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THE APOSTLES' CREED.

known. The additions were probably made in opposition to particular heresies and errors."

The most important "addition" since the year of Christ 600, is that which affirms that Christ descended into hell. This has been proved not only to he an invention after the Apostles' time, but even after the time of Eusebius. Bishop Parsons says,[1] that the descent into hell was not in the ancient creeds or rules of faith. "It is not to be found in the rules of faith delivered by Irenæus,[2] by Origen[3] or by Tertullian.[4] It is not expressed in those creeds which were made by the councils as larger explications of the Apostles' Creed; not in the Nicene, or Constantinopolitan; not in those of Ephesus, or Chalcedon; not in those confessions made at Sardica, Antioch, Seleucia, Sirmium, &tc. It is not mentioned in several confessions of faith delivered by particular persons; not in that of Eusebius Cæsariensis, presented to the council of Nice;[5] not in that of Marcellus, bishop of Ancyra, delivered to Pope Julius;[6] not in that of Arius and Euzoius, presented to Constantine;[7] not in that of Acacius, bishop of Cæsarea, delivered into the synod of Seleucia;[8] not in that of Eustathius, Theophilus, and Sylvanus, sent to Liberius.[9] There is no mention of it in the creed of St. Basil;[10] in the creed of Epiphanus;[11] Glelasius, Damasus, Macarius, &c. It is not in the creed expounded by St. Cyril, though some have produced that creed to prove it. It is not in the creed expounded by St. Augustine;[12] not in that other,[13] attributed to St. Augustine in another place; not in that expounded by Maximus Taurinensis; nor in that so often interpreted by Petrus Chrysologus; nor in that of the church of Antioch, delivered by Cassianus;[14] neither is it to be seen in the MSS creeds set forth by the learned Archbishop of Armagh. It is afirmed by Ruffinus, that in his time it was neither in the Roman nor the Oriental Creeds."[15]


THE ANCIENT AND MODERN
APOSTLES CREED CONTRASTED

As it stood An. Dom. 600. Copied from Mr. Justice Bailey's Edition of the Book of Common prayer.

"Before the year 600, it was no more than this."—Mr Justice Bailey. p. 9. n.

As it stands in the Book of Common Prayer of the United Church of England and Ireland as by law established. Also in accordance with the Belief of most Protestant Dissenters, and the Roman Catholic Church, wherefrom they first derived it.
1 I believe in God the Father Almighty:

1 I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth:
2 And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord;

2 And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;

  1. ↑ Pearson on the Creed, fol. 1678, p. 225.
  2. ↑ Lib. 1. c. 2.
  3. ↑ Lib. de. Princip. in Proœm.
  4. ↑ Advers. Praxeam. c. ii. Virgin. veland. c. I.—De Præscript. advers. Hæres. c. 13.
  5. ↑ Theodoret, l. 1. c. 2.
  6. ↑ Epiphan. Hæc. es. 72.
  7. ↑ Socrat. l. 1. c. 19.
  8. ↑ Ibid. l. 2. c. 40.
  9. ↑ Ibid. l. 4. c. 12.
  10. ↑ Tract. de. Fide in Ascet.
  11. ↑ In Anchorat. c. 120.
  12. ↑ De Fide et Symbolo.
  13. ↑ De Symbolo ad Catechumenes.
  14. ↑ Incarnat. lib. 6.
  15. ↑ Exposit in Symbol. Apost. s. 20
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