Ellis on Article VIII: Of the Three Creeds

Obj. 2. The Inventions of Men are not to. be.bbtruded upon the CLurch, nor to be received as necessary to be believed ; but the foregoing Creeds as such ; and are proposed to our Faith,” as if they were the Wird of God. . ,

Answ. The aforesaid Creeds were: indeed composed and methodized: by Men ; bur yer rhey are nor the meer Fancies of Men con-= traryto:the Holy Scripcures, which .the” Ar-.

JU] gumient

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24 A [Defence of the = ; gument supposes ; but rhe Doctrine contained : in them is conformable ro the Word of God. Neither do we receive them with an equal degree of Faith with the Holy Scriprure, bur we give thejn the next place to Thar, and reverence them, as the chief Monuments of Faith.

Obj. 3. To omit others; that Sentence in Arhanasius’s Creed seems to be too severe, where * | he speaks of the Confession of Faith ; Thar ex-""" cept every one do keep it whole and unde- + filed; withour doubt he shall perish everlasting- . ly : What shall we then say of those that labour under an invincible Ignorance ? How shall they believe on him, of whom they have nor heard ? says Sr. Paul, Rom. 10. 14, If then Men want the Means of Knowledge, and the Ti- dings of this Dotrine has in no sort come to them, zt 15_plain they are not to be blamed, and that they are free from Damnation ; for God oblipes |, 71 one to Impossibilities. |

Answ. Athanasius means chiefly those to whom the Catholick Faith has been pro- pounded and explained, who have all the means requisite for the knowledge of the Truch. As to others, who of them will be saved, God hinwself will, in an extraordinary manner enlighten their Understandings, that they may perceive whar things are neceslary ro Sal-

Vation, | ART. IX. Of Original Sir.