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Bible Dictionaries
Westminster Assembly
Charles Buck Theological Dictionary
or A name given to the synod of divines called by parliament in the reign of Charles I. for the purpose of settling the government, liturgy, and doctrine of the church of England. They were confined in their debates to such things as the parliament proposed. Some counties had two members, and some but one. And because they would seem impartial, and give each party the liberty to speak, they chose many of the most learned episcopal divines; but few of them came, because it was not a legal convocation, the king having declared against it. The divines were men of emiment learning and godliness, ministerial abilities, and fidelity. Many lords and commons were joined with them, to see that they did not go beyond their commission. Six or seven Independents were also added to them, that all sides might be heard. This assembly first met, July 1, 1643, in Henry the Seventh's Chapel. The most remarkable hints concerning their debates are to be found in the Life of Dr. Lightfoot, before his works, in folio, and in the Preface to his Remains, in octavo.
See also the Assembly's Confession of Faith; Neal's Hist. of the Puritans; and article DIRECTORY in this work. There is a publication, which is commonly but unjustly ascribed to this assembly, viz. The Annotations on the Bible. The truth is, the same parliament that called the assembly, employed the authors of that work, and several of them were members of the assembly.
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Buck, Charles. Entry for 'Westminster Assembly'. Charles Buck Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/cbd/w/westminster-assembly.html. 1802.
