[465]. See Cudworth, p. 603, 4.
[466]. “The creed which was first adopted, and that perhaps in the very earliest age, by the Church of Rome, was that which is now called the Apostles’ Creed, and it was the general opinion, from the fourth century downwards, that it was actually the production of those blessed persons assembled for that purpose. Our evidence is not sufficient to establish that fact, and some writers very confidently reject it. But there is reasonable ground for our assurance that the form of faith which we still repeat and inculcate was in use and honour in the very early propagation of our religion.”—Waddington’s History of the Church, p. 27.
[467]. “Ignatius, Justin, and Irenæus make no mention of it, but they occasionally repeat some words contained in it, which is held as proof that they knew it by heart.”—Waddington.
[468]. Jortin, Eccles. Hist. vol. ii. p. 180.
[469]. Comment. in Johan. vol. ii. p. 5.
[470]. Hist. lib. iii. c. 24.
[471]. Chrys. Op. vol. vi. p. 171; viii. p. 2.
[472]. Comm. in Matt. sec. 161.
[473]. In Celsum. lib. ii. p. 56.
[474]. Professor Burton gives some instances of the use of the word God by Ignatius, A. D. 107, in connection with Christ. Nothing can be more slender and insufficient than his other evidences of the recognition of these doctrines by the Apostolical Fathers.