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��OLIVER CROMWELL.
��the one was an open and fearless usurp- er, the other a disguised and hypocriti- cal one. Cromwell and his compeers acted under a deep sense of religious responsibility, and with a strong and un- wavering conviction that their cause was the cause of God. Their victories were all ascribed to God's mercy. His guid- ing hand was everywhere acknowledged, and everywhere proclaimed. Believing that they were, in a sense, engaged in a holy war, they sought out good men to do battle for the Lord.
In one of the Protector's speeches to a large committee of his second Parlia- ment, he briefly alludes to his early ef- forts in the revolution, in connection with his friend and relative, John Hampden : " At my first going into this engage- ment, [meaning the civil war] I saw our men were beaten on every hand. I did indeed; and desired him [John Hamp- den] that he would make some additions to my Lord Essex's army, of some new regiments ; and I told him I would be servicable to him in bringing such men in as I thought had a spirit that would do something in the work. This is very true that I tell you ; God knows I lie not. Your troops, said I, are most of them old decayed serving men, tapsters, and such kind of fellows; and, said I, their troops are gentlemen's sons, and persons of quality. Do you think that the spirits of such base and mean fellows will ever be able to encounter gentlemen that have honor and courage and resolu- tion in them? Truly I did represent to him in this manner, conscientiously and truly I did tell him : 'You must get men of spirit, and take it not ill what I say. I know you will not — of a spirit that is likely to go on as far as gentlemen will go ; — or else you will be beaten still.' I told him so ; I did truly. He was a wise and worthy person, and he did think that I talked a good notion but an impractica- ble one. Truly I told him I could do somewhat in it. I did so, and truly I must needs say this to you, the result was — impute it to what you please — I raised such men as had the fear of God before them, as made some conscience of what they did, and from that day forward, I
��must say to you, they were never beat- en, and whenever they were engaged against the enemy they beat continually. And truly this is matfer of praise to God, and it hath some instruction in it to our men who are religious and godly." In another speech, he uses the follow- ing language : " If I were to choose any servant, the meanest officer for the army or the Commonwealth, I would choose a godly man that hath principles, especial- ly where a trust is to be committed. Be- cause I know where to have a man that hath principles." Truly he did know both where to have men of principle, and how to choose them. He selected the best and wisest for places of trust and responsibility. Even his enemies admit it. Such were his uniform declar- ations, and his practice corresponded to them. Does any one call this cant, hy- pocrisy and meanness? To such a one I would say in the words of Carlyle: "The man is without a soul that looks into this Great Soul of a man, radiant with the splendors of very Heaven, and sees noth- ing there but the shadow of his own mean darkness. Ape of the dead sea, peering asquint into the Holy of Holies, let us have done with thy commentaries. Thou canst not fathom it." No great man, much less a good man, ever lived, of whom all men spoke well. Not even he " who went about doing good" re- ceived testimony from men. " Some said he is a good man, others said nay, but he deceiveth the people." Because bigots and the tools of tyrants have rep- resented the Puritans as ignorant, besot- ted fanatics, are we bound to believe them? There are not wanting men in our own land who still take pleasure in abusing the Pilgrims, denouncing them as mere political adventurers, unscrupu- lous partisans, knavish, time-serving hypocrites. And who are the men who at this late period, attempt to set aside the verdict ot many generations, and to pour contempt upon our honored ances- try, of whom the world was not worthy? These are they who light wax candles in the day time, who venerate Holy Mother Church, who make genuflexions before a crucifix, and consign men better than
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