The new law of righteousnes budding forth, in restoring the whole creation from the bondage of the curse. Or A glimpse of the new heaven, and new earth, wherein dwels righteousnes. Giving an alarm to silence all that preach or speak from hear-say, or imagination. By Gerrard Winstanley

CHAP. I.

THere is nothing more sweet and sa∣tisfactory to a man, then this: to know and feel that spirituall po∣wer of righteousnesse to rule in him, which he cals God. For while the flesh through hasty and vio∣lent lusts, doth rebell against the spirit, it hath no true peace, but is still pulling mise∣ry upon himself. But when the created flesh is made subject to the law of righteousnesse, and walks up∣rightly in the Creation, in the light of that spirit, then it lies down in rest.

In other writings I have declared what I know, That Almighty power & ever living Spirit is, which rules and preserves the whole Creation; fire, water earth and air, and of every creature in these elements; or that is made up of all these in a compound matter as all flesh is. And something I shall here add to the rest, which I only hold ••orth to my fellow creature, man; not customarily to make a trade of it, for fleshly ends, but occasionally as the Light is pleased to manifest himself in me;* 1.1 that others from me, and I from them may be witnesses each to other, of our Maker how he shines forth in his own light, through each other to the profit of the Creation.

In the beginning of time the whole Creation lived in man, and man lived in his Maker, the spirit of Righteousnesse and peace, for every creature walked evenly with man, and delighted in man, and was ruled by him; there was no opposition between him and the beast, sowls, fishes, or any creature in the earth: so that it is truely said, The whole Creation was in man, one within, and walked even with him; for no creature appeared to be a visible enemy to him: for every creature gave forth it self, either for pleasure or profit of man, who was Lord of all: And man lived in his Maker the Spirit, and delighted in no other; there was an evennes between man and all creatures, and an evennesse between man and his Maker the Lord, the Spirit.

But when man began to ••all out of his Maker, and to leave his joy and rest which he had in the spi∣rit of Righteousnesse, and sought content from crea∣tures and outward objects, then he lost his domini∣on, and the creature fell out of him, and became enemies and apposers of him, and then rise up mountaines, and valleys, and hils, and all uneven∣nesse, both in mans heart, and in mans actions. And as the man is become selfish; so are all the beasts

and creatures become selfish; and man and beast act like each other, by pushing with their horns of power, and devouring one another to preserve self.

And truly as man might see all creatures lived at rest in him in the beginning, so he may see all crea∣tures in him now, but in a rest-lesse condition, groan∣ing under bondage, waiting for a restauration. The covetousnesse, the subtilty, the cruelty, the pride, the envy, the devouring power that is in the flesh of man are the very distempers that are in such and such beasts and fowls: So that while man is ruled by such powers, and declares no other actions but what is in the beast; he indeed goes in the shape of a man, but properly he is a beast of such and such a ravenous principle. And this now is the Curse, Man is gone out of his Maker, to live upon objects; and the creatures are gone out of man, to seek delight in pushing and devouring one another, and the whole Creation of fire, and water, earth and air; and all bodies made of these are put out of order, through mans rejecting the Spirit to live upon objects.

But now the time is come, that the Spirit will draw all things into man againe, to live and be at rest in him, as their Governour, as their Lord, and man and the Creation shall become even againe, and so man returning to his Maker, to rest in peace in none but him. The whole Creation shall be go∣verned, preserved & comforted by the one spirit, the King of Righteousnesse, and all bondage, curse and tears shall be done away: And this is that I wait for, being assured it shall be accomplished, having re∣ceived a taste.

But as the state of the world is, in the generality, I am made to see, That in times past and times pre∣sent, the branches of man-kind have acted like the beast or swine; And though they have called one

another, men and women, yet they have been but the shadows of men and women. As the Moone is the shadow of the Sun,* 1.2 in regard they have been led by the powers of the curse in flesh, which is the Feminine part; not by the power of the righteous Spirit which is Christ,* 1.3 the Masculine power.

But when they come to see the spirituall Light that is in every ceature, and in that power and light do walk righteously towards other creatures, as well beasts as man-kinde, that the creation as much as in them lies one by one,* 1.4 may be upheld and pre∣served in its glory; then they begin to appear and act like men; and rise up from the low earth of a beastly and swinish nature, to acknowledge and honour their Maker in the light of himself.

Experience shews us That every beast doth act in oppression and cruelty, towards such creatures, as he can master at advantage. And thus doth the flesh of man,* 1.5 which is the King of beast: For when the wisdome and power of the flesh raigns, which in deed is Adam, that man that appeared first to rule the earth, man-kinde, and by his unrighteousnesse makes it a land of barrennesse: For this first Adam is such a selfish power, that he seeks to compasse all the creatures of the earth into his own covetous hands, to make himself a lord, and all other his slaves.

And though he gets lands, moneys, honours, go∣vernment into his hands, yet he gives the King of righteousnesse,* 1.6 but a company of sawning words of love and obedience; for he makes unrighteousnesse to dwell in heaven and earth, that is, in the whole Creation, by his unrighteous government, and so he becomes the chief Rebell, the Serpent, the Devil, the Murderer, oppressing the Creation, setting him∣self above all in tyranny: And this power is the curse which the whole Creation groans under,

waiting for a restoration by Christ the King and law of rigteousnesse, who is the restorer of all things.

And here first I shall declare what Adam the first man is, who to me appears to be the wisdome and power of the flesh, carrying along the Creation, man, to live upon creature objects, and to loath and de∣spise the Spirit that made all, and that dwels in all things according to the capacity of every single crea∣ture: and all that Adam doth is to advance himself to be, The one power; he gets riches and gover∣ment into his hands, that he may lift up himself, and suppresse the universall liberty, which is Christ. And if he preach, or pray, or performe any service rela∣ting to the Spirit, it is for this end, that he may get peace thereby, and so seeks to honour flesh by pro∣curing his own peace, by his own wit and pollicy if that would doe.

So that this Adam appears first in every man and woman; but he sits down in the chair of Magistra∣cy, in some above others; for though this climb∣ing power of self-love be in all, yet it rises not to its height in all; but every one that gets an au∣thority into his hands, tyrannizes over others; as many husbands, parents, masters, magistrates, that lives after the flesh, doe carry themselves like op∣pressing Lords over such as are under them; not knowing that their wives, children, servants, subjects are their fellow creatures, and hath an equall privi∣ledge to share with them in the blessing of liberty.

And this first Adam is to be seen and known in a two-fold sense.

First, He is the wisdome and power of the flesh in every man, who indeed is the beast, and he spreads himself within the Creation, man, into di∣vers branches; As into ignorance of the Creatour of all things, into covetousnesse after objects, into pride and envy, lifting up himself above others, and

seeking revenge upon all that crosses his selfish ho∣nours; and into hypocrisie, subtilty, lying imagina∣tion, self-love; from whence proceeds all unrighte∣ous outward acting. This is the first Adam lying, rul∣ing a••d dwelling within man-kinde. And this is he within every man and woman, which makes whole man-kinde, being a prisoner to him, to wonder af∣ter the beast, which is no other but self, or upon every thing whereupon self is s••amped.

Secondly, The first Adam is the wisdome and po∣wer of flesh broke out and sate down in the chair of rule and dominion, in one part of man-kind over another. And this is the beginner of particular in∣terest, buying and selling the earth from one parti∣cular hand to another, saying, This is mine, uphold∣ing this particular propriety by a law of government of his own making, and thereby restraining other fellow creatures from seeking nourishment from their mother earth. So that though a man was bred up in a Land, yet he must not worke for himself where he would sit down. But from Adam; that is, for such a one that had bought part of the Land, or came to it by inheritance of his deceased parents, and called it his own Land: So that he that had no Land, was to work for those for small wages, that called the Land theirs; and thereby some are lifted up into the chair of tyranny, and others trod under the foot-stool of misery, as if the earth were made for a few, no•• for all men.

For truly the common-people by their labours, from the first rise of Adam, this particular imterest upheld by the fleshes law to this day, they have lift∣ed up their Land-lords and others to rule in tyran∣ny and oppression over them. And let all men say what they will, so long as such are Rulers as cals the Land theirs, upholding this particular propriety of Mine and Thine; the common-people shall never have

their liberty, nor the Land ever freed from troubles, oppressions and complainings; by reason whereof the Creatour of all things is continually provoked. O thou proud selfish governing Adam, in this Land cal∣led England! Know that the cries of the poor, whom thou laieth heavy oppressions upon, is hea••d.

This is unrighteous Adam, that dammed up the water springs of universall liberty, and brought the Creation under the curse of bondage, sorrow and tears: But when the earth becomes a common treasury as it was in the beginning, and the King of Righteousnesse comes to rule in every ones heart, then he kils the first Adam; for covetousnesse there∣by is killed. A man shall have meat, and drinke and clothes by his labour in freedome, and what can be desired more in earth. Pride and envy likewise is killed thereby, for every one shall look upon each other as equall in the Creation; every man indeed being a parfect Creation of himself. And so this se∣cond Adam Christ, the restorer, stops or dammes up the runnings of those stinking waters of self-interest, and causes the waters of life and liberty to run plentifully, in, and through the Creation, making the earth one store-house, and every man and wo∣man to live in the law of Righteousnesse and peace as members of one houshold.

And in the next place I shall declare the my∣stery of the Spirit in a two-fold way:

First, he makes the Creation, man-kinde, to see, loa••h and forsake this Adam, this fleshly man▪ This devil or power of darknesse that rules in the creatures, and leads them into waies that brings misery, pain and death, which is hell, a condition of uncomfortable darknesse of the curse.

Secondly, He makes man-kinde to see, to love and delight in the Spirit Reason, which is the law of Righteousnesse, that made them, and s••tles them

in peace; when in the light and power thereof, they are made to forsake the flesh with all his wayes of bondage; for truly when the flesh is made subject to Reason, that light that inlightens every thing, then it hath peace and liberty, and is freed from those heart-aking pressures and sorrows, which the flesh puls upon himself by his violent, rash, unrighteous, and unreasonable actings.

The Almighty hath declared three methods in discovering this mystery in the compasse of six dayes, or 6000 years near hand expired; in every one of which he draws man-kind higher and higher into himself, out of the power of the Serpent or bondage. And when he alone is advanced, he draws all men after him, which is the finishing up of the mystery.

The first Method is this: He was pleased to call forth Moses to be his servant, and in, by and through him, he reveals himself to lie under types, shadows, sacrifices; that man-kind by them might be led to see his Maker; And this was the Covenant of an outward testimony, which Moses, a man that was mixed with flesh and spirit, was Mediatour of. And this

Secondly did point out the Apostolical testimony which was to be manifested in aftertimes; and that was to acknowledge honour, and bear witnesse of the Lamb Jesus Christ, that was the substance of Mo∣ses. For the Apostles declare themselves to be wit∣nesses of Christ, the great Prophet, that Moses said should come after him,* 1.7 to whom every man should hearken, and then leave the teachings of shadows, which they receive from him.

Therefore say they, We eat and drank in his pre∣sence, we heard him speak, and saw his miracles, and bear testimony to the world, that the Rulers of the Jews slew him, and that he was raised from the dead by the Almighty power. And this single appearance of the

man Christ Jesus (for herein the righteous Law dwelt bodily) was a more spirituall declaration then the former. And this types out

The third Method of Divine discovery,* 1.8 which in∣deed doth finish the mystery; and herein the Lord takes up all into himself, even into the Spirit that governs the Creation; for he is in all, and acts through all. And all power of righteousnesse that appears in any subject is still but the Lord, in such or such a discovery; for as the man Christ Jesus swal∣lowed up Moses; and so the Spirit dwelt bodily in that Lamb, which was spread abroad in the types; And man-kind is to behold the Law of Righte∣ousnesse, in none,* 1.9 but in that his wel-beloved Son.

Even so that single body is a type:* 1.10 That the same Spirit that filled every member of that one body, should in these last dayes be sent into whole man-kind,* 1.11 and every branch shall be a joint or mem∣ber of the mysticall body,* 1.12 or severall spreadings forth of the vine, being all filled with the one Spirit, Christ the anointing, who fils all with himself, and so he be∣comes the alone King of Righteousnesse and peace that rules in man. And the powers of the flesh which is the Serpent or curse, shall be subdued under him, and man-kind shall be made onely subject to this one Spirit, which shall dwell bodily in every one, as he dwelt bodily in the man Christ Jesus, who was the Son of man.

Now as Moses declared, That the Lamb Jesus Christ should be that great Prophet to whom every one should give ear, & delivered it in general termes, leaving the particular discoveries of his new doctrine to the Lamb himself when he came; and so did not go about to imagine matters that was above his cir∣cle; and we see the Doctrine of Jesus Christ, when he came, far exceeded the Doctrine of Moses; the

one being the substance of the other, and so mo•••• spiritual makings forth then the other.

Even so, the man Christ Jesus, the great Prophet, declared in general termes what should be in later times,* 1.13 leaving it to every son and daughter, to de∣clare their particular experiences, when the Spirit doth rise up in them, and manifests himself to them. For they that believe (saith he) out of their bellies shall flow rivers (or plentifull discoveries) of the water of life.

Therefore as Moses gave way to Christ; for when Christ appeared in flesh,* 1.14 Moses administration began to be silent and drew back, and set Jesus Christ in the chair to be the great Prophet that should be the teacher in types after him. And the ministration of these discoveries were to raign in the world, their appointed times.

Even so the Lamb Christ Jesus,* 1.15 or that single bo∣dy, gives way to the holy Ghost, or spreading Spirit; If I go not away,* 1.16 the Comforter cannot come to you; for he that dwels bodily in me, is to spread himself in you, that as the Father in me, and I in him are one: even so I in you, and you in me, may become one wit•• the Father.

And the testimony of the Apostles declares as much:* 1.17 Though we have known Christ after the flesh, (in one single body) yet now henceforth know we him no more so;* 1.18 but we look after that mystery, which hath been kept secret from ages and generations past, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. And therefore I must tell you that yet live in dipping, in water and observation of Gospel-forms and types; you live yet under the ministration of Jesus Christ after the flesh, declaring the Lamb Christ to remain as yet in one single person.

But know you, that as the ministration of Moses gave way to this; so this ministration is to give way

to the inward teachings of Christ, and the spreading of the Spirit,* 1.19 in sons and daughters, which will more excellently declare the glory of the mystery. The man Christ Jesus himself, told the woman of Sama∣ria; Woman the time is coming that neither in Jeru∣salem, nor in this mountain shall men worship the Fa∣ther, but they that worship him shall worship him in Spirit and in Truth, for the Father seeks such to worship him.

By these words, The Son of man declares, that both outward forms, customs and types of Moses wor∣ship under that ministration at Jerusalem,* 1.20 likewise all forms and customs, and types of this ministration of himself,* 1.21 as the Lamb held forth at a distance to be our Mediatour, should all cease and give way to the spirituall worship of the Father in the latter dayes; or to the spreading of the Divine power in men, the one Law of Righteousnesse, being the teacher of all.

So that upon the rising up of Christ in sons and daughters,* 1.22 which is his second comming, the mini∣stration of Christ in one single person is to be silent and draw back, and set the spreading power of Righteousnesse and wisdom in the chair, of whose Kingdom there shall be no end.* 1.23 So as all things were gone out from the Spirit, and were gone astray and corrupted. The Spirit in this great mystery of truth being manifested in flesh, burns up that drosse out of the Creation, and draws in all things back a∣gain into himself, and declares himself to be the alone wisdom and power of Righteousnesse, that rules, dwels, that governs and preserves both in and over the whole Creation.* 1.24 And now the Son deli∣vers up the Kingdom unto the Father;* 1.25 And he that is the spreading power, not one single person, be∣come all in all in every person; that is, the one King of Righteousnesse in every one.

Here we may see what the dividing of time is, which is the last period in which the Beast is to reign•• for now every ministration pleads his priviledge,* 1.26 till the Law of Righteousnesse drown up all in himself. Moses yet pleads a priviledge in the practice of the Jews after the flesh. The Son of man, or Christ in one single person ple••ds a priviledge, and not onely the true ministration of the Son of man according to the Apostles declaration; But likewise many false forms, customs and observations of Divine worship are raised up, through a wrong understanding of those Scriptures, all plead a priviledge.

And lastly, the ministration of the Spirit, forsaking all types and ••ormes,* 1.27 worshipping the Father in the substance of truth. This now pleads his priviledge, as his due right by course. So that you see here is the dividing of time. But this last ministration is the sufferer for the present, as being denied his right by the former, that ought to give way.

And as the worshippers in Moses ministration, envied and killed such as worshipped the Son of man, the Lamb: So now, those that worship Christ at a distance in their severall Congregations and forms, and are most zealous therein, are in these dayes the most bitterest enemies to the ministration of Christ in Spirit and in truth.

But when this ministration of the Spirit spreads himself, he will make the greatest separation that e∣ver was. For though Israels separation out of Egypt amazed the world, and the separation of gathered Congregations out of Parish Churches (so called) did trouble the earth, though it is no more but going out of one form into another, not into the unitie of the one Spirit. Yet this ministration of the Spirit now rising up by right of inheritance, will take peace from the world much more: for he hath begun, and he will and shall go on, to gather the scattered

of Isreal together, out of all Aegytian bondages, and self-seeking oppressing government, and out of all forms and customes of the Beast, to worship the Father in spirit and truth, being made to be all of one heart and one minde: And this shall more and more appear, as the earth grows up to be a com∣mon treasury for all.

Therefore let me tell you, That all your enmity will not uphold your ••orms, your imprisoning, and reviving, and making law to suppresse such as ••••e contrary to you, will never work your will, but pull miseries and shame upon your selves; as the zealous Scribes and Pharisees did in killing of Christ the Sonne of man: Therefore be patient, look up for teaching in this dividing of time, when the Law of Righteousnesse arises up; and makes himself more manifest, he will reconcile all, make every one to be of one heart and one minde; and no other pow∣er must be the restorer, but this King of Righte∣ousnesse and Peace:* 1.28 for this is he that makes men doe as they would be done unto,* 1.29 And then envie and bitternes dies.

Now search the Scriptnres, you that stand up to be Teachers, that say I deny the Scriptures, and let them judge me,* 1.30 whether I deny them or no; but one thing you shall finde to your shame, that those Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles, which you seeme to preserve with such love and zealous tendernesse, shall cast the first stone at you, to stone you out of your Pulpits; for you doe not professe those Scriptures in love to them,* 1.31 but in zealous covetousnesse to uphold your trade.

For now when Christ begins to arise up in sons and daughters, whereby the Scriptures are honour∣ed and proved true Prophecies, Promises, Visions, and Revelations; you deny their testimony, and cry out Visions and Revelations are ceased; and so

you will ever have people to be hearing you speak the declaration, because you live by it; but if any receive the power from on high, you cry out upon it, It is self-conceit, errour and blasphemy: Well, he is at worke that will discover your shame; Wickednes shall slay the wicked, though no mans hand be upon him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Joh. 1. 3, 4.
• * 1.2

  Rom, 8, 13
• * 1.3

  Epbes. 2. 2.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 36. 9.
• * 1.5

  Rev. 13. 4
• * 1.6

  Rom. 8. 21 ••2.
• * 1.7

  Act. 3. 22.
• * 1.8

  Eph. 4. 6.
• * 1.9

  Rom. 8. 22 23.
• * 1.10

  1 Cor. 12. 13.
• * 1.11

  Act. 2. 17.
• * 1.12

  Jer. 31. 34
• * 1.13

  Joh. 7. 38.
• * 1.14

  Luke▪ 9▪ 33 36.
• * 1.15

  Joh. 16. 7.
• * 1.16

  ••oh. 17. 21
• * 1.17

  2 Cor. 16.
• * 1.18

  Col. 1. 27.
• * 1.19

  Joh. 14.
• * 1.20

  Luke 17. 21.
• * 1.21

  Joh. 6. 45
• * 1.22

  Joh. 16 7
• * 1.23

  Dan. 3. 44.
• * 1.24

  2 Cor. 5. 19
• * 1.25

  1 Cor. 5. 24
• * 1.26

  Dan. 7. 25.
• * 1.27

  Ioh. 4. 23.
• * 1.28

  Acts 4. 32.
• * 1.29

  Isa: 60. 16
• * 1.30

  Joh: 5 45.
• * 1.31

  Joe: 2. 15.