Symbol

SYMBOL. This Word comes from the Greek Symbolon,¹ which signifies a Mark or Pledge, which is agreed upon to distinguish one another; for Example, among such Persons who were join’d together by the Bands of Friendship or Hospitality. When they went to one another, they carry’d their Symbols or Pledges, to shew they were of such a Family, such a Society, of such a Place, or such a Religion. Symbolum also signifies what each contributed to a Feast or Entertainment, that was made at a common Charge, whether each gave a Piece of Money, or brought Wine, or Provisions. We find the Word Symbolum in this Sense in the Proverbs;² Noli esse in comessationibus eorum qui carnes ad vescendum conferunt; quia vacantes potibus, & dantes Symbola consumentur. Be not found at the Entertainments of those that bring Provisions to eat together; for passing their Time away in drinking, and in making those Feasts wherein every one supplies his Share of the Charge, and pays his Club, they come to ruin. But the Hebrew says only; Be not amongst Wine-bibbers, amongst riotous Eaters of Flesh: For the Drunkard and the Glutton shall come to Poverty.

In the Language of the Church, that is call’d Symbol which makes the Matter of the Sacraments; which is sensible, and expos’d to the View of the Eyes. Thus in Baptism, Water is the Symbol of this Sacrament, and of that inward Purification, which is represented by this Sacrament. Also in the Eucharist, Bread and Wine are the Symbols of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, which are really present in this Sacrament . The Reader may see Suicer in his Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus ex Patribus Græcis, under the Word Symbolum, where he learnedly treats of this Question; tho’ we cannot approve of his Sentiments concerning the Eucharist.

Symbol is also said particularly of the Apostles Creed, which is, as it were, an Epitome of the Doctrine of Jesus Christ and of the Christian Church. It was, as it were, the Badge and Signal by which Christians could distinguish one another. Rufinus says, that he had been inform’d by Tradition, that when the Apostles were Rufin. de Symbol. P. 539.about to separate from each other, they assembled together, and each communicating his Thoughts concerning the principal Articles of Faith, they compos’d this Symbol, which is, as it were, the Abridgement and Compendium of the Christian Faith. St. Jerome also imputes to the Apostles the Symbol or Creed that we have under their Hieron. Ep. 61. c. 9. Leo Ep. 27. P. 491, 492.Name. Leo says, that it contains twelve Articles of the twelve Apostles. Some even pretend,³ that each Apostle contributed his Article, and shew which Article belongs to which Apostle. But there is no sufficient Authority for this Opinion, nor any Agreement among those that have advanced it.

Aug. Confess. l. 8. c. 2. Ambros. Ep. 7.They usually rehearsed the Symbol before Baptism,⁴ and in some Places they pronounced it publickly from the Gallery of the Church, in Presence of all the People. ‘Twas received from the Apostles without writing, and it was even forbidden to write it down, as several Fathers testify⁵. It appears from what they relate of it, that it was shorter than that we now have; which makes it probable, that it was not every where the same. Saint Ambrose thinks, that the Church of Rome has for a long time preserved it such as it was at first received, without making any Addition to it. But that we now make use of is longer than that of the Romish Church, as may be seen by what Rufinus says of it, and by the Copies which have been handed down to us. Those Authors may be seen which have expresly treated of this Matter, as Vossius, and Usher de Symbolo, Father Alexander’s Dissertation upon Ecclesiastical History, t. 1. M. du Pin, and the Remarks of the Benedictin Fathers of St. Vann upon his Work. ‘Tis thought it was about the Year 36 of the vulgar Era, that the Apostles, before their Separation, compos’d the Symbol of which we are now speaking.

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