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for, by the way, although it's fit for us to ascribe our failings and miscarriages to ourselves, yet the gloriousness of the work may well be attributed to God Himself, and may be called His strange work. You remember well that at the change of the government there was not an end of our troubles, although in that year were such high things transacted as indeed made it to be the most memorable year that this nation ever saw. So many insurrections, invasions, secret designs, open and public attempts, all quashed in so short a time, and this by the very signal appearance of God Himself; which I hope, we shall never forget!-You know also, as I said before, that, as the first effect of that memorable year of 1648 was to lay a foundation, by bringing offenders to punishment, so it brought us likewise to the change of government:although it were worth the time, perhaps, if one had time, to speak of the carriage of some in places of trust, in most eminent places of trust, which was such as would have frustrated us of the hopes of all our undertakings. I mean by the closure of the treaty that was endeavored with the King; whereby they would have put into his hands all that we had engaged for, and all our security should have been a little piece of paper! That thing going off, you very well know how it kept this nation still in broils by sea and land. And yet what God wrought in Ireland and Scotland you likewise know; until He had finished those troubles, upon the matter, by His marvelous salvation wrought at Worcester.

I confess to you that I am very much troubled in my own spirit that the necessity of affairs requires I should be so short in those things: because, as I told you, this is the leanest part of the transactions, this mere historical narrative of them; there being in every particular; in the King's first going from the Parliament, in the pulling down of the Bishops, the House of Peers, in every step towards that change of the government, I say there is not any one of these things, thus removed and reformed, but hath an evident print of Providence set upon it, so that he who runs may read it. I am sorry I have not an opportunity to be more particular on these points, which I principally designed, this day; thereby to stir up your hearts and mine to gratitude and confidence.

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Indeed I have but one more word to say to you; though in that perhaps I shall show

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my weakness: it's by way of encouragement to go in this work. And give me leave to begin thus. I confess I never looked to see such a day as this, it may be nor you neither, when Jesus Christ should be so owned as He is, this day, in this work. Jesus Christ is owned this day by the call of you; and you own Him by your willingness to appear for Him. And you manifest this, as far as poor creatures may do, to be a day of the power of Christ. know you well remember that Scripture, "He makes His people willing in the day of His power." God manifests this to be the day of the power of Christ; having, through so much blood, and so much trial as hath been upon these nations, made this to be one of the great issues thereof: To have His people called to the supreme Authority. He makes this to be the greatest mercy, next to His own Son. God hath owned His Son; and He hath owned you, and made you own Him. I confess I never looked to have seen such a day; I did not.Perhaps you are not known by face to one another; indeed I am confident you are strangers, coming from all parts of the nation as you do: but we shall tell you that indeed we have not allowed ourselves the choice of one person in whom we had not this good hope. That there was in him faith in Jesus Christ, and love to all His people and saints.

Thus God hath owned you in the eyes of the world; and thus, by coming hither, you own Him: and, as it is in Isaiah, xliii. 21, -it's an high expression; and look to your own hearts whether, now or hereafter, God shall apply it to you: "This People, saith God, I have formed for myself, that they may show forth my praise." I say, it's a memorable passage; and, I hope, not unfitly applied: the Lord apply it to each of your hearts! I shall not descant upon the words; they are plain: indeed you are as like the forming of God as ever people were. If a man should tender a book to you to swear you upon, I dare appeal to all your consciences, neither directly nor indirectly did you seek for your coming hither. You have been passive in coming hither; being called, and indeed that's an active work, though not on your part! "This people have I formed": consider the circumstances by which you are called hither; through what strivings, through what blood you are come hither, where neither you nor I, nor no man living, three months ago,

had any thought to have seen such a company taking upon them, or rather being called to take, the supreme authority of this nation! Therefore, own your call! Indeed, I think it may be truly said that there never was a supreme authority consisting of such a body, above one-hundredand-forty, I believe; never such a body, that came into the supreme authority before, under such a notion as this, in such a way of owning God, and being owned by Him. And therefore I may also say, never such a people so formed, for such a purpose, were thus called before.

PEACE HATH ITS VICTORIES

OLIVER CROMWELL

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[From a Speech Delivered at the Opening of Parliament, January 20, 1657-8] If this be the condition of your affairs abroad, I pray a little consider what is the estate of your affairs at home. And if both these considerations, of home affairs and foreign, have but this effect, to get a consideration among you, a due and just consideration,-let God move your hearts for the answering of anything that shall be due unto the nation, as He shall please! And I hope I shall not be solicitous; I shall look up to Him who hath been my God and my guide hitherto.

I say, I beseech you looking to your own affairs at home, how they stand! I am persuaded you are all, I apprehend you are all, honest and worthy good men; and that there is not a man of you but would desire to be found a good patriot. I know you would! We are apt to boast sometimes that we are Englishmen and truly it is no shame for us that we are Englishmen ;but it is a motive to us to do like Englishmen, and seek the real good of this nation, and the interest of it. But, I beseech you, what is our case at home? I profess I do not well know where to begin on this head, or where to end, I do not. But I must needs say, let a man begin where he will, he shall hardly be out of that drift I am speaking to you upon. We are as full of calamities, and of divisions among us in respect of the spirits of men, as we could well be, though, through a wonderful, admirable, and never to be sufficiently admired providence of God, still in peace! And the fighting we have had, and the suc

cess we have had-yea, we that are here, we are an astonishment to the world! And take us in that temper we are in, or rather in that distemper, it is the greatest miracle that ever befell the sons of men, that we are got again to peace. And whoever shall seek to break it, God Almighty root that man out of this nation! And he will do it, let the pretences be what they may!

Peace-breakers, do they consider what it is they are driving towards? They should do it! He that considereth not the woman with child, the sucking children of this nation that know not the right hand from the left, of whom, for ought I know, it may be said this city is as full as Nineveh was said to be:-he that considereth not these, and the fruit that is like to come of the bodies of those now living added to these; he that considereth not these, must have the heart of a Cain; who was marked, and made to be an enemy of all men, and all men enemies to him! For the wrath and justice of God will prosecute such a man to his grave, if not to Hell! I say, look on this nation; look on it! Consider what are the varieties of interest in this nation,if they be worthy the name of interests. If God did not hinder, it would all but make up one confusion. We should find there would be but one Cain in England, if God did not restrain! We should have another more bloody Civil War than ever we had in England. For, I beseech you, what is the general spirit of this nation? Is it not that each sect of people,-if I may call them sects, whether sects upon a religious account or upon a civil account-is not this nation miserable in that respect?

What

is that which possesseth every sect? What is it? That every sect may be uppermost! That every sort of men may get the power into their hands, and they would use it well; -that every sect may get the power into their hands!

It were a happy thing if the nation would be content with rule. Content with rule, if it were but in civil things, and with those that would rule worst;-because misrule is better than no rule; and an ill government, a bad government, is better than none!Neither is this all: but we have an appetite to variety; to be not only making wounds, but widening those already made. As if you should see one making wounds in a man's side, and eager only to be groping and groveling with his fingers in those wounds! This is what such men would be

at; this is the spirit of those who would trample on men's liberties in spiritual respects. They will be making wounds, and rending and tearing, and making them wider than they were. Is not this the case? Doth there want anything-I speak not of sects in an ill sense; but the nation is hugely made up of them,-and what is the want that prevents these things from being done to the uttermost, but that men have more anger than strength? They have not power to attain their ends. There wants

nothing else. And, I beseech you, judge what such a company of men, of these sects, are doing, while they are contesting one with another! They are contesting in the midst of a generation of men; contesting in the midst of these all united. What must be the issue of such a thing as this? So stands it; it is so. And do but judge what proofs have been made of the spirits of these men. Summoning men to take up arms; and exhorting men, each sort of them, to fight for their notions; each sort thinking they are to try it out by the sword; and every sort thinking that they are truly under the banner of Christ, if they but come in, and bind themselves in such a project.

Now do but judge what a hard condition this poor nation is in. This is the state and condition we are in. Judge, I say, what a hard condition this poor nation is in, and the cause of God is in,-amidst such a party of men as the cavaliers are, and their participants! Not only with respect to what these are like to do of themselves: but some of these, yea some of these, they care not who carry the goal: some of these have invited the Spaniard himself to carry on the cavalier cause.

And this is true. This and many other things that are not fit to be suggested unto you; because so we should betray the interest of our intelligence. I say, this is your condition! What is your defense? What hindereth the irruption of all this upon you, to your utter destruction? Truly, that you have an army in these parts,-in Scotland, in England, and Ireland. Take them away tomorrow, would not all these interests run into one another?-I know you are rational, prudent men. Have you any fame or model of things that would satisfy the minds of men, if this be not the fame, this which you are now called together upon and engaged in,-I mean, the two Houses of Parliament and myself? What hinders this

nation from being an Aceldama, a field of blood, if this doth not? It is, without doubt, this: give the glory to God; for without this, it would prove as great a plague as all that hath been spoken of. It is this, without doubt, that keeps this nation in peace and quietness.-And what is the case of your army withal? A poor unpaid army; the soldiers going barefoot at this time, in this city, this weather! And yet a peaceable people, these soldiers; seeking to serve you with their lives; judging their pains and hazards and all well bestowed. In obeying their officers and serving you, to keep the peace of these nations! Yea, he must be a man with a heart as hard as the weather who hath not a due sense of this!

AN APPEAL FOR UNITY

OLIVER CROMWELL

[From a Speech Before Parliament, January 25, 1658]

And now having said this, I have discharged my duty to God and to you, in making this demonstration,-and I profess, not as a rhetorician! My business was to prove the verity of the designs from abroad; and the still unsatisfied spirits of the Cavaliers at home,-who from the beginning of our peace to this day have not been wanting to do what they could to kindle a fire at home in the midst of us. And I say, if be so, the truth,-I pray God affect your hearts with a due sense of it! And give you heart and one mind to carry on this work for which we are met together! If these things be so,-should you meet tomorrow, and accord in all things tending to your preservation and your rights and liberties, really it will be feared there is too much time elapsed already for your delivering yourselves from those dangers that hang upon you.

We have had now six years of peace, and have had an interruption of ten years war. We have seen and heard and felt the evils of war; and now God hath given us a new taste of the benefits of peace. Have you

not had such a peace in England, Ireland, and Scotland, and there is not a man to lift up his finger to put you into distemper? Is not this a mighty blessing from the Lord of Heaven? Shall we now be prodigal of time? Should any man, shall we, listen to delusions, to break and interrupt this peace?

There is not any man that has been true to this cause, as I believe you have been all, who can look for anything but the greatest rending and persecution that ever was in this world! I wonder how it can enter into the heart of man to undervalue these things; to slight peace and the gospel, the greatest mercy of God. We have peace and the gospel! Let us have one heart and soul; one mind to maintain the honest and just rights of this nation;—not to pretend to them, to the destruction of our peace, to the destruction of the nation! Really, pretend that we will, if you run into another flood of blood and war, the sinews of the nation being wasted by the last, it must sink and perish utterly. I beseech you, and charge you in the name and presence of God, and as before Him, be sensible of these things and lay them to heart! You have a day of fasting coming on. I beseech God touch your hearts and open your ears to this truth; and that you may be as deaf as adders to stop your ears to all dissension! and may look upon them who would sow dissension, whoever they may be, as Paul saith to the Church of Corinth, as I remember: "Mark such as cause divisions and offenses, and would disturb you from that foundation of Peace you are upon, under any pretense whatsoever!"

I shall conclude with this. I was free, the last time of our meeting to tell you I would discourse with a psalm; and I did it. I am not ashamed of it at any time, especially when I meet with men of such consideration as you. There you have one verse which I forgot. "I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak Peace unto his people and to His saints; but let them not turn again to folly." Dissension, division, destruction, in a poor nation under a civil war,-having all the effects of a civil war upon it! Indeed if we return again to folly, let every man consider, If it be not like turning to destruction? If God shall unite your hearts and bless you, and give you the blessing of union and love one to another; and treaddown everything that riseth up in your hearts and tendeth to deceive your own souls with pretenses of this thing or that, as we have been saying, and not prefer the keeping of peace, that we may see the fruit of righteousness in them that love peace and embrace peace,-it will be said of this poor nation, Actum est de Anglia, It is all over with England!

But I trust God will never leave it to such a spirit. And while I live, and am able, I shall be ready to stand and fall with you, in this seemingly promising union which God hath wrought among you, which I hope neither the pride nor envy of them shall be able to make void. I have taken my oath to govern according to the laws that are now made; and trust I shall fully answer it. And know I sought not this place. I speak it before God, Angels, and Men: I DID NOT. You sought me for it, you brought me to it, and I took my oath to be faithful to the interest of these nations, to be faithful to the government. All those things were implied, in my eye, in the oath to be faithful to this government upon which we have now met. And I trust, by the grace of God, as I have taken my oath to serve this Commonwealth on such an account, I shall,-I must!—see it done according to articles of Government. That every just interest may be preserved; that a godly ministry may be upheld, and not affronted by seducing and seduced spirits; that all men may be preserved in their just rights, whether civil or spiritual. Upon this account did I take oath, and swear to this government! And so having declared my heart and mind to you in this, I have nothing more to say, but to pray, God Almighty bless you.

THE RESTORATION

SAMUEL PEPYS

[From the Diary]

March 16, 1660. To Westminster Hall, where I heard how the Parliament had this day dissolved themselves, and did pass very cheerfully through the Hall, and the Speaker without his Mace. The whole Hall was joyful thereat, as well as themselves, and now they begin to talk loud of the king. Tonight I am told, that yesterday, about five o'clock in the afternoon, one came with a ladder to the Great Exchange, and wiped with a brush the inscription that was on King Charles, and that there was a great bonfire made in the Exchange, and people called out, "God bless King Charles the Second."

May 2. Mr. Donne from London, with letter that tells us the welcome news of the Parliament's votes yesterday, which shall be remembered for the happiest May-day that

The

hath been many a year to England. King's letter was read in the House, wherein he submits himself and all things to them, as to an Act of Oblivion to all, unless they shall please to except any, as to the confirming of the sales of the King's and Church lands, if they see good. The House, upon reading the letter, ordered 50,000 lbs. to be forthwith provided to send to His Majesty for his present supply; and a committee chosen to return an answer of thanks to his Majesty for his gracious letter; and that the letter be kept among the records of the Parliament; and in all this not so much as one No. So that Luke Robinson himself stood up, and made a recantation for what he had done, and promises to be a loyal subject to his Prince for the time to come. The City of London have put out a Declaration, wherein they do disclaim their owning any other Government but that of a King, Lords, and Commons. Thanks were given by the House to Sir John Greenville, one of the bedchamber to the King, who brought the letter, and they continued bare all the time it was reading. Upon notice from the Lords to the Commons, of their desire that the Commons would join with them in their vote for King, Lords, and Commons; the Commons did concur, and voted that all books whatever that are out against the Government of Kings, Lords, and Commons, should be brought into the House and burned. Great joy all yesterday at London, and at night more bonfires than ever, and ringing of bells, and drinking of the King's health upon their knees in the streets, which methinks is a little too much.

May 15. In the afternoon my Lord called me on purpose to show me his fine clothes which are now come hither, and indeed are very rich as gold and silver can make them, only his sword he and I do not like. In the afternoon my Lord and I walked together in the coach two hours, talking together upon all sorts of discourse: as religion, wherein he is, I perceive, wholly skeptical, saying, that indeed the Protestants as to the Church of Rome are wholly fanatiques; he likes uniformity and form of prayer: about State-business, among other things he told me that his conversion to the King's cause (for I was saying that I wondered from what time the King could lock upon him to become his friend) commenced from his being in the Sound, when

he found what usage he was likely to have from a Commonwealth.

May 23. In the morning come infinity of people on board from the King to go along with him. My Lord, Mr. Crewe, and others, go on shore to meet the King as he comes off from shore, where Sir R. Stayner, bringing his Majesty into the boat, I hear that his Majesty did with a great deal of affection kiss my Lord upon his first meeting. The King, with the two Dukes and Queen of Bohemia, Princess Royal, and Prince of Orange, come on board, where I, in their coming in, kissed the King's, Queen's, and Princess's hand, having done the other before. Infinite shooting off of the guns, and that in a disorder on purpose, which was better than if it had been otherwise. All day, nothing but Lords and persons of honor on board, that we were exceeding full. Dined in a great deal of state, the Royal company by themselves in the coach, which was a blessed sight to see. After dinner, the King and Duke altered the name of some of the ships, viz., the Nazeby into Charles; the Richard, James; the Speaker, Mary; the Dunbar (which was not in company with us), the Henry; Winsly, Happy Return; Wakefield, Richmond; Lambert, the Henrietta; Cheriton, the Speedwell; Bradford, the Success. That done, the Queen, Princess Royal, and Prince of Orange, took leave of the King, and the Duke of York went on board the London, and the Duke of Gloucester, the Swiftsure, which done, we weighed anchor, and with a fresh gale and most happy weather we set sail for England. All the afternoon the King walked here and there, up and down, (quite contrary to what I thought him to have been) very active and stirring. Upon the quarter-deck he fell into discourse of his escape from Worcester, where it made me ready to weep to hear the stories that he told of his difficulties that he had passed through, as his traveling four days and three nights on foot, every step up to his knee in dirt, with nothing but a green coat and a pair of country breeches on, and a pair of country shoes that made him so sore all over his feet, that he could scarce stir. Yet he was forced to run away from a miller and other company, that took them for rogues. His sitting at a table at one place, where the master of the house, that had not seen him in eight years, did know him, but kept it private;

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