exactions of religions devised by men, His "yoke is easy and His burden
is light." With Him there is "neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor
uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free."[079] With Him there
are no distinctions of sect, or country, or caste. "In every nation he
that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him."[080]

In being born, Jesus assumed the nature of humanity, and, in so doing,
more than restored to man the likeness to God which our first parents
lost, for themselves and their descendants, through the Fall. He thereby
made it possible for God to dwell with man, and for man to rise into
communion with God. Sin had effaced the Divine image, and no other than
the Son of God could give back to men the power to reflect in their own
lives the character of God. His possession of the human nature gives us
confidence in approaching Him, by assuring us of His brotherhood and
sympathy; while His possession of the Divine nature assures us that He
can make His brotherhood and sympathy effectual.

* * * * *

ARTICLE 4

_Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried_

SECTION 1.--SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE

The preceding articles of the Creed appeal to faith. They so far
transcend reason that they can be apprehended only when reason is
sustained by faith. This article, which affirms that Jesus "suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried," is a simple
historical statement. Pilate is a historic person, the details of whose
life are recorded, not in the Gospels only, but in secular history.
Josephus records several incidents in the life of Pilate which are
strikingly in accordance with his character as set forth in the Gospels.
Tacitus, a Roman historian, who wrote his _Annals_ soon after the
crucifixion of Jesus, relates that, while Pilate was governor of Judaea,
Jesus Christ was put to death. The testimony of the Gospels and the
statement of the Creed are thus confirmed by the Roman and the Jewish
historians. But, indeed, the event itself is not the subject of
controversy. It is the conclusions drawn from it by the followers of
Christ that are disputed. "Christ crucified, to the Jews a
stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness,"[081] still raises
opposition and kindles hostility.

The name of Pilate is inserted not with the view of branding him with
infamy, but in order to fix the date of the cr