The S.P.C.K. and the Creed of Saint Athanasius, Together with Evidence Proving the Creed to Be Earlier Than the Ninth Century (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884. Excerpt: ... inference is that it was in existence as a whole in his time, unless the contrary is proved to have been the case. But Dr. Lumby, following in the steps of his brother professor, Dr. Swainson, takes a different view of the portion of the Creed adopted into this profession. He considers it an " independent composition." It is, in the opinion of these eminent divines, the whole of the Quicunque which was known to Denebert, the type of that part of it which relates to the Trinity as it existed at the end of the eighth century, the embryo from which that part was afterwards developed. But surely persons are not in the habit of quoting more of a book or a document than is necessary for their immediate purpose. And to argue, that, because Denebert only made use of so much of the Athanasian Creed as seemed to him necessary for a summary of his faith on the Trinity, the rest could not have been known to him, and the Creed could not have existed in its entirety in his time, --this is in truth rushing at conclusions in a very hasty and illogical manner. And this is all the more apparent when it is noticed, that Denebert expressly states his intention to be as brief as possible in expounding his faith--" paucis exponam verbis;" that he introduces the language of the Quicunque, not as an "independent composition," but as a quotation, by the words, "scriptum est"--words by which quotations are introduced in a Book not unknown to most of us (Matt. iv. 4, 7, 10); and that, lastly, as he concludes by expressing his adhesion to the six Councils, no further statement of his faith in the Incarnation could be necessary. Then Dr. Lumby, again following his brother professor, appeals, in support of his hypothesis respecting Denebert's profession, to another document, which he a...