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acter of the interest you have been engaged against, the Cavalier interest; the badge and character of countenancing profaneness, disorder, and wickedness in all places, and whatever is most of kin to these, and most agrees with what is popery, and with the profane nobility and gentry of this nation. In my conscience, it was a shame to be a Christian within these fifteen, sixteen, or seventeen years in this nation. Whether "in Cæsar's house" or elsewhere. It was a shame, it was a reproach to a man, and the badge of "Puritan" was put upon it. We would keep up nobility and gentry; and the way to keep them up is, not to suffer them to be patronisers or countenancers of debauchery and disorders. And you will hereby be as labourers in that work of keeping them up. And a man may tell as plainly as can be what becomes of us if we grow indifferent and lukewarm in repressing evil, under I know not what weak pretensions. If it lives in us, therefore, I say, if it be in the general heart of the nation, it is a thing I am confident our liberty and prosperity depend upon-reformation. Make it a shame to see men bold in sin and profaneness, and God will bless you. You will be a blessing to the nation, and by this will be more repairers of breaches than by anything in the world. Truly these things do respect the souls of men, and the spirits, which are the men. The mind is the

man.

If that be kept pure, a man signifies somewhat; if not, I would very fain see what difference there is betwixt him and a beast. He hath only some activity to do some more mischief.

There are some things which respect the estates of men; and there is one general grievance in the nation. It is the law. Not

that the laws are a grievance; but there are laws that are; and the great grievance lies in the execution and administration. I think I may say it, I have as eminent judges in this land as have been had, as the nation has had, for these many years. Truly I could be particular, as to the executive part of it, as to the administration of the law; but that would trouble you. The truth of it is, there are wicked and abominable laws which it will be in your power to alter. To hang a man for six and eight pence, and I know not what; to hang for a trifle, and acquit murder, is in the ministration of the law, through the ill framing of it. I have known in my experience abominable murders acquitted. And to see men lose their lives for petty matters; this is a thing God will reckon for. And I wish it may not lie upon this nation a day longer than you have an opportunity to give a remedy; and I hope I shall cheerfully join with you in it. This hath been a great grief to many honest hearts and conscientious people; and I hope it is in all your hearts to rectify it.

I have little more to say to you, being very weary, and I know you are so too. Truly I did

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begin with what I thought was the means to carry on this war (if you will carry it on), that we might join together in that vigorously. And I did promise an answer to an objection: "But what will you prosecute it with?" The State is hugely in debt; I believe it comes to - The treasure of the State is run out. We shall not be an enemy to your inspection, but desire it; that you should inspect the treasury, and how moneys have been expended. And we are not afraid to look the nation in the face upon this score. And therefore we will say negatively, first, No man can say we have misemployed the treasures of this nation, and embezzled it to particular and private uses.

It may be we have not been, as the world terms it, so fortunate in all our successes, in the issues of all our attempts. Truly if we are of mind that God may not decide for us in these things, I think we shall be quarrelling with what God himself will answer for. And we hope we are able-it may be weakly, I doubt not-to give an answer to God, and to give an answer to every man's conscience in the sight of God, of the reason of things. But we shall tell you, it was part of that Arch-Fire, which hath been in this your time, wherein there were flames good store, fire enough; and it will be your wisdom and skill, and God's blessing upon you, to quench them both here and elsewhere. I say it again, our endeavoars-by those that have been appointed, by those that have been majorgenerals; I can repeat it with comfort,-they have been effectual for the preservation of your peace. It hath been more effectual towards the discountenancing of vice, and settling religion, than anything done these fifty years. I will abide by it, notwithstanding the envy and slander of foolish men. But I say there was a design-I confess I speak that to you with a little vehemency-but you had not peace two, months together, nothing but plot after plot; I profess I believe it as much as ever I did anything in the world; and how instrumental they, these major-generals, have been to your peace and for your preservation, by such means, which we say was necessity. More instrumental than all instituted things in the world... If you would make laws against whatever things God may please to send, laws to meet everything that may happen, you make a law in the face of God; you tell God you will meet all His dispensations, and will stay things whether He will or no. But if you make good laws of government, that men may know how to obey and to act for government, they may be laws that have frailty and weakness; ay, and yet good laws to be observed. But if nothing should ever be done but what is "according to law," the throat of the nation may be cut while we send for some to make a law! Therefore certainly it is a pitiful beastly notion to think, though it be for ordinary government to live by law and rule,

yet if a government in extraordinary circumstances go beyond the law even for self-preservation, it is to be clamoured at, and blottered at. When matters of necessity come, then without guilt extraordinary remedies may not be applied. Who can be so pitiful a person?

I confess, if necessity be pretended, there is so much the more sin. A laying the irregularity of men's actions upon God as if He had sent a necessity; who doth indeed send necessities. But to anticipate these-for as to an appeal to God, I own it-own this necessity conscientiously to God, and the principles of nature dictate the thing; but if there be a supposition, I say, of a necessity which is not, every act so done hath in it the more sin. This, whether in a given case there is a necessity or not, perhaps is rather to be disputed than otherwise; but I must say I do not know one action of this Government, no, not one, but it hath been in order to the peace and safety of the nation. And the keeping of some in prison hath been upon such clear and just grounds that no man can except against it. I know there are some imprisoned in the Isle of Wight, in Cornwall, and elsewhere; and the cause of their imprisonment was, they were all found acting things which tended to the disturbance of the peace of the nation. Now these principles made us say to them, "Pray live quietly in your own countries; you shall not be urged with bonds or engagements, or to subscribe to the government." But they would not so much as say, "We will promise to live peaceably." If others are imprisoned, it is because they have done such things. And if other particulars strike, we know what to say, as having endeavoured to walk as those that would not only give an account to God of their actings in authority, but had withal to give an account of them to men.

if we had set the nation into £2,500,000 of debt: but I tell you, you are not so much in debt by some thousands-I think I may say, by some hundreds of thousands! This is true that I tell you. We have honestly-it may be not so wisely as some others would have done-but with honest and plain hearts, laboured and endeavoured the disposal of treasurer to public uses; and laboured to pull off the common charge £60,000 a month, as you see. And if we had continued that charge that was left upon the nation, perhaps we could have had as much money in hand as now we are in debt. These things being thus, I did think it my duty to give you this account, though it be wearisome even to yourselves and to me.

Now if I had the tongue of an angel; if I was so certainly inspired as the holy men of God have been, I could rejoice, for your sakes, and for these nations' sakes, and for the sake of God, and of His cause, which we have all been engaged in, if I could move affections in you to that which, if you do it, will save this nation. If not, you plunge it, to all human appearance, it and all interests, yea, and all Protestants in the world, into irrecoverable ruin.

Therefore I pray and beseech you, in the name of Christ, show yourselves to be men; "quit yourselves like men." It doth not infer any reproach if you do show yourselves men: Christian men, which alone will make you "quit your selves." I do not think that, to this work you have in hand, a neutral spirit will do. That is a Laodicean spirit; and we know what God said of that church: it was "lukewarm," and therefore He would "spew it out of His mouth." It is not a neutral spirit that is incumbent upon you. And if not a neutral spirit, it is much less a stupefied spirit, inclining you, in the least disposition, the wrong way. Men are, in their private consciences, every day making shipwreck; and it's no wonder, if these can shake hands with persons of reprobate interests,-such, give me leave to think, are the popish interests. For the apostle brands them so, "having seared consciences." Though I do not judge every man The Scriptures foretold there should be such. It is not such a spirit that will carry this work on. It is men in a Christian state, who have works with faith, who know how to lay hold on Christ for remission of sins, till a man be brought to "glory in hope." Such a hope kindled in men's spirits will actuate them to such ends as you are tending to; and so many as are partakers of that, and do own your standings, wherein the providence of God hath set and called you to this work, so many will carry it on.

I confess I have digressèd much. I would not have you be discouraged if you think the State is exceeding poor. Give me leave to tell you, we have managed the treasury not unthriftily, nor to private uses, but for the use of the nation and Government, and shall give you this short-but the ringleaders are such. account. When the Long Parliament sat the nation owed £700,000. We examined it; it was brought unto that-in that short meeting of the Little Parliament, within half a year after the Government came into our hands. I believe there was more rather than less. They, the Long Parliament people, had £120,000 a month; they had the king's, queen's, prince's, bishop's lands; all delinquents' estates, and the dean-andchapter lands, which was a very rich treasure. As soon as ever we came to the Government, we abated £30,000, the first half-year, and £60,000 after. We had no benefits of those estates, at all considerable; I do not think, the fiftieth part of what they had, and gave me leave to tell you, you are not so much in debt as we found you. We know it hath been maliciously dispersed, as

If men, through scruple, be opposite, you cannot take them by the hand to carry them along with you-it were absurd; if a man be scrupling the plain truth before him, it is in vain to meddle with him. He hath placed another business in his mind; he is saying, "Oh,

ness"-yea, the nation will bless you. And really that and nothing else will work off these disaffections from the minds of men, which are great-perhaps greater than all the other opposi tions you can meet with. I do know what I say. When I speak of these things, I speak my heart before God; and, as I said before, I dare not be bold with Him. I have a little faith; I have a little lived by faith, and therein I may be "bold." If I speak other than the affections and secrets of my heart, I know He would not bear it at my hands. Therefore, in the fear and name of God, go on, with love and integrity, against whatever arises of contrary to those ends which you know and have been told of; and the god-blessing of God go with you, and the blessing of God will go with you.

if we could but exercise wisdom to gain civil
liberty, religion would follow." Certainly there
are such men, who are not maliciously blind,
whom God, for some cause, exercises. It can-
not be expected that they should do anything.
These men-they must demonstrate that they
are in bonds.
Could we have carried
it thus far, if we had sat disputing in that
manner? I must profess I reckon that difficulty
more than all the wrestling with flesh and
blood. Doubting, hesitating men, they are not
fit for your work. You must not expect that
men of hesitating spirits, under the bondage of
scruples, will be able to carry on this work,
much less such as are merely carnal, natural;
such as having an "outward profession of
liness," whom the apostle speaks of so often,
66 are enemies to the cross of Christ, whose God
is their belly, whose glory is in their shame,
who mind earthly things." Do you think these
men will rise to such a spiritual heat for the nation
as shall carry you a cause like this; as will meet
and defy all the oppositions that the devil and
wicked men can make?

I have but one thing more to say. I know it is troublesome; but I did read a psalm yesterday, which truly may not unbecome both me to tell you of, and you to observe. It is the eighty-fifth Psalm; it is very instructive and significant; and though I do but a little touch upon it, I desire your perusal at pleasure.

Give me leave to tell you-those that are It begins: "Lord, Thou hast been very favourcalled to this work, it will not depend for them able to Thy land; Thou hast brought back the upon formalities, nor notions, nor speeches. I captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the inido not look the work should be done by these.quity of Thy people; Thou hast covered all their No; but by men of honest hearts, engaged to sin. Thou hast taken away all the fierceness of God; strengthened by Providence; enlightened Thy wrath; Thou hast turned Thyself from the in His words, to know His Word-to which He fierceness of Thine anger. Turn us, O God of hath set His seal, sealed with the blood of His our salvation, and cause Thine anger toward Son, with the blood of His servants; that is us to cease. Wilt Thou be angry with us for such a spirit as will carry on this work. ever; wilt Thou draw out Thine anger to all generations? Wilt Thou not revive us again, that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?" Then he calls upon God as "the God of his salvation," and then saith he: "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. Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him;" Oh, "that glory may dwell in our land! Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good, and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before Him, and shall set us in the way of His steps."

Therefore, I beseech you, do not dispute of unnecessary and unprofitable things which may divert you from carrying on so glorious a work as this is. I think every objection that ariseth is not to be answered, nor have I time for it. I say, look up to God; have peace among yourselves. Know assuredly that if I have interest, I am by the voice of the people the supreme magistrate; and, it may be, do know somewhat that might satisfy my conscience, if I stood in doubt. But it is a union, really it is a union, this between you and me; and both of us united in faith and love to Jesus Christ, and to His peculiar interest in the world-that must ground this work. And in that, if I have any peculiar interest which is personal to myself, which is not subservient to the public end-it were not an extravagant thing for me to curse myself, because I know God will curse me if I have. I have learned too much of God to dally with Him, and to be bold with Him in these things. And I hope I never shall be bold with Him, though I can be bold with men, if Christ be pleased to assist.

I say, if there be love between us, so that the nations may say, "These are knit together in one bond, to promote the glory of God against the common enemy, to suppress everything that is evil, and encourage whatsoever is of godli

Truly I wish that this psalm, as it is written in the Book, might be better written in our hearts. That we might say as David, "Thou hast done this," and "Thou hast done that;" "Thou hast pardoned our sins; Thou hast taken away our iniquities!" Whither can we go to a better God? For "He hath done it." It is to Him any nation may come in their extremity, for the taking away of His wrath. How did He do it? "By pardoning their sins, by taking away their iniquities!" If we can but cry unto Him, He will "turn and take away our sins." Then let us listen to Him. Then let us consult, and meet

in Parliament; and ask Him counsel, and hear what He saith, "for He will speak peace unto His people." If you be the people of God, He will speak peace; and we will not turn again to folly.

"Folly:" a great deal of grudging in the nation that we cannot have our horse-races, cock-fightings, and the like. I do not think that these are lawful, except to make them recreations. That we will not endure, for necessary ends, to be abridged of them. Till God hath brought us to another spirit than this, He will not bear with us. Ay, "but He bears with them in France;" "they in France are so and so!" Have they the Gospel as we have? They have seen the sun but a little; we have great lights... If God give you a spirit of reformation, you will preserve this nation from "turning again" to these fooleries; and what will the end be? Comfort and blessing. Then "mercy and truth shall meet together." Here is a great deal of "truth" among professors, but very little "mercy!" They are ready to cut the throats of one another. But when we are brought into the right way, we shall be merciful as well as orthodox: and we know who it is that saith, "If a man could speak with the tongues of men and angels, and yet want that, he is but sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal!"

Therefore I beseech you in the name of God, set your hearts to this work. And if you set your hearts to it, then you will sing Luther's psalm. That is a rare psalm for a Christian; and if he set his heart open, and can approve it to God, we shall hear him say, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble." If Pope and Spaniard, and devil and all, set themselves against us, though they should "compass us like bees," as it is in the 118th Psalm, yet in the name of the Lord we should destroy them. And, as it is in this psalm of Luther's: "We will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the middle of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled; though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." "There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved." Then he repeats two or three times, "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."

I have done. All I have to say is, to pray God that He may bless you with His presence; that He who hath your hearts and mine would show His presence in the midst of us.

I desire you will go together, and choose your speaker.

ON DISSOLVING PARLIAMENT, 1658. MY LORDS, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,-I had very comfortable expectations that God would make the meeting of this

Parliament a blessing; and, the Lord be my witness, I desired the carrying on the affairs of the nation to these ends. The blessing which I mean, and which we ever climbed at, was mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace, which I desired might be improved.

That which brought me into the capacity I now stand in was the petition and advice given me by you, who, in reference to the ancient constitution, did draw me to accept the place of Protector. There is not a man living can say I sought it; no, not a man or woman treading upon English ground. But contemplating the sad condition of these nations, relieved from an intestine war into a six or seven years' peace, I did think the nation happy therein. But to be petitioned thereunto, and advised by you to undertake such a government, a burden too heavy for any creature; and this to be done by the House that then had the legislative capacity certainly I did look that the same men who made the frame should make it good unto me. I can say in the presence of God, in comparison with whom we are but like poor creeping ants upon the earth, I would have been glad to have lived under my woodside, to have kept a flock of sheep, rather than undertaken such a government as this. But undertaking it by the advice and petition of you, I did look that you who had offered it unto me should make it good.

I did tell you, at a conference concerning it, that I would not undertake it, unless there might be some other persons to interpose between me and the House of Commons, who then had the power, and prevent tumultuary and popular spirits; and it was granted I should name another house. I named it of men that shall meet you wheresoever you go, and shake hands with you, and tell you it is not titles, nor lords, nor party that they value, but a Christian and an English interest-men of your own rank and quality, who will not only be a balance unto you, but to themselves, while you love England and religion.

Having proceeded upon these terms, and finding such a spirit as is too much dominant, everything being too high or too low, when virtue, honesty, piety, and justice are omitted, I thought I had been doing that which was my duty, and thought it would have satisfied you; but, if everything must be too high or too low, you are not to be satisfied.

Again, I would not have accepted of the government, unless I knew there would be a just accord between the governor and the governed, unless they would take an oath to make good what the Parliament's petition and advice advise me unto. Upon that I took an oath, and they took another oath upon their part, answerable to mine; and did not every one know upon what condition he swore? God knows I took it upon the conditions expressed in the act of government, and I did think we had been upon a foundation,

and upon a bottom, and thereupon I thought myself bound to take it, and to be advised by the two Houses of Parliament; and we standing unsettled till we were arrived at that, the consequences would necessarily have been confusion, if that had not been settled. Yet there are not constituted hereditary lords, nor hereditary kings, the power consisting in the two Houses and myself. I do not say that was the meaning of the oath to yourselves; that were to go against my own principles, to enter upon another man's conscience. God will judge between me and you. If there had been in you any intention of settlement, you would have settled upon this basis, and have offered your judgment and opinion.

God is my witness, I speak it; it is evident to all the world, and all people living, that a new business hath been seeking in the army against this actual settlement made by your own consent. I do not speak to these gentlemen or lords (pointing to his right hand), or whatsoever you will call them. I speak not this to them, but to you; you advised me to run into this place, to be in a capacity by your advice, yet, instead of owning a thing taken for granted, some must have I know not what; and you have not only disjointed yourselves, but the whole nation, which is in likelihood of running into more confusion in these fifteen or sixteen days that you have sat, than it hath been from the rising of the last session to this day, through the intention of devising a commonwealth again, that some of the people might be the men that might rule all; and they are endeavouring to engage the army to carry that thing. And hath that man been true to this nation, whosoever he be, especially that

hath taken an oath, thus to prevaricate? These designs have been made among the army to break and divide us. Ispeak this in the presence of some of the army, that these things have not been according to God, nor according to truth, pretend what you will. These things tend to nothing else but the playing the King of Scots game, if I may so call him, and I think myself bound to do what I can to prevent it.

That which I told you in the banqueting-house was true, that there were preparations of force to invade us. God is my witness, it has been confirmed to me since, not a day ago, that the King of Scots hath an army at the waterside, ready to be shipped for England. I have it from those who have been eye-witnesses of it; and while it is doing there are endeavours from some, who are not far from this place, to stir up the people of this town into a tumulting. What if I had said into a rebellion? It hath been not only your endeavour to pervert the army, while you have been sitting, aud to draw them to state the question about the commonwealth, but some of you have been listing of persons, by commission of Charles Stuart, to join with any insurrection that may be made. And what is like to come upon this, the enemy being ready to invade us, but even present blood and confusion? And if this be so, I do assign it to this cause-your not assenting to what you did invite me to by your petition and advice, as that which might be the settlement of the nation. And if this be the end of your sitting, and this be your carriage, I think it high time that an end be put to your sitting, and I do dissolve this Parliament; and let God be judge between me and you.

THOMAS FULLER,

HOW FAR EXAMPLES ARE TO BE FOLLOWED.*

1608-1661.

IN these words Naomi seeks to persuade Ruth to return, alleging the example of Orpah, who, as she saith, was "gone back to her people, and to her gods." Where first we find that all the heathen, and the Moabites amongst the rest, did not acknowledge one true God, but were the worshippers of many gods; for they made every attribute of God to be a distinct deity. Thus, instead of that attribute, the wisdom of God, they feigned Apollo the god of wisdom; instead of the power of God, they made Mars the god of

"And Naomi said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods; return thou after thy sister-in-law" (Ruth i, 15).

power; instead of that admirable beauty of God, they had Venus the goddess of beauty. But no one attribute was so much abused as God's

providence. For the heathen, supposing that the whole world, and all the creatures therein, was too great a diocese to be daily visited by one and the same deity, they therefore assigned sundry gods to several creatures. Thus God's providence in ruling the raging of the seas was counted Neptune; in stilling the roaring wind, Eolus; in commanding the powers of hell, Pluto; yea, sheep had their Pan, and gardeus their Pomona; the heathens thus being as fruitful in feigning of gods as the Papists since in making of saints.

Now, because Naomi used the example of Orpah as a motive to work upon Ruth to return, we gather from thence, examples of others set

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