Belgic Confession

Belgic Confession (Confessio Belgica), a confession of faith framed by Guido de Bres, of Brabant, and others, about A.D. 1561 in French, and based on Calvinistic principles. It was translated into the vernacular in 1563, and was received as a symbolical book by the synods of Antwerp in 1566, of Dort in 1571, 1576, 1579, 1581, and 1619; and recognised by that of the Hague in 1651. The copy recognised by the synod of Middelburg in 1581 is an abridgment of the original by Festus Hommius, which afterward became the rule of the Synod of Dort. Both have the same number of articles, and differ only in form, not in spirit. The shorter form is given by Augusti, Corpus Libror. Syambolicor. (Elberf. 1827, 8vo); the longer in Niemeyer, Coll. Confessionum (Leips. 1840, 8vo). SEE CONFESSIONS.