heretics and heresies that gave occasion for the articles which have
place in the Creed are few and brief.

JAMES DODDS.


* * * * *




THE APOSTLES' CREED

INTRODUCTION


While the disciples had Jesus with them, there was no occasion for a
formal summary of the doctrines which His followers were called to
accept and to maintain. He was present to resolve all doubts and settle
all difficulties, so that when their faith was assailed or their
teaching impugned they could refer to Him. Then, as now, faith had Him
for its object,--with this difference, that He was visibly at hand to
counsel and to direct, while now He is passed into the heavens and
guides His people into all truth, not by personal instruction but by
His invisible though ever present Spirit.

Another reason why Jesus gave His disciples no creed may be found in the
fact that His work was not finished until He had laid down His life, and
that no creed could have been satisfactory which did not cover those
great unfulfilled events in His history that lie at the foundation of