Milton however made the experiment which happily Dr. Johnfon has not; and that too after the Restoration; and refifted the temptations of court-favour, and the folicitations of his wife to accept of it, with a magnanimity which would do him honour with any man but the author of the new narrative.

..Milton's reason for rejecting this offer was, that "his wifh was to live and die "an honeft man." But, fays the Doctor, "If he confidered the Latin Secre

tary as exercifing any of the powers of "6 government, he that had fhared au"thority, either with the parliament or Cromwell, might have forborn to talk

very loudly of his honesty," p. 91.

The

The venom of this remark happens to be too weak to do any mifchief. Cafuifts. of all fects and complexions have done juftice to the honefty of men who adhered to their principles and perfuafions, though they might judge wrong in the choice of them.

He goes on,

"And if he thought the "office minifterial only, he certainly might have honestly retained it under "the King." Not quite fo certainly. But Milton's and Dr. Johnfon's notions of honesty are fo widely different, that we cannot admit the Doctor to estimate Milton's honefty by his own feale. In the end, however, he queftions the fact. "But this tale has too little evidence to deferve a difquifition: large offers

"and

and sturdy rejections are among the

most common topicks of falfehood." That is, in plain unaffected English, "No man could ever reject a large offer, though on conditions ever fo re

66

pugnant to his profeffed principles." But the Doctor is but an individual, and his experience from his own particular cafe will not be admitted as the ftandard of other men's integrity; and yet this is the only reafon he gives for rejecting this anecdote, fo honourable to Milton.

Milton's attachment to Cromwell was evidently founded on different confiderations. The narrownefs of the Presbyterians in their notions of Liberty, and particularly of religious liberty, had appeared upon many occafions. He more

.than

than hints, in his Areopagitica, their inclination to govern by the epifcopal and oppreffive maxims of the Stuart race. He faw and abhorred their attempts to fhackle the faith of Proteftants and Chriftians in the bonds of fyftems, confeffions, tefts, and fubfcriptions.

Cromwell's plan was of a inore generous complexion; and Milton's Sonnet *

*To O. CROMWELL.

CROMWELL, Our Chief of Men, that through a
Not of war only, but diftractions rude, [crowd,
(Guided by Faith and matchiefs Fortitude)
To Peace and Truth thy glorious way haft plow'd,
And fought GoD's battles, and his works purfu'd,
While Darwent ftreams with blood of Scots im-
And Dunbar field refound thy praises loud, [bru'd,
And Worcester's laureat wreath. Yet much re-
To conquer still: Peace has her victories [mains
No less than thofe of War. New foes arise,
Threat'ning to bind our Souls in fecular chains:
Help us to fave free confcience from the paw
Of hircling wolves, whofe gofpel is their maw.
addreffed

addreffed to him, was evidently a compliment founded on the expectation that he would lay the ground-work of a free toleration in matters of religion, without which he faw (what Dr. Johnfon never will fee) that civil liberty can never be established upon its proper bafis. Milton's adherence to Cromwell, therefore, was founded on the most liberal views ; and while there was a profpect of realiz ing the idea, was certainly irreprehenfible.

Dr. Johnson however, in fpite of every prefumption to the contrary, will have Milton's agency. in political matters to have been confidered as of great impor

tance.

"When