II.
WHAT IS THE CONFESSION OF FAITH?[1]
The call which the General Assembly has made upon the Presbyteries to consider, during this year, whether they desire any changes made in the Westminster Confession of Faith, must operate primarily to lead serious men to renew their study of this venerable document. Whatever may issue from the year's discussions, certainly nothing but good can come from this renewed study of the history and teaching of the standards to which all Presbyterian office-bearers have assented as "containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures." And certainly the results of the study cannot fail to quicken in our hearts gratitude to God for His gracious dealings with our fathers in enabling them to frame and to transmit through so many years to us, so complete and vitally devout a testimony to His truth as it has been revealed in His Word. We may be excused for feeling some pride in formularies which have commanded not only the assent of all classes of Calvinists for two hundred years, but also the admiration of the liberal-minded among other forms of faith, such as, for instance, Dean Stanley, who declares that the Westminster Confession of Faith "exhibits far more depth of theological insight than any other" Protestant Confession, and the
- ↑ The substance of an address, delivered to the Presbytery of New Brunswick, at Dutch Neck, June 25, 1889: and afterward printed in The Presbyterian Banner for Sept. 4, 1889.
