" in lieu of sermons
under certain conditions. In the statement cited, the Church of England
solemnly avers that a state of apostasy affecting all ages, sects, and
degrees throughout whole Christendom, had prevailed for eight hundred
years prior to the establishment of the church making the declaration.
That this affirmation remains effective today, as both confession and
profession of the Church of England, appears from the fact that the
homily "Against Peril of Idolatry" and certain other homilies are
specifically ratified and endorsed, and withal prescribed "to be read in
Churches by the Ministers diligently and distinctly that they may be
understanded of the people." See "Articles of Religion" xxxv, in current
issues of Church of England, _Book of Common Prayer_.

4. The "Creed of Athanasius."--At the Council of Nice, convoked by the
emperor Constantine, 325 A.D., a formal statement of belief concerning
the Godhead was adopted. Later a modification was issued, known as the
"Creed of Athanasius," and though the authorship is questioned, the
creed has a place in the ritual of some of the Protestant churches. No
more conclusive evidence that men had ceased to know God need be adduced
than the Athanasian Creed. As confessed by the Church of England in this
day, and as published in the official ritual (see _Prayer Book_) "The
Creed of Saint Athanasius" is this: "We worship one God in Trinity, and
Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons: nor dividing the
Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son:
and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one: the Glory equal, the Majesty
co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son: and such is the Holy
Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate: and the Holy Ghost
uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible: and the
Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal: and
the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals: but one
eternal. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three
uncreated: but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible. So likewise the
Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty: and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And
yet they are not three Almighties: but one Almighty. So the Father is
God, the Son is God: and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not
three Gods: but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord,