June 7th—"This day," so runs the record, "the Church received a letter from the Church at Wallingford House, desiring advice from the Church what they apprehended was needful for the Commonwealth; the Church considering it, ordered the elders to write to them, thanking them for their love and care of them; and also desiring to give the right-hand of fellowship with them; but concerning civil business the Church, as a Church, desire not to meddle with."
July 10th—"Ordered by the Church upon the receipt of a letter from the Church at Wallingford House, that Wednesday, the 13th of July, should be set apart to humble our souls before the Lord, both in regard of the sins of the nation, and also for our own sins, as also to seek the Lord for direction and assistance for the carrying on the Lord's work in the nation."
[28] This confession will be noticed in the next volume in the account given of the development of Congregationalism.
[29] MS. Yarmouth Independent Church Records, Dec. 28, 1659. As to the opinions of Independents on these questions during the Commonwealth see the former volumes of this Ecclesiastical History.
[30] Owen's Works, xix. 385–393.
[31] Hist. of the Rebellion (Oxford Edit., 1843), 855–6. The documents are without date. They are placed by Clarendon under the year 1658.
[32] Ibid., 857.
[33] Neal (iv. 195) alludes to this affair, and regards it as an artifice to get money "out of the poor King's purse." Crosby (ii. 91) speaks of the Baptists as making "overtures to the King for his restoration," but does not relate any particulars. The modern historian of the Baptists, Dr. Evans, as far as I can find, says nothing upon the subject.
[34] Lingard, xi. 156.
[35] Newcome's Autobiography, i. 117.