It is affirmed by Ambrose "that the twelve Apostles, as skilful artificers assembled together, and made a key by their common advice, that is, the Creed; by which the darkness of the devil is disclosed, that the light of Christ may appear." Others fable that every Apostle inserted an article, by which the creed is divided into twelve articles; and a sermon, fathered upon St. Austin, and quoted by the Lord Chancellor King, fabricates that each particular article was thus inserted by each particular Apostle.

Peter.—1. I believe in God the Father Almighty;

John.—2. Maker of heaven and earth;

James.—3. And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;

Andrew.—4. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary;

Philip.—5. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried;

Thomas.—6. He descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead;

Bartholomew.—7. He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

Matthew.—8. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead;

James, the son of Alpheus.—9. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church;

Simon Zelotes.—10. The communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins;

Jude the brother of James.—11. The resurrection of the body;

Matthias.—12. Life everlasting. Amen.

"Before the year 600, it was no more than this."—Mr. Justice Bailey

1 I Believe in God the Father Almighty:

2 And in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son, our Lord;

3 Who was born of the Holy Ghost and Virgin Mary,

4 And was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and was buried;

5 And the third day rose again from the dead.

6 Ascended into heaven, sitteth on the right hand of the Father;

7 Whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead;

8 And in the Holy Ghost;

9 The Holy Church;

10 The remission of sins;

11 And the resurrection of the flesh, Amen.

As it stands in the book of Common Prayer of the United Church of England and Ireland as by law established.

1 I Believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth:

2 And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord:

3 Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,

4 Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried;

5 He descended into hell;

6 The third day he rose again from the dead;

7 He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

8 From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

9 I believe in the Holy Ghost;

10 The holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints;

11 The forgiveness of sins;

12 The resurrection of the body and the life everlasting, Amen.