WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY 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…

SAVOY CONFESSION Of FAITH, a declaration of the faith and order of the Independents, agreed upon by their elders and messengers in their meeting at the Savoy in the year 1658. This was re-printed in the year 1729. SAVOY CONFERENCE A conference held at the Savoy, 1661, between the episcopal divines and the Presbyterians, in order to review the book of Common Prayer; but which was carried on the side of the Episcopalians.

AUGSBURGH OR AUGUSTAN CONFESSION A celebrated confession of faith drawn up by Luther and Melancthon on behalf of themselves and other ancient reformers, and presented in 1550 to the emperor Charles V, at the diet of Augusta, or Augsburgh, in the name of the evangelic body. This confession contains twenty-eight chapters, of which the greatest part is employed in representing with perspicuity and truth the religious opinions of the Protestants, and the rest in pointing out the errors and abuses that occasioned their separation from the church of Rome. The leading doctrines of this confession are, the true and essential divinity of the Son of God; his substitution, and vicarious sacrifice; and the necessity, freedom, and efficacy of Divine grace. A civil was followed this…

REFORMATION In general, an act of reforming or correcting an error or abuse in religion, discipline, or the like. By way of eminence, the word is used for that great alteration and reformation in the corrupted system of Christianity, begun by Luther in the year 1517. Before the period of the reformation, the pope had in the most audacious manner declared himself the sovereign of the whole world. All the parts of it which were inhabited by those who were not Christians, he accounted to be inhabited by nobody; and if Christians took it into their heads to possess any of those countries, he gave them full liberty to make war upon the inhabitants without any provocation, and to treat them with no more humanity…