Were not both yours and our expectations renewed from time to time, whilst we waited upon God, to see which way he would manifest himself upon our appeals? And shall we after all these our prayers, fastings, tears, expectations, and solemne appeals, call these bare events? The Lord pity you. Surely we fear, because it hath been a merciful and gracious deliverance to us. I beseech you in the bowels of Christ, search after the mind of the Lord in it towards you, and we shall help you by our prayers, that you may find it out; for yet (if we know our hearts at all) our bowels do in Christ Jesus earn after the godly in Scotland."Bishop Burnet tells us, "that when Cromwell was in the greatest streights and perplexities, just before the battle at Dunbar, he called his officers to a day of seeking the Lord. He loved to talk much of that matter all his life long afterwards. He said he felt such an enlargement of heart in prayer, and such quiet upon it, that he bade all about him take heart, for God had certainly heard them, and would appear for them. After prayer they walked in the earl of Roxborough's gardens that lay under the hill; and by prospective glasses they discerned a great motion in the Scottish camp. Upon which Cromwell said, God is delivering them into our hands, they are coming down to us The event was comformable to his expectation.

Whitlock, who well knew the man, writes as follows: "From the council of state Cromwell and his son Ireton went home with me to supper, where they were very chearful, and seemed extremely well pleased; we discoursed to→ gether till twelve a-clock at night, and they told me wonderful observations of God's providence, in the affairs of the war, and in the business of the army's coming to London, and seizing the members of the house, in all which were miraculous passages

These passages are, I think, abundantly sufficient to establish the enthusiasm of Cromwell. However, that the

Thurloe, vol. I. p. 161.

b Burnet's History of his own Times, vol. I. p. 82, 12mo. Dutch edit. See Cromwell's Letter to Leuthall, in note 35. Whitlock's Memorials, p. 384.

reader may determine the better, let him attend to the following anecdotes which seem to indicate him an hypocrite. "His rude cant and spiritual simplicity were downright affectation than which nothing can be more evident from Mr. Waller's observation, and his confession to him. Mr. Waller often took notice, that in the midst of their discourse a servant has come in to tell them such and such attended; upon which Cromwell would rise, and stop them, talking at the door, where he could over-hear them say, The Lord will reveal, The Lord will help, and several such expressions; which when he return'd to Mr. Waller he excus'd, saying, Cousin Waller, I must talk to these men after their own way; and would then go on where they left off. This created in Mr. Waller an opinion that he secretly despised those whom he seemed to court"."

And the author of the Political History of the Age, thinks "the enthusiasm of Cromwell entirely assum'd and politic; quoting the following anecdote from Oliver St. John, in proof of it, viz. That being one day at table with his friends, and looking for the cork of a bottle of champaign which he had opened, on being informed, that some person attended for admittance to see him, Tell him, says Cromwell, we are in search of the holy spirit "."

These are the passages which seem to destroy the enthu siasm of Oliver; seem, I say, to 'destroy it—for allowing their truth, in my opinion, they do not in reality do it.For what do they prove, but that Cromwell sometimes talked inconsistently with his principles? or being at times less under their power, he indulged himself in jesting and raillery, to which he was naturally prone? If two or three casual expressions are to determine a man's character in opposition to his whole speech and behaviour, woe be to those who think themselves virtuous and good. Whoever will consider the times in which Oliver lived; the part he bore in the transactions of them; his real principles with respect to returns of prayer; and his opinion expressed

a Waller's Life, p. 30. VOL. III.

C

Monthly Review, for Aug. 1757.

in his last moments, will not be long at a loss to determine about his real enthusiasm.

1. The times in which Oliver lived were times of reformation. Now "a reformation is seldom carried on without a heat and a vehemence which borders upon enthusiasm ; and as Cicero hath observed that there never was a great man sine afflatu divino, so in times of religious contests, there seldom was a man very zealous for liberty civil and evangelical, and a declared and active enemy to insolent tyrauny, blind superstition, political godliness, bigotry and pious frauds, who had not a fervency of zeal which led him on some occasions somewhat beyond the sober bounds of temperate reason. When men are thus dispos'd, and have animated each other, and are inflam'd by opposition, persecution, and ill usage, they are strongly inclin❜d to suspect a divine interposition, and to explain every strange appearance that way. The impetuosity spreads far and wide, and seizes even upon children "."

Another ingenious writer speaking concerning these times, observes, "That in the high ferment of national spirit, not only did the animosities usual amidst the flames of civil war, spread violently, on both sides; but that which was peculiar to the complexion and temper of the people of that age; extravagant conceits of a religious kind, operated in the most forcible manner imaginable. The crude mixture of religious and political opinions which is commonly found among the bulk of the people, being then shook to the very bottom; it was no wonder, that, together with the most shining instances of military skill and bravery, of penetrating sagacity and judgment in the management of particular conjunctures and events, of boldness, vigilance, and address in planning and executing the most dangerous enterprizes; there may also be discerned many evidences of a wild and enthusiastic genius affecting the manners and actions of the popular leaders b.

a Jortin's Remarks on Ecclesiastical History, vol. II. p. 370.. b National Spirit considered, as a natural Source of Political Liberty, p. 40. 8vo. Lond. 1758, 2d. edit.

2. Not only the times in which Oliver lived, but the characters he bore, and the great and surprising actions he performed, will lead us very naturally to suppose that he might really think himself under the divine guidance. The age of Cromwell was an age of wonders. The king and his nobles were brought low; the poor and the mean were exalted; the foolish things of the world confounded the wise, and the weak things of the world confounded the things which were mighty; and base things of the world, and things which were despised, yea things that were not, comparatively, brought to nought things that were, No wonder things so marvellous, were deemed by him and others to be the Lord's doings in a peculiar manner, since they were so much out of the usual course. And as to himself, in particular, from small beginnings he had rose to such heights of power and reputation, and done such very extraordinary things, that it must have been very difficult for a man of his constitution, to have forborne thinking that he was personally favoured by heaven in his undertakings. "A magistrate convinc'd of the being of a God and a Providence, and conscious that every purpose of his heart intends the honour of that God and the good of the people he governs, cannot help believing himself under the special care of the Deity. This flows from the very reason and nature of things, and can never be otherwise: God, as surely as he exists, must necessarily favour such a man, and every such man must as necessarily be convinc'd that God does so favour him. And such a perswasion will always: have more or less influence on the mind, as it falls in with a constitution more or less inclin'd to superstition or enthu siasm, which is apt to impute every laudable thought, and every successful action to the special suggestion and assistance of heaven."

3. Cromwell's real opinion concerning returns of prayer will clearly shew his enthusiasm. What follows may, I. believe, be depended on. "I had heard from several (and

* Middleton's Tracts, p. 200. 4to, Lond. 1752.

it had been confirm'd to me by Mr. Jeremy White, who liv'd at Whitehall at the very same time with Mr. Howe) that the notion of a particular faith in prayer, prevail'd much in Cromwell's court; and that it was a common opinion among them, that such as were in a special manner favour'd of God, when they offer'd up prayers and supplications to him for his mercies, either for themselves or others, often had such impressions made on their minds and spirits by a divine hand, as signify'd to them, not only in the general, that their prayers would be heard, and graciously answered, but that the particular mercies that were sought for, would be certainly bestowed; nay, and sometimes also intimated to them in what way and manner they would be afforded; and pointed out to them future events before hand, which in reality is the same as inspiration. Having heard of mischief done by the prevalence of this notion, I took the opportunity that offered, when there was nothing to hinder the atmost freedom, to enquire of Mr. Howe, what he had known about this matter, and what were his apprehensions concerning it? He told me the prevalence of the notion that I mentioned at Whitehall, at the time when he lived there, was too notorious to be called in question; and that not a little pains was taken to cultivate and support it; and that he once heard a sermon there, (from a person of note) the avow'd design of which was to maintain and defend it. He said he was so fully convinced of the ill tendency of such a principle, that after the hearing this sermon, he thought himself bound in conscience, when it came next to his turn to preach before Cromwell, to set himself industriously to oppose it, and to beat down that spiritual pride and confidence, which such fancied impulses and impressions were apt to produce and cherish. He told me, he observed that while he was in the pulpit, Cromwell heard him with great attention, but would sometimes knit his brows, and discover great uneasiness. When the ser mon was over, he told me a person of distinction came to him, and ask'd him if he knew what he had done? and signifyed it to him as his apprehension, that Cromwell