Assembh', and that Scripture proofs should be added to the Confession, which was accordingly done. In 1647 the Confession was approved by the Church of Scotland in the form in which it had passed the Assembly, and it was ratified afterwards by the Scotch Parliament. It was passed by the luiglish Parliament in 1618, under the title oi Articles of Christian Religion, but with cer- tain changes. The basis of the Confession is doubtless those Calvinistic articles which are supposed to have been prepared by Usher, and in 1615 were adopted by the convocation of the Irish Church.
In the formation of this symbol the Assembly at first undertook to revise the Thirty-nine Articles of the An- glican Church, and proceeded with that work until fif- teen articles had been revamped with elements of a more pronounced Calvinistic character and provided with Scripture proofs. The only important change made in this process was the omission of Article VIII, concerning the authority of the three oecumenical S)'m- bols. The intention of the synod was to ground every statement directly on Scripture as the only rule of faith, while the Church of England, under Edward VI and Elizabeth, conceded to Catholic tradition, if not in con- flict with Scripture, a regulative authority. The Scot- tish commissioners, however, induced the Assembly to undertake the formation of an entirely new symbol.
In the order and titles of many of its chapters, as well as in the language of whole sections or subdivisions of chapters, and in many single phrases occurring through- out the Confession, the Westminster divines seem to have followed the articles adopted by the Irish convo- cation. They very seldom determined points which that bod}- had left open. Their purpose was to express their views in such a way as to obviate objections and secure union rather than division. Hence they intro- duced nothing into the Confession which had not been taught in England, Ireland, and Scotland before.
The Confession, under the title of The Humble Advice of the Assembly of Divines, now by Authority of Paiiia- ment sitting at Westminster, concerning a. Confession of Faith, etc., was printed in London in December, 1646, without proofs, and in May, 1647, with proofs, for the use of the houses of Parliament and the Assembly. A copy of this last edition was taken to Scotland by the commissioners, and from it three hundred copies were printed for the use of the (ieneral Assembly there. Af- ter being approved by that body, it was published in Scotland with the title of The Confession of Faith Agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines, etc., and while the House of Commons were still considering it, a Lon- don bookseller brought it out imder the same title in 1648. In the same year it was, with the omission of parts of ch. xx and xxiv, and the whole of ch. xxx and xxxi, and with some miiuite verbal alterations, ap- proved by the two houses, and published under the title Articles of Christian Religion, Approved and Passed.by both Houses of Parliament after Advice had icith the Assembly of Divines, etc. But, notwithstanding this legal sanction, the latter form is not common; and the Confession continues to be printed in Great Britain in the form in which it was drawn by the Assembly and approved by the Church of Scotland.
The Confession ranks as one of the best Calvinistic symbols. It is clear, incisive, compressed, and provided throughout with Scripture proofs. It treats in thirt}'- three chapters of all the important doctrines of Chris- tianity, beginning with the Scriptures as the only ride of faith, and ending with the Last Judgment. It has almost entirely superseded the Confessio Scotica of 1560, and is in use among the Presbyterian churches of Great Britain and its colonies, as well as of orthodox Congre- gationalists and Independents. In America the Confes- sion is received by all similar bodies, with the exception of Article III of ch.xxiii, which treats of the civil power, and is altered to conform to American conditions.
For the doctrines of the Confession and their expo- sition, see Cunningham, Historical Theology (1862)-,
WESTMINSTER DIRECTORY 966
WESTON
Hodge, Commentai-y on the Confession of Faith (18G9); Shaw, Exposition of the Westminstei- Confession <f Faith (1847); Stark, irc^VwiVs-^rrwf/pMfOH ('2(1 ed.Loiul. 1864).
Westminster Directory i-on thk Plblic Wok- ship OK God contains \w forrnulas, but merely general directions for tlio guidance of the worship of the Church. Parliament substituted tliis Director;/ for the Anglican liturgy, but the latter was restored on the accession of Charles II, and Scotland alone retained the Westminster.
"Westminster Form ok Pkesbyterial Church
(JOVKUNMKN r AND OK OkDINATION OF MiMSTKKS.
The niemliers of the synoil were at first inclined, as a general thing, to content themselves with restoring apostolical or primitive simplicity in the Episcopal Church ; but, after the arrival of the Scottish commis- sioners and tlie adoption of the Solemn League and Cov- enant, the synod became predominantly Presbyterian in its views. The Presbyterial constitution was recog- nised as originating with Christ and being the only scriptural form of Churcli organization. Toleration was opposed, and uniformity was strenuously insisted on. Liberty of conscience was stigmatized as the outgrowth of blameworthy indifference and betrayal of the truth. In these tenets the majority was zealously opposed, however, by the Independents led b)' Dr. Thomas (lood- win, who insisted upon the divine right of each congre- gation to govern itself under the Word of (Jod ; and by the Erastians, who wislied to relegate the power to punish ecclesiastical as well as civil offences altogether to tlie secular authorities, and, in general, advocated the subordination of the Church to the State as the only trustworthy means for doing away with spiritual tyran- ny and also of obviating ail conflict between Church and State. The leaders of the Erastian party were tlie celebrated Orientalists and antiquarians Lightfoot and Selden, etc. When the Presbyterian party prevailed, the Independents and Erastians withdrew from the synod; but Parliarrtent adopted the Scotch-Presbyteri- an constitution with an Erastian proviso, and with the declaration that it should be set aside if, after trial, its provisions should be found impracticable. The event l)roved that iMigland was not ripe for such a Church organization. Independency and other forms of dis- sent contpiered the Westminster Assembly and made an end of all its endeavors towards conformity.