1. My mind has as little inclination for writing as sufficiency, faithful Bishop(Papa) Laurentius, for I well know that it is a matter of no little peril to submit a slender ability to general criticism. But, since in your letter you rashly (forgive my saying so) require me, by Christ’s sacraments, which I hold in the greatest reverence, to compose something for you concerning the Faith, in accordance with the traditional and natural meaning of the Creed, although in so doing you impose a burthen upon me beyond my strength to bear (for I do not forget the opinion of the wise, which so justly says, that “to speak of God even what is true is perilous”); still, if you will aid with your prayers the necessity which your requisition has laid upon me, I will try to say something, moved rather by a reverential regard for your injunction than by presumptuous confidence in my ability. What I write, however, will hardly seem worthy of the consideration of persons of mature understanding, but suited rather to the capacity of children and young beginners in Christ.
I find, indeed, that some
eminent writers have published treatises on these matters piously and
briefly written. Moreover, I know that the heretic Photinus has written
on the same; but with the object, not of explaining the meaning of the
text to his readers, but of wresting things simply and truthfully said
in support of his own dogma, while yet the Holy Spirit has taken care
that in these words nothing should be set down which is ambiguous or
obscure, or inconsistent with other truths: for therein is that
prophecy verified, “Finishing and cutting short the word in
equity: because a short word will the Lord make upon the
earth.” It shall be our
endeavour, then, first to restore and emphasize the words of the
Apostles in their native simplicity; and, secondly, to supply such
things as seem to have been omitted by former expositors. But that the
scope of this “short word,” as we have called it, may be
made more plain, we will enquire from the beginning how it came to be
given to the Churches.