I thank God, no success darkens or disguises Truth to me; and I shall no less conform my words to my inward dictates now, then if they had been as the words of a KING ought to be among loyal Subjects, _full of power_. Reason is the divinest power. I shall never think my Self weakned, while I may make full and free use of that. No ecclipse of outward Fortune shall rob me of that light: what God hath denied of outward strength, his grace, I hope, will supply with inward resolutions; not morositie to deny, what is fit to be granted; but not to grant any thing which Reason and Religion bids me denie. I shall never think my Self less then my Self, while I am able thus to preserve the integrity of my Conscience, the only Jewel now left me, which is worth keeping. _O thou Soveraign of our Souls, the onely Commander of our Consciences; though I know not what to do, yet mine eyes are toward thee: To the protection of thy mercy I still commend my self._ _As thou hast preserved me in the day of Battell, so thou canst still shew me thy strength in my weaknesse._ _Be thou unto me in my darkest night a pillar of fire, to enlighten and direct me; in the day of my hottest affliction, be also a pillar of cloud to over-shadow and protect me; be to me both a Sun and a Shield._ _Thou knowest, that it is not any perverseness of will, but just perswasions of Honour, Reason, and Religion, which have made me thus far to hazard my Person, Peace, and Safetie, against those that by force have sought to wrest them from me._ _Suffer not my just resolutions to abate with my outward Forces; let a good Conscience alwaies accompany me in my solitude and desertions._ _Suffer me not to betray the powers of Reason, and that fortresse of my Soul which I am entrusted to keep for thee._ _Lead me in the paths of thy righteousnesse, and shew me thy salvation._ _Make my waies to please thee, and then thou wilt make mine enemies to be at peace with me._ * * * * * 23. _Upon the_ Scots _delivering the_ KING _to the_ English, _and His Captivity at_ Holmeby. Yet may I justifie those _Scots_ to all the world in this. That they have not deceived me; for I never trusted to them further then to men: if I am sold by them, I am only sorry they should do it: and that My price should be so much above My Saviors. These are but further Essays which God will have Me make of mans uncertainty, the more to fix Me on himself, who never faileth them that trust in him; though the Reeds of _Ægypt_ break under the hand of him that leans on them, yet the Rock of _Israel_ will be an everlasting stay and defence. Gods Providence commands Me to retire from all to himself, that in him I may enjoy My Self, which I lose, while I let out My hopes to others. The solitude & captivity to which I am now reduced, gives Me leisure enough to study the worlds vanity and inconstancie.