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. II.

THere are three more discoveries of Christ, to make the mystery of the Spirit shine in its excellency. As

Frst, The great world, wherein are variety of creatures, as Sunne, Moon, Stars, Earth, Grasse, Plants, Cattle, Fish, Fowl, and Man, the Lord over the lower Creatures, all sweetly conjoyned to preserve each other, is no other but Christ spread forth in the Creation; and so upholding the Crea∣tion by hi•• own wisdome and power; for he is the maker, the preserver and restoring Spirit,

Therefore his name is called, I, and I am, The Lord, and besides me there is no Saviour; But this is Christ very remote; for though he rule in the whole Creation, yet no single creature could dis∣cern o•• spie him out, he is in every one, and yet that single one knew him not.

And therefore this one Almighty power began to make forth himself in visible descriptions before the creature•• causing every creature to hold forth the light and power that is in them, that so the mighty Creatour may at length be known,* 1.1 in the clear sight∣ed experience of one single creature, man, by seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, feeling, This one power of Righteousnesse, as he rests in the

Creation, that man may be the mouth that shall make a clear discovery of Christ to others from the testimony that is in himself; for hee is to see Christ within himself, before hee can see him in other creatures. And therefore,

Secondly, The Sripture in their severall declara∣tion, types, prophecies, visions, voyces, revela∣tions, actings of men, in patient doing and suffer∣ing in righteousnesse, is no other but Christ in the letter, lying under the experimentall words of those Pen-men, setting forth the one Almighty, in his severall actings,* 1.2 and his severall conditions, wherein he hath appeared to the view of the whole Creati∣on; but seen and known only, by the one creature, man, in whom hee is purposed to dwell bodily.

But still here is a large distance between Christ and the bulk of man kinde; for though some few particular ones have seen him, and could declare him, yet others are ignorant of him: So that the universalitie of man-kinde may see these two dis∣criptions of Christ, that is in the Creation, and in the Scriptures, both without themselves.

And when any attains to see Christ in these out∣ward discoveries, it is full of sweet delight, but this settles no true peace; for that delight that is fetching in from things at a distance from us, may be lost againe, and return into its proper seat againe: As the pleasant beames is of the Sun, which refresh∣es the outward man, may be lost, for when the Clouds come between, the beames returne into the Sun again, which is their proper seat, and men loseth, the refreshing, wramth and hear. And therefore,

Thirdly, Christ or the spreading power of light, is drawing the knowledge of himself,* 1.3 as he lies in all things,* 1.4 into the clear experience of man, in∣to whole man, yea, into every brench of man-kinde and he the Sonne of Righteousnesse will not only

shine into, but fix hinself in every one. So that perfect man shall be no other but God manifest in flesh: for every manifestation of this power in any creature,* 1.5 shall be seen, known, rejoyced in, and be declared of by man.

The light, and heat, and Spirit of the Sunne, shall be declared by the Sonne of Righteousnesse in man: The sweet compliance of love in one creature towards another; as the clouds to wa••er the earth, the earth to send forth the fruits to preserve the li∣ving creatures, that feeds thereupon, shall be decla∣red by that living power, Love and Righteousnesse, that is seated in man towards any creature.

So that, though this one Almighty power be spread in the whole Creation, yet it will appear to have his chief residence in man,* 1.6 that in, by and through man,* 1.7 that one spirit may rule and govern the works of his own hands in Righteousnesse.

Every declaration of Christ in the Scriptures, shal be seen and known in the clear experience of every sonne and daughter (when this mystery is finished) for Christ, who indeed is the anointing, shall fill all, and all shall be the fulnesse of the anointing: So that whatsoever a condition a man is in,* 1.8 it is one or other condition that the childe Jesus was in, growing upwards towards man-hood; there is child hood, youth and old••age in the anointing.

For the wisdome and power of truth, that was poured upon the head of the Son of man, grows upwards towards perfection in sons and daughters: Even as wee see any tree, corn or cattell, grows up in the eye of man by degrees; for as these creatures doe not attaine to perfectson on a sudden; neither doth the spirit of Righteousnesse rise up on a sud∣den perfection, but by degrees

And therefore, He that beleeves makes not hast; The hastie flesh would have all content on a sudden,

but the spirit is moderate and rises up patiently, its powerfull and quick, and yet slow; its slow, but yet sure; it will sit down in peace in a man, though it run thorow many thorns and briars first.

Yea, I say, whatsoever condition you are in Christ or the anointing being in you,* 1.9 appears in that condition in you. If you be in a condition of pover∣ty, so was Christ the Son of man, he had not where∣on to lay his head. If you be hated for Rigteousnesse sake, so was he, nay it is the anointing in you that is hated. If angry, proud and tyrant-ruling flesh seek to imprison you and kill you, so they dealt with him, and it is still the righteous man in you that is opposed.

If you be made to joy in the Father, the Spirit of truth; it is he within you that rejoyces in himself; if you feel a waiting,* 1.10 meek spirit in you, it is still Christ in you, who is meek and lowly. If you feel the power of love dwell within you, leading you to love enimies, and to do as you would be done unto, it is Christ in you, who is the law of love and Righteousnesse,

And in every condition you are in, this law of the Spirit meets with the powers of your own flesh f••etting and fighting against him: For envy, fro∣wardnesse, self-love, covetousnesse are the power of darknesse in you, that fights against the Spirit, that sweetly seeks the preservation and peace of all. But that opposing power in you is the devil, serpent and power of darknesse, which Christ the power of light, rising up in you; will destroy; and so mor∣tality shall be swallowed up of life.

And Christ will not sit down in peace,* 1.11 rejoycing in you, till he hath subdued all these inward and outward enemies under his feet, and himself become the alone King of Righteousnesse in you; for he is that mighty King, that shall be established upon the

holy hill of Sion; that is, He shall be only King, unto whom every man & woman shal be made a subject; This King shall raigne for ever and ever:* 1.12 And this is he you would call God; but indeed the power of darknesse is the god that rules in most men and wo∣men, both professours and others: and they will subject to this their god of darknesse, till the power of light Christ take him away.

So that whatsoever estate a son or daughter is in,* 1.13 it is still but Christ combating with his ene∣mies, in that estate, drawing all into himself, and destroying all oppsing powers, that himself may remain to be the one alone Almighty power, spread forth every where, and so doing the will of the Father, brusing the Sarpents head in you; and that he himself, who is the divine, may grow up, flourish, remaine and bring ••orth aboundance of fruit in you, when your created flesh is purged from bondage, and made subject to him.

But if Christ and the Father be all one power and wisdome, why do you make a distinction, as if they were two?

I answer, The Father is the universall power, that hath spread himself in the whole globe; The Sonne is the same power drawn into, and appear∣ing in one single person, making that person subject to the one Spirit, and to know him that dwels every where.

There is not a person or creature within the compasse of the globe, but he is a sonne of the of the Father; or the breakings forth of that power in one body; now every small creature is the light of the Fa••her, though it be a dark one; but man living in the light of the Father, is called The wel-beloved Sonne, because that one power of Rigteousnesse dwels bodily in him, and the whole Creation is drawn up into that one centre, man.

And now the Lord a lone is exalted in this day of his power; for now the Serpent is cast out of hea∣ven, a••l powers of darknesse are subdued, and the Spirit remaines conquerour in man, yet in single man; and so filling the living earth, man-kinde in all his branches with himself, the one Spirit.

This spreading power is the Fathers house, in which there are many mansions, or dwelling places; every crerture lives herein: for in and by him every one lives, and moves, and hath his being: This is to speak truth as it is in Jesus. This is Sion that is above, where the Father dwels in his glory. Sinai is the mountaine of flesh, that is to be burn∣ed with fire,* 1.14 that is, the Spirit of Righteousnesse is the fire, that will burn-up all unrighteous powers in the flesh.

And to see this power of Righteousnesse spread∣ing himself every where, destroying death, and preserving the Creation, is to see him you would call God, with open face; and you can never see him plainly and nakedly, till you come thus to see him; therefore you Priests and zealous ptofessors, learne hereafter ro know what power it is you call God: for the word God, signifies a Governour, and it may as well be attributed to the devil, as to the law of Righteousnesse; for assure your selves, if covetousnesse, pride and bitter envy doe rule you, as it is apparent this dark power rules most of you, then the devil is that god you worship; and you are strangers and enemies to the Spirit of Truth that dwels every where, which you seem to call your God or Ruler.

Notes

• * 1.1

  I••h. 14. 17
• * 1.2

  Col. 2. 9.
• * 1.3

  Ier. 31. 34.
• * 1.4

  Ioh. 8. 22.
• * 1.5

  Rom. 8. 22
• * 1.6

  Eph. 1. 23.
• * 1.7

  1 Joh. 2. 12
• * 1.8

  Isa. 21. 13.
• * 1.9

  Isa. 53. 3.
• * 1.10

  Ioh. 14.
• * 1.11

  Ier. 2. 3. 5, 6
• * 1.12

  •• Thes. 2. 7
• * 1.13

  1 Co. 15. 27
• * 1.14

  Ephes. 1. 6.