Two Centuries
The Settlement effected by our 'Healing Parliament' 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 l
