THE ATHANASLIN CREED.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sm,--English Churchmen have been accustomed to acknowledge the authority of the first four General Councils, and usually of no others. Let me remind them that by maintaining the Athanasian Creed they incur the anathema of the Council of Ephesus, which in the most comprehensive terms forbade any one to promulgate (7rpoopepery, thOUll truyypeipety, am-Wm) any creed but that of NICIDS, under penalty, if in holy orders, of deprivation, if a lay- man, of excommunication. The authority of the third General Council is at least as good as the authority which imposed the Athanasian Creed on the Western Church, and those who feel bound to accept the latter will scarcely venture to dispute the authority of the former. The nemesis of faith in human authority over the souls of men is indeed perfect, when those who in the Athanasian Creed invoke damnation on their neighbours, by that
very act condemn themselves.—I am, &c., G.
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