A09411:16
An exposition of the Symbol or Creed of the Apostles according to the tenor…An exposition of the Symbole or Creed of the Apostles according to the tenour…
An exposition of the Symbol or Creed of the Apostles according to the tenor of the Scriptures, and the consent of orthodox Fathers of the Church. By William Perkins.An exposition of the Symbole or Creed of the Apostles according to the tenour of the Scriptures, and the consent of orthodoxe Fathers of the Church. By William Perkins.
Cambridge: printed by John Legatt, 1595Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legatt, 1595
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
AN EXPOSITION OF THE CREED.
AN EXPOSITION OF THE CREEDE.
I believe in God, &c.
I beleeue in God, &c.
NO man justly can be offended at this, that I begin to treat of the doctrine of faith without a text; though some be of mind, that in Catechising the minister is to proceed as in the ordinary course of preaching, only by handling a set portion of scripture: & therefore that the handling of the Creed being no scripture, is not convenient. Indeed I grant, that other course to be commendable: yet I doubt not, but in Catechising the minister hath his liberty to follow or not to follow a certain text of scripture, as we do in the usual course of preaching. My reason is taken from the practise of the Primitive Church; whose Catechism (as the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews showeth) was contained in six principles or grounds of religion, which were not taken out of any set text in the old Testament: but rather was a form of teaching gathered out of the most clear places thereof. Hence I reason thus:1 That which in this point was the use and manner of the Primitive Church, is lawful to be used of us now: but in the Primitive Church it was the manner to Catechize without handling any set text of scripture: and therefore the ministers of the Gospel at this time may with like liberty do the same: so be it they do confirm the doctrine which they teach with places of scripture afterward.
NO man iustly can be offended at this, that I begin to treate of the doctrine of faith without a text; though some be of minde, that in Catechising the minister is to proceed as in the ordinarie course of preaching, only by handling a set portion of scripture: & therfore that the handling of the Creed being no scripture, is not convenient. Indeed I graunt, that other course to be commendable: yet I doubt not, but in Catechising the minister hath his libertie to follow or not to follow a certaine text of scripture, as we doe in the usuall course of preaching. My reason is taken from the practise of the Primitive Church; whose Catechisme (as the authour of the Epistle to the Hebrewes sheweth) was contained in sixe principles or grounds of religion, which were not taken out of any set text in the olde Testament: but rather was a forme of teaching gathered out of the most cleare places thereof. Hence I reason thus: