Paul.-Are not these amazing sentiments, on their part, my estimable, timberheaded, leadenhearted friend?]: so full of affection were their spirits unto all. And truly this would help you to execute the judgment of truth, and of mercy also.

A second thing is, To desire you would be faithful with the Saints; to be touched with them. And I hope, whatever others may think, it may be a matter to us all of rejoicing to have our hearts touched (with reverence be it spoken) as Christ, "being full of the spirit," was "touched with our infirmities," that He might be merciful. So should we be; we should be pitiful. Truly, this calls us to be very much touched with the infirmities of the Saints; that we may have a respect unto all, and be pitiful and tender towards all, though of different judgments. And if I did seem to speak something that reflected on those of the Presbyterial judgment,—truly I think if we have not an interest of love for them too, we shall hardly answer this of being faithful to the Saints.

In my pilgrimage, and some exercises I have had abroad, I did read that Scripture often, Forty-first of Isaiah; where God gave me, and some of my fellows, encouragement as to' what He would do there and elsewhere; which He hath performed for us. He said, "He "would plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah-tree, "and the myrtle and the oil-tree; and He would set in "the desert the fir-tree, and the pine-tree, and the box"tree together." For what end will the Lord do all this? "That they may see, and know, and consider, and under"stand together, That the hand of the Lord hath done "this;"-that it is He who hath wrought all the salvations and deliverances we have received. For what end!

1'will' in orig.

To

see, and know, and understand together, that He hath done. and wrought all this for the good of the Whole Flock [Even

So.

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For Saints' read Good Men;' and it is true to the end of the world]. Therefore, I beseech you,-but I think I need not,-have a care of the Whole Flock! Love the sheep, love the lambs; love all, tender all, cherish and countenance all, in all things that are good. And if the poorest Christian, the most mistaken Christian, shall desire to live peaceably and quietly under you,—I say, if any shall desire but to lead a life of godliness and honesty, let him be protected.

I think I need not advise, much less press you, to endeavour the Promoting of the Gospel; to encourage the Ministry; such a Ministry and such Ministers as be faithful in the Land; upon whom the true character is. Men that have received the Spirit, which Christians will be able to discover, and do the will of;' men that "have received "Gifts from Him who is ascended up on high, who hath "led captivity captive, to give gifts to men,"2 even for this same work of the Ministry! And truly the Apostle, speaking in another place, in the Twelfth of the Romans, when he has summed up all the mercies of God, and the goodness of God; and discoursed, in the former Chapters, of the foundations of the Gospel, and of those things that are the subject of those first Eleven Chapters,―he beseecheth them to "present their bodies a living sacrifice" [Note that!]. He beseecheth them that they would not esteem highly of themselves, but be humble and sober-minded, and not stretch themselves beyond their line; and also that they would have a care for those that "had received gifts" to the uses there mentioned. I speak not,—I thank God it is far from my heart,-for a Ministry deriving itself from 2 Ephesians, iv. 8.

1 Preaching Clergy.

the Papacy, and pretending to that which is so much insisted on, "Succession" ["Hear, hear!" from the Puseyites]. The true Succession is through the Spirit-[I should say so!],-given in its measure. The Spirit is given for that use, To make proper Speakers-forth of God's eternal Truth;' and that's right Succession. But I need not discourse of these things to you; who, I am persuaded, are taught of God, much more and in a greater measure than myself, concerning these things.

Indeed I have but one word more to say to you; though in that perhaps I shall shew my weakness: it's by way of encouragement to go on in this Work. And give me leave to begin thus. I confess I never looked to see such a Day as this,—it may be nor you neither,— when Jesus Christ should be so owned as He is, this day, in this Work. Jesus Christ is owned this day by the Call of You; and you own Him, by your willingness to appear for Him. And you manifest this, as far as poor creatures may do, to be a Day of the Power of Christ. I know you well remember that Scripture, "He makes His People willing in the day of His power." God manifests this to be the Day of the Power of Christ; having, through so much blood, and so much trial as hath been upon these Nations, made this to be one of the great issues thereof: To have His People called to the Supreme Authority [A thing, I confess, worth striving for; and the one thing worth striving for!]. He makes this to be the greatest mercy, next to His own Son. God hath owned His Son; and He hath owned you, and made you own Him. I confess I never looked to have seen such a day; I did not. -Perhaps you are not known by face to one another;

1 Psalm cx. 3, a favourite Psalm of Oliver's,-as we know already, and solid Ludlow knows.

'indeed' I am confident you are strangers, coming from all parts of the Nation as you do but we shall tell you that indeed we have not allowed ourselves the choice of one person in whom we had not this good hope, That there was in him faith in Jesus Christ and love to all His People and Saints [What a Parliament; unexampled before and since in this world!].

Thus God hath owned you in the eyes of the world; and thus, by coming hither, you own Him: and, as it is in Isaiah, xliii. 21,-it's an high expression; and look to your own hearts whether, now or hereafter, God shall apply it to you: "This People," saith God, "I have formed for Myself, that they may shew forth my praise."

I

say, it's a memorable passage; and, I hope, not unfitly applied: the Lord apply it to each of your hearts! I shall not descant upon the words; they are plain: indeed you are as like the " forming of God" as ever people were. If a man should tender a Book to you 'to swear you upon,' I dare appeal to all your consciences, Neither directly nor indirectly did you seek for your coming hither. You have been passive in coming hither; being called,—and indeed that's an active work,-' though not on our part!' "This People have I formed:" consider the circumstances by which you are "called" hither; through what strivings [At Marston Moor, at Naseby, Dunbar and elsewhere], through what blood you are come hither,—where neither you nor I, nor no man living, three months ago, had any thought to have seen such a company taking upon them, or rather being called to take, the Supreme Authority of this Nation! Therefore, own your call! Indeed, I think it may be truly said that there never was a Supreme Authority consisting of such a Body, above One-hundred-and-forty, I believe; 'never such a Body' that came into the Supreme Authority before,' under such a notion as this,' in such

a way of owning God, and being owned by Him. And therefore I may also say, never such a "People" so "formed," for such a purpose, were' thus called before [These are lucent considerations; lucent, nay radiant !].

If it were a time to compare your standing with 'that of those that have been "called" by the Suffrages of the People-[He does not say what the result would be]Which who can tell how soon God may fit the People for such a thing? None can desire it more than I! Would all were the Lord's People; as it was said, "Would all the Lord's People were Prophets" [Fit to sit in Parliament and make Laws; alas, hitherto but few of them can "prophesy!"]. I would all were fit to be called. It ought to be the longing of our hearts to see men brought to own the Interest of Jesus Christ. And give me leave to say: If I know anything in the world, what is there likelier to win the People to the interest of Jesus Christ, to the love of Godliness (and therefore what stronger duty lies on you, being thus called), than an humble and godly conversation? So that they may see that' you love them; that' you lay yourselves out, time and spirits, for them! Is not this the likeliest way to bring them to their liberties? [To make them free by being servants of God; free, and fit to elect for Parliament !] And do not you, by this, put it upon God to find out times and seasons for you; 'fit seasons' by putting forth His Spirit? At least you convince them that, as men fearing God have fought them out of their bondage under the Regal Power, so men fearing God do now rule them in the fear of God, and take care to administer Good unto them.-But this is some digression. I say, own your call; for it is of God! Indeed, it is marvellous, and it hath been unprojected. It's not long since either you or we And indeed this hath been the way God dealt with us all along, To keep things from our eyes

came to know of it.

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