Symbolum breve eft verbis, fed magnum eft Sacramentis-exiguum eft ut memoriam non obruat, fed fedar. Digne ergo attentiores ad audiendum Symbolum conveniftis: Quicquid enim præfigu ratum eft in Patriarchis, quicquid nunciatum eft in Scripturis, quicquid prædictum eft in Prophetis, vel de Deo ingenito, vel ex Deo Dei unigenito, vel de Spiritu Sancto, -vel de fufcipiendi hominis Sa Symbolum in fe continet confitendo. Tom. 10. Serm. de Temp. Serm. 131. p. 406. diffufum ut intelligentiam fuper cramento totum hoc breviter b Quicquid per univerforum divinorum voluminum corpus immenfa funditur copia, totum in Symboli colligitur brevitate, &c. And |