New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-17

THE cRErDs OF CIIRIsTENDoM. BY PHILIP scuArf,
d. d.. IL d. vols. Syo. Harper & frotiess.
DR.. Schsif has undertaken a work in these
volumes which las hitherto found place IN thcoiJs-
zeal or historical literature. They consist If collection
OF the creods aud confessions OF the different Christian
denominations together with doctnal history Of the
Church. founded critical analysis OF the puolic
standards of fat, furnishing rich storehouse OF mate
rals the study OF Comparative Theology The authors
view Of the authority of crcods Is OF liberal and con-
prehcnsiye character Every creed, lie ans is subor
dinatc TO tue Bible the only inf'llilc rne Of tho
Christian faith aud practice. The value OF al symbols de-
ponds on the OF thcir agreement with the Scrip
lures The Bible announces the Word OF Cod the Con
fesson il mans the Hence the author
fly OF the Bible is divine and absolute that Of the Con-
fesson ecccsiastica and relative The Bible regulates
The belief and practice of tic great body Of Christmas tie
symbols regulate the pubic teaching OF the OH cTs OF
the Church Creed accordingly, should use language
different from that OF he Bible string Of texts from
the Bible is Greed ;hanit is pTayerO hymn
A Creed in fact d0ctnal poem, written under tho
insoraton Of divine truth As the origin OF the creets
accepted in Tie Church, Dr. Schaf regards the Apostles
Greed as The product OF the Western Catholic Church
within the first four centuries. II Il not OF primary,
Apostolic inspiration but OF secondary and eoclesistc
not the Wor OF God men, but the word OF on to Goa
An response 10 his revelation The present text Of the
Apostles Creed rs complete whole hardly be traced
beyond the Sixth certainly not beyond the close OF the
Fifth Century Is triumph all the other forms IN
the Latin Church not c0rsuinmatod uatl the
Eighth Century, or about the time when the
Bishops OF Rome strenuously endeayOred 10 conform
The Eturlcs Of the Western Churches 10 the Roman
order The origin Of the Ahanasaa Creed Ike that OF
The Apostles Creed IS involved IN obscurity Since the
Ninth Century las bcen asciibed ~ Athanasus. Bishop
OF Alexandria. the chief defender Of the Divinity Of
Christ and the Orthodox doctrine Of the Trinity. His
great name secured FOR IL an almost Rrumcnical
thority since the middle OF the seventeenth Century
the Athanasan autLo ship has been abandoned by
learned Catholics well Professionals on conclusive
evidence The present volumes, Like others from
same pen, bear ample testimony 10 the profound
search intelligent study, and Christian scholarship Of
the distinguished author. IL this respect, IT would be
difficult 10 match them By other publication OF the
American Press; nor can any recent European produc
ton in ecclesiastical history theology DO pronounced
superior TO in point OF accurate learning lucid dis
elimination, and sound judgment They present an
ample not only Of the acute analysis OF religious
opinions but and curious erudiuon erich IN the
spo OF time" and with racy favor Of antiquity which
will recommend them to the student as monument OF
genuine work in his peculiar vocation.