The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

Answ. I answer, that it seems clear that it came not in all at once, but that in the Apostles days it was much shorter: It is manifest, that our Lord and Saviour commanded to baptize men in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the holy Ghost. Whence came the custom of examining those that were baptized about their faith: Who in the first times answered briefly, and for the most part, but concerning the Trinity or concerning Christ, which was chiefly then in question: We may observe that Philip would not baptize the Eunuch, till he had confessed his faith, Acts the 8. which imports that it was the manner then to admit none of years to baptism, till they had professed their faith, and that some kind of short form was then in use: What the precise form was, cannot be certainly known: but it is likely, their confession went not further then the Trinity: Now these Articles concerning the Trinity, were enlarged for the prevention and repressing of sundry Heresies, as they did or were likely to spring up in the Church. But that the whole Creed as it is now, was not verbatim in the ¹first Ages, may appear in that the confession of faith in the days of Martialis, Ignatius, Irena, Tertullian, Origen, and those of their times did not proceed further then the Trinity: In the first book of Socrates his Eccless. Hist. Chap. 19. we find, The Creed thus recited.

Answ. I answer, that it seemes cleare that it came not in all at once, but that in the Apostles daies it was much shorter: It is manifest, that our Lord and Sauiour commanded to baptize men in the Name of the Father, of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost. Whence came the custome of examining those that were baptized about their faith: Who in the first times answered briefly, and for the most part, but concerning the Trinity or concerning Christ, which was chiefly then in question: We may obserue that Philip would not baptize the Eunuch, till he had confessed his faith, Acts the 8. which imports that it was the manner then to admit none of yeeres to baptisme, till they had professed their faith, and that some kinde of short forme was then in vse: What the precise forme was, cannot bee certainely knowne: but it is likely, their confession went not further then the Trinity: Now these Articles concerning the Trinity, were inlarged for the preuention and repressing of sundrie Heresies, as they did or were likely to spring vp in the Church. But that the whole Creed as it is now, was not verbatim in the