James Ussher

This chapter surveys the views of James Ussher, a relatively little-known but nevertheless key figure in the development of the covenant of works. Ussher’s key contributions include treating the doctrine in a number of his writings but also codifying it for the first time in the Irish Articles. This document served an influential role in the creation of the Westminster Confession. Ussher was influential upon the later tradition for two main reasons. First, his Body of Divinity was a highly respected work and contained an exposition of the covenant of works. Second, his inclusion of the covenant of works in the Irish Articles likely encouraged the Westminster divines to include the doctrine in the Westminster Standards.