The profession at first required of all that were received to Baptism, was that they believed in the Father, Son, and holy Ghost. The Creed is honoured of the Ancients with glorious titles, as the rule of faith, the Sum of faith, the body of faith, the persuasion of faith. But by the Creed, they understand the Rule of truth, and law of faith, and institution of Christ, which was then given, when he was about to ascend into heaven, and commanded his Disciples, saying, Go and teach all Nations, Baptising them into the name of the Father, Son, and holy Ghost. Regulam fidei per Baptismum accipimus. Iren. lib. 1. cap. 2. Per ipsam Baptismi traditionem habemus confessionem; Basil. despir. fanct. cap. 10. Regula quidem ⟨p. 59⟩fidei, una omnino est, sola immobilis, & irreformabilis, 1credendi sc, in unicum Deum omnipotentem, mundi conditores, & filium ejus Jesum, &c. Tertul. de veland. virgin. The expositions of the Creed, which are found in the ancient Fathers, Martial, Ignatius, Justine, Jreneus, Tertullian, Origen, de rect. fid. dialog. princ. Novatian, lib. de Trin. 3. and others of that age, go not beyond the Trinity, within which bounds the Nicene Creed is terminated, as it is set down in History. Arius and Euzonius conclude their confession of faith thus; 2Sicut Dominus noster cùm Discipules suos ad praedicandum mitteret, &c. This faith we received from the Gospel, the Lord himself saying to his Disciples, Go teach all Nations, &c. 3Erasmus showeth how the Creed was increased by the addition of divers Articles, against the heresies that did arise, and though for substance it was the very same every where, yet in some places, it received more enlargement then in others. The western Churches, herein applied themselves to the capacities of the meaner so•t, more than the Eastern did, using in their Baptism, that shorter form of confession commonly called the Apostles Creed, which in more ancient times, was briefer also than now it is; as we may easily perceive by comparing the symbol recited by Marcellus Anciranus (in the profession of the faith, 4which he delivered to Pope Julius) with the expositions of the Apostles Creed, written by the Latin Doctors. Wherein the mention of the Fathers being maker of heaven and earth, the Sons death and descending into hell, and the communion of Saints is wholly omitted.
The profession at first required of all that were received to Baptisme, was that they beleeved in the Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost. The Creede is honoured of the Ancients with glorious titles, as the rule of faith, the Summe of faith, the body of faith, the perswasion of faith. But by the Creede, they understand the Rule of truth, and law of faith, and institution of Christ, which was then given, when he was about to ascend into heaven, and commanded his Disciples, saying, Goe and teach all Nations, Baptising them into the name of the Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost. Regulam fidei per Baptismum accipimus. Iren. lib. 1. cap. 2. Per ipsam Baptismi traditionem habemus confessionem; Basil. despir. fanct. cap. 10. Regula quidem ⟨p. 59⟩fidei, una omnino est, sola immobilis, & irreformabilis, 1credendi sc, in unicum Deum omnipotentem, mundi conditores, & filium ejus Jesum, &c. Tertul. de veland. virgin. The expositions of the Creede, which are found in the ancient Fathers, Martial, Ignatius, Justine, Jreneus, Tertullian, Origen, de rect. fid. dialog. princ. Novatian, lib. de Trin. 3. and others of that age, goe not beyond the Trinitie, within which bounds the Nicene Creede is terminated, as it is set downe in History. Arius and Euzonius conclude their confession of faith thus; 2Sicut Dominus noster cùm Discipules suos ad praedicandum mitteret, &c. This faith we received from the Gospel, the Lord himselfe saying to his Disciples, Goe teach all Nations, &c. 3Erasmus sheweth how the Creed was encreased by the addition of divers Articles, against the heresies that did arise, and though for substance it was the very same every where, yet in some places, it received more enlargement then in others. The westerne Churches, herein applyed themselves to the capacities of the meaner so•t, more than the Easterne did, using in their Baptisme, that shorter forme of confession commonly called the Apostles Creed, which in more ancient times, was briefer also than now it is; as we may easily perceive by comparing the symboll recited by Marcellus Anciranus (in the profession of the faith, 4which he delivered to Pope Julius) with the expositions of the Apostles Creed, written by the Latine Doctors. Wherein the mention of the Fathers being maker of heaven and earth, the Sonnes death and descending into hell, and the communion of Saints is wholly omitted.
- 1Socrat. Hist. lib. 1. ca. 5. Niceph. lib. 8. ca. 17. Hist. Trip. lib. 2. ca. 9.
- 2Socrat. Hist. lib. 2. cap. 7. & lib. 1. cap. 19.
- 3Erasm. ad censur. facult. Theolog. Parisien. tit. 11.
- 4Apud. Epiphan. in haeres. 72.
