This view of predestination was presented more philosophically and dearly by Calvin in his catechism published at Geneva (1545). And it was this treatise, without a doubt, that, a century later, furnished the Westminster divines the foundation outlines for the Standards which they drew up in England's great Abbey of West minster during the years 1643-48. The three products of that representative body called by the English Parliament and made up of the most eloquent, pious and scholarly divines, Lords, Commoners and commissioners from every county of England and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, are the Westminster Shorter and Larger Catechisms and the West minster Confession of Faith.
In each one of these the doctrine of predes tination is set forth, but more especially so in the 3d and 10th chapters of the Confession of Faith, which respectively treat "Of God's Eter nal Decrees and Of Effectual Calling.° The paragraphs in these chapters that most pointedly outline the doctrine read as follows: HI. By the decree of God, for the manifes tation of his glory, some men and angels are predestined unto everlasting life and others foreordained to everlasting death.
IV. Those angels and men, thus predestined and fore-ordained, are particularly and un changeably designed; and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either in creased or diminished.
As early as in the year 1831 the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church was con fronted with the demand for more liberty in the interpretation of the Creed of the Fathers. The marshaling of the forces who stood for a change in the form of statement, involving the doctrines of election and predestination, con tinued, as shown by the famous heresy trials of Drs. Barnes, .Swing, Smith and their deposition from the Presbyterian fold, the consideration of a revision of its standards became a matter of serious import ance. In view of this the general assembly of
1889 resolved to transmit an overture to the presbyteries, asking them to consider the propriety of a revision of the Confession of Faith. The result of this action brought about the sentiment in favor of a revision. The as sembly of 1891 now asked the presbyteries for more suggestions. Again the answer came by a large majority of Presbyterial votes for a re vision.
In 1893 the assembly was importuned once more for a new and shorter creed, but it voted to lay the matter aside. The battle of the theological giants did not cease at this. Again they pressed to the front. In conse quence, the general assembly of 1900 appointed a large committee to reconsider the matter of revision. After seven months they reported that °the returns indicated plainly that no change is desired which would in any way im pair the integrity of the system of doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith?' In spite of this negating motion, the general assembly of 1902-03 added the Declaratory State ment to chapters III and X, which reads as follows: '(With reference to chapter III of the Con fession of Faith: that concerning those who are saved in Christ, the doctrine of God's eternal decree is held in harmony with the doctrine of his love to all mankind, his gift of his Son to be the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, and his readiness to bestow his saving grace on all who seek it. That concerning those who perish, the doctrine of God's eternal decree is held in harmony with the doctrine that God desires not the death of any sinner, but has provided in Christ a salvation sufficient for all, adapted to all, and freely offered in the Gospel to all; that men are fully responsible for their treatment of God's gracious offer; that his de cree hinders no man from accepting that offer; and that no man is condemned except on the ground of his