The English Government compelled the colonial Government to be more hospitable to persons who did not conform to colonial Congregationalism. In 1691 the original charter of the colony was taken away and a substitute provided. By that time Baptist and Episcopal churches had been founded in Boston.
The most famous document from the Assembly was the Westminster Confession of Faith. It was strictly Calvinistic and as such not only met the needs of English Presbyterians, but it was adopted by the Church of Scotland to take the place of the Scottish creed of 1560. It became the basis of Congregationalist creeds, and it was the model for statements of doctrine by English and American Baptists.
The Synod published ninety-three canons and endorsed the Belgic Confession of 1561 and the Heidelberg Catechism. The Remonstrants were required to accept the canons, give up their churches, and retire from the country. After a few years, milder counsels prevailed and some of them found a place again in the Dutch churches. The decisions of the Synod were accepted by Reformed churches elsewhere.
The net result of the war was to bring peace between the various interests, but at the cost of frightful suffering and enormous loss of life. Sheer exhaustion led finally to peace. The treaty which was arranged after prolonged negotiation brought to an end the long wars of religion in central Europe, and virtually marks the end of the period of the Reformation.
Almost at once the Jesuits leaped to a position of leadership in the councils of the Church. As missionaries and as heresy hunters they were absolutely devoted to their purpose. They did much to save southern Europe for the Catholic Church. Yet the Jesuits were also charged with encouraging superstition and the order became so distrusted and disliked that it was suppressed in one country after another until Pope Clement XIV abolished the order in 1773 – a decision later reversed by Pope Pius VII.