Napoleon Bonaparte vs. Oliver Cromwell

These two were great men of their times. Both of them have left an indelible mark on history. In some things we may say they were similar. For example, both were great military Generals with great genius. Each was a great ruler of his country. Yet, in many ways they were more different than similar, especially in the thing that mattered most - faith. 

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte was a Catholic, like most Frenchmen at the time, and it appears that throughout his career he was a just nominal Christian. At the end of his life and career -  after conquering nearly all of Europe, ruling an empire, and then losing badly - there is some credible evidence that he may have come to saving faith at last. 

Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell on the other hand was a Protestant and a Puritan. Who was a born again believer right from the beginning of his public career. From the beginning he did everything through faith in the Lord, believing strongly in His guidance and providence (no one can really escape this when reading his speeches and letters) and his legacy is stronger and much more godly than Napoleon's. 

J.H. Merle D'Aubigne
19th Century Historian

Great 19th century Protestant historian, J.H. Merle D'Aubigne, has given us some profound comparisons between the two in his very good book, The Protector - A vindication. 

First, he refers to a certain French historian who indicated that Cromwell was only an English hero, while Napoleon spread his name and influence into every quarter of the world, thus implying that Napoleon was greater. 

This is what D'Aubigne said in response: 

It is true that Cromwell did not launch his destroying legions into Spain and Russia and even into Egypt. It is true that he thought it the highest excellence to live in Christ to the end that God in all things might be glorified, and to bear, like Simon of Cyrenean, the cross and the shame of the Lord. But it is a grand mistake to suppose that his name was hardly known beyond the British isles. So great was his renown that it extended even to the distant plains of Asia... (p. 213) 

In fact, during his Protectorate, Cromwell warned the French King and his government that if they did not stop brutally persecuting and harassing a certain Protestant group (descendants of the Waldenses), he would send his own army to protect them. Cromwell, didn't have to do that. The French government knew well of Cromwell's undefeated army. So they stopped the persecution. That was Cromwell's influence.

D'Aubigne continues with his comparison: 

 He [Cromwell] has been compared to Bonaparte, and there are, indeed, striking features of resemblance between them. Neither was satisfied with confining himself to his own country alone, and both exerted their activity abroad. But while Napoleon bore to other nations French tyranny and indifference, Cromwell would have given them religious liberty and the Gospel. The everlasting revelations having reappeared in England [the  Protestant Reformation] and received the homage of a whole people, it was Cromwell's ambition to present them to the whole world. (p. 231)

This was his prayer to the end where on his deathbed he prayed: '...may the Name of Christ be glorious in the world.'
Napoleon's achievements and accomplishments were done mainly for personal power and glory and perhaps a bit of nationalism. It was only later that he discovered that the empire he had built was nothing and that Christ's empire was what will stand. 

These are just a few comparisons between the two. I'm sure there are many more things we could use for comparison. However, this should suffice for now. 


What really matters and what really is greatness in leader in the eyes of God is the fear of the Lord. Cromwell definitely had that throughout his life and career....did Napoleon? I haven't done enough reading on his personal life during his public career to be 100 percent sure, however, from my observation of his history...he definitely did not have it like Cromwell. 


God Bless


******************** 
Reference:

J.H. Merle D'Aubigne, The Protector: A Vindication, 1847, Virginia: Sprinkle Publications, 1997 

I Love You, Lord

Here is another one of my favourite songs, 'I love You, Lord'. It is sung by Barry McGuire as the Apostle Peter on another of Jimmy and Carol Owen's lovely musicals - The Witness. 

'So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord: thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs....' (John 21: 15)


Hear it here (audio only) and be blessed: 

I LOVE YOU, LORD

by Carol Owens

Peter:

I love You, Lord,
And You know I always meant to do things right.
I love You, Lord,
When I think of how I've failed You I could cry.
And when I hear You calling me
I want to run and hide,
Yet You know I love You so.

I Love You, Lord,
Although I know my heart may not seem true.
I love You, Lord,
And I've prayed for one more chance to prove I do.
I want to leave the past behind
and feel Your smile again,
Oh Lord, You know I love You so, I love You so.

So if You find it in Your heart
to let me start again,
I'll be your witness, Lord, Your witness, Lord,
Your witness to the end of my life.
Let me make it right,
Let me try again,
I'll be your witness to the end.

So if You find it in Your heart
to let me start again,
I'll be Your witness, Lord, Your witness, Lord,
Your witness to the end of my life.
Let me make it right,
Let me try again,
I'll be Your witness to the end, to the end.

********************************* 
Amen! May this be our prayer, too, when we feel that we've failed our Lord. 


God Bless

He is Alive!

Well, it is a long way from Easter (or Resurrection Day) still. However, I can't hold myself back from posting this song today! It has really touched and encouraged me. After all, for Christians, everyday of the year is Resurrection Day! He is our Passover and our Resurrection! He is Alive! It is so easy to forget this or take it for granted during the year. But that shouldn't happen. 

This is an older song by Don Francisco, from Jimmy and Carol Owens' (the ones who wrote 'Freely, Freely') album The Victor! - a beautiful Musical. 

It recounts the Resurrection Morn from Peter's perspective. I love songs that tell a story. 

The gates and doors were barred
And all the windows fastened down,
I spent the night in sleeplessness
And rose at every sound.
Half in hopeless sorrow
And half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breaking through
To drag us all away.

And just before the sunrise
I heard something at the wall.
The gate began to rattle
And a voice began to call.
I hurried to the window,
Looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches
And the sound of soldiers' feet.

There was no one there but Mary,
So I went down to let her in,
And John stood there beside me
As she told us where she'd been.
She said, "They've moved Him in the night
And none of us knows where.
The stone's been rolled away
And now His body isn't there."

We both ran toward the garden,
Then John ran on ahead.
We found the stone and the empty tomb
Just the way that Mary said.
But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in
Was just an empty shell
And how or where they'd taken Him
Was more than I could tell.

Well something strange had happened there,
Just what I did not know....
John believed a miracle, but
I just turned to go.
Circumstance and speculation
Couldn't life me very high,
'Cause I'd seen them crucify Him...
Then I saw Him die.

And back inside the house again
The guilt and anguish came.
Everything I'd promised Him
Just added to my shame.
When at last it came to choices,
I'd denied I know His name.
And even if He was alive
It wouldn't be the same.

Suddenly the air was filled
With strange and sweet perfume.
Light that came from everywhere
Drove shadows from the room.
Jesus stood before me
With His arms held open wide.
And I fell down on my knees,
And just clung to Him and cried.

He raised me to my feet,
And as I looked into His eyes
Love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the skies.
My guilt and my confusion
Disappeared in sweet release.
And every fear I'd ever had
Just melted into peace.

(Chorus)

He's alive! He's Alive!
He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide!

(Repeat)

He's alive! He's alive! He's alive!

****************************

Amen! May it bless you today as it has blessed me. 

Peace in the Midst of Darkness and Turmoil - 9/11

I just can't let that date pass without posting something about it. Its significance in history is undeniable and its cold horror still resonates within us even a decade later. My heart still goes out to those who have suffered so much on that day. In some way I'd like this post to be a sort of a tribute to them all.

I remember vividly where I was when we heard the news. I've always taken notice of God's care and comfort in the circumstances in which I first heard it. 

Beit el Salam (House of Peace)
The Back of the Church Building
This building has seen
many conversions occurring in it over
the years. God be praised!
Click here for more pictures

We were still in Egypt at the time. (We moved to Australia only a couple of months later) I was with my family at a missions conference in a lovely Christian Conference/Retreat facility, which is called in Arabic Beit el Salam or House of Peace. It is about an hours' away from the city of Alexandria in Egypt, right by the beautiful Meditteranean Sea. One of my favourite places in Egypt, in fact. The moment you enter the place, you can sense God's peace filling the place. I find it amazing that we were there at the moment when the world turned upside down.

Being a missions conference, there were a lot of people present from different countries around the world, many of whom were Americans. The morning service was amazing. There was a lovely time of praise and worship and a hilarious but powerful testimony from one of the missionaries. There was a lot of joy, laughter, and thanksgiving to the Lord for doing marvellous things. 

The next meeting was going to be the last service of the conference, at about 5.00 p.m. if I remember correctly. After lunch, it was still free time and people were milling around with different activities. We were in the gardens outside the Canteen and the small bookshop, having a last snack. Mum was in the bookshop. Around 4 p.m. (Egypt time) we heard a commotion and Mum came running out telling us that news was coming on the radio that America has been hit. We knew nothing. There were no  televisions in that place. We had very little details but it was obvious that it was something serious. 

Everyone immediately gathered for the evening service and it turned into a powerful meeting. This time a prayer meeting for America. We prayed and cried together. Love was overflowing.  Then came what I immediately believed to be an amazing part of that night where God's sovereign and foreknowledge lovingly prepared a comfort for all us weeks and perhaps months before that dreadful day.

The Egyptian branch of King's Kids (a children's band) had prepared two songs for performance - Shout to the Lord and a beautiful Arabic Christian Song called 'Peace, Peace to God's People Everywhere'. Isn't it amazing?! So appropriate! We were hearing a song reminding us with God's peace, while worshipping in the House of Peace! Everyone present was very, very touched by God's love and care. He is a merciful and loving God. We all left that conference sheltered in His peace in a world disturbed by pain, hate, and storm. 

In closing, I would like to give a close translation of this Peace song. I believe it is as relevant today as ever. When the King's Kids performed it then, everyone asked for an encore!! 

Your peace has passed our understandings

It is in us and will never cease 

No matter what the enemy says 

You fill our lives with peace

Chorus: 

Peace, Peace (Salam, Salam) to God's people everywhere. (2x)

Even if our feet lost their way

Your Spirit is in us and around us 

Restores our souls and guides us 

And fills our hearts with peace

(Repeat Chorus)

God's peace You've left for us

Not as the world gives do You give us

As long as Your Spirit lives in us 

Your people will always be at peace.

(Repeat Chorus twice)

You can find another translation here which is more singable with the tune of the original Arabic version. If you'rr interested to know what the melody is like you may like to hear the Arabic Version here (it is an old clip, but it is being sung by Egypt's most well-known Christian worship band, The Better Life Team, and filmed mainly in Beit el Salam). 

Amen! May He continue to give us His peace in a world still reeling with turmoil. 

God Bless

  

This Day in History - Oliver Cromwell

Well, due to studies and exams, it's been a while since my last post. But here I go with one and hopefully, with God's help, next week I will give all my readers another one! 

Today (though now a bit late in the day, here!), the 3rd of September, is a very interesting and important day in history. First, on that day in 1939, Britain (including all countries in the Commonwealth) declared war on Nazi Germany after Hitler's forces attacked Poland. This was the beginning of World War II - a war that changed the world and changed the course of history in many ways. I find this time really fascinating, since I see that God was very much at work during that time of darkness. I hope to write more about this time in later posts. 

However, today I would like to concentrate on another time that perhaps fascinates me even more. This date is also the anniversary of one of Oliver Cromwell's greatest victories, the Battle of Dunbar in 1650. There he fought against Charles II's forces. King Charles I had already been executed for his crimes against England, but his son Charles II (the one who years later imprisoned John Bunyan and many other puritans, and killed many of the Scottish Covenanters) was fighting to get his father's throne. At Dunbar, Cromwell's army was trapped and heavily outnumbered. After a night of fervent prayer, he had a deep assurance that God would give them victory and he encouraged his officers of this. The next day, God truly delivered them and Cromwell stopped briefly at the end of the Battle and sang Psalm 117.  He always remembered this day with deep gratitude.

Amazingly, on that same day a year later, Cromwell had another major victory in the Battle of Worcester against Charles II. Cromwell called it God's 'crowning mercy'. This finally ended the long and bloody phase of the English Civil War. 

To the end of his life and throughout his Protectorate he celebrated  this day as a day of thanksgiving. 

However, it was also, amazingly, on this very day in 1658 that the Lord chose to take him home. He had faithfully served his country and God's people throughout, even though he was hated, misunderstood, and wronged from many quarters (sadly, this included fellow Christians who either disagreed with him or were simply jealous). Yet, he was very humble, bore it meekly, and forgave. 

Here are some memorable things he said on his deathbed. They show how much he really loved God (Remember that these words came from one of Britain's greatest rulers - feared and respected throughout Europe):  

When his wife and children stood weeping about him, he said, 'Love not the world, I say unto you, it is not good that you should love the world. Children, live like Christians, and I leave you the Covenant [The Covenant of Grace and Redemption between God and His people] to feed upon' 

'The Lord hath filled me with as much assurance of his pardon, and his love, as my soul can hold.' 

'I think I am the poorest wretch that lives; but I love God, or rather, am beloved of God.' 

'Truly God is good; indeed He is; He will not [leave me].' 

'I would be willing to live to be farther serviceable to God and His people; but my work is done. Yet God will be with his people' 

Several people who were present with Cromwell in his last hours wrote down the words of this moving prayer that in many ways portrays his heart in a nutshell: 

Lord, though I am a miserable and wretched creature, I am in covenant with thee through grace. And I may, I will cove to thee, for they people. Thou hast made me, though very unworthy, a mean instrument to do them some good, and thee service; and many of them have set too high a value upon me, though others wish and would be glad of my death; Lord however, thou do dispose of me, continue and go on to do good for them. Give them consistency of judgement, one heart, and mutual love; and go on to deliver them, and with the work of reformation; and make the Name of Christ glorious in the world. Teach those who look too much on they instruments, to depend more upon thyself. Pardon such as desire to trample upon the dust of a poor worm, for they are thy people too. And pardon the folly of this short prayer: - Even for Jesus Christ's sake. And give us a good night, if it be thy pleasure. Amen. 

Throughout his Protectorate, Cromwell mourned the disunity and lack of love among many Christians of his day. He worked hard and prayed for the day when there would be love and unity between God's people. And he hoped that the principle of religious freedom that he vigorously fought to establish, would endure. 

In one of his letters (one of my favourites) to his son-in-law, Fleetwood, we see more of Cromwell's faith. He wanted to encourage his daughter, Biddy, who seems to have been going through some spiritual struggles. He wrote:   

Love argueth in this wise: What a Christ have I; what a Father in and through Him...This commends the love of God - It's Christ dying for men without strength, for men whilst sinners, whilst enemies. And shall we seek for the root of our comfort within us? What God hath done, what He is to us in Christ is the root of our comfort: in this is stability; in us is weakness. Acts of obedience are not perfect, and therefore, yield not perfect grace. Faith, as an act, yields it not; but only as it carries us into Him, who is our perfect rest and peace; in whom we are accounted of, and received, by the Father - even as Christ Himself. This is our high calling. Rest we here, and here only. 

I will conclude with H. F. Lovell Cocks' own conclusion: 

It was here [referring to the above letter] that Cromwell rested. He had his faults and his blind spots. He made his mistakes and some of them were serious [my note: as often happens with Generals or politicians]. But living this authentic New Testament faith he walked before God and men in profound humility and love of the brethren. Such was the man to whom even those who hated him conceded greatness. Misunderstood, misjudged, reviled by his enemies, and wounded in the house of his friends, his life-work so precariously poised and so soon overturned and destroyed [my note: referring to the Restoration after his death when they brought back Charles II], he towers over his contemporaries in lonely eminence for the magnanimity of his nature and the large compassion of his heart...to Cromwell's steward...'A larger soul...hath seldom dwelt in a house of clay.' (The Religious life of Oliver Cromwell, p. 82, 83)

Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1978) confirms this by commenting that:

That great period during Cromwell's Protectorate...was one of the most amazing epochs in the whole history of [England]. To me it was certainly one of the most glorious...Oliver Cromwell is a man whom we do not honour as we should.  (The Puritans: Their Origins and Successors, p. 394)

I pray this will not always be so. I personally found his life and work to really inspire me in my walk with the Lord. May it do the same for you, too, my dear readers.

God Bless.






*********************************
References: 


D. M. Lloyd-Jones, The Puritans: Their Origins and Successors, The Banner of Truth Trust, 1987.


H. F. Lovell Cocks, The Religious Life of Oliver Cromwell, London: Independent Press LTD, 1960.


Thomas Carlyle, Oliver Cromwell's Letters and Speeches with Elucidations. 


Click Here to watch Cromwell movie.


Click Here to hear a good lecture about Oliver Cromwell (see my blog page 'Oliver Cromwell - Man of Faith'.