the great God has vouchsafed to appear. I know not one officer amongst us, but is on the increasing hand: and let me say, it is here in the North, after much patience, we trust the same Lord, who hath framed our minds in our actings, is with us in this also. And this, contrary to a natural tendency, and to those comforts, our hearts could wish to enjoy with others. And the difficulties probably to be encountred with, and enemies, not few, even all, that is glorious in this world, with appearance of united names, titles, and authorities, and yet not terrified, only desiring to fear our great God, that we do nothing against his will. Truly this is our condition.

And, to conclude, we in this northern army were in a waiting posture, desiring to see what the Lord would lead us to. And a declaration is put out, at which many are shaken; although we could perhaps have wished the stay of it, till after the treaty: yet, seeing it is come out, we trust to rejoyce in the will of the Lord, waiting his farther pleasure. Dear Robin, beware of men, look up to the Lord. Let him be free to speak, and command in thy heart. Take heed of the things, I fear thou hast reasoned thyself into; and thou shalt be able through him, without consulting flesh and blood to do valiantly for him and for h

VOL. II.

his people. Thou mentionest somewhat, as if by acting against such opposition, as is like to be, there will be a tempting of God. Dear Robin, tempting of God ordinarily is either by acting presumptuously in carnal confidence, or in unbelief through diffidence: both these ways Israel tempted God in the wilderness, and he was grieved with them. The encountring difficulties therefore makes us not to tempt God; but acting before, and without faith. If the Lord have in any measure persuaded his people, as generally he hath, of the lawfulness, nay of the duty; this persuasion prevailing upon the heart is faith, and acting thereupon is acting in faith, and the more the difficulties are, the more faith. And it is most sweet, that he, that is not persuaded, have patience towards them that are, and judge not; and this will free thee from the trouble of others actings; which, thou sayest, adds to thy grief. Only let me offer two or three things, and I have done.

Doest thou not think, that fear of the Levellers (of whom there is no fear) that they would destroy nobility, had caused some to rake up corruption, to find it lawful to make this ruining hypocritical agreement (on one part). Hath not this biassed even some good men? I will not

say, their fear will come upon them; but if it do, they will themselves bring it upon themselves. Have not some of our friends by their passive principle (which I judge not, only I think it liable to temptation as well as the active; and neither good, but as we are led into them by God-neither to be reasoned into, because the heart is deceitful) been occasioned to overlook what is just and honest; and think the people of God may have as much, or more good the one way, than the other. Good by this man! against whom the Lord hath witnessed; and whom thou knowest. Is this so in their hearts, or is it reasoned, forced in?-Robin, I have done.. Ask we our hearts, whether we think, that, after all these dispensations, the like to which many generations cannot afford, should end in so corrupt reasonings of good men; and should so hit the designings of bad? Thinkest thou in thy heart, that the glorious dispensations of God point out to this, or to teach his people to trust in him, and to wait for better things, when, it may be, better are sealed to many of their spirits? And as a poor looker on, I had rather live in the hope of that spirit, and take my share with them, expecting a good issue, than be led away with the other. This trouble I have been at, because

my soul loves thee; and I would not have thee swerve, nor lose any glorious opportunity the Lord puts into thy hand. The Lord be thy counsellor. Dear Robin,

I rest thine,

Nov. 25th, 1648.

O. CROMWELL.

V.

SUPPLEMENTARY EVIDENCES, obtained from the earl of Clarendon's own authority, in confirmation and illustration of certain facts, arguments, and inferences, advanced in the first part of a Vindication of John Ashburnham's character.

(1.)

At page 67 of the first volume of this work is inserted an extract from lord Clarendon's History, for the purpose of shewing that the title of king's market-man, however facetiously, is not more appropriately bestowed by the noble Historian on J. Ashburnham, than it might be on others, said to be instrumental in the sale of peerages: and that the charge, or suspicion of his having defrauded his majesty, to the amount of five hundred pounds, of the purchase-money is not better warranted than the same would be against some persons similarly engaged in a transaction related by lord Clarendon, but without naming the parties to it.

In order to bring back to the reader's recollection the aforesaid extract it may suffice here