dead. I believe also in the Holy Ghost, who exists from all eternity".'

Q. Is it not questioned whether Origen was really the author of this Creed?

A. By some indeed it is thought to be the production of Maximus, one of his disciples. But it would be needless to enter into the merits of that question here. For supposing the Creed to be the composition of Maximus, or any other of Origen's immediate followers, it is equally valuable for our purpose, which is to give a correct statement of Origen's opinions, whether in his own words, or those of his disciples, is im material. That this Creed perfectly expresses his sentiments, and gives accurately the substance of the doctrines he taught, is not denied.

Q. Proceed now to Gregory Thaumaturgus. What account have you of him?

A. He was a great and good man, much celebrated for his superior wisdom and sanctity, and an honour and an ornament to the Church in his time (A. D. 243). He was born at Neo Cæsarea in Pontus, of which city he afterwards became Bishop.

Origen, Cent. Marcion. dial. 1. See also another, Fid. Symb. Пερ'Apxwv. In prooem.

с

Huetius, quoted by Bingham in his Antiquities, book x. ch. iv. § 2.

• Bull uses a similar argument, cap. vi. § 6. Jud. Ecc. Cathol. • Socrates Hist. Ecc. lib. iv. c. xxvii.

Q. What are the terms of his Creed?

A. "There is one God, the Father of the living Word, of essential wisdom and power, and of a nature without beginning or end; the perfect begetter of the perfect; the Father of the only begotten Son. There is one Lord, the only Son of the only Father, God of God; the express character and image of the Godhead, the operative Word, the wisdom that grasps the system of the universe, the efficient power of the whole creation, the true Son of the true Father, invisible of the invisible, incorruptible of the incorruptible, immortal of the immortal, and eternal of the eternal.

"There is one Holy Spirit, who proceedeth from God, and by the Son is made manifest to men. The image of the Son, the perfect likeness of the perfect; the cause of life to the living. The holy fountain, holiness itself; the author of sanctification; by whom God the Father is manifested, who is over all, and in all; and God the Son who is through all..

"There is therefore a perfect Trinity, which in glory, eternity, and sovereignty, is inseparably and inalienably united. Neither is there in

'The remaining part of the Creed, which some attribute to Gregory Thaumaturgus, others say is the conclusion drawn by Gregory of Nyssa from the preceding profession of faith. Leuenclaii interp. Greg. Nyss. in loc.

this Trinity any thing created or subject to another; any thing adventitious, which once was not, but became afterwards introduced. Neither was the Son ever wanting to the Father, nor the Spirit to the Son, but the same Trinity is immutable and invariable from everlasting.

Q. Does not this Creed express very fully, and very satisfactorily, the early tenets of our Church respecting the Trinity?

A. It does so, in terms peculiarly strong and explicit ".

Q. Does it differ in any respect from the formularies we have adopted in our Reformed Protestant Church?

A. We notice that the Holy Ghost is by Gregory said to proceed from God, whereas in our Nicene Creed it is more explicitly declared to proceed from the Father and the Son. There is too no mention of what we may call the historical parts of our Creed, viz. of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ; as also of his second coming to judge the world.

Q. Do these omissions invalidate the force of Gregory's testimony?

Gregory Nyssen, de Vit. Gregory Thaum.

This Creed, Bingham observes, so far as relates to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, is one of the most convincing testimonies that is to be met with in any of the Anti-Nicene fathers. Antiquities, book x. ch. v. § 5.

A. By no means. Both because many of his works have not descended to our time, in some of which the omission might probably have been supplied; and also because in such a case as this omissions in one point do not destroy positive testimony in another. But it is worthy of remark, that Gregory Nyssen in his life of our Gregory, from which this formulary is taken, mentions that it was received by Gregory Thaumaturgus from St. John the Evangelist in a vision, before the Bishop could summon up resolution to accept the episcopate of a city, which was almost wholly given to idolatry'. Whether the improbability of this relation is sufficient to throw a doubt upon the genuineness of the Creed itself, has been made a subject of discussion. Bishop Bull and Dr. Waterland are in its favour. Dr. Lardner argues at length against it. But the determination of that question is not essential here. For we know that the Creed we have quoted, by whomsoever written, was adopted by the Neo Cæsareans, and affords a correct summary of their belief. By means of it, their Church preserved for a length

i

k

Gregory Nyssen, de Vit. Greg. Thaum.

Bp. Bull, Def. Fid. Nic. § 2. c. xii. and Waterland's Judgment of the Primitive Churches, vol. v. ch. vi. P. 165.

'Lardner's Credibility of Gosp. Hist. vol. iii. p. 49. 52.

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of time its primitive simplicity". And that is the only important fact for our consideration.

Q. We come next to Lucian. State briefly your reasons for bringing forward the Creed attributed to him.

A. We mention it, First, on account of the singular clearness of the exposition there given. Secondly, Because it carries our testimony forward in the order of time, A.D. 290 being the period about which Lucian flourished.

Thirdly, Because Lucian was a famous Presbyter of the Church of Antioch. And his opinion concerning the Trinity was much celebrated and often quoted. In such high esteem indeed was his Creed held, as to be subsequently adopted by a Council at Antioch, consisting of ninety-seven Bishops ".

Q. Can you prove that this formulary was the genuine work of Lucian?

A. We have the testimony of Athanasius, Socrates the historian, and Hilary in its favour.

m Basil. de Spir. Sanct. cap. xxix. And Bp. Bull, Def. Fid. Nic. sect. 2. cap. xii. § 2.

" Lucian was a martyr. Jerome says, "Passus est Nicomediæ ob confessionem Christi sub persecutione Maximini, sepultus est Helenopoli Bithyniæ." Hieron. Scrip. Ecc. tom. i. p. 103.

Athanasius De Synod. vol. i. 892. Socrates, Hist, Ecc.