A Golden Chain

And thus much of the title. Now let us hear what the creed is: It is a sum of things to be believed concerning God and concerning the Church, gathered forth of the scriptures. For the opening of this description. First I say, it is a sum of things to be believed, or an abridgement. It hath been the practise of teachers both in the new and old Testament to abridge and contract summarily the religion of their time. This the Prophets used. For when they had made their sermons to the people they did abridge them and penned them briefly: setting them in some open place, that all the people might read the same. So the Lord bad Habakkuk to write the vision which he saw, and to make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. ¹And in the new testament the Apostles did abridge those doctrines, which otherwise they did handle at large, •s as may appear in the place of Timothy afore named.² Now the reason •hy both in the old and new Testament the doctrine of religion was abridged, is that the understandings of the simple, as also their memories might be hereby helped, and they better enabled to judge of the trueth, and to discern the same from falsehood. And for this end the Apostles Creed being a summary collection of things to be believed, was gathered briefly out of the word of God^b for the helping of memory and understanding of men. I add that this Creed is concerning God and the Church. For in these two points consisteth the whole sum thereof. Lastly, I say, that it is gathered forth of the scripture, to make a difference between it and and other writings, and to show the authority of it, which I will further declare on this manner.

And thus much of the title. Now let vs heare what the creed is: It is a summe of things to be beleeued concerning God and concerning the Church, gathered forth of the scriptures. For the opening of this description. First I say, it is a summe of things to be beleeued, or an abridgement. It hath beene the practise of teachers both in the newe and olde Testament to abridge and contract summarily the religion of their time. This the Prophets vsed. For when they had made their sermons to the people they did abridge them and penned thē briefly: setting them in some open place, that all the people might reade the same. So the Lord bad Habakuk to write the vision which he sawe, and to make it plaine vpon tables, that he may runne that readeth it.