stles' Creed_, rehearsed in the Morning and Evening Service
of our Church, is the most ancient of all creeds, and can be traced
back, with few variations, almost to Apostolic times; some indeed
allege that it, in its earliest form, is referred to in Rom. vi.17,
and 2 Tim. i.13. It is in no way controversial, but is a simple and
plain statement of the fundamental truths of Christianity, and being
such, a profession of faith in it is demanded of all candidates for
Baptism.

The _Nicene Creed_, which has a place in the Communion Service, is
so called from its being drawn up at the Council of Nicaea (A.D.
325). A more distinct enunciation of belief was made necessary by
the growth of the Arian and other heresies which denied the Godhead
of our Lord Jesus Christ. The latter portion, from "I believe
in the Holy Ghost," was added later, viz., at the Council of
Constantinople, A.D. 381. Other heresies led to the introduction
of the "_filioque clause_"--"Who proceedeth from the Father _and
the Son_"--at a still later date. This is one cause of the great
schism between the Eastern and Western Churches.

The _Athanasian Creed_, recited on certain Festivals instead of the
Apostles' Creed, is not so ancient as the other two, nor does it
rest on the same authority. It is not known for certain by whom it
was composed, but at any rate it was not by Athanasius. It has been
regularly used in the Western Church since the year 800, and is
regarded as a most valuable exposition of Scriptural Truth. So much
objection is taken to the "damnatory clauses," as they are called,
that it may be well to quote the declaration of the Convocation of
Canterbury (1879):--"For the removal of doubts, and to prevent
disquietude in the use of the Creed, commonly called the Creed of
St. Athanasius, it is hereby solemnly declared--

"(I.) That the Confession of our Christian Faith, commonly called
the Creed of St. Athanasius, doth not make any addition to the
faith as contained in Holy Scripture, but warneth against errors,
which from time to time have arisen in the Church of Christ.

"(II.) That as Holy Scripture in divers places doth promise life
to them that believe, and declares the condemnation of them that
believe not, so doth the Church in this Confession declare the
necessity for all who would be in a state of Salvation, of holding
fast the Catholic Faith, and the great peril of rejecting the same.
Wherefore the warnings in thi