who flourished before the year of our Lord 391. This Creed, which is called the Apostles' Creed, because it was chiefly composed in the age of the Apostles, was early used as a distinguishing formulary, as an allowed symbol, or token of true believers.

First, it was laid down as the confession of faith expected from every convert to the Church from Paganism, previously to his receiving the rite of Baptism. In those days, which were the days of persecution, the Creed served as a mode of making known the Christians to each other, without danger to themselves. Genuine Christians have never, in any age of the Church, courted persecution; though, when it has overtaken them, they have always endured it courageously. Next, as Baptism was generally administered at the great festivals, so the Creed was then publicly recited; and at last, about five hundred years after

Christ, it was received into the Liturgy, and was repeated in the service of the Church constantly every day. And, indeed, it seems very fit that such a confession of faith should be made; that "as with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, so also with the mouth confession should be made unto salvation." Nothing but the dreadful exigencies of the age of persecution, could apologise for the suppression of a public recitation of the articles of the Christian faith. It seems right, that as the Church believes in God, in Christ, and in the Holy Ghost; that as it glories in the privileges purchased for believers by the blood of the Saviour so it should, with all imaginable solemnity, and all possible publicity, proclaim its fixed confidence and assured faith therein. I think I see a reason for this in nature itself; out of the abundance and over

flowing of the heart, the mouth speaketh; it is difficult to stifle sentiments concerning the truth of which we are firmly persuaded; especially since the great doctrinal truths of Christianity spring out of the glad tidings of great joy which the gospel announced to all people. Whilst the flame of gratitude to God and our Saviour makes our hearts hot within us, whilst we muse and meditate upon the mercies of redemption and sanctification, the fire kindles, and at the last we speak with our tongues. "We believe, and therefore speak ;"-with our heart we believe unto righteousness, and with our mouth we make confession unto salvation.

What seems right in itself, and what nature seems to dictate, we are delighted to observe, the Church has done ;-she has ordered the Apostles' Creed, the most ancient formulary of faith, the earliest

test of true belief, to be daily repeated in the course of her prescribed service to Almighty God. The place which the Creed holds in the Prayer-Book, ought not to pass without observation;-it follows the reading of the Scriptures, in which are contained all things necessary to salvation; so "faith cometh by hearing;" and it precedes the principal body of our supplications and prayers; "for how shall we call on him, in whom we have not believed?" We first profess our belief, and then we may the more assuredly hope that the Prayers which follow shall be heard, inasmuch as we "ask in faith, nothing wavering."

But, say some, the Creed is an human formulary; and what right has the Church to set it forth? The Creed is certainly an human formulary; but whilst truth compels us to grant this, which never was

denied, truth compels us likewise to assert, that its every article is founded on the letter of Scripture, as you may see by looking into Archbishop Wake's "Commentary on the Catechism of the Church of England," a very cheap, and a most excellent book; or, if fuller, or more elaborate proof be wanted, you may read Bishop Pearson's " Exposition of the Creed;" one of the most learned, one of the clearest and most satisfactory works ever written. But the Creed is an human formulary; it is framed by the mind of man;—true, it is framed by the mind of man, and was not expressly revealed from heaven in the exact words in which it stands in the Prayer-Book ;-and what then? It is by human industry; by human skill; by human reading; by human reflection, that the Scriptures themselves are instrumental to our salvation. Only so