The Primitive Creed, Examined and Explained

ficiency of the means provided, in the mercy of God, for its preservation and transmission to the latest posterity. And can any discerning Christian feel his self-complacency gratified in the effort to destroy this argument ? Is it a safe or a wholesome exertion of influence to cast opprobrium on the primitive witnesses to the early triumphs of the Gospel, and to represent them as men whose writings are unintelligible, discordant, and unworthy of the refinement and illumination of our age? The author avows the strongest conviction of the danger attendant on this course, although, unhappily, it has been so common; and for himself, he rejoices in the opportunity of adding his feeble eulogium to the ample testimony adduced in the Dissertation, in behalf of the Primitive, Catholic Church of God. Nay, he would go farther, and say, that no man of sound mind and Christian feeling, who had read enough of the Fathers to be able to do them justice, ever yet refused them the tribute of his affectionate admiration. True, indeed, the authority of Scripture is, beyond comparison, superior to any other, and this the Fathers constantly and consistently inculcate; but next to the Scriptures, and as the best school for sound Scriptural interpretation, he holds the writers of the first ages in the highest esteem.

The author has only to add, that there are many topics touched on briefly in this volume, which he should have been glad to have treated more extensively. Some of them, if his life and health are continued, he designs to resume at a future day. But on the special subject of the holy Catholic Church, he would say—in order to account for the passing it by in the Dissertation--that he is engaged in preparing a distinct work, which he trusts will be completed during the ensuing sum

Meanwhile he commits his present undertaking to the favor of his Christian friends and brethren, and above all, to the blessing of Him, who can prosper the humblest laborer in his service, and without whom, the highest intellect must toil in vain.

Burlington Vt. Nov. 3d. 1834.

mer.

CONTENTS

DISCOURSE I. The origin of the Creed-Reasons for incorporating it

into the public worship of the Church-Definition of belief-First

article of the Creed, I believe in God—The relation, Father--The

attribute, Almighty-Manifestation of Omnipotence in the making of

the heavens and the earth--Application,

1--14

Discourse II. The proper office of reason, in religion-Universality

of belief in the Trinity-Objections against the doctrine-Answer

to the charge of absurdity—Illustrations to show that the doctrine

presents nothing contradictory to reason—The only source of know.

ledge in relation to the Deity, must be his own Word--First branch

of the Scriptural evidence in the Old Testament--Plurality of the

names of God in the Hebrew Scriptures-Other passages intimating

the Persons of the Trinity-Testimony of the Jews.

15-28

DISCOURSE III. Subject continued— Trinitarians speak of the Deity

as he speaks of himself-Importance of the doctrine-Danger of

mistake-Divinity of ChristThe titles of God applied to Christ

Creation ascribed to Christ-Redemption ascribed to Christ-Pre-

servation ascribed to Christ- The Divine works of Christ-Christ

the object of prayer-Christ the object of Divine worship.-Objections

answered-Application.

29–43

DISCOURSE IV. Subject continued-Heresy of Sabellius-Heresy of

Theodotus and Artemon-Heresy of Arius--Personality of the Holy
Ghost–Divinity of the Holy Ghost--Conflict of heresies--Ascription
of the same powers to each Person—Trinity proved by sensible man-
ifestation-Objection to the terms Person and Trinity—The genera.
tion of the Son, and the procession of the Spirit_Review-Applica-
tion of the doctrine to the plan of Redemption,

44460

Discourse V. Incarnation—The Virgin Mary—The error of the Ro.

manist in worshipping the Virgin-Pontius Pilate-The Saviour was

made perfect man in order that he might suffer-Human soul of

Christ~His sanctification as man–His sufferings in youth, and in

manhood.

61-74

DISCOURSE VI. Subject continued—The sufferings of Christ at Geth.

semane, and on the cross- - Types of the atonement in the offering of

Isaac, in the fiery serpents in the wilderness, in the paschal lamb, and

in the tabernacle service-The Prophecies of the death of Christ, in

the Psalms, in Daniel, in Zechariah, and in Isaiah—Burial of Christ,

Descent into hell-Application.

75-90

Discourse VII. The resurrection of Christ, presignified by Type and

Prophecy–Evidences of the fact-- Testimony of angels of the dis.

ciples of the Romans—of the Jews—His appearances private and

public—Testimony furnished by the dead rising and appearing to

many--Testimony afforded by the miracles which the Apostles per-

formed--Conclusive proof of the resurrection, drawn from the es-

tablishment of Christianity—T'he time of the resurrection presig-

nified both by Type and ProphecytObjectidos answered-Applica-

tion.

91–104

Discourse VIII. Types of the ascorsion--Prophecies of the ascen.

sion-Narrative of the ascension-Exaltation of Christ to the right

hand of God—The regal dominion of Christ—Objections answered

Application.

105–119

Discourse IX. The judgment to come-Probable from reason-cer.

tain from Revelation--Christ the Judge--Reasons why the office is

committed to him--The subjects of the judgment-Time of the

judgment—Mode of the judgment-Prophecies of the judgment-

Application.

120-135

Discourse X. The offices of the Holy Ghost, as exhibited in the in-

spiration of the Scriptures, and in his operations on the mind and

heart-Application.

136-154

Discourse XI. Various meanings of the term Church-Various appli-

cations of the term Catholic-Why the Church is called Catholic-
In how many respects the Church is holy-It is holy in its govern.
ment-in its laws in its worship-and in its discipline—The high
privileges of the Church— The dangers to which the Church is expo-
sed-Application.

155_171

DISCOURSE XII. The Communion of Saints-Who are Saints—In what

consists their communion—They have communion with God-with

angels—with the spirits of those who depart in the Lord, and with

each other-Application.

172-186

DISCOURSE XIII. The forgiveness of sins-What is sin—The sin against

the Holy Ghost-Apparent reason for the place assigned in the Creed

to this particular article--Application.

187–197

Discourse XIV. The resurrection of the dead-Original immortality

of the body, lost by sin, restored by the resurrection-Proof of the doc.