The earliest Greek and Latin Texts of the Roman Creed are given from Westcott (“The Historic Faith") in the columns on the following page for comparison with the complete form of the Creed which gained general currency in the West after the eighth century. Tertia dia resurrexit de mortuis Tertia die resurrexit a mortuis Ascendit ad coelos Sedit (-et) ad dextram Dei Patris omnipotentis Judicare vivos et mortuos; in Spiritum Sanctum Sanctorum communionem 5 Carnis resurrectionem 1 A clause corresponding to this is found in the creeds of Irenæus and Tertullian. It is not found again in a western creed till far into the 7th century. 2 The full force of these articles is not found (with one doubtful exception in a sermon attributed to Augustine) till the 7th century. 3 This article is given by Rufinus as part of the creed of Aquileia in his time. A corresponding article is found in a (Arian) Creed of the Synod of Sirmium, A.D. 359, and in two others molded on it. 4 This epithet is found in the Western Creed in the 6th century. It is almost universal in the Eastern Creeds. 5 This article is found in a creed of the 6th century, but it was not universal till the end of the 8th century. 6 This article was not established in the Creed till about the middle of the 7th century. "Conviction is not to be labored by the coercion of civil or ecclesiastical punishment, but by the gentle force of persuasion and truth, not by an appeal to the tenets of parties and great men; not by an appeal to the positions of Arminius or Calvin; but by an appeal to the inspired writings. The only way is to examine our sentiments by Scripture; then candidly and benevolently inquire how far we are agreed in reality; to walk together by the same amiable rule, so far as we have attained to think alike; and to forbear real differences in love, where there appears a sincere love of truth, candor and piety; remembering we all have the inalienable right of private judgment in religion; and that liberty of thinking and choosing our religion, liberty of conscience, was the great errand of our pious forefathers in America." REV. EZRA STILES. (afterwards President of Yale College): Sermon before the Convention of Rhode Island, April, 1760. |