or even by whole Synods, so far as it is felt and known to have the sanction of the Church. And thus, to apply what has been said, the doctrine written in St. Cyril's Catechetical Lectures, in St. John Damascene's treatise On the Faith, in the Orthodox Confession, in the XVIII Articles of the Synod of Bethlehem, and in the present Russian Catechisms, must be held by all members of the Eastern Church to be one and the same thing in substance with the Creed itself, so far as it is felt and known that these different treatises and expositions have been approved by the Church. But still, inasmuch as in these and in all similar compositions of any length, and even in the very canons of orthodox Councils, there are of necessity many words and propositions which are either beside the province of faith altogether, or else beside the purpose of the writers in writing, or of the Church in approving, in all such subordinate matters of detail free scope is left for the exercise of learned and religious criticism. Upon such principles it was that the Russian Synod, in 1838, in publishing a translation of the XVIII Articles of the Synod of Bethlehem, made no scruple to modify some things, and even to omit one whole Answer, which was felt to be inaccurate. And upon the same principles it is quite free, and not unreasonable, to maintain that the Longer Russian Catechism, though identical of course in the substance of doctrine with all documents approved by the Eastern Church, is yet in many points of detail, in method and language, and even in some minor doctrinal respects, of greater weight and value, not only than the Eighteen Articles of the Synod of Bethlehem, but even than the Orthodox Confession itself. In conclusion, it cannot be out of place to remind the reader that the Doctrine of the Russian is at the least the same with that of the whole Eastern Church; and if any one believes that there is, essentially, upon earth but one true Church, and one definite Orthodoxy, it must be for such a one a matter of serious reflection in reading any volume like the present, how far his own part of the Church, and how far he himself, as an individual, has been hitherto adequately confessing that truth, which he recognizes in the doctrine of others; also, how far he has good and solid grounds to go upon, if in any thing he rejects what others teach in the name of Christ. So far as he feels himself to agree, he ought assuredly to desire to make his agreement known; and thus both do his own duty by confessing truth, and also remove in some degree unnecessary offences and impediments, which now stand in the way of peace: while so far as he thinks himself to differ, and thinks also that he, or his own part of the Church, has good grounds for differing, he ought no less assuredly to remember that truth is not for him alone, nor for any particular Church or Empire, but for the Universe, and for the Universal Church : and whatever Bishop, or whatever Church thinks itself to have the truth upon any point, and condemns others, it is bound to labour zealously and unceasingly for their correction. Otherwise, whether we think that we agree in the truth with any others, we deceive ourselves: for, if we were really agreed, we should never rest till our agreement was known and understood on both sides: or whether we confess that we differ, we condemn our own selves for differing for, if we were really good Christians, and represented the Truth, and the true Faith and doctrine of the Universal Church, in that point, in which we differ, we could never for any length of time acquiesce passively in the ignorance or error of our brethren nay, nor even of heathen: especially in such a time as the present, when the nations of the world are at peace, and facilities are every day increasing for all manner of communication and intercourse. A TABLE OF CONTENTS. I. Of the Answers of the Patriarch Jeremiah to the Lutherans. II. Of the Book entitled An Orthodox Confession of the Faith of the PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTION: On the meaning of the word Catechism: On the necessity of Faith and Good Works, and in the first place of Faith, p. 31. On Divine Revelation, p. 33. On Holy Tradition and Holy Scripture, p. 34. On Holy Scripture in particular, p. 37. The Composition of the Catechism, p. 43. THE FIRST PART OF THE CATECHISM, ON FAITH. On the Creed, generally, and its origin, p. 44. On the Articles of the Creed, p. 46. On the First Article, p. 47. On the Second, p. 55. On the Third, p. 58. On the Fourth, p. 65. On the Fifth, p. 68. On the Sixth, p. 70. On the Seventh, p. 71. On the Eighth, p. 73. On the Ninth, p. 75. On the Tenth, p. 84. On Baptism, ib. On Unction with Chrism, or Confirmation, p. 87. On the Communion, p. 89. On Penitence, p. 94. On Orders, p. 95. On Matrimony, p. 96. On Unction with Oil, p. 97. On the Eleventh Article of the Creed, ib. THE SECOND PART OF THE CATECHISM, ON HOPE. p. 113. THE THIRD PART OF THE CATECHISM, ON LOVE, OR CHARITY. On the Union between Faith and Charity, p. 117. On the Law of God, and the Commandments, p. 118. On the Division of the Commandments into Two Tables, p. 120. On the First Commandment, p. 122. On the Second, p. 125. On the Third, p. 127. On the Fourth, p. 128. On the Fifth, p. 131. On the Sixth, p. 135. On the Seventh, p. 137. On the Eighth, p. 138. To what End, What the Priesthood is, p. 149. i. By whom instituted, ib. ii. p. 150. iii. How excellent the Order of Priesthood is, ib. iv. difficulty and danger, p. 151. v. Who may properly be admitted to it, p. 152. vii. The Priest's Duty divided into Four Parts, p. 153. ix. OF THE FIRST PART OF THE PRIEST'S DUTY, OR THE INSTRUCTION OF The First Duty of the Priest is to Teach, p. 154. i. What the Priest ought to Where, and CHAP. II. PART II. OF TEACHING BY DEED: (WHICH INCLUDES THE SECOND PART OF It is the Priest's Duty to Teach his people Holy Living by his own example, CHAPTER III. OF THE THIRD PART OF THE PRIEST'S DUTY, THAT IS, OF MINISTERING Propositions relating to all the Sacraments generally, p. 204. ii. Propositions CHAPTER IV. OF THE FOURTH PART OF THE PRIEST'S DUTY, THAT IS, PRAYER. What Prayer is, p. 241. i. &c. Prayer and Service of God inward and out- |