... In the Grand Committee this afternoon we have finally agreed on
a draft of a letter for the churches abroad to inform them of our
condition, which shortly you will see in print. Also we have begun
one business, (very handsomely I trust,) of great consequence. In
the time of this anarchy the divisions of the people weekly do much
increase: the Independent party grows; but the Anabaptists more;
and the Antinomians most. The Independents being most able men, and
of great credit, fearing no less than banishment from their native
country if Presbyteries were erected, are watchful that no conclusion
be taken for their prejudice. It was my advice which Mr. Henderson
presently applauded, and gave me thanks for it, to eschew a public
rupture with the Independents, till we were more able for them. As
yet a Presbytery to this people is conceived to be a strange monster.
It was our good therefore to go on hand in hand, so far as we did
agree, against the common enemy: hoping that in our differences,
when we behooved to come to them, God would give us light; in the
meantime we would assay to agree upon the Directory of Worship,
wherein we expect no small help from these men, to abolish the Great
Idol of England, the Service-Book, and to erect in all the parts of
worship a full conformity to Scotland in all things worthy to be
spoken of.... This day was proposed by Mr. Solicitor, seconded by
Sir Harry Vane, my Lord Say and my Lord Wharton at our Committee and
assented to by all, that a sub-committee of five, without exclusion
of any of the committee, shall meet with us of Scotland for preparing
a Directory of Worship to be communicated to the Grand Committee
and by them to the Assembly. Also there is a paper drawn up by Mr.
Marshall, in the name of the chief men of the Assembly and the chief
of the Independents, to be communicated on Monday to the Assembly
and by their advice to be published, declaring the Assembly's mind
to settle, with all speed is possible, all the questions needful
about religion: to reform according to the word of God all abuses:
and to give to every congregation a person, as their due; whereupon
loving and pithy exhortations are framed to the people, in the name
of the men who are of the greatest credit, to wait patiently for the
Assembly's mind, and to give over that most unreasonable purpose of
their own reformations and gathering of congregations.... Further
ways are in hand, which if God bless, the Independents will either
come to us or have very few to follow them. As for the other sects,
wise men are in opinion that God's favour in this Assembly will make
them evanish. We had great need of your prayers. On Wednesday Mr. Pym
was carried from his house to Westminster on the shoulders, as the
fashion is, of the chief men of the Lower House, all the House going
in procession before him, and before them the Assembly of Divines.
Marshall had a most eloquent and pertinent funeral sermon, which we
would not hear, for funeral sermons we must have away, with the rest.
The Parliament has ordered to pay his debt, and to build him, in the
chapel of Henry VII., a most stately monument.
... All our company, praise to God, are in good health and
cheerfulness. I must break off: for I must preach to-morrow, as also
my other colleagues.