RIGHT REJOICING. 383 his Majesty's restitution, it is those whom they reproached that have silently and effectually accomplished it, and that with speed as soon as they had power. 8. It is some matter of thankfulness to me, that whereas, to our perpetual shame, we could not in so many years compose the disa- greements in church affairs among us, we are not altogether with- out hope that agreement may be now more effectually procured ; not only because those carnal advantages that hindered it with some are taken from them, and suffering will dispose some more to peace, but because we are persuaded the disposition, and we are sure the interest, of His Majesty standeth for our reconciliation and unity. And Verily we are the most inexcusable people in the world, if our own long and sad experience do not resolve us to do the utmost in that work ourselves, which, if we are not horridly proud and willful, is easy to accomplish. 9. And it is matter of thanksgiving that God hath been all along so wonderfully seen in the work ; which Makes us hope that the issue will yet be for our good. The first sparks that set fire on the last foundation are yet much unknown, but were so little as makes it the more strange. The wonderful whirlwindthat sudden- ly finished the subversion was marvelous, though sad, because of the wickedness ofmen. The introducing of the remnant of the members; the stop that was given them, when they had voted in a committee a liberty in religion that excepted nòt Popery ; the casting them out by those that set them up ; the discoveries of the fallaciousness of some of their chiefs, who were then tempted into a compliance with the army, and were fabricating a new forni ofa commonwealth ; the breakingofthem and of the army, in part by the returningmembers ; the unexpected' stop that was given first to their proceedings by His Excellency in the North ;' the expedi- tiousness, the constancy, the unanimity, and strange successfulness of that attempt, that an army who thought themselves only fit to be the nation's 'security for liberty and religion, and were thought necessary to be entailed upon us to that end ; that were so height- ened in their own and other men's esteem, by their many and wonderful successes, should in a moment (we scarce knowhow) fly all into pieces as a grenado that is fired ; that Ireland at the same time should be so strangely and easily reduced, and that by sober, faithful hands, and by so few, and with suchspeed; that this famous city should be so unanimously excited to concur so eminently, - and contribute . very much to the success ; that His Excellency should conquer without any blows, and all he despatched that since is done with no considerable resistance ; all this, and much' more, do make us wonder at the hand of God. And seldom is there so
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