That Confession was to be recast, or a new one framed.

So the _Petition and Advice_ had provided or suggested; but it may be doubted whether Cromwell was very anxious for any such formal definition of the creed of his Established Church.

He preferred the broad general understanding which all men had, with himself, as to what constituted sound Evangelical Christianity, and he had more trust in administration in detail through his Triers and Ejectors than in the application of formulas of orthodoxy.

Here, however, Owen and the other Independent divines most in his confidence appear to have differed from him.

They felt the want of some such confession and agreement for Association and Discipline as might suit at least the Congregationalists of the Established Church, and be to them what the Westminster Confession was to the Presbyterians.