New-York tribune., 1906-04-21

The Rev. Robert s. Macarthur of Calvary Bap-
tst Church, amplifying his recent sermon on the
Apostles Greed. gives the following statement TO
The Tribune:
or entirely unmade by in another age. Every
not be tethered to the gravsetones of dead theo-
logians Churchmen Were never so able as to-day
know vastly more of history, of philosophy, OF phi
loIogy. OF anthropoogy and OF theology than it
know when the historic creeds were formulated.
ress of religious thinking at the time they were
promngated but parts Of them are utterly out
day, and other parts obsolescent If not obsolete
modern s soul into their ancient verbal body, or be
guilty of utter nanity or positive profanity in the
these creeds except by giving them an interpreta-
OF opinion show that ne utterly rejects these creeds
IN the the natural meaning Of their articles An Egis-
queatIy in the presence Of his sy Writer denied the
Inspiration Of the Bible, the Virgin birth: the d.
sstantly repeated creeds which plainly taught all
The long and so7saled strong creeds do not S con,
term; its only rule of faith and practice is the in
spired Word of God Yet this Church, numbering
gractce than is any other Church in the United
the act of baptism: this act is significant and
beautiful creed, expressed in instructive symbolism
Spired N rney IeRe tne pace Htte9 @ 9a sth te a m
creed than it is to interpret the Scripture on which
Apostles Greed is freer from these objections than
are most OF the creeds Of the Church 1t Is highly
Of doctrine and for it's superb rhetorical form It
Is sublime in its simplicity and beautiful in it's litur
been called the Apostles Creed. The Apostles never
saM II never W heard of it, and probably would not
form. No scholar attaches the slightest
compiler and traditionalist Of the fourth cen
eury; who affirmed that the Apostles before sep;
composed this compend 'l Of doctrine M under under the
special influence Of the Holy Spirit He gives
Careful historic inquiry shows ' that the legend
to the great no
heartily agree that the so-called Athanasian Greed
fourth century although it bears his name. He
nowhere mentions it in any Of the older manu-
temporaries nor writer's Immediately following
that il could not have been written by him; He
certainly would not have omitted the word Homo
marked the distinction' between the Athanasians
and Arians; but this word nowhere appears in the
in in creed COMPOSED by Athanasius. Furthernore.
wrote in Greek This Creed is entirely unknoWn
In The Greek Church until about the year 1000 It's
the end of the eighth or the beginning of the ninth
century cent Many man would rather cut of his
this creed, thus condemning to everlasting pun
would rather repudfate Christianity than be-
lieye in it, II these historic e-eeds were its true
and Anglican Churches the Athanasian A creed 'i; is
omitted from the Protestant Episcopal Church ser
bishops to demand its restoration before they would
convention Thich met I in 'fni Wimngtoni Sa,0s BEL. IN
October, 17S5, introduced the Nicene Greed. but
G5p H55nTT G clause ar are TeProach to the Christian
Ia OF TINS creed Is an example Of what has been well
purpose TO practise an imposition It is in line with
the fraud which led to the False Decretals' and
wi will apply B to the name Apostles Creed" II may
De SAD that this latter title is now used with the
OF Apostolic principles and doctrine; but it's title
were actually contributed by the Apostles Ruiz
PqetenGs to tell w. US the article which each
Greqo Gi IN Denm PatTem omnpotentem Johannes
the Creed assigned to other Apostles
We know that this Creed was not admitted into
dates for baptism may have been required 10 sub
S6Iei 10 parts OF It. 1t first appeared in public
tn42ch: 1t does not seem to have been introduced
from the Roman Church it passed into the Angii
can Church at the time of the Reformation. The
Payer and the Ten Commandments to their cate
cRISnl' @ max making its use optional in public service
he'll and the communion of saints" are of later
Creed was substantially in existence from the end
Or tho fourth century. but in its completed form
the middle of the eighth century II is thus about
forms Of the m Ncen m reed torn % than the
He descended into hell is late in origin doubtful
In authority and intrinsCally abominabIe Tts
teaching is rejected by many devout believers and
profound scholars. The alternative form which is
suggested IN fOOtnote attached to some OF the
creeds, is less Objectionable The clause adds
nothing valuable To the thoughts expressed by
the associated clauses. 1t rests on a massage Cf
Scripture capable of an altogether different inter
pretation. Why should attempt TO state where
our Lord was between His crucifxion and His :
resurrecton2 On this point Scripture gives no
clear teaching The day of authoritative human
Greeds cree simply because they. are ancient is over
The outcome of the trial of DR. Crapsey will he |
watched with intense interest The future heIopgs
to churches which accept authority sanctiaed |
common sense under the guidance of the inspred |
Word of God Trials for heresy are due to ecciesi-
astlcal proVlncialis1. 10 creedal bigotry priestlv
and often to personal animOs+V The |
true Christian loves truth more than all his preiu
1ices and more than all the creeds and traditions
Df ecclesiastics. He welcomes Truth from what
ever quarter she comes in her oueenly beauty and |
radiant glory. He bows down in nr0found raver-
ance and in Joyous alteration at the feet Of the |
sreat Ie2cheT who said: II I'm the Way. the Truth |