ABSTRACT
In July 1645 Thomas Hill preached a sermon at Bassishaw church in London before a congregation which included the lord mayor and other civic dignitaries. The occasion was a special day of humiliation which had been set aside for the purpose of promoting unity among the godly and one of the major themes of his sermon was the need for Presbyterians and Independents to resolve their differences over the issue of church government. On 16 February 1646 the Commons received a petition from the Assembly which called for the speedy establishment of classical presbyteries. Two days later the Grand Committee for Religion considered a draft ordinance which laid down arrangements for the election of congregational elders throughout the kingdom but offered no satisfaction to the Assembly over the crucial matter of ecclesiastical discipline. In the Commons there was continuing tension between the Independents and their opponents over matters of religion.
