We cannot know in what sense, with what precise and definite meaning, he compiled those clauses, which have given such undue offence. We are therefore at liberty, I think, to understand them as implying nothing more than this, that a belief in the doctrines, received and taught by the Universal Church, is generally necessary to salvation. To understand

them in this sense were the truest charity; and not to strain them to an unreasonable severity, on purpose to disparage the Creed altogether. We really cannot suppose that any individual would be so presumptuous as to assert that no man can possibly be saved, who does not heartily and faithfully believe in all the articles of the Christian faith. For this were to shorten the arm of the Lord. It is, however, a very belief in the essential

different thing to say that a doctrines of our religion is, in a general way, necessary to salvation; and that he, who wilfully rejects, and scornfully blasphemes them, has no claim to the blessings and mercies of the Gospel covenant. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned." These are the words of Jesus Christ Himself, the Author of our eternal salvation. And more than this the Athanasian Creed need not be strained to signify. I have referred to the troublous times in which it was drawn up and though the divisions and dissensions, which then disturbed the peace and unity of the Church,

were a source of much and oppressive evil, still they were not altogether unproductive of great good. Wise and good and able champions then came forward to defend the cause of truth, and have left to us, as precious heir-looms, short and comprehensive summaries of the Christian faith, as it was believed in the primitive Church. Thus good has come out of evil: for had not heresy been rife, we should probably never have heard of the Athanasian Creed, that pearl of great price, the most precious gem of all our Church's Jewels. And it is upon this account that our Church does not use it in her daily services. No, she brings it forth only on her great festivals, her high holy-days, as being too costly, and precious for daily use, but more worthy to adorn her, when she appears in all her beauty, and strength, and splendour. Let me then bid you not be led away by any false notions of charity, nor to join in the outcry that is too often raised against the Creed. It is not becoming in us to speak evilly or lightly of it, as our Church has thought proper to use it; for in so doing we cast reproach upon her, and this, as dutiful children, we ought not to do. Rather let us use and admire and revere the Creed, and thankfully bless the Providence of God, which has preserved it to us.

LECTURE VIII.

A. And in Jesus Christ...

......

As you have now been taught that the word Jesus signifies a Saviour, and have been examined in the nature and parts of that salvation, which he has provided for us, I proceed to prove to you at somewhat greater length, that Jesus was also the Christ. And again I would bid you to remember that the words Christ and Messiah, or Messias, have the same signification; namely, the Anointed. You have already heard that at the time of, and just previous to, our Lord's appearance on earth, when he became the Son of Man, a general expectation prevailed that some extraordinary person, some great Prophet, would arise. This notion, traces of which may be found in the New Testament, chiefly prevailed among the Jews, who were then subject to the Roman government. They expected that this great person, who was to be

called Messias, should be a mighty Prince and Conqueror, who should not only deliver them from the power of the Romans, but re-establish their own kingdom and independence, and make all other nations of the earth subject to their rule and government. Thus it was that when John the Baptist "had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?"" The people also, which believed on Him, when they saw the mighty works that He did, asked, “When Christ cometh, will He do more miracles than these, which this man hath done ?" And so the woman of Samaria, in her conversation with our Lord, said unto Him, "I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things." And again, when our Saviour was brought before Caiaphas, and charged with blasphemy, that hypocrite spake, “I adjure Thee by the living God that Thou tell us, whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of the living God." To mention but one more instance, we find it related that " all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ or not." Now from these and other like expressions, it is certain that at the time of our Saviour's coming into the world, a general expectation prevailed that some extraordinary person, who should be called Christ, or Messiah, would shortly appear. The cause of this belief is readily accounted

E

for. Moses had foretold, more than fourteen hundred

years before, that God would raise up from among the Jews a Prophet like unto himself; and him they were commanded to hear in all things, whatsoever He should say unto them. This prophecy led the Jews to look forward to some great deliverer. But another remarkable prophecy in the book of Daniel seemed to make the precise period, when this great Prophet should come among them, exactly correspond with the time when our Saviour actually did appear. I have referred to the expectations, which were entertained by the Jews, of the great things that this Messias would do for them, when He came. You will probably remember that two of the disciples, when they met our risen Lord, as they journeyed to Emmaus, but knew him not, said to Him while they conversed with Him upon His death and sufferings, "We trusted it should have been He, which should have redeemed Israel." And upon another occasion, the disciples asked Him, after His resurrection, “Lord, wilt Thou restore at this time again the kingdom to Israel ?" You will remember also the endeavour that was made by the Jews to set Him up for a King, when they were convinced by the miracle of the loaves and fishes that " He, was, of a truth, that Prophet that should come into the world." These instances serve to show that the Jews were possessed with the belief that our Lord would Himself be their