Works
The Westminster Standards comprise a confession, two catechisms, and two service-books — completed between 1645 and 1647 and adopted by the Long Parliament and the Scottish General Assembly. The Confession and the two Catechisms are loaded here in full, with the proof-text apparatus; the Directory for Public Worship, the Form of Presbyterial Church Government, and the Sum of Saving Knowledge are summarised with their full text to be added in a subsequent pass.
WCF
Westminster Confession of Faith
The thirty-three chapters of the Confession, the principal doctrinal output of the Westminster Assembly, completed in 1646 and presented to the Long Parliament in December of that year. Each chapter is divided into sections; this edition includes the proof-text apparatus.
33 chapters
WLC
Westminster Larger Catechism
196 questions and answers, the larger of the Assembly's two catechisms, intended chiefly for instruction in the family and the ministerial training of candidates. Its expositions of the Decalogue (Q. 91-148), the Lord's Prayer (Q. 178-196), and the Apostles' Creed material are exceptionally detailed.
196 questions
WSC
Westminster Shorter Catechism
107 questions and answers, the shorter of the Assembly's two catechisms, intended chiefly for instruction of children and the young in the faith. Its opening question — 'What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.' — is one of the most influential single sentences in English Reformed theology.
107 questions
DPW
The Directory for the Public Worship of God
The service-book that replaced the Book of Common Prayer in Reformed worship under the Long Parliament. Where the BCP had prescribed fixed forms of prayer, the Directory prescribes the ordering and substance of worship but leaves the wording to the minister's free pastoral prayer. This is the practical application of the regulative principle (WCF XXI). Adopted by the Long Parliament on 3 January 1645 and by the Scottish General Assembly on 3 February 1645.
15 chapters
FPCG
The Form of Presbyterial Church Government
The polity document of the Assembly, prescribing the graded courts of presbyterian government (session, presbytery, synod, general assembly) and the four offices (pastor, teacher, ruling elder, deacon). This is the procedural companion to WCF XXV-XXXI: where the Confession states the principles of church government confessionally, the Form provides the operational detail. The Scottish General Assembly approved it on 10 February 1645.
19 chapters
SSK
The Sum of Saving Knowledge
Composed by David Dickson (Professor of Divinity at Glasgow) and James Durham (minister at Glasgow) around 1650. Not strictly a Westminster document, but bound with the Standards in Scottish editions from the mid-17th century. Four heads on man's condition by nature, the remedy in Christ, the means of the covenant of grace, and the blessings conveyed; followed by practical application on convincing of sin, warrants to believe, and evidences of true faith.
14 chapters