458 the qualification embodied in the "Basis of Union," adopted in May 1847, and in the Formula used in the ordination of Office-bearers. The United Original Secession Church, declare in their Testimony that, "Whatever sense may be imposed on some expressions in it, taken by themselves, yet, upon a fair and candid interpretation of the whole doctrine which it lays down upon the subject, the Westminster Confession will not be found justly chargeable with countenancing persecution for conscience sake, with subjecting matters purely religious to the cognisance of the civil magistrate, or with allowing him a supremacy over the Church, or any power in it." In 1729, the American Presbyterian Church adopted the Confession of Faith, declaring, in the Act by which they adopted it, that they do not adopt the passages relating to the powers of civil magistrates, "in any such sense as to suppose the civil magistrate hath a controlling power over Synods with respect to the exercise of their ministerial authority; or power to persecute any for their religion, or in any sense contrary to the Protestant Succession to the throne of Great Britain." In 1787, they took into consideration "the last paragraph of the twentieth chapter, the third paragraph of the twenty-third chapter, and the second paragraph of the thirty-first chapter. Certain alterations having been made, the paragraphs, as altered, were ordered to "be printed for consideration." Having been considered, they were afterwards adopted, the result being that in the American editions of the Confession, paragraph 2, chapter xxxi., is omitted; and paragraph 4, chapter xx., and paragraph 3, chapter xxiii., are modified. It will thus be seen that all the explanations, qualifications, modifications, and omissions by the various Presbyterian Churches, in accepting the Westminster Confession of Faith, refer to one point, viz., the powers and duty of the civil magistrate circa sacra, or concerning religion and the Church of Christ. R. W. 459 The "Brotherly Exhortation," was sent by the General Assembly to the English Parliament and the Westminster Assembly. The reference to it, in the Minutes of the Westminster Abbey, is as follows:: "Sess. 914.-September 13, 1647.-Monday morning.— Lord Lauderdale.-We have instructions from the General Assembly to communicate to both Houses of Parliament and to the Assembly, and therefore desire a Committee." "Sess. 915.-September 14, 1647.-Report was made from the Grand Committee of the Lords, Commons, and Assembly, and Commissioners of the Church of Scotland, of 2 papers; they were read." "Sess. 916.-September 15, 1647.-Wednesday morning.-Mr Rutherford moved the Assembly to consider of that passage in the paper from Scotland to petition for a General Fast according to the desire of the Assembly of the Church of Scotland. After some debate the Assembly went to the work of the day." INDEX TO NAMES. ABBOT, Archbishop, 59 Ames or Amesius, Dr, 56 Apollonius, of Middleburg, 301 Argyle, 79; Marquis of, 106 Arragon, Katherine of, 3 Arrowsmith, John, B.D., 103, 306 BABBINGTON, of Worcester, 52 Bartholomew's Day, St, 324, 325, 348 Barrington, Sir Thomas, 103 Basil, Earl of Denbigh, 106 Bilson of Winchester, 52 Boud, John, D.C.L., 106 Buckley, B.D., 103 Buckingham, Duke of, 61 Burnett, 7, 13 Burroughes, Jeremy, 103, 131, 133, Button, 31 Byfield, Adoniram, 105, 107, 111, 112, 220, 287 Byfield, Richard, 106 CALAMY, Edmund, B.D., 74, 103, Carrill, or Caryl, Joseph, 103, 133, Crosse, Robert, 104 321 Carter, M.A., of York, 103 Case, Thomas, 103, 120, 207 Cawdry, Daniel, 106, 173 Chambers, Humphrey, 103, 173 Chesilhurst, 298 Chester, 51 Cyprian, 239 EDINBURGH Castle, 79, 84, 307, Edward VI., 10, 13, 14, 16, 18, 21 Cheynell, or Channell, Francis, 103 Edwards, 143, 187, 189 Cheyton, Richard, 103 Clarendon, 66 Clark, 173 Clendon, Thomas, 106, 173 Clotworthy, Sir John, 103, 130 Collier, 51 Colman, 31 Conant, John, B.D., 104, 326 Cooke or Coke, the Rev. Mr, 103, 173 Cooke, Sir John, 106 Corbet, Edward, 104, 106 Cranmer, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 22 Cromwell, Oliver, 67, 71, 121, 138, Elizabeth, Queen, 18, 27, 35, 44, Ellis, Edward, B.D., 104 FAIRFAX, 258, 279 Featly, Daniel, D.D., 104, 113, 129 Fleetwood, 322 Ford, Thomas, 106 Fox, Martyrologist, 20, 28 GATAKER, Thomas, 104, 159, Cromwell, Thomas, vicar-general, 9 Gibbon, or Guibon, 104, 110 |