The True Levellers
Standard Advanced
(1649).
Gerrard Winstanley and
the
Diggers
Note on the e-text: this Renascence
Editions text was transcribed by Sandra
Jones from the text of the 1649 tract. This edition is in the
public domain.
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The
True
Levellers
Standard
A D V A N C
E D
:
O R,
The State of
Community
opened, and Presented to the
Sons of Men.
By
William Everard,
Iohn Palmer,
Iohn South,
Iohn Courton.
William Taylor,
Christopher Clifford,
Iohn Barker. |
Ferrard
Winstanley,
Richard Goodgroome,
Thomas Starre,
William Hoggrill,
Robert Sawyer,
Thomas Eder,
Henry Bickerstaffe,
Iohn Taylor, &c. |
Beginning to Plant and
Manure the
Waste land upon
George-Hill, in the
Parish
of Walton, in the
County of Surrey.
____________________________________
L O N D O N,
Printed in the
Yeer,
M D C X L I X.
____________________________________
To all my
fellow Creatures
that shall view these ensu-
ing Lines.
H
E God of this world blinding the eyes of the men of the world, have
taken
possession of them and their Lives, Rules and Raigns, and in a high
measure
opposeth the everlasting spirit, the King of Righteousness; both in
them,
and on the whole Creation, bending all its Wit and power to destroy
this
spirit, and the persons in whom it lives, rules and governs; making
Lawes
under specious pretences, yea and penalties too, that all Nations,
Tongues
and Languages, shall fall down and worship this god, become subject,
yea
in slavery to it, and to the men in whom it dwels: But the god of this
world is Pride and Covetousness, the rootes of all Evil, from whence
flowes
all the Wickedness that is acted under the Sun, as Malice, Tyranny,
Lording
over, and despising their fellow Creatures, killing and destroying
those
that will not, or cannot become subject to their Tyranny, to uphold
their
Lordly Power, Pride and Covetousness. I have had some Conversation with
the Authour of this ensuing Declaration, and the Persons Subscribing,
and
by experience find them sweetly acted and guided by the everlasting
spirit,
the Prince of Peace, to walk in the paths of Righteousness, not daring
to venture upon any acts of injustice, but endeavouring to do unto all,
as they would have done to them, having Peace and Joy in themselves,
knit
together and united in one Spirit of Glory and Truth, Love to their
fellow
Creatures, Contentation with Food and Rayment, shewing much Humility
and
Meekness of spirit; such as these shall be partakers of the Promise.
Blessed are the
Meek,
for they shall inherit the Earth.
Secondly, For
this
action of theirs, in labouring to Manure the wast places of the Earth,
it is an action full of Iustice and Righteousnesse, full of Love and
Charity
to their fellow Creatures; nothing of the god of this world, Pride and
Covetousnesse seen in it, no self seeking, or glorying in the
Flesh.
Vouchsafe to
reade,
or view over these ensuing Lines yee Powers of the Earth; Oh that
Reason
might sit upon the throne of your hearts as Iudge; I am confident there
is nothing written in anger or hatred to your persons, but in love to
them
as fellow Creatures; but against that which have bound up your own
Spirits
in slavery; if you could speak impartially, your own Consciences can
bear
me witnesse, and only bears sway in your forcing you to exercise
Tyranny,
scourging and trampling underfoot your fellow Creatures, especially
those
whose eyes are opened and can cleerly discover the great Devil,
Tyranny,
Pride and Covetousnesse working to and fro upon your Spirits, and
raigning
in you, which will prove your own destruction: The Angels that kept not
their first Estate, are reserved under Chains of darknesse unto the
Iudgment
of the great day.
The whole
Creation
are the Angels of the everlasting Spirit of Righteousnesse, they are
all
ministring spirits, speaking every Creature in its kind the Will of the
Father. The Chariots of God are 20000 thousands of Angels, Psal.&c.
But yee the
great
ones of the Earth, the Powers of this world, yee are the Angels that
kept
not your first estate; and now remain under Chains of darknesse: Your
first
Estate was Innocency and Equallity with your fellow Creatures, but your
Lordly power over them, both Persons and Consciences, your proud
fleshly
imaginations, lofty thoughts of your selves, are the fruits of
darknesse
which you are kept under: The whole Creation groaneth and is in
bondage,
even until now, waiting for deliverance, and must wait till he that
with-holdeth
be taken away, that man of sin, that Antichrist which sits on the
throne,
in the hearts of the men of this world, the Powers of the Earth, above
all that is called God.
I know you
have
high thoughts of your selves, think you know much, and see much, but
the
Light that is in you is Darknesse; and how great is that darknesse?
They
that live in the light of the Spirit can discover that to be the
blacknesse
of darknesse which you count light. And truly, a great Light, a bright
Morning Star which will flourish and spread it self, shining in
Darknesse,
and darknesse shall not be able to comprehend it, though you Spurn
never
so much against it.
I expect
nothing
but opposition, mockings, deridings from Lord Esau the man of
Flesh:
I know it will be counted in the eye of Flesh, a foolish undertaking,
an
object of scorn and laughter; but in this is their Comfort and
incouragement,
That the power of Life and Light, the Spirit by whom they are
commanded,
will carry them on, strengthen and support them, rescuing them from the
Jaw of the Lyon and Paw of the Bear; For great is the work which will
shortly
be done upon the Earth. Despise not Visions, Voyces and Revelations;
examine
the Scriptures, Prophecies are now fulfilling; be not like Josephs
Brethren, speak not evil of things you know not: For whatsoever is of
God
will stand, do what you can, though you may crush it for a time, the
time
is neer expired it will spring up again and flourish like a green Bay
tree:What
is not of the Father will fall to the ground, though you bend all your
wit, power and policy to keep it up; but of that will be no
Resurrection.
That the eternal Spirit may enlighten you, that Reason may dwel in you,
and act accordingly, is the desire of your Loving Friend, and Fellow
Creature,
April
20,
1649
J O H N T A Y L O R.
A Declaration to the
Powers of England,
and to all the Powers of the World, Shewing the Cause why the Common
People
of England have begun, and gives Consent to Digge up, Manure,
and
Sowe Corn upon George-Hill in Surrey; by these that
have
Subscribed, and thousands more that gives Consent.
N
the beginning of Time, the great Creator Reason, made the Earth to be a
Common Treasury, to preserve Beasts,Birds,Fishes, and Man, the lord
that
was to govern this Creation; for Man had Domination given to him, over
the Beasts, Birds, and Fishes; but not one word was spoken in the
beginning,
That one branch of mankind should rule over another.
And the Reason is
this,
Every single man, Male and Female, is a perfect Creature of himself;
and
the same Spirit that made the Globe, dwels in man to govern the
Globe;so
that the flesh of man being subject to Reason, his Maker, hath him to
be
his Teacher and Ruler within himself, therefore needs not run abroad
after
any Teacher and Ruler without him, for he needs not that any man should
teach him, for the same Anoynting that ruled in the Son of man,
teacheth
him all things.
But since humane
flesh
(that king of Beasts) began to delight himself in the objects of the
Creation,
more then in the Spirit Reason and Righteousness, who manifests himself
to be the indweller in the Five Sences, of Hearing, Seeing, Tasting,
Smelling,
Feeling; then he fell into blindness of mind and weakness of heart, and
runs abroad for a Teacher and Ruler: And so selfish imaginations taking
possession of the Five Sences, and ruling as King in the room of Reason
therein, and working with Covetousnesse, did set up one man to teach
and
rule over another; and thereby the Spirit was killed, and man was
brought
into bondage, and became a greater Slave to such of his own kind, then
the Beasts of the field were to him.
And hereupon, The
Earth
(which was made to be a Common Treasury of relief for all, both Beasts
and Men) was hedged in to In-closures by the teachers and rulers, and
the
others were made Servants and Slaves: And that Earth that is within
this
Creation made a Common Store-house for all, is bought and sold, and
kept
in the hands of a few, whereby the great Creator is mightily
dishonored,
as if he were a respector of persons, delighting in the comfortable
Livelihood
of some, and rejoycing in the miserable povertie and straits of others.
From the beginning it was not so.
But this coming
in
of Bondage, is called A-dam, because this ruling and teaching
power
without, doth dam up the Spirit of Peace and Liberty; First
within
the heart, by filling it with slavish fears of others. Secondly
without,
by giving the bodies of one to be imprisoned, punished and oppressed by
the outward power of another. And this evil was brought upon us through
his own Covetousnesse, whereby he is blinded and made weak, and sees
not
the Law of Righteousnesse in his heart, which is the pure light of
Reason,
but looks abroad for it, and thereby the Creation is cast under bondage
and curse, and the Creator is sleighted; First by the Teachers and
Rulers
that sets themselves down in the Spirits room, to teach and rule, where
he himself is only King. Secondly by the other, that refuses the
Spirit,
to be taught and governed by fellow Creatures, and this was called
Israels
Sin, in casting off the Lord, and chusing Saul, one like
themselves
to be their King, when as they had the same Spirit of Reason and
government
in themselves, as he had, if they were but subject. And Israels
rejecting
of outward teachers and rulers to embrace the Lord, and to be all
taught
and ruled by that righteous King, that Jeremiah Prophesied
shall
rule in the new Heavens and new Earth in the latter dayes, will be
their
Restauration from bondage, Jer.23.5,6
But for the
present
state of the old World that is running up like parchment in the fire,
and
wearing away, we see proud Imaginary flesh, which is the wise Serpent,
rises up in flesh and gets dominion in some to rule over others, and so
forces one part of the Creation man, to be a slave to another; and
thereby
the Spirit is killed in both. The one looks upon himself as a teacher
and
ruler, and so is lifted up in pride over his fellow Creature:The other
looks upon himself as imperfect, and so is dejected in his Spirit, and
looks upon his fellow Creature of his own Image, as a Lord above
him.
And thus Esau,
the man of flesh, which is Covetousness and Pride, hath killed Jacob,
the Spirit of meeknesse, and righteous government in the light of
Reason,
and rules over him: And so the Earth that was made a common Treasury
for
all to live comfortably upon, is become through mans unrighteous
actions
one over another, to be a place, wherein one torments another.
Now the great
Creator,
who is the Spirit Reason, suffered himself thus to be rejected, and
troden
under foot by the covetous proud flesh, for a certain time limited;
therefore
saith he, The Seed out of whom the Creation did proceed, which is
my
Self, shall bruise this Serpents head, and restore my Creation again
from
this curse and bondage; and when I the King of Righteousnesse raigns in
every man, I will be the blessing of the Earth, and the joy of all
Nations.
And since the
coming
in of the stoppage, or the A-dam, the Earth hath been inclosed
and
given to the Elder brother Esau, or man of flesh, and hath been
bought and sold from one to another; and Jacob, or the yonger
brother,
that is to succeed or come forth next, who is the universal spreading
power
of righteousnesse that gives liberty to the whole Creation, is made a
servant.
And this Elder
Son,
or man of bondage, hath held the Earth in bondage to himself, not by a
meek Law of Righteousnesse, But by subtle selfish Councels, and by open
and violent force; for wherefore is it that there is such Wars and
rumours
of Wars in the Nations of the Earth? and wherefore are men so mad to
destroy
one another? But only to uphold Civil propriety of Honor, Dominion and
Riches one over another, which is the curse the Creation groans under,
waiting for deliverance.
But when once the
Earth
becomes a Common Treasury again, as it must, for all the Prophesies of
Scriptures and Reason are Circled here in the Community, and mankind
must
have the Law of Righteousnesse once more writ in his heart, and all
must
be made of one heart, and one mind.
Then this Enmity
in
all Lands will cease, for none shall dare to seek a Dominion over
others,
neither shall any dare to kill another, nor desire more of the Earth
then
another; for he that will rule over, imprison, oppresse, and kill his
fellow
Creatures, under what pretence soever, is a destroyer of the Creation,
and an actor of the Curse, and walks contrary to the rule of
righteousnesse: (Do,
as you would have others do to you; and love your Enemies, not in
Words,
but in actions).
Therefore you
powers
of the Earth, or Lord Esau, the Elder brother, because you have
appeared to rule the Creation, first take notice, That the power that
sets
you to work, is selfish Covetousnes, and an aspiring Pride, to live in
glory and ease over Jacob, the meek Spirit, that is, the Seed
that
lies hid, in & among the poor Common People, or yonger Brother, out
of whom the blessing of Deliverance is to rise and spring up to all
Nations.
And Reason, the
living
king of righteousnesse, doth only look on, and lets thee alone,That
whereas
thou counts thy self an Angel of Light, thou shalt appear in the light
of the Sun, to be a Devil, A- dam and the Curse that the
Creation
groans under; and the time is now come for thy downfal, and Jacob
must rise, who is the universal Spirit of love and righteousnesse, that
fils, and will fill all the Earth.
Thou teaching and
ruling
power of flesh, thou hast had three periods of time, to vaunt thy self
over thy Brother; the first was from the time of thy coming in, called A-dam,
or a stopage, till Moses came; and there thou that wast a
self-lover
in Cain, killed thy brother Abel, a plain-hearted man
that
loved righteousnesse: And thou by thy wisdom and beastly government,
made
the whole Earth to stinck, till Noah came, which was a time of
the
world, like the coming in of the watery Seed into the womb, towards the
bringing forth of the man child.
And from Noah
till Moses came, thou still hast ruled in vaunting, pride, and
cruel
oppression; Ishmael against Isaac, Esau against Jacob;
for thou hast still been the man of flesh that hath ever persecuted the
man of righteousnesse, the Spirit Reason.
And Secondly,
From Moses
till the Son of Man came, which was a time of the world, that
the
man child could not speak like a man, but lisping, making signs to shew
his meaning; as we see many Creatures that cannot speak do. For Moses
Law was a Language lapped up in Types, Sacrifices, Forms and Customs,
which
was a weak time. And in this time likewise, O thou teaching and ruling
power, thou wast an oppressor; for look into Scriptures and see if Aaron
and the Priests were not the first that deceived the people; and the
Rulers,
as Kings and Governors, were continually the Ocean-head, out of whose
power,
Burdens, Oppressions, and Poverty did flow out upon the Earth: and
these
two Powers still hath been the Curse, that hath led the Earth, mankind,
into confusion and death by their imaginary and selfish teaching and
ruling,
and it could be no otherwise; for while man looks upon himself, as an
imperfect
Creation, and seeks and runs abroad for a teacher and a ruler, he is
all
this time a stranger to the Spirit that is within himself.
But though the
Earth
hath been generally thus in darknesse, since the A-dam rise up,
and hath owned a Light, and a Law without them to walk by, yet some
have
been found as watchmen, in this night time of the world, that have been
taught by the Spirit within them, and not by any flesh without them, as
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Prophets: And these, and
such as
these, have still been the Butt, at whom, the powers of the Earth in
all
ages of the world, by their selfish Laws, have shot their fury.
And then Thirdly
from
the time of the Son of man, which was a time that the man-child
began to speak like a child growing upward to manhood, till now, that
the
Spirit is rising up in strength. O thou teaching and ruling power of
the
earthy man, thou hast been an oppressor, by imprisonment,
impoverishing,
and martyrdom; and all thy power and wit, hath been to make Laws, and
execute
them against such as stand for universal Liberty, which is the rising
up
of Jacob; as by those ancient enslaving Laws not yet blotted
out;
but held up as weapons against the man-child.
O thou Powers of England,
though thou hast promised to make this People a Free People, yet thou
hast
so handled the matter, through thy self-seeking humour, That thou hast
wrapped us up more in bondage, and oppression lies heavier upon us; not
only bringing thy fellow Creatures, the Commoners, to a morsel of
Bread,
but by confounding all sorts of people by thy Government, of doing and
undoing.
First, Thou hast
made
the people to take a Covenant and Oaths to endeavour a Reformation, and
to bring in Liberty every man in his place; and yet while a man is in
pursuing
of that Covenant, he is imprisoned and oppressed by thy Officers,
Courts
and Justices, so called.
Thou hast made
Ordinances
to cast down Oppressing, Popish, Episcopal, Self-willed and Prerogative
Laws; yet we see, That Self- wil and Prerogative power, is the great
standing
Law, that rules all in action, and others in words.
Thou hast made
many
promises and protestations to make the Land a Free Nation: And yet at
this
very day, the same people, to whom thou hast made such Protestations of
Liberty, are oppressed by the Courts, Sizes, Sessions, by thy Justices
and Clarks of the Peace, so called, Bayliffs, Committees, are
imprisoned,
and forced to spend that bread, that should save their lives from
Famine.
And all this,
Because
they stand to maintain an universal Liberty and Freedom, which not only
is our Birthright, which our Maker gave us, but which thou hast
promised
to restore unto us, from under the former oppressing Powers that are
gone
before, and which likewise we have bought with our Money, in Taxes,
Free-
quarter, and Bloud-shed; all which Sums thou hast received at our
hands,
and yet thou hast not given us our bargain.
O thou A-dam,
thou Esau, thou Cain, thou Hypocritical man of flesh,
when
wilt thou cease to kill thy yonger Brother? Surely thou must not do
this
great Work of advancing the Creation out of Bondage; for thou art lost
extremely, and drowned in the Sea of Covetousnesse, Pride and hardness
of heart. The blessing shall rise out of the dust which thou
treadest
under foot, Even the poor despised People, and they shall hold up
Salvation
to this Land, and to all Lands, and thou shalt be ashamed.
Our bodies as yet
are
in thy hand, our Spirit waits in quiet and peace, upon our Father for
Deliverance;
and if he give our Bloud into thy hand, for thee to spill, know this,
That
he is our Almighty Captain: And if some of you will not dare to shed
your
bloud, to maintain Tyranny and Oppression upon the Creation, know this,
That our Bloud and Life shall not be unwilling to be delivered up in
meekness
to maintain universal Liberty, that so the Curse on our part may be
taken
off the Creation.
And we shall not
do
this through force of Arms, we abhorre it, For that is the work of the Midianites
to kill one another; But by obeying the Lord of
Hosts,
who hath Revealed himself in us, and to us, by labouring the Earth in
righteousness
together, to eate our bread with the sweat of our brows, neither giving
hire, nor taking hire, but working together, and eating together, as
one
man, or as one house of Israel restored from Bondage; and so by the
power
of Reason, the Law of righteousness in us, we endeavour to lift up the
Creation from that bondage of Civil Propriety, which it groans
under.
We are made to
hold
forth this Declaration to you that are the Great Councel, and to you
the
Great Army of the Land of England, that you may know what we
would
have, and what you are bound to give us by your Covenants and Promises;
and that you may joyn with us in this Work, and so find Peace. Or else,
if you do oppose us, we have peace in our Work, and in declaring this
Report:
And you shall be left without excuse.
The work we are
going
about is this, To dig up Georges Hill and the waste Ground
thereabouts,
and to Sow Corn, and to eat our bread together by the sweat of our
brows.
And the First Reason is this, That we may work in righteousness, and
lay
the Foundation of making the Earth a Common Treasury for All, both Rich
and Poor, That every one that is born in the Land, may be fed by the
Earth
his Mother that brought him forth, according to the Reason that rules
in
the Creation. Not Inclosing any part into any particular hand, but all
as one man, working together, and feeding together as Sons of one
Father,
members of one Family; not one Lording over another, but all looking
upon
each other, as equals in the Creation; so that our Maker may be
glorified
in the work of his own hands, and that every one may see, he is no
respecter
of Persons, but equally loves his whole Creation, and hates nothing but
the Serpent, which is Covetousness, branching forth into selfish
Imagination,
Pride, Envie, Hypocrisie, Uncleanness; all seeking the ease and honor
of
flesh, and fighting against the Spirit Reason that made the Creation;
for
that is the Corruption, the Curse, the Devil, the Father of Lies; Death
and Bondage that Serpent and Dragon that the Creation is to be
delivered
from.
And we are moved
hereunto
for that Reason, and others which hath been shewed us, both by Vision,
Voyce and Revelation.
For it is shewed
us,
That so long as we, or any other, doth own the Earth to be the peculiar
Interest of Lords and Landlords, and not common to others as well as
them,
we own the Curse, and holds the Creation under bondage; and so long as
we or any other doth own Landlords and Tennants, for one to call the
Land
his, or another to hire it of him, or for one to give hire, and for
another
to work for hire; this is to dishonour the work of Creation; as if the
righteous Creator should have respect to persons, and therefore made
the
Earth for some, and not for all: And so long as we, or any other
maintain
this Civil Propriety, we consent still to hold the Creation down under
that bondage it groans under, and so we should hinder the work of
Restoration,
and sin against Light, that is given into us, and so through the fear
of
the flesh man, lose our peace.
And that this Civil
Propriety
is the Curse, is manifest thus, Those that Buy and Sell Land, and are
landlords,
have got it either by Oppression, or Murther, or Theft; and all
landlords
lives in the breach of the Seventh and Eighth Commandments, Thou
shalt
not steal, or kill.
First by their
Oppression.
They have by their subtle imaginary and covetous wit, got the
plain-hearted
poor, or yonger Brethren to work for them, for small wages, and by
their
work have got a great increase; for the poor by their labour lifts up
Tyrants
to rule over them; or else by their covetous wit, they have out-
reached
the plain-hearted in Buying and Selling, and thereby inriched
themselves,
but impoverished others: or else by their subtile wit, having been a
lifter
up into places of Trust, have inforced people to pay Money for a
Publick
use, but have divided much of it into their private purses; and so have
got it by Oppression.
Then Secondly for
Murther;
They have by subtile wit and power, pretended to preserve a people in
safety
by the power of the Sword; and what by large Pay, much Free-quarter,
and
other Booties, which they call their own, they get much Monies, and
with
this they buy Land, and become landlords; and if once Landlords, then
they
rise to be Justices, Rulers and State Governours, as experience shewes:
But all this is but a bloudy and subtile Theevery, countenanced by a
Law
that Covetousness made; and is a breach of the Seventh Commandement, Thou
shalt not kill.
And likewise
Thirdly
a breach of the Eighth Commandment, Thou shalt not steal; but
these
landlords have thus stoln the Earth from their fellow Creatures, that
have
an equal share with them, by the Law of Reason and Creation, as well as
they.
And such as there
rise
up to be rich in the objects of the Earth; then by their plausible
words
of flattery to the plain-hearted people, whom they deceive, and that
lies
under confusion and blindness: They are lifted up to be Teachers,
Rulers
and Law makers over them that lifted them up; as if the Earth were made
peculiarly for them, and not for others weal: If you cast your eye a
little
backward, you shall see, That this outward Teaching and Ruling power,
is
the Babylonish yoke laid upon Israel of old, under Nebuchadnezzar;
and so Successively from that time, the Conquering Enemy, have still
laid
these yokes upon Israel to keep Jacob down: And the last
enslaving
Conquest which the Enemy got over Israel, was the Norman over England;
and from that time, Kings, Lords, Judges, Justices, Bayliffs, and the
violent
bitter people that are Free-holders, are and have been Successively.
The Norman Bastard William himself, his Colonels,
Captains, inferiour
Officers, and Common Souldiers, who still are from that time to this
day
in pursuite of that victory, Imprisoning, Robbing, and killing the poor
enslaved English Israelites.
And this appears
cleer,
For when any Trustee or State Officer is to be Chosen, The Free-holders
or Landlords must be the Chusers, who are the Norman Common
Souldiers,
spred abroad in the Land; And who must be Chosen? but some very rich
man,
who is the Successor of the Norman Colonels or high Officers.
And
to what end have they been thus Chosen ? but to Establish that Norman
power the more forcibly over the enslaved English, and to beat
them
down again, when as they gather heart to seek for Liberty.
For what are all
those
Binding and Restraining Laws that have been made from one Age to
another
since that Conquest, and are still upheld by Furie over the People? I
say,
What are they? but the Cords, Bands, Manacles, and Yokes that the
enslaved English, like Newgate Prisoners, wears upon
their
hands and
legs as they walk the streets; by which those Norman
Oppressors,
and these their Successors from Age to Age have enslaved the poor
People
by, killed their yonger Brother, and would not suffer Iacob to
arise.
O what mighty
Delusion,
do you, who are the powers of England live in! That while you
pretend
to throw down that Norman yoke, and Babylonish power,
and
have promised to make the groaning people of England a Free
People;
yet you still lift up that Norman yoke, and slavish Tyranny,
and
holds the People as much in Bondage, as the Bastard Conquerour himself,
and his Councel of War.
Take notice, That
England
is not a Free People, till the Poor that have no land, have a free
allowance
to dig and labour the Commons, and so live as Comfortably as the
Landlords
that live in their Inclosures. For the People have not laid out their
Monies,
and shed their Bloud, that their Landlords, the Norman power,
should
still have its liberty and freedom to rule in Tyranny in his Lords,
landlords,
Judges, Justices, Bayliffs, and State Servants; but that the Oppressed
might be set Free, Prison doors opened, and the Poor peoples hearts
comforted
by an universal Consent of making the Earth a Common Treasury, that
they
may live together as one House of Israel, united in brotherly love into
one Spirit; and having a comfortable livelihood in the Community of one
Earth their Mother.
If you look
through
the Earth, you shall see, That the landlords, Teachers and Rulers, are
Oppressors, Murtherers, and Theeves in this manner; But it was not thus
from the Beginning. And this is one Reason of our digging and labouring
the Earth one with another, That we might work in righteousness and
lift
up the Creation from bondage: For so long as we own Landlords in this
Corrupt
Settlement, we cannot work in righteousness; for we should still lift
up
the Curse, and tread down the Creation, dishonour the Spirit of
universal
Liberty, and hinder the work of Restauration.
Secondly, In that
we
begin to Digge upon George-Hill, to eate our Bread together by
righteous
labour, and sweat of our browes; It was shewed us by Vision in Dreams,
and out of Dreams, That that should be the Place we should begin upon.
And though that Earth in view of Flesh, be very barren, yet we should
trust
the Spirit for a blessing. And that not only this Common, or Heath
should
be taken in and Manured by the People, but all the Commons and waste
Ground
in England and in the whole World, shall be taken in by the People in
righteousness,
not owning any Propriety; but taking the Earth to be a Common Treasury,
as it was first made for all.
Thirdly, It is
shewed
us, That all the Prophecies, Visions and Revelations of Scriptures, of
Prophets, and Apostles, concerning the calling of the Jews, the
Restauration
of Israel and making of that People, the Inheritors of the whole Earth
doth all seat themselves in this Work of making the Earth Common
Treasury;
as you may read Ezek.24.26,27& Jer.33.7. to 12. Esay.
49.17,18, &c. Zach. 8. from 9 to 12. Dan.2.44,45. Dan.
7.27. Hos.14.5,6,7. Joel 2.26,27. Amos 9. from
8 to
the end, Obad.17.18.21. Mic.5. from 7 to the end, Hab.
2.6,7,8.13,14. Gen.18.18. Rom.11.15. Zeph. 3.
& Zach.14.9.
And when the Son
of
man, was gone from the Apostles, his Spirit descended upon the Apostles
and Brethren, as they were waiting at Ierusalem; and the Rich
men
sold their Possessions and gave part to the Poor; and no man said, That
ought that he possessed was his own, for they had all things Common, Act.
4. 32. Now this Community was supprest by covetous proud flesh, which
was
the powers that ruled the world; and the righteous Father suffered
himself
thus to be suppressed for a time, times and dividing of time, or for 42
months, or for three dayes and half, which are all but one and the same
term of time: And the world is now come to the half day; and the Spirit
of Christ, which is the Spirit of universal Community and Freedom is
risen,
and is rising, and will rise higher and higher, till those pure waters
of Shiloe, the Well Springs of Life and Liberty to the whole
Creation,
do over-run A-dam, and crown those banks of Bondage, Curse, and
Slavery.
Fourthly, This
work
to make the Earth a Common Treasury, was shewed us by Voice in Trance,
and out of Trance, which words were these,
Work
together, Eate Bread together, Declare this all abroad.
Which Voice, was
heard
Three times: And in Obedience to the Spirit, Wee have Declared this by
Word of mouth, as occasion was offered. Secondly, We have declared it
by
writing, which others may reade. Thirdly, We have now begun to declare
it by Action, in Diging up the Common Land, and casting in Seed, that
we
may eat our Bread together in righteousness. Anbd every one that comes
to work, shall eate the Fruit of their own labours, one having as much
Freedom in the Fruit of the Earth as another. Another Voice that was
heard
was this,
Israel
shall neither take Hire, not give Hire.
And if so, the
certainly
none shall say, This is my Land, work for me, and I'le give you Wages:
For The Earth is the Lords, that is, Mans, who is Lord of the Creation,
in every branch of mankind; for as divers members of our human bodies,
make but one body perfect; so every particular man is but a member or
branch
of mankind; and mankind living in the light and obedience to Reason,
the
King of righteousness, is thereby made a fit and compleat Lord of the
Creation.
And the whole Earth is this Lords Man, subject to the Spirit. And not
the
Inheritance of covetous proud F(l)esh, that is selfish, and enmity to
the
Spirit.
And if the Earth
be
not peculiar to any one branch, or branches of mankind, but the
Inheritance
of all; Then is it Free and Common for all, to work together, and eate
together.
And truly, you
Counsellors
and Powers of the Earth, know this, That wheresoever there is a People,
thus united by Common Community of livelihood into Oneness, it will
become
the strongest Land in the World, for then they will be as one man to
defend
their Inheritance; and Salvation (which is Liberty and Peace) is the
Walls
and Bulwarks of that Land or City.
Wheras on the
otherside,
pleading for Propriety and single Interest, divides the People of a
land,
and the whole world into Parties, and is the cause of all Wars, and
Bloud-shed,
and Contention everywhere.
Another Voice
that
was heard in a Trance, was this,
Whosoever
labours the
Earth for any Person or Persons, that are lifted up to rule over
others,
and doth not look upon themselves, as Equal to others in the Creation:
The hand of the Lord shall be upon that Labourer: I the Lord have spoke
it, and I will do it.
This Declares
likewise
to all Laborers, or such as are called Poor people, that they shall not
dare to work for Hire, for any Landlord, or for any that is lifted up
above
others; for by their labours, they have lifted up Tyrants and Tyranny;
and by denying to labor for Hire, they shall pull them down again. He
that
works for another, either for Wages, or to pay him Rent, works
unrighteously,
and still lifts up the Curse; but they that are resolved to work and
eat
together, making the Earth a Common Treasury, doth joyn hands with
Christ,
to lift up the Creation from Bondage, and restores all things from the
Curse.
Fiftly, That
which
does incourage us to go on in this work, is this; We find the streaming
out of Love in our hearts towards all; to enemies as well as friends;
we
would have none live in Beggery, Poverty, or Sorrow, but that every one
might enjoy the benefit of his creation: we have peace in our hearts,
and
quiet rejoycing in our work, and filled with sweet content, though we
have
but a dish of roots and bread for our food.
And we are
assured,
that in the strength of this Spirit that hath manifested himself to us,
we shall not be startled, neither at Prison nor Death, while we are
about
his work; and we have bin made to sit down and count what it may cost
us
in undertaking such a work, and we know the full sum, and are resolved
to give all that we have to buy this Pearl which we see in the
Field.
For by this work
we
are assured, and Reason makes it appear to others, that Bondage shall
be
removed, Tears wiped away, and all Poor people by their righteous
Labours
shall be relieved, and freed from Poverty and Straits; For in this work
of Restoration, there will be no beggar in Israel: For surely, if there
was no Beggar in literal Israel, there shall be no Beggar in Spiritual
Israel the Anti- type, much more.
Sixtly, We have
another
encouragement that this work shall prosper, Because we see it to be the
fulness of Time: For whereas the Son of Man, the Lamb, came in
the
Fulness of Time, that is, when the Powers of the World made the Earth
stink
every where, by oppressing others, under pretence of worshiping the
Spirit
rightly, by the Types and Sacrifices of Moses law; the Priests
were
grown so abominably Covetous and Proud, that they made the People to
loath
the Sacrifices, and to groan under the Burden of their Oppressing
Pride.
Even so now in
this
Age of the World, that the Spirit is upon his Resurrection, it is
likewise
the Fulness of Time in a higher measure. For whereas the People
generally
in former times did rest upon the very observation of the Sacrifices
and
Types, but persecuted the very name of the Spirit; Even so now,
Professors
do rest upon the bare observation of Forms and Customs, and pretend to
the Spirit; and as it was then, so it is now: All places stink with the
abomination of Self-seeking Teachers and Rulers: For do not I see that
every one Preacheth for money, Counsels for money, and fights for money
to maintain particular Interests? And none of these three that pretend
to give liberty to the Creation, do give liberty to the Creation;
neither
can they, for they are enemies to universal liberty; So that the earth
stinks with their Hypocrisie, Covetousness, Envie, sottish Ignorance,
and
Pride.
The common People
are
filled with good words from Pulpits and Councel Tables, but no good
Deeds;
For they wait and wait for good, and for deliverances, but none comes;
While they wait for liberty, behold greater bondage comes insteed of
it,
and burdens, oppressions, taskmasters, from Sessions, Lawyers, Bayliffs
of Hundreds, Committees, Impropriators, Clerks of Peace, and Courts of
Justice, so called, does whip the People by old Popish weather- beaten
Laws, that were excommunicate long ago by Covenants, Oaths, and
Ordinances;
but as yet are not cast out, but rather taken in again, to be standing
pricks in our eys, and thorns in our side; Beside Free-quartering,
Plundering
by some rude Souldiers, and the abounding of Taxes; which if they were
equally divided among the Souldiery, and not too much bagd up in the
hands
of particular Officers and Trustees, there would be less complaining:
Besides
the horrible cheating that is in Buying and Selling, and the cruel
Oppression
of Landlords, and lords of Mannours, and quarter Sessions; Many that
have
bin good House-keepers (as we say) cannot live, but are forced to turn
Souldiers, and so to fight to uphold the Curse, or else live in great
straits
and beggery : O you A-dams of the Earth, you have rich
clothing,
full Bellies, have your Honors and Ease, and you puffe at this; But
know
thou stout- hearted Pharoah, that the day of Judgement is
begun,
and it will reach to thee ere long; Jacob hath bin very low,
but
he is rising, and will rise, do the worst thou canst; and the poor
people
whom thou oppresses, shall be the Saviours of the land; For the
blessing
is rising up in them, and thou shalt be ashamed.
And thus you
Powers
of England, and of the whole World, we have declared our Reasons, why
we
have begun to dig upon George hill in Surrey. One thing I must tell you
more, in the close, which I received in voce likewise at another time;
and when I received it, my ey was set towards you. The words were
these:
Let Israel go free.
Surely, as Israel
lay
430. yeers under Pharaohs bondage, before Moses was
sent
to fetch them out: Even so Israel (the Elect Spirit spread in Sons and
Daughters) hath lain three times so long already, which is the
Anti-type,
under your Bondage, and cruel Task-masters: But now the time of
Deliverance
is come, and thou proud Esau, and stout-hearted Covetousness,
thou
must come down, and be lord of the Creation no longer: For now the
King
of Righteousness is rising to Rule In, and Over the Earth.
Therefore, if thou wilt
find
Mercy, Let Israel go Free; break in pieces quickly the Band of
particular
Propriety, dis-own this oppressing Murder, Oppression and Thievery of
Buying
and Selling of Land, owning of landlords, and paying of Rents, and give
thy Free Consent to make the Earth a Common Treasury, without
grumbling;
That the yonger Brethren may live comfortably upon Earth, as well as
the
Elder: That all may enjoy the benefit of their Creation.
And hereby thou
wilt Honour thy Father, and thy Mother: Thy Father, which is
the Spirit
of Community, that made all, and that dwels in all. Thy Mother, which
is
the Earth, that brought us all forth: That as a true Mother, loves all
her Children. Therefore, do not thou hinder the Mother Earth, from
giving
all her Children suck, by thy Inclosing it into particular hands, and
holding
up that cursed Bondage of Inclosure by thy Power. And then thou wilt
repent
of thy Theft, in maintaining the breach of the eight Commandment, by
Stealing
the Land as I say from thy fellow-creatures, or yonger Brothers: which
thou and all thy landlords have, and do live in the breach of that
Commandment.
Then thou wilt Own no other God, or Ruling Power, but One, which is the
King of Righteousness, ruling and dwelling in everyone, and in the
whole;
whereas now thou hast many gods: For Covetousness is thy God, Pride,
and
an Envious murdering Humor (to kill one by Prison or Gallows, that
crosses
thee, though their cause be pure, sound and good reason) is thy God,
Self-love
and slavish Fear (lest others serve thee as thou hast served them) is
thy
god Hypocrisie, Fleshly Imagination, that keeps no Promise, Covenant,
nor
Protestation, is thy God: love of Money, Honor and Ease, is thy God :
And
all these, and the like Ruling Powers, makes thee Blind, and
hard-hearted,
that thou does not, nor cannot lay to heart the affliction of others,
though
they dy for want of bread, in that rich City, undone under your
eys.
Therefore once more, Let
Israel
go Free, that the poor may labour the Waste land, and suck the
Brests
of their mother Earth, that they starve not: And in so doing,
thou
wilt keep the Sabbath day, which is a day of Rest;
sweetly enjoying the Peace of the Spirit of Righteousness; and find
Peace,
by living among a people that live in peace; this will be a day of Rest
which thou never knew yet.
But I do not
entreat
thee, for thou art not to be intreated, but in the Name of the Lord,
that hath drawn me forth to speak to thee; I, yea I say, I Command
thee,
To let Israel go Free, and quietly to gather together into the
place
where I shall appoint; and hold them no longer in bondage.
And thou A-dam
that holds the Earth in slavery under the Curse: If thou wilt not let
Israel go Free; for thou being the Antitype, will be more stout and
lusty then the Egyptian Pharoah of old, who was thy Type; Then
know,
That whereas I brought Ten Plagues upon him, I will Multiply
my Plagues upon thee, till I make thee weary, and miserably ashamed:
And I will bring out my People with a strong hand, and stretched
out arme.
Thus we have
discharged
our Souls in declaring the Cause of our Digging upon George-Hill
in Surrey, that the Great Councel and Army of the Land may take
notice of it, That there is no intent of Tumult or Fighting, but only
to
get Bread to eat, with the sweat of our brows; working together in
righteousness,
and eating the blessings of the Earth in peace.
And if any of you
that
are the great Ones of the Earth, that have been bred tenderly, and
cannot
work, do bring in your Stock into this Common Treasury, as an Offering
to the work of Righteousness; we will work for you, and you shall
receive
as we receive. But if you will not, but Pharoah like, cry, Who
is the Lord that we should obey him? and endeavour to Oppose, then
know, That he that delivered Israel from Pharoah of
old,
is the same Power still, in whom we trust, and whom we serve; for this
Conquest over thee shall be got, not by Sword or Weapon, but by my
Spirit
saith the Lord of Hosts.
William Everard,
Iohn Palmer,
Iohn South,
Iohn Courton.
William Taylor,
Christopher Clifford,
Iohn Barker. |
Ferrard
Winstanley,
Richard Goodgroome,
Thomas Starre,
William Hoggrill,
Robert Sawyer,
Thomas Eder,
Henry Bickerstaffe,
Iohn Taylor, &c. |
F I N I
S.
|