The Holy Arbor, Chapter 4 · Section 1
§. 1. The Creed.
THe ſum of thoſe things which are to be believed, are compriſed in the Creed, commonly called, The Symbole of the Apoſtles, becauſe it is a token or profeſſion, whereby the Church, with her Members, is diſcerned from all her Enemies, and from all other Sects. This Symbole is a brief and ſummary form of Chriſtian Doctrine; or a brief ſum or Confeſſion of the Points of Chriſtian Religion, or Evangelical Doctrine; the Articles whereof are the Square or Rule, whereunto the Faith and Doctrine of all Orthodox and right believing Chriſtians ought to agree. This ſelf-ſame Symbole is called alſo Catholick, becauſe there is but one Faith of all Chriſtians; and though there were new Symboles made, as that of Athanaſius, of Nice, of Epheſus, of Calcedon, yet is there not a diverſity of Faiths: for theſe are not other from this Apoſtolique Symbole, but certain words are added as an Explication of this, by reaſon of Hereticks, by whom becauſe of the ſhortneſs thereof, this was depraved. There is no change either of the Matter or of the Doctrine, but onelyonly of the form of declaring it, as eaſily may appear by comparing them together.
This Creed is called Apoſtolique, or the Creed of the Apoſtles, for theſe Reaſons:
1. Becauſe it containeth the ſum of the Apoſtolique Doctrine.
2. Becauſe the Apoſtles delivered that ſum of Doctrine to their Schollars and Diſciples; which the Church afterwards held as received from them: not that the Apoſtles compoſed the form of this Creed, but believed and preached the ſubject matter of it.
The ends why the Creed was penn'd by the Apoſtles, & left unto the Church, were theſe:
1. To be a Rule of faith, and preſervation from Hereſie.
2. That it might be a mean of diſtinguiſhing betwixt true Chriſtians and Hereticks.
3. That every man entring the profeſſion of Chriſtianity, might continually have before his eyes that Faith for which he ſhould ſuffer perſecution, and to the defence whereof he ſhould ſtand unto the death.
4. That every one of the Catechumeni (which were new converted Chriſtians) might have in a readineſs what to anſwer and believe, at their initiation thereinto.
The principal parts of the Apoſtolick Creed are three:
1. Of the Father, and our Creation.
2. Of the Son, and our Redemption.
3. Of the Holy Ghoſt, and our Sanctification.
Though our Creation, Redemption and Sanctification are each appropriated to ſome one perſon of the Trinity, yet have all three Perſons their joynt-working in them: For the Creation is given to the Father, Redemption to the Son, and Sanctification to the Holy Ghoſt, not as they are ſimply an operation or work (for ſo ſhould the other perſons be excluded from it) but in reſpect, for the order and maner of working, which is peculiar and proper to every of them, in producing and bringing forth the ſame external work: Or thus, The works of our Creation, Redemption and Sanctification, are the operations of the Godhead outwardly; that is, external operations, which God worketh on his Creatures; and they are undivided, that is, common to the three Perſons, which they by common will and power work in the Creatures, by reaſon of that one and the ſame Eſſence and Nature of the Godhead which they have; but in reſpect of that order of working which is between them, it is otherwiſe: For the Father Createth, but mediately, by the Son and the Holy Ghoſt; the Son from the Father, and the Holy Ghoſt from the Father and the Son: The Father and the Holy Ghoſt Redeem us, but mediately, by the Son; but the Son immediately, from the Father by the Holy Ghoſt: So the Father and the Son Sanctifie us, but mediately, by the Holy Ghoſt; but the Holy Ghoſt immediately, from the Father and the Son.
The Chriſtians Faith, or Faith's Epitomy,
Or Enſign of true Chriſtianity;
The Faith for which the valiant Martyrs fought
With all the Princes of the Ayr, and ſought
For life by loſing it; quenching the flame,
Not by their Blood, but with new fire, which came
From their reſolved Faiths Spiritual eyes;
From whoſe moſt zealous ſpicy flame did riſe
In Heav'n a Crown of Immortality,
On Earth the Phoenix of their Memory.