The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-12-28
(From the N. Y. Evening Post. J
Oliver Cromwell.

Eton college. With maps and plans.
London: Rivingtons.
Cromwell's career bears a strange
character Of paradox. The most fer
vently religious ruler who has ever gov
erned England, he yet excited, both in
his lifetime as after his death, suspicious
of profound hypocrisy the most success
full leader of men who has ever risen from
private life to supreme power (for his
whole course from the beginning of the
civil wars down to the day of his death
is not marked by single failure) he has
yet left it open for doubt and discussion
whether he can make good his claim to
a place among statesmen of the first rank.
Carlyle has dispelled forever the stu
pid delusion, generated by party spirit
and kept alive by popular Ignorance.
that the man who held the foremost place
In England at the greatest crisis of her
destiny was no better than a Puritan
Iartmte. But any one who reads atten-
lively Mr.. Cornish s admirable title Life
of Oliver Cromwell will learn even more
easily than from the pages OF CARLYLE
elaborate work that, if Cromwells faults
no less than his merits are to be really
understood, one must admit not only that
he was no hypocrite, but also that he was
more truly under the influence of reli-
gious sentiment and religious ideas than
any other person who could be namedein
the long line of English monarchs or
English ministers. Luther, Knox, Bun
yam, Baxter, and Wesley were not more
truly men of religion (Which is differ
ent thing from saying they were no bet
ter men) than the Lord Protector. On
this matter his public address may be set
aside by any one who thinks that their
Pious phraseology was, though not hypo-
critical, yet conventional and intended
to meet the taste of an audience of
Puritans. divers private writings,
and the recorded expressions of his
everyday life, are quite sufficient to es-
tablish the reality of his religious con-
vlctlons. That, after a possibly some
what valid youth or boyhocd, he during
earl y manhood went through what he al
ways believed to be process of CONVEX
sion, is certain. cob, I lived in and
loved darkness and hated light I
was chief, the chief, of sinners. That
is true. [ hated goodness, yet God had
mercy on me" Can any human being
doubt that these words expressed Crom2
wells real feeling?
1t may, indeed, be fancled that early
fervor passed away with advance of
years and increased experience of the
world: Whoever entertains this thought
should read Cromwell's letter to his
brother-ln-law on the death of that gen
tleman's son:
"God hath taken away your eldest son
by a cannon-shot. Sir, YOU
know my own trials this way; but the
Lord supported me with this, that the
Lord took him into the happiness we all
pant for and live for. There is your
precious child, full of glory, never to
know sin or sorrow any more.
Truly he was exceedingly beloved in the
army OF all that knew him; he is a glori-
Gus saint in heaven, wherein you ought
exceedingly to rejoice. Let this drink
up your sorrow, seeing these are not
felgned words to comfort you"
This was his language in the very
midst OF the civil war. These words,
written by father who had himself lost
his own son, to dear relative mourning
over the death of child, are assuredly
the expression of the truest feeling. A
year or two later he shows himself filled
with anxiety (Which was not misplaced)
as to the character of his son Richard
L would have him mind and understand
business, read little history, study the
mathematics and cosmography; these are
good, with subordination to the things
of God better than idleness or mere out
ward worldly contents. These fit for pub-
nc services, for Which q man Is 5orn." To
his daughterin-law he writes on the
same day II desire you both to make
it above all things your business to seek
the Lord, to be frequently calling upon
Him, and be listening what re-
turns He makes to you for he will be
speaking in your ear and in your heart
II you attend thereunto I desire you to
provoke your husband likewise there
unto. AS for the pleasures of this life
and outward business, let that be upon
the bye" Expressions like these. used
In letter never intended to meet the
public eye, tell their own tale. The
writer may be self-deceiver, his con-
duct may fall far short of his own moral
standard, his views of duty may them
selves be tinged with fanaticism or un-
scruPulousness but to suppose that he is
not really concerned for the state of his
own soul and for the spiritual welfare Of
those he loves, is utterly to misread hu-
/ man nature Nor di1 N,or,- ,,ol1, IL a