But as all the Doctrines of Scripture, though equally true, are not of equal Importance; the more neceffary Articles have been, from the Beginning of Chriftianity, collected into one Body, called in Scripture, the Form of found Words, the Words of Faith, the Principles of the Doctrine of Chrift: but in our common Way of speaking at prefent, the Creed, from the Latin Word, Credo, which fignifies, I believe. Now the ancient Churches had many fuch Creeds: fome longer, fome fhorter; differing on several Heads in Phrase, but agreeing in Method and Senfe: of which, that, called the Apostles Creed, is one. And it deferves this Name, not so much from any Certainty, or great Likelihood, that the Apostles drew it up in these very Expreffions; (though some, pretty early, and many fince, have imagined they did) as because it contains the chief Apoftolic Doctrines; and was ufed by a Church, which, before it grew corrupt, was jufly respected as the chief Apoftolic Settlement; I mean, the Roman.

As with the Heart Man believeth unto Righteoufness, fo with the Mouth Confeffion is made

d2 Tim. i. 13.

с 1 Tim. iv. 6.

f Heb. vi. 1.

unte

unto Salvation: of which Confeffion, repeating our Creed, though not a neceffary, is a rational and commendable Act. We do not indeed find it to have made Part of the oldest public Offices: but furely it is full as proper for thefe, as for private Devotions; in which the primitive Chriftians all said it daily. And as every one's Profeffion of Belief is his own separate Act, so the Creed is worded for every one separately in the fingular Number: and therefore unless we fay it along with the Minifter, he alone teftifies His Faith; not We, Ours. Nor should it by any Means be with Negligence and Indifference, that we profess our Faith. For what we believe is the only just Foundation of what we do, or hope, or fear. On this Account we ftand at the repeating of the Creed: to exprefs our Steadfastness in it; and our Readiness to contend earnestly, in every proper Method, for the Faith, once delivered to the Saints. Turning, at the fame Time towards the Eaft, as many do, is an ancient Custom; as indeed, in moft Religions,

8 Rom. x. 10. h Symbolum quoque fpecialiter debemusantelucanis Horis quotidie recenfere. Ambrof. de Virg. 1. 3. p. 115. ap. Bingh. 1. 10. c. 4. §. 17. Quis non quotidie recitat ore, Credo, &c. Lib. de duplici Martyrio, Cypriano falfo afcript. in fine. 1 Jude ver. 3.

Men

Men have directed their Worship fome particular Way. And this Practice being intended. only to honour Chrift, the Sun of Righteoufnefs, who hath rifen upon us, to enlighten us with that Doctrine of Salvation, to which we then declare our Adherence; it ought not to be condemned, as Superftition: and yet, being neither obligatory in itself, nor commanded by Authority, the Omiffion of it ought not to be cenfured as Irreverence or Difobedience.

Another Thing, yet more ufual in saying the Creed, is to bow, when the Name of Jefus is mentioned. And fome have thought that to be their Duty, whenever it is mentioned, at least in Divine Service: because they find in their Bibles the Words, that at the Name of Jefus every Knee fhould bow. But this is no ancient, Notion and the Generality of judicious Commentators allow it not to be the Meaning of the Place; a more exact Translation of which would be, that in the Name of Jefus every Knee fhould bow, that is, every one should pray: according to that other Paffage of St. Paul, I bow my Knees unto the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that he would grant you, &c'. However, it is a Practice of fome Antiquity; and,

* Phil. ii. 10.

5

Eph. iii. 14.

whatever

whatever a few over-fcrupulous People have imagined, furely a harmless one: For no Body means to worship the Sound; but the Perfon, whom it denotes. And though we confefs, there is no more Reason to worship the Son of God, by bowing to him, than the Father; nor to worship him, on hearing the Name, Jefus, than the Name, Chrift: yet it is not good to be contentious about an innocent Custom"; which also may help Attention, and increase Devotion. Befides, it is authorized by the 18th Canon of our Church, which directs, that when, in Time of Divine Service the Lord Jefus fhall be mentioned, due and lowly Reverence fhall be done by all Perfons prefent, as it hath been accustomed. Poffibly these last Words may be defigned to intimate, that Fear of giving Offence by leaving off the Cuftom was a principal Motive to the Injunction. And if fo, in Proportion as that Danger abates, the Injunction grows lefs important. Accordingly they, who are intrufted with the Execution of the Canons, have not lately, if ever, inforced it, or laid Stress upon it. it. And indeed, as the greater Part of most Congregations disregard it, except in the Creed, they ought not to judge hardly of thofe,

171 1 Cor. xi. 16.

who

who omit it then alfo: however proper they may think it, for themselves, to distinguish that Part of their Belief, which peculiarly belongs to them as Chriftians, from the preceding, by this Gesture.

Having explained the Apostles Creed at large, in feveral Lectures on the Catechifm, I fhall add nothing more concerning it here. But there will be need to take fome Notice of another, appointed to be rehearsed in its Stead, on the principal Festivals, and several other Holydays, and called the Creed of St. Athanafius: not that he was the Author of it, though it was probably made pretty near, if not in his Time, who lived 1400 Years ago; but because it expreffes that Faith in the Trinity, of which he was a principal Defender. And as the Romanifts threw on the Reformers of our Church all Manner of Calumnies, that they could, fo it would have given them a great Handle against us, had this Creed, which they repeat every Sunday, been rejected or altered by us.

Many indeed have argued against the Ufe of it; and fome, with strange Vehemence: partly from the Doctrines, which it teaches; but chiefly from the Condemnation, which it pro

nounces