(The man who puts "nots" into the Creed is sure to take "nots" out of the Ten Commandments.) Can you give an illustration of this in common things? A man takes a train going north sincerely believing it is going south. A family eats toadstools sincerely believing they are mushrooms. § 2. Necessity of a whole Belief. Is it enough to pick out certain things in the Bible for ourselves and make them our Creed? No; we could not of ourselves tell what was most important. Is it enough to pick out certain articles of the Creed, as 1 believe in God the Father," and reject certain others, as "I believe in the Holy Catholic Church?" No; we must "believe all the articles." What are "articles?" Separate clauses. What does Holy Scripture call the sin of picking and choos ing one's own Creed? Heresy (literally, a choosing) (1 Cor. xi. 19; Gal. v. 20). Does the Church teach us to pray against this sin? Yes; in the Litany we pray God to deliver us from it. What is all that the Church requires her members to believe as necessary to salvation? The Creed only. Does she not require belief also in certain Articles of Religion as such? No; the greater part of such Articles are only What then alone does the Church account as heresy ? We possess it in two forms, the Apostles' and the When was the Nicene Creed composed? At the Council of Nice in A.D. 325. It was completed at the Second General Council (Constantinople I.) in A.d. 381. Does it contain anything different from the Apostles' Creed? No; it is merely an enlargement or explanation of that Creed as it had always been held in the Church. Why was this enlargement necessary? Because some heretics had tried to put a new meaning on certain articles of the older Creed. What is the simplest form of the Creed? "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts viii. 37). Does this mean as much as the Apostles' or Nicene Creed? Yes; because if we believe in Jesus Christ aright we must believe in all that He taught and did and ordained. § 3. The Creed and the Scriptures. From whom do we get the Creed? From the Church. From whom do we get the Bible? What then is the Creed? It is the sum and substance of the Bible in a very few words easily remembered. What other explanation can you give of its relation to the Bible? It is the outline map of the Bible, giving every part its due "proportion” in miniature (Rom. xii. 6). Has the Church always taught the Gospel in this way? Yes; from the very beginning she has had a "form of sound words," which she has required her children to "hold fast" (2 Tim. i. 13). Was this a necessity? Yes; because for the first seventy years of the Church's history the New Testament was not fully written; and for 1,400 years, that is, until the invention of printing, it was impossible to put the Scriptures into the hands of all. When the Apostles preached the Gospel what were the chief things they spoke of? The things contained in the Creed, namely, the What then is the purpose for which Scripture was written? To prove "the certainty of those things wherein " Christians had been already "instructed" by the Creed (Luke i. 4). Why does the Church now order the constant recitation of the Creed in her public services? Because such recitation is a declaration of the whole Gospel, and thus guards the people against heresy and unbelief. In what other way does the Church preach the Gospel as taught in the Creed? By her system of festivals and fasts called the What is this summary of necessary things called in Holy The Faith. What is the difference between Faith and the Faith? Faith is the power by which we believe, and the Faith is the truth which God gives us to believe. § 4. With all Thine Heart. " Is it enough merely to say the articles of the Faith? No; we must confess it. Where in Scripture do you find that God requires you to acknowledge the Faith publicly? "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Rom. x. 9). Where besides? "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (Heb. x. 23). What does our Lord say of him who is ashamed to confess Him before men? "Of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels" (Mark viii. 38). What besides must we do? We must 66 earnestly contend for the faith which was once (for all) delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). What besides? We must show our faith by our works (Jas. ii. 17). § 5. Martyrs and Confessors. Was it always as easy to confess the faith of Christ as it is now? No; by no means. What for many hundred years, were those in danger of who confessed the faith of Christ ? Tortures and death. What were those who suffered for the faith called? Confessors.. What were those called who chose to die rather than to deny the faith? Martyrs. Are these martyrs ever mentioned in Scripture? Yes: Acts xxii. 20; Rev. vi. 9. For what did they suffer death? Because they would not deny the faith. But did they die for the Creed? They died for the faith of which the articles in the Creed are the oldest and simplest statements. Should we be able to die for the faith if God were to call upon us to do so? If He gives us His Almighty grace we should. But since God has not as yet called us to die for the faith, what is our duty now? To live to the faith. How do we do this? By living as if we believed our Creed to be true. Can we believe that the things in the Creed are true, and yet not be saved? Yes; we read, "The devils believe and tremble ” (James ii. 19). Can we believe to the saving of our souls without the grace or help of God? No; faith is the gift of God (Eph. ii. 8; Phil. i. 29). What then should we do? We should pray to God for faith. Mention the prayer of one who asked for faith. "Lord, I believe, help Thou mine unbelief" (Mark ix. 24). What was the prayer of the Apostles? Increase our faith" (Luke xvii. 5). THE CREED OF ST. ATHANASIUS. [The beautiful dogmatic hymn which is "commonly called the Creed of St. Athanasius " was named after that great defender of the Faith (died A. D. 373), as containing an accurate statement of what he and the true Catholics of his day believed. But it was most likely composed by Hilary, who became Bishop of Arles in the year 429; or else by Victricius, Bishop of Rouen in 401. It was probably intended to meet the spread of Arianism in the French Church. This Creed is reprinted from the English Prayer Book. It is there ordered to be "sung or said at Morning Prayer, instead of the Apostles' Creed," on Christmas-Day, Epiphany, EasterDay, Ascension-Day, Whitsun-Day, Trinity Sunday and seven of the Saints' Days. Three verses commonly called the "damnatory clauses" are omitted here as forming no part of the Creed proper.] 1. The Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons: nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son: and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one: the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate: and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible: and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals: but one eternal. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated: but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty: and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties: but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God: and the Holy Ghost is God. |