Westminster Standards
'The Westminster Confession is the last of the great reformation creeds. No creed of the Christian church is comparable to that of Westminster in respect of the skill with which the fruits of fifteen centuries of Christian thought have been preserved, and at the same time examined anew and clarified in the light of that fuller understanding of God's word which the Holy Spirit has imparted.' Rev. Prof. Dr. John Murray
The Westminster Confession of Faith is our subordinate standard. It merely reflects in a systematized and categorized manner the truths of the Christian faith as revealed in the Holy Scriptures.
The Westminster Larger Catechism was intended "to be a directory for catechising such as have made some proficiency in the knowledge of the grounds of religion with the proofs from the scripture". A step up in terms of depth and breadth as regards theology, but also contains very helpful pastoral advice.
A catechism is an old teaching tool, using a question and answer format, to instill into the mind and heart, the truths of God and the Gospel. This Westminster Shorter Catechism was produced by the Westminster Divines (Theologians) during the Westminster Assembly (1643-1653). It consists of 107 questions, carefully posed and just as carefully and exactly answered, with Scripture proofs to undergird the doctrines taught. It was originally intended for children and the unlearned, but has proved itself to be valuable to a wider audience, and is an excellent introduction to the Biblical doctrines concerning God and the Gospel.
A brief summary of the Christian doctrines contained in the Holy Scriptures and held forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms, together with their practical use.
THE SUM OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE may be taken up in those four heads:
1. The woeful condition wherein all men are by nature, through breaking of the Covenant of Works.
2. The remedy provided for the elect in Jesus Christ by the Covenant of Grace.
3. The means appointed to make them partakers of this covenant.
4. The blessings which are effectually conveyed unto the elect by these means.
The Directory for Public Worship (known in Scotland as the Westminster Directory) is a liturgical manual produced by the Westminster Assembly in 1644 to replace the Anglican Book of Common Prayer.
The Form of Presbyterial Church-Government was drawn up by the Westminster Assembly which met from 1643-48. It was approved by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1645 to regulate the government of the church.
Directions of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY for secret and private Worship, and mutual Edification; and censuring such as neglect Family-worship.
"As far as I am able to judge, the Christian World, since the days of the Apostles, had never a synod of more excellent divines than this (the Westminster Assembly)."
Richard Baxter
"The Westminster Standards...are the richest and most precise and best guarded statement ever penned of all that enters into evangelical religion, and of all that must be safeguarded if evangelical religion is to persist in the world"
B.B. Warfield