use of their concealment for these or the like laudable purposes, I should have been perfectly well satisfied. But while they continue their disguises as before, and regard nothing less than frank, fair, and open debate; while the main use they make of their concealment is only to be less solicitous about what they think or write; pelting us from their coverts with misreports, and slandering in masquerade: when this is the case, it concerns a man in his own defence to intimate to these gentlemen, that they are not so entirely under cover as they may imagine; but that it is their prudence still to be a little more upon their guard, and to write with more decency hereafter, at least, for their own credit and reputation.

After all, if any reasonable man is disposed to examine this question, or any part of it, with freedom and plainness, with sincerity and strictness, attending to the argument, and representing every thing in a fair and true light, without misreport or insult; such a person, though nameless, would have a just title to all tender, and candid, and even respectful treatment, from an adversary; and, I am very sure, would never find any other than such from me. I shall ever think it a much greater disgrace to be outdone in civility, than in matter of argument. The first cannot happen but through a man's own fault: the other may; and when it does, there is no real discredit in yielding to the truth once made clear. Both sides, if they are good men, are victorious in such a case; because both attain the only thing that they aimed at, and both share the prize.

A

CRITICAL HISTORY

OF THE

ATHANASIAN CREED:

REPRESENTING

THE OPINIONS

OF

ANCIENTS AND MODERNS CONCERNING IT:

WITH

An Account of the Manuscripts, Versions, and Comments, and such other particulars as are of moment for the determining the Age, and Author, and Value of it, and the Time of its Reception in the Christian Churches.

I

TO HIS GRACE

WILLIAM

LORD ARCHBISHOP OF YORK,

PRIMATE OF ENGLAND AND METROPOLITAN.

My Lord,

AM desirous of sending these papers abroad under your Grace's name, in confidence you will be a Patron to them, as you have been to the Author. I would make their way short and easy to the public esteem, by introducing them first into your Grace's acquaintance and good opinion which if they have once the honour to obtain, I may then be assured that they will be both useful to the world, and acceptable with all good men ; the height of my ambition.

The subject, my Lord, is the Athanasian Creed, the most accurate system of the Athanasian, that is, the Christian faith of which your Grace is, by your station and character, by duty and office, and, what is more, by inclination and principle, and real services, the watchful Guardian and Preserver.

The happy fruits of it are visible in the slow and inconsiderable progress that the new heresy has been able to make within your province; where it died, in a manner, as it first arose, and no sooner began to lift up its head, but sunk down again in shame and confusion: as if the plenty of good seed sown had left no room for tares, or they could take no root in a soil so well cultivated.

While your Grace is promoting the honour and interests of our holy faith, in the eminent way, by the wisdom of your counsels, the authority of your precepts, and the brightness of your high example; I am endeavouring, in such a way as I can, to contribute something to the same common cause, though it be but slight and small, though it be only reviewing the fences and surveying the outworks; which is the most I pretend to in the history here presented.

What advantage others may reap from the publication will remain in suspense: but I am sure of one to myself, (and I lay hold of it with a great deal of pleasure,) the opportunity I thereby have of returning my public thanks to your Grace for your public favours. Though this, my Lord, is but a scanty expression for them, and far short, where the engaging manner and circumstances, known but to few, and not to be understood by many, make so considerable an addition in the whole, and almost double the obligation upon,