The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 2 · covenant · Question 22 – Question 23
Queſt. 22. What are thoſe things which are neceſſary for a Chriſtian man to beleeve?
Anſ. All things which are promiſed us in the GoſpelaJohn 20.31. Matth. 28.20. Mark 1.15.: the ſumme whereof is briefly compriſed in the Creed of the Apoſtles, or in the Articles of the catholick and undoubted faith of all Chriſtians.
The Explication.
AFter wee have treated of Faith, it directly followeth now, that wee ſpeak of the Object of faith, that is, the ſumme of thoſe things which are to be beleeved. Faith therefore in generall apprehendeth the whole word of God, and is ſtrongly perſwaded of the truth thereof, as appeareth out of the definition thereof: But juſtifying faith properly eyeth the promiſes of the Goſpel, or the preaching of grace through Chriſt: Wherefore the Goſpel is properly the object of juſtifying faith; and it is properly termed▪ The doctrine of things to be beleeved: as contrariwiſe, the law properly is The doctrine of things to be done. Mens traditions therefore, the Popes ordinances, and decrees of Councels are ſequeſtred and excluded from being the object of faith; for faith can relie on nothing but the word of God as on an immoveable foundation. Now the decrees of men are variable and uncertain, ſith every man is a lyar; only God is true, and his word truth.Rom. 3 4. Wherefore Chriſtians, as they may not frame unto themſelves any object of faith: ſo neither may they receive any formed and delivered by others, but muſt beleeve the Goſpel only,Mark 1.15. as the Scripture teacheth; Repent and beleeve the Goſpel. 1 Cor. 2.5.That your faith ſhould not be in the wiſdome of men, but in the power of God. Now the ſumme of the Goſpel, or of things to be beleeved, is the Apoſtles Creed, whereof it followeth that wee treat.
Queſt. 23. Which is the Creed?
Anſw.
1. I beleeve in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
2. And in Jeſus Chriſt his only Son, our Lord:
3. Which was conceived by the holy Ghoſt, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried, he deſcended into hell:
5. The third day he roſe again from the dead:
6. He aſcended into heaven, and ſitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7. From thence he ſhall come to judge the quick and the dead.
8. I beleeve in the holy Ghoſt.
9. I beleeve the holy catholick Church, the communion of Saints.
10. The forgiveneſſe of ſins.
11. The reſurrection of the body.
12. And the life everlaſting.
Amen.
The Explication.
THis word Symbole is derived from a Greek word, which ſignifieth either a common collation of divers men to the making of a banquet: or, a ſigne, token, and mark whereby a man is diſcerned from other. Such as is the military ſigne, whereby fellowes are decyphered from enemies. The Symbole, ſo termed in the Church, is a briefe and ſummary forme of Christian doctrine: or a briefe ſumme or confeſſion of the points of Chriſtian religion, or Evangelicall doctrine. Now it is called by the name of Symbole, becauſe it is as a token or profeſſion whereby the Church with her members is diſcerned from all her enemies, and from all other Sects. Some ſay, that this briefe ſumme of Evangelicall doctrine was called a Symbole, for that this doctrine was collated, as it were, and imparted by the Apoſtles, and every one of them did beſtow ſome part thereof: but that cannot be proved. This reaſon may be rendred thereof more probable, that it was called a Symbole, for that the Articles of faith are the ſquare and rule whereunto the faith and doctrine of all orthodox or right beleeving Chriſtians ought to agree and be conferred. The Symbole is called Apostolick, Two reaſons why the Creed is called Apoſtolick.Becauſe it containeth the ſumme of the Apostolick doctrine, which the Catechumenes were enforced to hold and profeſſe. Becauſe the Apoſtles delivered that ſumme of doctrine to their Schollers and Diſciples, which the Church afterwards held as received from them. This ſelfe ſame Symbole is called alſo Catholick, becauſe there is but one faith of all Chriſtians.Why it is called Catholick. An anſwer to a queſtion moved touching other Creeds. Here ſome demand a reaſon, Why, after the Apostles Creed, other Creeds, as the Creed of the Councell of Nice, Epheſus, and Chalcedon, with Athanaſius his Creed, were compiled and received in the Church. Anſw. Theſe Creeds properly are not others, that is, quite different in ſubſtance from the Apoſtolick Symbole, but are onelyonly a repetition and more ample declaration of this; in all which certain words are added as an explication thereof, by reaſon of Hereticks, by whom, becauſe of the ſhortneſſe thereof, this was depraved: there is no change either of the matter, or of the doctrine, but only of the form of declaring it, as eaſily appeareth by comparing them together. Other important and weighty cauſes there were, which might compell the Biſhops and Doctors of ancient Churches to compoſe and draw out theſe briefe compendious formes of confeſſion; eſpecially the Church then increaſing,Four cauſes why other Creeds were made and received in the Church. and hereſies growing with and in the Church. For inſtance in few; That all, both young and old, might with more eaſe bear in minde the main and entire foundation of Chriſtianity compriſed in briefe. That all might alwayes have in their ſight and view the confeſſion of their faith, and conſolation reaped thence, knowing what that doctrine is for which perſecution is to be ſuſtained: So God in times paſt made a ſhort ſummary abſtract of his law and promiſes, that all might have it as a rule of life, and ground of conſolation obvious to their eyes. That the faithfull might have a peculiar badge and cogniſan whereby to be diſtinguiſhed, both then, and in all future ages, from infidels and hereticks, which with wily gloſing ſophiſmes corrupt the writings of the Prophets and Apostles; for which very cauſe alſo theſe Confeſſions were intituled Symboles. 4. That there might be ſome perpetuall rule extant in publike, plain, briefe, and eaſie to be known, whereby to examine all manner of doctrine and interpretation of Scripture, to approve and ratifie whatſoever accordeth therewith, and refuſe and diſanull the contrary.The Apoſtolick Creed preferred above other Creeds, becauſe 1. The phraſe of it is moſt proper. 2. The time moſt ancient. 3. The copy moſt authenticall. Notwithſtanding, the Apoſtles Creed far ſurpaſſeth the reſt in authority:
1. Becauſe for the moſt part it literally conſiſteth of the proper words and phraſes of Scripture.
2. Becauſe it is of greater antiquity then other Creeds, and was delivered firſt unto the Church by the Apoſtles themſelves, or by their diſciples and ſchollers: and ſince them ſucceſſively from hand to hand transferred unto us their poſterity.
3. Becauſe it is the fountaine and originall draught, even an authenticall rule of direction to other Creeds, which for illuſtration of this, to prevent the fraudulent ſleights and forged corruption of hereticks, have in univerſall and generall Synods or Councels been publiſhed, and authoriſed by the whole joint-conſent of the Church.
The certainty of this Creed dependeth not on the authority and arbitrement of men, or definitive ſentence of Councels, but on the perpetuall concordance of holy Scripture with them, and of the whole Church ſince the Apoſtles time retaining and holding faſt the Apoſtles doctrine, and teſtifying to all poſterity, that they received this doctrine at the Apoſtles mouthes, and the mouthes of their hearers; which conſent is obvious to any man that daigneth to view it with both eyes, and weigh it conſiderately. For certain it is, that no Congregation of Angels, nor conventicle of men hath any power of inſtituting new lawes touching the worſhip of God, or new Articles of faith binding the conſcience; for this is a work proper unto God: Neither may we beleeve God for the teſtimony of the Church, but the Church for the teſtimony of God.
This doctrine touching the cauſes and authority of divers Creeds is borrowed out of Urſinus Admonit. Neuſtad. de Concordia Burgenſ. written Anno Dom. 1581. where young Divines may, if they liſt, reade a large diſcourſe touching the truth and authority of Eccleſiaſticall Writers learnedly diſcuſſed, from 117. page, unto the 142. page of the ſaid Tract: a briefe Type and Table whereof I have here decyphered.
THE TABLE.
The writings touching the doctrine of the Church are,
1. Divine, that is, inſpired immediately by God into the hearts of the Prophets and Apoſtles: ſuch as are the Canonicall books of the old and new Teſtament. Theſe alone are ſimply in their ſentences and words full of divine in…piration, and worthy credit; and therefore are the ſole rule of tryall unto all others.
2. Eccleſiaſticall, that is, written by the Doctors of the Church; & theſe are,
1. Publick, to wit, written in the common name of the whole Church; which again are ſubdivided into writings,
1. Catholick, I meane, Creeds and Confeſſions, written in the name, and with the full conſent of the whole orthodox & right beleeving Church, received and allowed by the authority thereof: ſuch as are,
The Apoſtles Creed.
The Creeds of the Councels of
Nice,
Conſtā tinople,
Chalcedon.
Athanaſius his Creed.
2. Particular, namely, the Confeſſions of certain Churches and Councels; as divers Catechiſmes, and the Auguſtan… Confeſſion.
2. Private, that is, written in the name, and by the advice of ſome one private man or more; as Common places, Commentaries, and ſuch like.