Page:Works of Thomas Carlyle - Volume 06.djvu/352

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PART III. BETWEEN THE CIVIL WARS
[1648

His face, to come to a very clear and joint resolution, on many grounds at large there debated amongst us, That it was our duty, if ever the Lord brought us back again in peace, to call Charles Stuart, that man of blood, to an account for that blood he had shed, and mischief he had done to his utmost, against the Lord’s Cause and People in these poor Nations.’ Mark that also!

‘And how the Lord led and prospered us in all our undertakings that year, in this way; cutting His work short, in righteousness; making it a year of mercy, equal if not transcendent to any since these Wars began; and making it worthy of remembrance by every gracious soul, who was wise to observe the Lord, and the operations of His hands,—I wish may never be forgotten.’ Let Fleetwood, if he have the same heart, go and do likewise.[1]

Abysses, black chaotic whirlwinds:—does the reader look upon it all as Madness? Madness lies close by; as Madness does to the Highest Wisdom, in man’s life always: but this is not mad! This dark element, it is the mother of the lightnings and the splendours; it is very sane, this!—

  1. A faithful Memorial of that remarkable Meeting of many Officers of the Army in England at Windsor Castle, in the year 1648, etc. etc. (in Somers Tracts, vi. 499-501).