Question is made what the words are which are to be supplied in this article, the holy Catholic Church, whether, I believe, or, I believe in: and ancient expositors have sufficiently determined the matter. One bsaith, In these words, in which is set forth our faith of the godhead, it is said, In God the father, in the Son, and in the holy Ghost; but in the rest where the speech is not of the Godhead, but of creatures and mysteries, the preposition In is not added that it should be, in the holy Church, but, that we should believe there is an holy Church not as God, but as a company gathered to God. And men should believe that there is remission of sins, not, in the remission of sins: and they should believe the resurrection of the body not, in the resurrection of the body: therefore by this preposition the Creator is distinguished from the creatures, and things pertaining to God from things pertaining to men. Another upon these words, This is the work of God that ye believe in him; saith,2 If ye believe in him, ye believe him; not if ye believe him, ye believe in him, for the devils believed God, but did not believe in him. Again of the Apostles, we may say, we believe Paul, but we do not believe in Paul: we believe Peter, but we believe not in Peter. For his faith that believeth in him which justifieth the ungodly, is imputed to him for righteousness. What is it therefore to believe in him? by believing to love and like, and as it were to pass into him, and to be incorporated into his members. Now the reasons which some Papists bring to the contrary to prove that we may believe in the creatures, & in the church, are of no moment. First they allege the phrase of Scripture, Exod. 14.31. ⟨p. 451⟩They believed in God, and in Moses. 1. Sam. 27. 12. And Achis believed in David. 2. Chron. 20.20. Believe in the Prophets and prosper. Ans. 3The Hebrew phrase in which the servile letter Beth is used, must not be translated with a preposition that ruleth an accusative or ablative case, but with a dative case on this manner, Believe Moses, David, the Prophets: and it doth not impart any affiance in the creature, but only a giving of credence by one man to another. Secondly they allege, that ancient fathers read the article on this manner, I believe in the holy Catholic Church. Answ. Indeed some have done so:
Question is made what the words are which are to be supplied in this article, the holy Catholike Church, whether, I beleeue, or, I beleeue in: and ancient expositours haue sufficiently determined the matter. One bsaith, In these words, in which is set forth our faith of the godhead, it is saide, In God the father, in the Sonne, and in the holy Ghost; but in the rest where the speech is not of the Godhead, but of creatures aud mysteries, the preposition In is not added that it should be, in the holy Church, but, that we should beleeue there is an holy Church not as God, but as a companie gathered to God. And men should beleeue that there is remission of sinnes, not, in the remission of sinnes: and they should beleeue the resurrection of the bodie not, in the resurrection of the bodie: therefore by this preposition the Creatour is distinguished from the creatures, and things pertaining to God from things pertaining to men. Another vpon these words, This is the worke of God that ye beleeue in him; saith,2 If ye beleeue in him, ye beleeue him; not if ye beleeue him, ye beleeue in him, for the deuills beleeued God, but did not beleeue in him. Againe of the Apostles, we may say, we beleeue Paul, but we doe not beleeue in Paul: we beleeue Peter, but we beleeue not in Peter. For his faith that beleeueth in him which iustifieth the vngodly, is imputed to him for righteousnes. What is it therefore to beleeue in him? by beleeuing to loue and like, and as it were to passe into him, and to be incorporated into his members. Now the reasons which some Papists bring to the contrarie to prooue that we may beleeue in the creatures, & in the church, are of no moment. First they alleadge the phrase of Scripture, Exod. 14.31. ⟨p. 451⟩They beleeued in God, and in Moses. 1. Sam. 27. 12. And Achis beleeued in Dauid. 2. Chron. 20.20. Beleeue in the Prophets and prosper. Ans. 3The Hebrewe phrase in which the seruile letter Beth is vsed, must not bee translated with a preposition that ruleth an accusatiue or ablatiue case, but with a datiue case on this manner, Beleeue Moses, Dauid, the Prophets: and it doth not impart any affiance in the creature, but onely a giuing of credance by one man to another. Secondly they alleadge, that ancient fathers read the article on this manner, I beleeue in the holy Catholike Church. Answ. Indeede some haue done so:
- bRuffin. in symb.
- 2August tract. 2. 9.10 •oh.
- 3Epiph an. in Anchor.
