306 brought him into their hands. Although the mallice of the mallignant party and their apostate brethren seem'd to threaten them, yett they thought they ought to cast themselves upon God, while they acted with a good conscience for him an'd their country. Some of them after, to excuse, belied themselves, and sayd they were under the awe of the armie, and overperswaded by Cromwell, and the like; but it is certeine that all men herein were left to their free liberty of acting, neither perswaded nor compelled; and as there were some nominated in the commission who never sate, and others who sate at first, but durst not hold on, so all the rest might have dcclin'd it if they would, when it is apparent they should have suffcr'd nothing by so doing. :For those who then declin'd were afterwards, when they offer'd themselves, receiv'd in againe, and had places of more trust and benefitt then those who run the utmost hazard; which they deserv'd not, for I know upon certeine knowledge that many, yea the most of them, retreated not for conscience, but for feare and worldly prudence, foreseeing that the inso1ency of the armie might grow to that height as to ruine the cause, and reduce the kingdome into the hands of the enemie; and then those who had bene most courageous in tlJeir country's cause should be given up as victims. These poore men ,did privately animate those who appear'd most publiquely, and I knew several! of them in whom I liv'd to see that saying of Christ fulfill'd, "He that will " save his life shall loose it, and he that for my sake will loose his " life shall save it;" when after it fell out that all their prudent declensions sav'd not the lives of some nor the estates of others. As for Mr. Hutchinson, although he was very much confirm'd in his iudgment concerning the cause, yett here being call'd to an extra. ordinary action, whereof many were of several! minds, he address'd himselfe to God by prayer, desiring the Lord tluit, if through any humane frailty he were led into any error or false opinion in these greate transactions, he would open his eies, and not suffer him t"
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