FORMULA, in chemistry, an ex pression by means of symbols, especially letters and numbers, of the chemical elements contained in a compound; in medicine, a prescription. In mathemat ics, a formula is the expression of a gen eral rule or principle in algebraic sym bols. For example, the equation— (a b) is a formula, being the algebraic expres sion of the fact that the sum of two quantities multiplied by their difference is equal to the difference of their squares. If a rule or principle is translated into algebraic expressions, the result is a for mula; conversely, if a formula is trans lated into ordinary language, the result is a rule or principle.
In Church history, a formula is a for mal enunciation or declaration of faith or doctrine. The formula of concord was a confession of faith upon the points on which the Lutherans differed from the Calvinists, especially in connection with the Eucharist. The issue of such a docu ment was suggested by Augustus, Elec tor of Saxony, who employed James An drea to ascertain opinions on the subject, and draw it out. His chief assistants
were Martin Chemnitz, Nicholas Sel necker, Andrew Musculus, Christopher Corner, and David Chytxus. The for mula was published in 1580, all clergy men and schoolmasters being required by the Elector to subscribe to it. It in dorsed the opinions of Luther, and wid ened the breach with the Swiss and other reformed Churches.
The formula consensus was a formula drawn up in 1675, by John Henry Heid egger, a celebrated divine, of Zurich, at the instance of his clerical brethren, to preserve the Calvinistic doctrine from the slight modifications of it introduced by the French divine, Amyraut, and others. It was annexed by the magis trates to the common Helvetic formulas of religion. Its effect was found adverse rather than favorable to peace. It was abolished in the canton of Berne and the republic of Geneva in 1686, and ulti mately became incapable of enforcement anywhere.