LETTER CCXXXVIII.

DR. LANGBAINE TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH,

MY LORD,

SINCE my last (this day seven-night) I have inquired (and I do here send you what I met with) concerning the use of the Nicene creed among the Russians, which I conceive full to your purpose. I perceive my haste made me then omit, at sealing, that oration of Himerius, which I now return with thanks to your lordship; and perhaps, by mistake, I might send some other papers no way pertinent.

I have thought sometimes, and have not yet found any sufficient reason to remove me from that opinion, that notwithstanding what Vossius hath said, the Church was never without some form of confession, which they required before they admitted any to baptism. I know not otherwise how to expound that of Heb. chap. VI. ver. 2. Baπτioμāv didaxñs, &c. For though Vossius affirm no more to have been required, but barely, "In nomine Patris, Filii, et Spiritus Sancti ;" yet methinks that of "Repentance from dead works," of "the resurrection of the dead," and "everlasting judgment," are made parts of those fundamental doctrines; and "faith in God" seems to comprehend the rest. To this purpose I conceive Justin Martyra speaks for the requisites to baptism, in the practice of the Church in his time; ὅσοι πεισθῶσιν καὶ πιστ τεύωσιν ἀληθῆ ταῦτα τὰ ὑφ ̓ ἡμῶν διδασκόμενα-αἰτεῖν τῶν προημαρτημένων ἄφεσιν διδάσκονται.—ἵνα ἀφέσεως τε ἁμαρτιῶν τύχωμεν ἐν τῷ ὕδατι. Then follows the men

a Apolog. 1. Op. pag. 79, 80.

tion of the three persons of the Trinity, not simply, but with equipollent attributes to those in the creed; of the Father, as τῶν ὅλων δεσπότου—the Son, Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ σταυρωθέντος ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου.—The Holy Ghost, ὁ διὰ τῶν προφητῶν προεκήρυξε τὰ κατὰ τὸν Ἰησοῦν πάντα. Which what is it else, but what we read both in Cyril of Jerusalem, and Epiphanius, and the latter part of the Nicene creed? In like manner Clemens Alexandrinus", gives this attribute to Christ: τὸν λόγον τέλειον ἐκ τελείου φύντα πατρός, (all one with θεὸν ἀληθινὸν ἐκ θεοῦ ἀλη Ovou) and speaking then of baptism, under the various names of χάρισμα, φώτισμα, τέλειον, λοῦτρον, quotes John, chap. V. for everlasting life, mentions KKλnola-and the resurrection of the dead ; ἐν ἀναστάσει τῶν πιστευόντων ἀπόκειται τὸ τέλος· τὸ δὲ οὐκ ἄλλου τινός ἐστι μεταλαβεῖν, ἀλλ ̓ ἢ τῆς προωμολογημένης ἐπαγγελίας τυχεῖν. Where he produceth again a testimony out of John, chap. III. that every one that believes, hath life everlasting; and I will raise him up again at the last day." Where, considering the proper importance of the word προωμολογουμένης, and the matter there treated of, baptism; and the points there spoken of, resurrection, life eternal ;- -I suppose it may not absurdly be collected, that he implies these doctrines were, πроwμоλoynueva, confessed before baptism.

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I forbear to say any thing of that Regula fidei in Irenæus; and the like in Tertullian, for substance the same, and containing expressly those points which make up the close in the Nicene creed; and which Vossius supposeth to have been added by the Constantinopolitan fathers. What varieties are for matter of expression in the citations observed out of Ruffin, &c. I think, does not conclude without hard measure against the antiquity of some public form. Wherein (if it were not written, we may suppose it capable of more) we may be content to bear with some in words, so long as they bear up to the same sense, considering that the quotations of those most ancient writers out of Scripture itself, are made with so

Pædagog. lib. 1. cap. 6. pag. 92, 93, 94.

much liberty; and yet no man doubts but they had a much more certain rule to go by. I am again overtaken by the time, and with the desire of your lordship's prayers, and the continuance of your love and encouragement, take leave, and rest,

Your Lordship's in all duty,

GERARD LANGBAINE.

Queen's Coll. May 11. 1647.

LETTER CCXXXIX.

TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH.

MY LORD,

UNDERSTANDING that Dr. Price is going for London, I could not omit to recommend him to your grace; if you should meet with any means to encourage his studies, (that I can scarce expect) or at least keep him from those precipices, which the straitness of his fortune, and manifold occasions of discontents may drive him unto. I know that it is needless for me to write thus much, knowing your good inclinations to him, if things were as in times past, when there were means and opportunities to help one another. But when I think of the loss of Hugh Cressy, and some others, whose melancholy thoughts have blinded their judgments, and disposed them to be easily wrought upon by the other party, to the dishonour of our (sometimes) most glorious Church; when I see how they brag of these conquests, methinks we should leave nothing unattempted that may by any possibility prevent men's stumblings at those rocks of offence, which these sad times cast them upon.

I find here our lawyers differ much from the ecclesiastics about the councils of Constance and Basil: these go far higher for the pope's authority than those will give way to. The king of France hath as much authority in church businesses as the king of England claims, so far as I can perceive. Among the doctors of the faculty of divinity of Paris (whereof the Sorbon is but a little part) there be divers that are not for the infallibility of the Church; but such a certainty of an inferior degree, as yet,

for the authority of the Church and her pastors, we are all bound to submit unto; a point I think very well gained, and of good consequence. David Blundell's last book about episcopacy, is much cried up by those of the reformed religion; who are generally very sharp against our English hierarchy, upon the credit of Mr. Pryn and Bastwick's papers and such like testimonies. I hope your grace will vindicate your order in general, and in particular the credit of Ignatius his epistles, against his exceptions; as I hear young Vossius in part hath done; but I have not yet seen the book. That which is my great comfort, my young master is his father's Son, and peremptorily constant to the principles wherein he was bred, which makes me hope that our posterity may yet see the sun shine again. I humbly beg your prayers, for,

My Lord, your Grace's

Rouen, May 18. 1647.

Most humble servant,

T.