An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches

§. 21. When we find Christ commanding his Apostles to disciple the Nations, and baptize them in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and teach them all his Commandments; and when we daily see, after people have learned to say, They believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, how long it is ere they understand the meaning of those three Articles; and when we know that it is not bare words, without the sense, that constituteth the Christian Faith; no sober Man will doubt, whether the persons to be baptized were taught the sense as well as the words; which must be done by more words. And it is certain that those Words were not to alter Christ's Baptismal Covenant, nor the Nature and Terms of Christianity, but to expound them. And it is certain, that multitudes were so weak, that had those Words been very long and many, they would rather have burdened them, than become their own profession, as understood and remembered. And it is certain, that the changing of words doth ⟨p. 145⟩easily turn to a change of the sense; and that even then Heresies quickly multiplied; which made it necessary to the Church to be careful to preserve sound Doctrine. From all which it clearly followeth, that a Creed (that is, a Summary Profession of Belief explaining the Baptismal Articles) was in common use in all the Churches many years before the writing of the New Testament. And it is not likely that in the Apostles days the Churches did receive it from any but themselves.

§. 21. When we find Christ commanding his Apostles to disciple the Nations, and baptize them in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and teach them all his Commandments; and when we daily see, after people have learned to say, They believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, how long it is ere they understand the meaning of those three Articles; and when we know that it is not bare words, without the sence, that constituteth the Christian Faith; no sober Man will doubt, whether the persons to be baptized were taught the sence as well as the words; which must be done by more words. And it is certain that those Words were not to alter Christ's Baptismal Covenant, nor the Nature and Terms of Christianity, but to expound them. And it is certain, that multitudes were so weak, that had those Words been very long and many, they would rather have burdened them, than become their own profession, as understood and remembred. And it is certain, that the changing of words doth ⟨p. 145⟩