HELVETIC CONFESSIONS. The " First Helvetic Confession " or the " Second Confession of Basel," as it was also called, was the result of a conference of repre sentatives of the Reformed cities of Switzerland held at Basel in 1536 A.D. The Confession was prepared by Bullinger, Myconius, Grynseus, Leo Judae, and Megander. " Their work, after discussion, was unani mously accepted and subscribed by the delegates, and became the first general Swiss Confession, the first Reformed ' Confession of national authority " (W. A. Curtis). The " Second Helvetic Confession " was the work of Henry Bullinger. It was composed originally in 1562. In 1565 it was, in a somewhat revised form, approved universally in Switzerland, except at Basel. In 1566 it was presented to the Diet at Augsburg by the Elector Palatine, Frederick III.. and in the same year was accepted by the Reformed Church in Scotland. It
was accepted in Hungary in 1567, and in France and Poland in 1571. W. A. Curtis thinks that in theological ability and in doctrinal interest few Confessions can bear comparison with it. " It's doctrinal standpoint is characteristic of the author and the time—a combination of the positions of Zwingli and Calvin, with an unbending attitude towards Rome, whose Tridentine Confession was being formulated at the self-same time; with a courteous tone towards Lutheranism; with a firm adherence to the ancient Catholic Creeds, which are printed in the preface as authoritative; and with an underlying conviction that the doctrinal re-union of Christendom was possible upon a Scriptural basis alone, Confessional revision and re adjustment being a Christian duty as better knowledge of the Word of God was attained." See William A. Curtis.