The law of freedom in a platform: or, True magistracy restored Humbly presented to Oliver Cromwel, General of the Common-wealths army in England. And to all English-men my brethren whether in church-fellowship, or not in church-fellowship, both sorts walking as they conceive according to the order of the Gospel: and from them to all the nations in the world. Wherein is declared, what is kingly government, and what is Commonwealths government. By Jerrard Winstanley.

The work of a Commonwealths Ministry, and why one day in seven may be a Day of Rest from Labor.

If there were good Laws, and the People be ignorant of them, it would be as bad for the Commonwealth as if there were no Laws at all.

Therefore according to one of the Laws of Israels Commonwealth made by Moses, who was the Ruler of the People at that time:

It is very rational and good, that one day in seven be still set apart for three Reasons.

First, That the People in such a Parish may generally meet together to

see one anothers faces, and beget or preserve fellowship in friendly love.

Secondly, to be a day of rest, or cessation from labor; so that they may have some bodily rest for themselvs and cattel.

Thirdly, that he who is chosen Minister (for that year) in that parish may read to the people three things.

First the affairs of the whole Land, as it is brought in by the Post-master, as it is related in his office, hereafter following.

Secondly, to read the Law of the Common-wealth: not onely to strength∣en the memory of the Ancients, but that the young people also, who are not grown up to ripeness of experience, may be instructed, to know when they do well, and when they do ill; for the Laws of a Land hath the power of freedom and bondage, life and death in its hand, therefore the necessary knowledge to be known, and he is the best Prophet that acquaints men there∣with. That as men grow up in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, they may be able to defend the Laws and Government of the Land. But these Laws shall not be expounded by the Reader, for to expound a plain Law, as if a man would put a better meaning, then the letter it self, produces two evils.

Fast the pure Law and the minds of people, will be thereby consounded, for multitude of words darken knowledge.

Secondly the Reader will be puffed up in pride, to contemn the Law∣makers, and in time that will prove the father and nurse of Tyranny, as at this day is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by our Ministry.

And thirdly, because the mindes of people, generally love discourses, there∣fore that the wits of men both young and old may be exercised, there may be speeches made in a three-fold nature.

First to declare the acts and passages of former ages and Governments, setting forth the benefit of freedom, by well ordered Governments, as in Israels Common Wealth, and the troubles and bondage, which hath always attended oppression and oppressors; as the State of Pharaoh, and other Ty∣rant Kings, who said the earth and people were theirs, and onely at their di∣spose.

Secondly Speeches may be made, of all Arts and Sciences, some one day, some another; As in Physick, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Astrology, Astronomy, Naviga∣tion, Husbandry, and such like. And in these Speeches may be unfolded the nature of all herbs and plants from the Hysop to the Cedar, as Solomon writ of.

Likewise men may come to see into the nature of the fixed and wandring stars, those great powers of God in the heavens above; and hereby men will come to know the secrets of Nature and Creation, within which all true

knowledg is wrapped up, and the light in man must arise to search it out,

Thirdly, Speeches may be made, sometimes of the Nature of Mankind, of his darkness and of his light, of his weakness and of his strength, of his love and of his envy, of his sorrow and of his joy, of his inward and out∣ward bondages, and of his inward and outward freedoms, &c. And this is that which the Ministry of Churches generally aim, but only that they con∣found their knowledg by imaginary study, when any one takes upon him to speak without experience.

Now this is the way

To attain to the true knowledg of God (who is the Spirit of the whole Creation,) as he hath spread himself forth in every form, and more emi∣nently in man; as Paul writ, The Creation in all the several bodies and forms are but the Mansions or fulness of him who hath filled all things with himself.

And if the Earth were set free from Kingly Bondage, so that every one were sure to have a free livelyhood, and if this liberty were granted, then many secrets of God, and his Works in Nature, would be made publike, which men now adays keep secret to get a living by; so that this Kingly Bondage is the cause of the spreading of ignorance in the Earth: But when Commonwealths Freedom is established, and Pharisaical or Kingly Slavery cast out, then will knowledg cover the Earth, as the Waters cover the Seas, and not till then.

He who is the chosen Minister for that year to read, shall not be the on∣ly man to make Sermons or Speeches: but every one who hath any expe∣rience, and is able to speak of any Art or Language, or of the Nature of the Heavens above, or of the Earth below, shall have free liberty to speak when they offer themselves, and in a civil manner desire an audience, and appoint his day: yet he who is the Reader may have his liberty to speak too, but not to assume all the power to himself, as the proud and ignorant Clergy have done, who have bewitched all the World by their subtle Co∣vetousness and pride.

And every one who speaks of any Herb, Plant, Art, or Nature of Man∣kind, is required to speak nothing by imagination, but what he hath found out by his own industry and observation in tryal.

And because other Nations are of several languages, therefore these speeches may be made sometimes in other Languages, and sometimes in our Mother Tongue, that so the men of our English Commonwealth may attain to all Knowledges, Arts and Languages, and that every one may be encouraged in his Industry, and purchase the countenance and love

of their neighborhood, for their wisdom, and experimental knowledge in the things which are.

And thus to speak, or thus to read the Law of Nature (or God) as he hath written his name in every body, is to speak a pure language, and this is to speak the truth as Jesus Christ spake it, giving to every thing its own weight and measure.

By this means, in time men shall attain to the practical knowledge of God truly; That they may serve him in spirit and truth; and this knowledge will not deceive a man.

I, but saith the zealous, but ignorant Professor,

This is a low and carnal ministry indeed, this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 men to know nothing, but the knowledge of the earth, and the secrets of nature, but we are to look after spiritual and beavenly things. I answer.

To know the secrets of nature, is to know the works of God; And to know the works of God within the Creation, is to know God himself, for God dwels in every visible work or body.

And indeed if you would know spiritual things, it is to know how the spirit or power of wisdom and life, causing motion, or growth, dwels with∣in, and governs both the several bodies of the stars and planets in the hea∣vens above; and the several bodies of the earth below; as grass, plants, fishes, beasts, birds, and mankinde; for to reach God beyond the Creation, or to know what he will be to a man, after the man is dead, if any otherwise, then to scatter him into his Essences of fire, water, earth and air, of which he is compounded, is a knowledge beyond the line, or capacity of man to attain to while he lives in his compounded body.

And if a man should go to imagine, what God is beyond the Creation, or what he will be in a spiritual demonstration after a man is dead, he doth as the proverb saith, build castles in the air, or tells us of a world beyond the Moon, and beyond the Sun, meerly to blinde the reason of man.

Ile appeal to your self in this question, what other knowledg have you of God, but what you have within the circle of the Creation?

For if the Creation in all its dimentions be the fulness of him, that fills all with himself, and if you your self be part of this Creation, where can you finde God but in that line or station wherein you stand?

God manifests himself in actual knowledge, not in imagination; he is still in motion, either in bodies upon earth, or in the bodies in the heavens, or in both; in the night and in the day, in Winter, in Summer, in cold, in heat, in growth, or not in growth.

But when a studying imagination comes into man, which is the devil, for it is the cause of all evil, and sorrows in the world; that is he who puts

out the eyes of mans Knowledg, and tells him, he must beleeve what others have writ or spoke, and must not trust to his own experience: And when this bewitching fancy sits in the chair of Government, there is nothing but saying and unsaying, frowardness, covetousness, fears, con∣fused thoughts, and unsatisfied doubtings, all the days of that mans reign in the heart.

Or secondly, Examine your self, and look likewise into the ways of all Professors, and you shall finde, That the Enjoyment of the Earth be∣low, which you call a low and a carnal Knowledg, is that, which you and all professors (as well as the men of the world, as you call them) strive and seek after.

Wherefore are you so covetous after the World, in buying and selling? counting your self a happy man, if you be rich, and a miserable man if you be poor. And though you say, Heaven after death is a place of glory, where you shall enjoy God face to face, yet you are loth to leave the Earth to go thither.

Do not your Ministers preach for to enjoy the Earth? Do not profess∣ing Lawyers, as well as others, buy and sell the Conquerors Justice, that they may enjoy the Earth? Do not professing Soldiers fight for the Earth, and seat themselves in that Land, which is the Birth-Right of o∣thers, as well as theirs, shutting others out? Do not all professors strive to get Earth, that they may live in plenty by other mens labors?

Do you not make the Earth your very Rest? Doth not the enjoying of the Earth please the spirit in you? and then you say, God is pleased with your ways, and blesseth you. If you want Earth, and become poor, do you not say, God is angry with you, and crosseth you?

Why do you heap up riches? why do you eat and drink, and wear clothes? why do you take a woman, and lie with her to beget children? Are not all these carnal and low things of the Earth? and do you not live in them, and covet them as much as any? nay more then many which you call men of the world?

And it being thus with you, what other spiritual or heavenly things do you seek after more then others? And what is in you more then in o∣thers? If you say, there is; then surely you ought to let these earthly things alone to the men of the world, as you call them, whose portions these are, and keep you within the compass of your own sphere, that o∣thers seeing you live a life above the world in peace and freedom, neither working your self, nor deceiving, nor compelling others to work for you, they may be drawn to embrace the same spiritual life by your single∣hearted conversation. We'l, I have done here.