History of the Westminster Assembly of Divines / by William Maxwell Hetherington. [print]

Includes bibliographical references.

CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION.

1531 -- Importance of the Westminster Assembly -- Quarrel between Henry VIII and the Pope -- Cranmer’s Suggestion,– Henry styled Supreme Head of the Church,– Effects of the Power thus assumed,– Six articles of Religious Agreement,– Reformation promoted by Edward VI.,– The Liturgy and Book of Ordinations

1550 -- Hooper refuses the Episcopal Vestments -- Articles of Religion -- "Bloody Mary" and Persecution -- "Frankfort Troubles" – Contests about Ceremonies -- Queen Elizabeth – Act of Supremacy -- Renewed Contests about Vestments and Ceremonies, –

1562 -- Convocation – Close of Reforming Period -- General View of the Grounds of Controversy between the – Court Divines and the Reforming Party -- Despotic Injunction of the Queen -- Suspension of those who refused to Conform, and who, wishing greater Purity, were now called Puritans -- Remonstrances of Foreign Churches

1566 -- The Puritans begin to form a separate Body -- Chief Differences between them and the Church

1567 -- Their first Communion interrupted -- Parliament attempts to interpose, but in vain -- State of Religion in England -- Associations for Worship, Discipline, "Prophesyings," – Cartwright and Whitgift, –

1572 -- Presbytery constituted in England -- Grindal interposes, but in vain -- Puritan Writings prohibited -- Rise of the Brownists -- Whitgift’s Articles – High Commission

1588 -- Bancroft’s Theory of jure divino Prelacy -- The Martin Mar-Prelate Tracts -- Attempt of Parliament to interfere – Suffering of Puritans -- Controversy on Sabbath-keeping -- Growth of Arminianism among the Prelatists -- King James – The Millenary Petition -- Hampton Court Conference -- Bancroft and the High Commission -- Civil Liberty manifestly endangered

1616 -- Rise of the Independents, or Congregationalists

1618 -- The King’s Book of Sports -- The King’s Despotism begins to rouse Parliament -- Acession of Charles I -- Despotic Principles of the High Church Party -- The Parliament begins to defend Liberty, Civil and Religious

1633 -- The Book of Sports revived -- Continued Contest between the King and Parliament -- Laud’s cruel Treatment of Leighton, Burton, Bastwick, and Prynne -- Hampden and the Ship-money Tax -- The Emigration of Hampden and Cromwell prohibited -- Laud reaches the Climax of Prelatic Usurpation -- Abortive attempts to force Prelacy on Scotland

1640 -- The Long Parliament called – Its vigorous measures -- Laud and the Earl of Strafford impeached -- Prelatic Controversy – Smectymnuus -- Parliament declares its own sittings permanent -- Protestation of Parliament -- The King in Scotland -- Remonstrance of the House of Commons -- Impeachment of the Bishops -- The King attempts to seize the five Members, and then leaves London

1642 -- The Royal Standard raised at Nottingham -- Bill for the Abolition of Prelacy -- Ordinance calling the Assembly of Divines -- Outline of Scottish Affairs -- Reflections suggested by the preceding Narrative --

CHAPTER 2 - MEETING OF THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY.

1643 -- List of the Assembly of Divines -- First Meeting of the Assembly – its Theory -- General Regulations of the Assembly -- Baillie’s Account of its Order of Procedure -- Prelatic Members of Assembly -- Fasts and Sermons of the Assembly -- Intercourse with the Church of Scotland -- Deliberations respecting a League, or Covenant -- The SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT -- Remarks concerning it -- Parties in the Westminster Assembly -- Episcopalians -- Presbyterians -- Independents -- Erastians -- Remarks concerning these Parties -- The Scottish Commissioners to the Assembly -- Characters of Henderson, Gillespie, Rutherford, and Bailie -- Numerous Sects in England -- Causes of these numerous Sects -- Effects on the Assembly and the Kingdom -- Political Independents – Toleration --

CHAPTER 3 - THE INDEPENDENT CONTROVERSY.

Order to frame a Directory of Worship -- Deliberations concerning the Office bearers in the Church – Concerning the Pastors and Teachers, or Doctors -- Concerning Ruling Elders -- Concerning Deacons -- Suggestions respecting the Supply of Vacant Charges

1644 -- The Subject of Ordination introduced -- The Struggle between the Parties begun -- Proposition of the Independents concerning Ordination -- Consent of the Congregation to, or Election of the Pastor -- Alterations made by the Parliament in the doctrinal part of Ordination successfully resisted by the Assembly -- Directory for Public Worship -- Form of Church Government and Discipline -- Opposition made by the Independents -- Their "Apologetical Narration" – Extracts -- Answers to that Work – Antapologia -- Remarks on the Independent Controversy -- The arguments on both sides stated -- Admission of a close Approximation -- "Many Congregations under one Presbytery" debated -- Remarkable Debate between Selden and Gillespie -- Nye’s Argument against Presbytery censured -- Admissions by the Independents -- Committee of Accommodation -- Proceedings of that Committee -- Debate on Congregational Ordination -- Suspension from Sacraments, and Excommunication -- Reasons of Dissent by the Independents -- Independents requested to state their own Model -- They decline, and publish "A Copy of a Remonstrance," – Answer to this by the Assembly -- Committee of Accommodation revived – Abandoned -- Remarks on this Controversy and its Consequences --

CHAPTER 4 - THE ERASTIAN CONTROVERSY.

Preliminary Remarks on the Erastian Theory -- Seldens’ Hint respecting Excommunication -- His Argument on 1 Corinthians 5: 4 -- Selden’s Argument on Matthew 18: 15-18 -- Answered by Gillespie -- Whitelocke’s Argument and Suggestion on Divine Right -- Firmness of the Assembly – Successful -- Whitelocke and the jus divinum Claim in Parliament

1645 -- Conduct of Parliament on the Suspending of Ignorant and Scandalous Persons from that Lord’s Table -- Selden’s Argument on that subject -- Whitelocke’s Argument -- Remarks on these Arguments -- Ordinance upon Suspension, etc. – Erastian Clause -- Petitions from London and the City Ministers

1646 -- Ordinance for the Choice of Elders – Erastian Clause -- Remonstrance of the Scottish Parliamentary Commissioners -- Haughty Conduct of the English Parliament -- Petition of the Assembly – How received -- The Parliament’s jus divinum Questions -- The Assembly’s Deliverance on the essential element of the Controversy – Firmness of the Assembly -- The Assembly prepares Answers to these Questions -- The jus divinum Treatise by the City Ministers -- Outline of Political Events -- The King Retires to the Scottish Army – Altered tone of Parliament -- Erastian Clause Removed from the Ordinance for the choice of Elders and erection of Presbyteries -- The King in the Scottish Army – Negotiations -- Vindication of Scotland from the Accusation of having Sold the King – True state of the matter

1647 -- Removal of obstructions, and erection of Presbyteries and Synods -- Negotiations with the King – Votes of Parliament concerning Church Government and Toleration -- P REPARATION OF THE C ONFESSIONS OF F AITH -- Not the slightest Erastian modification admitted -- Presented to Parliament – Scripture Proofs required

1648 -- How far Ratified by Parliament – What alterations suggested – What topics recommitted – Remarks -- Literature of the Erastian Controversy -- Theories of different shades of Erastianism -- Coleman’s Sermon -- Gillespie’s Brotherly Examination -- Controversy between Coleman and Gillespie -- Gillespie’s Aaron’s Rod Blossoming – Rutherford’s Divine Right of Church Government -- Treatise by Apollonius -- Concluding Remarks on Erastianism --

CHAPTER 5 - CONCLUSION OF THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY.

1647-8 -THE CATECHISMS COMPOSED -- Inquiry concerning the Authorship of the Catechisms -- Departure of the Scottish Commissioners

1649 -- Dissolution of the Assembly

1655 -- Ratification of the Westminster Assembly’s productions by the Church of Scotland, with Explanations -- Outline of Subsequent Events in England -- Usurpations of the Army and Cromwell, –The King in the Isle of Wight – Negotiations -- Death of Charles I -- Dissolution of the Long Parliament and the Westminster Assembly -- The Engagement – Ejection of Presbyterians -- Committee of Triers

1658 -- The Independents in Power – The Savoy Confession -- Death of Cromwell – Restoration of Charles II -- Prelacy restored – The Savoy Conference

1662 -- The Act of Uniformity – Two Thousand Presbyterian Ministers Ejected on St. Bartholomew’s Day -- Divines of the Westminster Assembly Ejected -- Retrospective View of the whole subject -- Main object of the Westminster Assembly -- Advantages of Religious Uniformity -- Effects of the Assembly – On Universities -- On Theological Literature -- On the State of Education in England -- Sectarianism – State of the Army -- On Religious Toleration -- Its True Nature intimated -- Liberty of Conscience -- How Misunderstood by both Parties, –

1654 -- Unlimited Toleration not granted by the Independents when in Power -- Opinions of the Early Reformers – of the Church of Scotland – of the Westminster Assembly -- Fundamental Principles of Faith by the Independents -- Great Idea of a General Protestant Union entertained by the Westminster Assembly --

CHAPTER 6 - THEOLOGICAL PRODUCTIONS OF THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY.

Church Government -- Directory of Public Worship -- Confession of Faith -- Objections against Confessions answered -- What a Confession of Faith really is -- Comprehensiveness and Accuracy as a system -- Relation to Church History -- Precision of Thought and Language -- Statement of Coordinate Jurisdictions -- True Liberty of Conscience -- Plan of the Confession -- The Catechisms -- Anecdote of Gillespie -- Relation of the Confession to the idea of a General Protestant Union -- Coincidences between the period of the Westminster Assembly and the present times -- Protestant Union yet Attainable -- Conclusion, –The Royal Standard raised at Nottingham -- Bill for the Abolition of Prelacy -- Ordinance calling the Assembly of Divines -- Outline of Scottish Affairs -- Reflections suggested by the preceding Narrative.

"History of the Westminster Assembly of Divines" by William Maxwell Hetherington is a comprehensive historical account of the Westminster Assembly, a pivotal event in 17th-century English and Scottish religious history. The book covers the period leading up to the Assembly, detailing the religious and political controversies of the time. It includes discussions on various factions within the Assembly, such as Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Independents, and Erastians, and their debates on church government and doctrine. The work also explores the theological outcomes of the Assembly, including the Westminster Confession of Faith, and its impact on subsequent religious developments in Britain. -- AI Generated.

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William Maxwell Hetherington (1803–1865) was a Scottish minister, poet, and church historian. He was born in the parish of Troqueer and educated at the University of Edinburgh, where he excelled in Greek and moral philosophy. Before completing his studies for the church, he published a volume of poems in 1829. Hetherington became the minister of Torphichen, Linlithgow, in 1836 and joined the Free Church in 1843. He held several prominent positions in the church, including ministerial posts in St. Andrews and Edinburgh, and was a professor of apologetics and systematic theology in New College, Glasgow. Hetherington was known for his literary contributions, including works on church history and Christian philosophy. He passed away in 1865.