Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith

Class #3:

History Between

Scotland and England (cont.)

& Political Context

Of the Writing of the Confession

Part 2 -

The Century Prior (cont.)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Thomas-Cranmer-ez.jpg/485px-Thomas-Cranmer-ez.jpg

•Tolerant to Catholicism•Intolerant to Puritans•A new Bible•King’s Book of Sports•Pilgrims sail on Mayflower

“Thinking men cannot be slaves.”

•Divine right of Kings•Clashes with Parliament•Intolerant to Puritans•“King’s Book of Sports II”•King’s Prayer Book

The National Covenantof 1637

King Charles I(Divine right)

Church of England

Anglican Presbyterian

Court of High Commission

Star Chamber

Nonconformists(Puritans)

Congregationalists Independents

Parliament1642 - present

govt. challenged;

prelatic church govt.

abolished

1643 – “a reformation

of the church”

Roman

Catholics

Arminianism

‘An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament,

• for the calling of an Assembly of learned and godly Divines, and others, to be consulted with by the Parliament,

• for the settling of the Government and Liturgy of the Church of England,

• and for vindicating and clearing of the Doctrine of the said Church from false aspersions and interpretations.’

Part 2 -

The Century Prior

The Westminster Abbey

Part 2 -

The Century Prior

The Westminster Abbey

The Theological PoliticsEnglish Presbyterians

Episcopalians

Congregationalists

Erastians

Scottish Presbyterians (delayed)

Part 2 -

The Century Prior

The Westminster Abbey

The Theological Politics

The Assignment from ParliamentFunction without a structure of Church Government

Revise the 39 Articles of the Anglican Church

Part 2 -

The Century Prior

The Westminster Abbey

The Theological Politics

The Assignment from Parliament

Theological union of England with Scotland –

Solemn League and Covenant

Part 2 -

The Century Prior

The Westminster Abbey

The Theological Politics

The Assignment from Parliament

Theological union of England with Scotland

The Progress of the Assembly

1642 – First English Civil War begins

1643 – Solemn League and Covenant

1643 – Westminster Assembly begins

2/3/1645 – Directory for Public Worship

2/15/1645 – Form of Church Government

1646 – First English Civil War ends

8/27/1647 – Confession of Faith

11/5/1647 – The Shorter Catechism

1648 – Second English Civil War begins

4/14/1648 – The Larger Catechism

1649 – Second English Civil War ends

1/30/1649 – Charles I executed

2/22/1649 – Assembly dissolved,

having sat for 5 yrs., 6 mos. 22 days,

1163 sessions.