GOLDILOCKS. See BOTANY Index.

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 allowed among the learned not to have been his. Dr Waterland ascribes it to Hilary bishop of Arles, for the following among other reasons: 1. Because Honoratus of Marcilles, the writer of his life, tells us, that he composed an Exposition of the Creed; a 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 420, 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 lower, it had not yet acquired the name of Athanasian, but was simply styled The Catholic Faith: That, before 670, Athanasius's admired name came in to recommend and adorn 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 is the hypothesis of the learned author of the Critical History of the Athanasian Creed.

As to the reception of this creed in the Christian churches, we find, that it obtained in France in the time of Hincmar, or about 850: that it was received in Spain about 100 years later than in France, and in Germany much about the same time. As to our own country, we have clear and positive proofs of this creed being 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. As to the Greek and oriental churches, it has been questioned whether any of them ever received this creed at all; though some very considerable writers are of a contrary persuasion. It appears then, that the reception of this creed has been both general and ancient; and may vie with any, in that respect, except the Nicene or Constantinopolitan, the only general creed common to all the churches.

As to the matter of this creed, 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 even down to the present time.