ATHANASIAN CREED, a formulary or confession of faith, long supposed to have been drawn up by Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria in the fourth century, to justify himself against the calumnies of his Arian enemies: but it is now generally admitted among the learned that he was not the author. Dr. Waterland, in his Critical History of the Athanasian Creed, ascribes it to Hilary, bishop of Arles, for the following among other reasons:—1. Because Honoratus of Marseilles, the writer of his life, tells us that he composed an Exposition of the Creed—a more proper title for the Athanasian than that of Creed simply, which it now bears. 2. Hilary was a great admirer and follower of St. Austin; and the whole composition of this creed is in a manner upon St. Austin's plan, both with respect to the Trinity and incarnation. 3. It is agreeable to the style of Hilary, as far as we can judge from the little that is left of his works. Upon the whole, he concludes that Hilary, bishop of Arles, about the year 430, composed the Exposition of Faith which now bears the name of the Athanasian Creed, for the use of the Gallican clergy, and particularly those of the diocese of Arles; that about the year 570, it became famous enough to be commented upon; but that all this while, and for several years longer, it had not yet acquired the name of Athanasian, but was simply styled The Catholic Faith; that before 679 Athanasius's admired name came in to recommend it, being in itself an excellent system of the Athanasian principles of the Trinity and incarnation, in opposition chiefly to the Arians, Macedonians, and Apollinarians. This creed was received in France in the time of Hincmar, or about 850; in Spain and Germany about 100 years later. We have clear proofs of its having been sung alternately in our churches in the tenth century. It was in common use in some parts of Italy, particularly in the diocese of Verona, about the year 960, and was received at Rome about the year 1014. It has been questioned whether any of the Greek and oriental churches ever received this creed at all, though some writers of authority are of a contrary opinion. It appears, then, that the reception of this creed has been both general and ancient, and that it may vie with any in that respect, except the Nicene or Constantinopolitan, the only general creed common to all the churches. As to its matter, it is given as a summary of the true orthodox faith, and a condemnation of all heresies, ancient and modern. Unhappily, however, it has proved a fruitful source of unprofitable controversy and unchristian animosity.