in the Year
of Grace 1660, though accomplished under universal acclamations
from the four corners of the British Dominions, turns out to have
been one of the mournfulest that ever took place in this land of
ours. It called and thought itself a Settlement of brightest
hope and fulfilment, bright as the blaze of universal tar-barrels
and bonfires could make it: and we find it now, on looking back
on it with the insight which trial has yielded, a Settlement as
of despair. Considered well, it was a settlement to govern
henceforth without God, with only some decent Pretence of God.

Governing by the Christian Law of God had been found a thing of
battle, convulsion, confusion, an infinitely difficult thing:
wherefore let us now abandon it, and govern only by so much of
God's Christian Law as--as may prove quiet and convenient for us.
What is the end of Government? To guide men in the way wherein
they should go; towards their true good in this life, the portal
of infinite good in a life to come? To guide men in such way,
and ourselves in such way, as the Maker of men, whose eye is upon
us, will sanction at the Great Day?--Or alas, perhaps at bottom
_is_ there no Great Day, no sure outlook of any life to come;
but only this poor life, and what of taxes, felicities, Nell-
Gwyns and entertainments, we can manage to muster here? In that
case, the end of Government will be, To suppress all noise and
disturbance, whether of Puritan preaching, Cameronian psalm-
singing, thieves'-riot, murder, arson, or what noise soever, and
--be careful that supplies do not fail! A very notable
conclusion, if we will think of it; and not without an abundance
of fruits for us. Oliver Cromwell's body hung on the Tyburn-
gallows, as the type of Puritanism found futile, inexecutable,
execrable,--yes, that gallows-tree has been a fingerpost into
very strange country indeed. Let earnest Puritanism die; let
decent Formalism, whatsoever cant it be or grow to, live! We
have had a pleasant journey in that direction; and are--arriving
at our inn?

To support the Four Pleas of the Crowns and keep Taxes coming in:
in very sad seriousness, has not this been, ever since, even in
the best times, almost the one admitted end and aim of
Government? Religion, Christian Church, Moral Duty; the fact
that man had a soul at all; that in man's life there was any
eternal truth or justice at all,--has been as good as left
quietly out of sight. Church i