LECTURE,

Temuka Leader, Issue 1465, 9 February 1886, Page 2

LECTURE,

On Sunday evening the Rev. Geo. Barclay delivered a lecture in the Presbyterian Sabbath Schoolroom on “ The Three Creeds of early Christendom.” The attendance was larger than at any of his previous lectures, the room being quite full, and great interest and attention was manifested throughout. Commencing his subject by reading the 13th verse of the 11, Epistle of Timothy, which is as follows,—“ Hold fast to the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus,” Mr Barclay went on to say that from this it might be inferred that the Apostles held to some form or creed, set down for them to follow, but he thought this was to be doubted very much, for be did not think that creeds began to be composed at such an early period as this. The words most likely referred to doctrine taught orally. It was obvious, nevertheless, that at an early period some short compendiums or summaries of the conditions of faith were used, and thtse small creeds in time gare way to larger ones. The lecturer then gave a# an instance of their growth a specimen of a Christian creed of the third century and of a later one—the creed of St. Patrick—in the fourth century. Creeds, the lecturer held, were drawn up to serve more than one purpose : to distinguish Christians from Pagans, and to show among the former who were orthodox or heretical in their faith. About the fourth or fifth century creeds began to assume a definite form, and chief among them were the Apostles’, the Nicene and Athan&aian Creeds, and these soon occupied an important position in the doctrines of the church and its theology. As to the question of the authorship of the Apostles’ Creed, it wan one on which many opinions were expressed, and many theologians and divines held it was the production of the Apostles. There was not, however, a tittle of evidence in their writings to show that the Apostles knew anything about it. It would no doubt have found its proper place in the chronicles of the Apostles if such had been the case. If the Apostles were aot its author, who was 1 It seemed to have bean of gradual growth, and the lecturer then gave the form in which it appeared in the fourth century, when quoted by one Marcellas in defence of his orthodoxy as a Christian. The first trace of the Apostles Creed was thus found in the fourth century, and the earliest period in which it was found it its present state was the eighth century. Passing to the Nicene Creed, the lecturer said it derived it origin from the Ariane. Schism and an ecclesiastical war having taken place in their chnrch, it was suggested that a council shou’d be hold to endeavor to settle matters. This suggestion was acted upon. A attended by a large number of clergy, was held in Nice, in Asia Minor, and after considerable dissension a cieed was agreed upon « hich would give expression to the doctrine of the church and in regard to the Trinity. The creed was revised at a council held later on at Constantinople, and in after years additions were made, which, however, have never been agreed upon by all churches. In the sixth century, two or three hundred years after its origin, one word was added which alienated the creed from the Greek Church. In regard to the Athanasian Creed it waa certain, the lecturer said, that the person known by the name of Athanasius had nothing to do with it. It does not tit in with hia time, for the creed refers to things which occurred long after the time of Athanasius. It seems, like the Apostles’ Creed, to have been of gradual growth, and not until the ninth century do we find it in its present state. In conclusion the lecturer said that, though holding these creeds in the highest respect and regard, he thought them too minute in some points, and we should not enter the regions of human speculation for the revealed truth. Mr Barclay then referred to expressions in the Apostles and Athanasian Creeds, which he contended were not borne out by the Scriptures, and it was therefore not right that conditions of salvation should be from the hands of human composers. In conclusion he wonld ask ; Are we cordial upon these confessions of faith as laid down in the creeds—the death and snfiering of Christ, the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, the last judgment and eternal retribution, and the jJivine vindication and life of blessing

promised to all who would accept of if? If we were not accepting these confessions but merely repeating the formulas with the lips while the soul was following worldly things, then darkness was lored {letter than light, and the promised blessings would be withheld. Let us then hold fast to the form of cleas words and accept the faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

The above is only a resumd of ft few of the msny points brought out in the subject by Mr Barclay, and described so clearly and graphically as to keep up the interest throughout, which always makes the lecturer popular.