171 few good men, were so easily blowne up into causelesse suspicions and iealousies, and there were so many malignant whispers, dayly spread abroad, of every one in office, that it was impossible for any man, so worthily to demeane himselfe, but that a jealous misconstruction, of some inconsiderable trifle, was enough to blast the esteeme of all his actions, though never so pious and deserving, and of all things in the world, nothing was so contrary to the governor's cleare and generous heart, as a base and causelesse iealousie of him.' But notwithstanding these and many other reasons, such as the unprofitable expence of his time, estate, and labours, where he should reape neither glory nor advantage to himselfe, he consider'd, that since he had rather declin'd then sought the enlargement of his power and command, and that the parliament and generalis had, at such a distance, bene moov'd, to put it unsought for, upon him, it was a worke which God call'd him to, and that the Lord, who sett him into the employment, would conquer all the difficulties. For the uniust thoughts or reports of men or their ungrateful! returns, he was as much above the griefe of that, as the vaineglorie of mutable popular applause. It was in all things his endeavour to do and deserve well, and then he never regarded the prayse or disprayse of men, for he knew that it was impossible to keepe on a constant careere of vertue and iustice, and to please all. It suffic'd him, for his inward peace, that he did not thrust himselfe into this and other employments, for any popular, ambitious, or advantageous interes t of his owne, but that he was call'd of God, to the carrying on of the interest of truth, righteousnesse, and holinesse, and to the defence of his country, wherein he was faithful!, and found the Lord's protection and glorious presence, not only in all he did, but in all he suffer'd for him and from him. 4 In effect it will be seen that this gave him more uneasiness than his enemies in the plenitude of power were ever able to do.
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