"have daily bread, and shall have it, in despite of "all enemies. There's enough in our Father's "house, and He dispenseth it." Was there no ambitious sentiment in the Protector, especially in this affair of the kingship? To deny this absolutely would be making him superior to the conditions of mortal existence. There is no man that sinneth not, says the Scripture. Oliver was not exempt from this general rule. All that we would say is, that he was conscientious in this struggle, and that if the flesh lusted against the spirit, the spirit fought against the flesh. Cromwell possessed a living faith; and that faith is a power which every day grows stronger in the heart. The object for which God places this heavenly and divine power in man is to overcome the evil, the earthly, and the sensual powers that have taken up their abode in his bosom. The question, therefore, is not whether these two contrary elements,-the new man and the old man,—do not exist together in the same individual; but whether the struggle between them is sincere and loyal. In Oliver the struggle was indeed sincere. CHAPTER XIV. LAST PARLIAMENT AND DEATH OF THE PROTECTOR. The Installation-Two Houses of Parliament-The grand Design— Petty Quarrels-Parliament dissolved-Conspiracies-Death of Lady Claypole-Consolations-Fever-George Fox at Hampton Court-Cromwell's Words on his Deathbed-Confidence-The Storm-Cromwell's Successor-His Prayer and Last Words-His Death-Mourning-Cromwell's Christian Character-Oliver and the Pope-Restoration of Mankind-The Protestant Way-Oliver's Principles-The Pope's Policy-Conflicts and Dangers of the State -The Two Men of the Seventeenth Century-Conclusion. On the 26th of June 1657, Cromwell, after his refusal of the kingship, was again solemnly inaugurated Protector. The Speaker in the name of the parliament presented to him in succession a robe of purple velvet, a bible, a sword, and a sceptre of massive gold. The parliament was afterwards prorogued until the 20th of January in the following year. On its reassembling it consisted of two houses. The Protector had told the Commons that he would not undertake the government unless there was some body which, by interposing between him and the lower house, would be able to keep seditious and turbulent persons in check. This was readily granted; and as soon as the regulating power was established, Oliver thought himself bound to revoke the exceptional measure by which he had supplied its place at the time of the first meeting of the Commons. Their number was augmented by the hundred excluded members,......a bold and dangerous concession. The other house (as the lords were called) consisted of sixty-one hereditary members, nominated by the Protector, among whom were his two sons and his two sons-in-law. Cromwell opened this new parliament on the 20th of January 1658, beginning with the usual form, My Lords and Gentlemen of the House of Commons. He returned thanks to God for His favours, at the head of which he reckoned peace and the blessings of peace, namely, the possession of political and spiritual liberty. As religion was always the first of interests in his estimation, Oliver, when speaking of this power, which is the strength of nations, called to their remembrance "that Eng"land had now a godly ministry [clergy], a know แ ing ministry; such a one as, without vanity be "it spoken, the world has not......If God," added he in conclusion, "should bless you in this work, "and make this meeting happy on this account, "the generations to come will bless us." The proceedings of this parliament did not answer to the Protector's expectations. The Commons would have no other house. One republican, Haselrig, refused to be made a peer, and took his seat in X the Commons. Cromwell endeavoured to raise the attention of parliament above all these trivialities, and direct it to the great questions which concerned the country. Summoning both houses before him on the 25th of January, the Protector said to them :-" Look "at affairs abroad. The grand design now on foot, in comparison with which all other designs are but low things, is, whether the Christian "world shall be all Popery? Is it not true that "the Protestant cause and interest abroad is quite "under foot, trodden down? The money you "parted with in that noble charity which was "exercised in this nation, and the just sense you "had of those poor Piedmonts, was satisfaction "enough to yourselves of this, That if all the Protestants in Europe had had but that head, "that head had been cut off, and so an end of the "whole. "But is this of Piedmont all? No. Look how "the house of Austria, on both sides of Christen"dom, both in Austria Proper and in Spain, are "armed and prepared to destroy the whole Prot"estant interest."* After demonstrating his thesis, Oliver continued thus:-" And look to that that calls itself the head "of all this-a pope ! He influences all the powers, all the princes of Europe to accomplish "this bloody work. So that what is there in all "the parts of Europe but a consent, a co-operat* Burton, ii. 351. Carlyle's Cromwell, iii. 405, 406. "ing, at this very time and season, of all popish 66 powers to suppress everything that stands in "their way?"* All this was perfectly true. The statesmen of England did not then give way to fatal delusions. The Protector had eyes to see, and ears to hear. Cromwell, after pointing out the dangers abroad, examined next into those at home; inquiring what blessings ought to be preserved, and what precautions should be taken for that purpose. purpose. All his thoughts were for the happiness of his people. "We have," said he, "two blessings: Peace "and the Gospel. Let us have one heart and "soul; one mind to maintain the honest and just rights of this nation. If you run into another "flood of blood and war, this nation 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. If you prefer not the keeping "of peace, that we may see the fruit of righteousแ ness 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.‡ "While I live, and am able, I shall be ready to "stand and fall with you. I have taken my oath "to govern according to the laws, and I trust I "shall fully answer it. And know, I sought not "this place. I speak it before God, angels, and * Carlyle's Cromwell, iii. 407. +Ibid. 423. |