Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

§ 57. At this time the Lord Broghill and the Earl of Warwick brought me to Preach before Cromwell the Protector (which was the only time that ever I preached to him, save once long before, when he was an inferior Man among other Auditors): I knew not which way to provoke him better to his Duty than by Preaching on 1 Cor. 1. 10. against the Divisions and Distractions of the Church, and showing how mischievous a thing it was for Politicians to maintain such Divisions for their own Ends, that they might fish in troubled waters, and keep the Church by its Divisions in a state of Weakness, lest it should be able to offend them: and to show the Necessity and Means of Union. But the plainness and nearness I heard was displeasing to him, and his Courtiers; but they put it up.

§ 57. At this time the Lord Broghill and the Earl of Warwick brought me to Preach before Cromwell the Protector (which was the only time that ever I preached to him, save once long before, when he was an inferiour Man among other Auditors): I knew not which way to provoke him better to his Duty than by Preaching on 1 Cor. 1. 10. against the Divisions and Distractions of the Church, and shewing how mischievous a thing it was for Politicians to maintain such Divisions for their own Ends, that they might fish in troubled waters, and keep the Church by its Divisions in a state of Weakness, lest it should be able to offend them: and to shew the Necessity and Means of Union. But the plainness and nearness I heard was displeasing to him, and his Courtiers; but they put it up.

§ 58. A while after Cromwell sent to speak with me! and when I came, in the presence only of three of his chief Men, he began a long and tedious Speech to me of God's Providence in the Change of the Government, and how God had owned it, and what great things had been done at home and abroad, in the Peace with Spain and Holland, &c. When he had wearied us all with speaking thus slowly about an hour, I told him, It was too great Condescension to acquaint me so fully with all these Matters which were above me, but I told him that we took our Ancient Monarchy to be a Blessing, and not an Evil to the Land. and humbly craved his Patience, that I might ask him, How England had ever forfeited that Blessing, and unto whom the Forfeiture was made? (I was fain to speak of the Species of Government only, for they had lately made it Treason by a Law to speak for the Person of the King). Upon that Question he was awakened into some Passion, and told me it was no Forfeiture, but God had Changed it as pleased him; and then he let fly at the Parliament (which thwarted him); and especially by name at four or five of those Members which were my chief Acquaintance; and I presumed to defend them against his Passion; and thus four or five hours were spent.