ath
chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before him in love; having predestinated us
unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to
the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace,
wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved." [197:4]

The theological term Trinity was not in use in the days of the apostles,
but it does not follow that the doctrine now so designated was then
unknown; for the New Testament clearly indicates that the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Ghost exist in the unity of the Godhead. [197:5]
Neither can it be inferred from the absence of any fixed formula of
doctrine that the early followers of our Lord did not all profess the
same sentiments, for they had "one Lord, one faith, one baptism."
[198:1] The document commonly called "the Apostles' Creed" is certainly
of very great antiquity, but no part of it proceeded from those to whom
it is attributed by its title; [198:2] and its rather bald and dry
detail of facts and principles obviously betokens a decline from the
simple and earnest spirit of primitive Christianity. Though the early
converts, before baptism, made a declaration of their faith, [198:3]
there is in the sacred volume no authorised summary of doctrinal belief;
and in this fact we have a proof of the far-seeing wisdom by which the
New Testament was dictated; as heresy is ever changing its features, and
a test of orthodoxy, suited to the wants of one age, would not exclude
the errorists of another. It has been left to the existing rulers of the
Church to frame such ecclesiastical symbols as circumstances require;
and it is a striking evidence of the perfection of the Bible that it has
been found capable of furnishing an antidote to every form of heterodoxy
which has ever appeared.

It may be added that the doctrine of the Apostolic Church is eminently
practical. The great object of the mission of Jesus was to "save His
people from their sins;" [198:4] and the tendency of all the teachings
of the New Testament is to promote sanctification. But the holiness of
the gospel is not a shy asceticism which sits in a cloister in moody
melancholy, so that its light never shines before men; but a generous
consecration of the heart to God, which leads us to confess Christ in
the presence of gainsayers, and which prompts us to delight in works of
benevolence. The true Christian should be happy