consideration of our Conduct, but also the examination of our Faith.
In the Visitation of the Sick, and in Holy Communion, the Creeds are
used for Self-Examination.

(_c_) Since other thoughts are built up on those which we have about
God, it is usual amongst Christians to use the Articles of the Creed as
a Guide to what they are to think about themselves, and about the
World, and about the Evil and Good which are in the World. Their
arguments with one another rest upon the Creeds which are acknowledged
amongst them.

(_d_) But apart from all inferences and arguments, the facts about
God's Existence call forth from the heart of man joyful praise and
adoring worship.

The name by which God is declared to His People in Exodus is I AM. The
thoughts by which we too come nearest to Him are thoughts which declare
what HE IS. Thus the Apostles' Creed in Morning and Evening Prayer is
a Hymn of Praise.

History of the Apostles' Creed.

The similarity of the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, as they
stand in the Prayer Book, {95} suggests the reflection that disputes
about the Human and Divine Natures of Jesus caused the enlargement of
those parts which refer to Him: and that similar enlargements were
caused by disputes about the Holy Spirit, and even about the Father.
We cannot certainly say that the Apostles' Creed _as it now stands_ is
older than the Nicene Creed. But we know that Eusebius brought to the
Nicene Council (A.D. 325) a form simpler than the Nicene Creed; and
that briefer forms were used in the second century by Tertullian (A.D.
200) and Irenaeus (A.D. 170).

Having already considered the various uses of a Creed, we are prepared
to acknowledge that something of the sort was a necessity from the
beginning. Justin Martyr's writings, about the middle of the 2nd
century, record the arguments about the Existence of God, and of Jesus
Christ, which had influenced him and others for many years, inducing
them to live and die for the Faith. (See Just. M. _Apol._ and _Dial.
Trypho, passim_.)

The death of S. John the Apostle must have occurred during Justin's
lifetime. We are led therefore to examine the Bible for traces of a
Creed. The following are some of the passages which supply an answer
to our examination.

Eph. iv. 1-6:

One Body--One SPIRIT--one Hope of our calling.

One Faith--One LORD--one Baptism.

One God and FATHER of all,--above all, through all, in all.

Col. i. 4-22 is an expo