. Oliver Cromwell, a history; comprising a narrative of his life, with extracts from his letters and speeches, and an account of the political, religious, and military affairs of England during his time . stration, he discovered that by the law of necessity theGovernment had fallen upon his shoulders. It was a thanklesstask, which no other man in England could have successfullyencountered. As he trod on in the line of strict duty, he per-ceived with crushing sorrow that his burden afforded neitherjoy to himself nor gratitude to his people. But while his Government was unstable as simply an exp
. Oliver Cromwell, a history; comprising a narrative of his life, with extracts from his letters and speeches, and an account of the political, religious, and military affairs of England during his time . stration, he discovered that by the law of necessity theGovernment had fallen upon his shoulders. It was a thanklesstask, which no other man in England could have successfullyencountered. As he trod on in the line of strict duty, he per-ceived with crushing sorrow that his burden afforded neitherjoy to himself nor gratitude to his people. But while his Government was unstable as simply an expedi-ent of the time, and while it was so soon to fade away, hiswork must endure while men inhabit the earth. For Cromwelland his Puritan hosts engrafted it imperishably upon civilisa-tion, that nations have the right to govern themselves, and thatall just powers in the State are derived from the people. Aboveall else, he destroyed the dangerous theory of a fundamentalunion between Church and State, whereby the rulers assumethe right to coerce the consciences of Dissenters ; and he brokein pieces an ecclesiastical system which promised to become as Oliver Cromwell. From a painUng hy Sir Peter CROMWELLS PLACE IN HISTORY. 489 intolerant and tyrannical as that which it had displaced. Heinsisted that it was the natural right of every individual toworship God from his own heart and lips, free from the inter-position of all sacerdotal machinery. And the absolute free-dom of conscience and equality before the law which are solargely the principles of modern civilisation, wherever theymay have had their birth, flourished into healthy and perma-nent life under the nourishing and zealous care of OliverCromwells Government. He has no monument in England, and he can have nonewith the sanction of the Government, because a monument toCromwell would be an official acknowledgment of successfulrebellion. But the great Deliverer needs no marble shaft whilemankind cherishes the remembrance
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectcromwelloliver159916
