such as are not of your minde and having food and raiment therewith be content Now here is a trial for you whether you will be faithful to God and Christ in obeying his Laws or whether you will destroy the man-childe of true Freedom righteousness and peace in his resurrection And now thou wilt give us either the tricks of a Souldier Face about and return to Egypt and so declare thy self to be part of the Serpents seed that must bruise the heel of Christ or else to be one of the plain-hearted sons of promise or members of Christ who shall help to bruise the Serpents head which is Kingly oppression and so bring in everlasting righteousness and peace into the earth Well the eye is now open Store-houses shall be built and appointed in all places and be the common Stock There shall be Store-houses in all places both in the Country and in Cities to which all the fruits of the earth and other works made by Tradesmen shall be brought and from thence delivered out again to particular Families and to every one as they want for their use or else to be transported by Ship to other Lands to exchange for those things which our Land will not or does not afford For all the labours of Husbandmen and Trades-men within the Land or by Navigation to or from other Lands shall be all upon the common Stock And as every one works to advance the Common Stock so every one shall have a free use of any commodity in the Store-house for his pleasure and comfortable livelihood without buying and selling or restraint from any And having food and raiment lodging and the comfortable societies of his own kinde what can a man desire more in these days of his travel Indeed covetous proud and beastly-minded men desire more either to lie by them to look upon or else to waste and spoil it upon their lusts while other brethren live in straits for want of the use thereof But the Laws and faithful Officers of a free Commonwealth do regulate the unrational practice of such men There are two sorts of Store-houses general and particular The general Store-houses are such houses as receive in all commodities in the gross as all Barns and places to lay Corn and the fruits of the earth at the first reaping and these may be called Store-houses for Corn Flax Wool for Leather for Iron for linen and woollen Cloth or for any commodity that comes into our hand by Shipping from whence particular Family or Shop-keepers may fetch as they need to furnish their lesser shops So likewise herds of Cattel in the field flocks of Sheep and Horses are all common Store-houses so that from the Herds and Flocks every Family may fetch what they want for food or pleasure without buying and selling So likewise all Publike Dayries are Store-houses for Butter and Cheese yet every Family may have Cows for their own use about their own house And these general Store-houses shall be filled and preserved by the common labour and assistance of every Family as is mentioned in the Office of Overseer for Trades And from these Publike Houses which are the general stock of the Land all particular Trades-men may fetch materials for their particular work as they need or to furnish their particular dwellings with any commodities Secondly there are particular Store-houses or shops To which the Trades-men shall bring their particular works as all instruments of Iron to the Iron-shops Hats to shops appointed for them Gloves Shooes linen and woollen Cloth in smaller parcels to shops appointed for every one of them and the like Even as now we have particular trade in Cities and Towns called Shopkeepers which shall remaine still as they be only altered in their receiving in and delivering out for whereas by the Law of Kings or Conquerers they do receive in and deliver out by buying and selling and exchanging the Conquerers picture or stampe upon a piece of Gold or Silver for the fruits of the earth Now they shall by the Laws of the Commonwealth receive into their Sops and deliver out againe freely without buying and selling They shall receive in as into a Storehouse and deliver out againe freely as out of a common Store-house when particular persons or Familes come for any thing they need as now they do by buying and selling under kingly government For as particular Families and tradesmen do make several works more then they can make use of As Hats Shooes Gloves Stockings Linnen and Woolen cloth and the like and do carry their particular work to Store-houses So it is all reason and equity that they should go to other Store-houses and fetch any other commodity which they want and cannot make for as other men partakes of their labors it is reason they should pertake of other mens And all these Store-houses and Shops shall be orderly kept by such as shall be brought up to be waiters therein as is mentioned in the Office of Overseers for trades For as there are some men more ingenious to work so other men are more ingenious in keeping of Store-houses and Shops to receive in and deliver out commodities And all this easie work may be called waiting at such and such a Store-house As some may waite at Corn-houses some at linen and woolen houses some at Leather some at iron-shops and every general and particular commodity shall be known where they are by their houses and shops as it is at this day so that Townes and Cities and every Family almost are but Store-houses of one commodity or other for the uses of the Commonwealth or to transport to other lands Now this same free practice will kill covetousness pride and oppression for when men have a Law to buy and sell then as I said before the cuning cheaters get great estates by others mens labors and being rich thereby become oppressing Lords over their brethren which occasions all our troubles and wars in all Nations Come hither now all you who chalenge your brethren to deny Christ as though you were the only men that love Christ and would be true to him Here is a trial of your love can you be as ready to obey the law of liberty which is the command of Christ as you would have others to obey your Kingly laws of bondage It may be you will either storme or go away sorrowful does not Christ tell you that if you have food and rayment you should therewith be content and in this common freedome here will be food and rayment ease and pleasure plentiful both for you and your brethren so that none shall beg or starve or live in the straits of poverty and this fulfils that righteous law of Christ Do as you would be done by for that law of Christ can never be performed till you establish Common-wealths freedome Therefore now let it appear seeing the child is come to the birth whether you will receive Christ who is the spreading spirit
been both unfaithful servants to man and to God by taking upon them to expound and interpret that Rule which they are bound to yield obedience to without adding to or diminishing from What is the Judges Court In a County or Shire there is to be chosen A Judg. The Peace-makers of every Town within that Circuit The Overseers and A band of Souldiers attending thereupon And this is called the Judges Court or the County Senate This Court shall sit four times in the year or oftner if need be in the Country and four times in the year in great Cities In the first quarter of the year they shall sit in the East part of the County and the second quarter of the year in the West in the third in the South and in the fourth in the North And this Court is to oversee and examine any Officer within their County or Limits for their work is to see that every one be faithful in his place and if any Officer hath done wrong to any this Court is to pass sentence of punishment upon the offendor according to his offence against the Law If any grievance lie upon any man wherein inferior Officers cannot ease him this Court shall quietly hear his Complaint and ease him for where a Law is wanting they may prepare a way of ease for the 〈◊〉 till the Parliament sit who may either establish that conclusion for a Law if they approve of it or frame another Law to that effect for it is possible that many things may fall out hereafter which the Law-makers for the present may not foresee If any disorder break in among the people this Court shall set things to rights If any be bound over to appear at this Court the Judg shall hear the matter and pronounce the letter of the Law according to the nature of the offence So that the alone work of the Judg is to pronounce the sentence and mind of the Law and all this is but to see the Laws executed that the Peace of the Commonwealth may be preserved What is the work of a Commonwealths Parliament in general A Parliament is the highest Court of Equity in a Land and it is to be chosen every year and out of every City Town and certain limits of a Country through the Land two three or more men are to be chosen to make up this Court This Court is to oversee all other Courts Officers persons and actions and to have a full Power being the Representative of the whole Land to remove all grievances and to ease the people that are oppressed A Parliament hath his rise from the lowest Office in a Commonwealth viz. from the father in a family For as a fathers tender care is to remove all grievances from the oppressed children not respecting one before another so a Parliament are to remove all burdens from the people of the Land and are not to respect persons who are great before them who are weak but their eye and care must be principally to relieve the oppressed ones who groan under the Tyrants Laws and Power The strong or such as have the Tyrant Power to uphold them need no help But though a Parliament be the Father of a Land yet by the Covetousness and 〈◊〉 of Kingly Government the heart of this Father hath been alienated from the children of the Land or else so over-awed by the frowns of a Kingly Tyrant that they could not or durst not act for the weakest childrens ease For hath not Parliaments sat and rose again and made Laws to strengthen the Tyrant in his Throne and to strengthen the rich and the strong by those Laws and left oppression upon the backs of the oppressed still But I 'le not reap up former weaknesses but rather rejoyce in hope of amendment seeing our present Parliament hath declared England to be a free Commonwealth and to cast out Kingly Power and upon this ground I rejoyce in hope that succeeding Parliaments will be tender-hearted Fathers to the oppressed children of the Land And not only dandle us upon the knee with good words and promises till particular mens turns be served but will fill our bellies and clothe our backs with good actions of Freedom and give to the oppressed childrens children their birth-right portion which is Freedom in the Commonwealths Land which the Kingly Law and Power our cruel step-fathers and step-mothers have kept from us and our fathers for many years past The particular work of a Parliament is four-fold First As a tender father a Parliament is to impower Officers and give out Orders for the free planting and reaping of the Commonwealths Land that all who have been oppressed and kept from the 〈◊〉 use thereof by Conquerots Kings and their Tyrant Laws may now be set at liberty to plant in Freedom for food and rayment and are to be a protection to them who labour the Barth and a punisher of them who are idle But some may say What is that I call Commonwealths Land I answer All that Land which hath been withheld from the Inhabitants by the Conquerot or Tyrant Kings and is now recovered out of the hands of that Oppression by the joynt assistance of the persons and purses of the Commoners of the Land for this Land is the price of their blood it is their birth-right to them and their posterity and ought not to be converted into particular hands again by the Laws of a free Commonwealth And in particular this Land is all Abby Lands formerly recovered out of the hands of the Popes Power by the Blood of the Commoners of England though the Kings withheld their rights herein from them So likewise all Crown Lands Bishops Lands with all Parks Forrests Chases now of late recovered out of the hands of the Kingly Tyrants who have set Lords of Manors and Task-masters over the Commoners to withhold the free use of the Land from them So likewise all the Commons and waste Lands which are called Commons because the poor was to have part therein but this is withheld from the Commoners either by Lords of Manors requiring quit Rents and overseeing the poor so narrowly that none dares build him a house upon this Common Land or plant thereupon without his leave but must pay him rent fines and heriots and homage as unto a Conqueror or else the benefit of this Common Land is taken away from the younger brethren by rich Landlords and Freeholders who overstock the Commons with Sheep and Cattel so that the poor in many places are not able to keep a Cow unless they steal grass for her And this is the bondage the poor complain of that they are kept poor by their brethren in a Land where there is so much plenty for every one if Covetousness and pride did not tule as King in one brother over another and Kingly Government occasions all this Now it is the work of a Parliament to break the Tyrants bands to abolish all their oppressing
say Having food and rayment therewith be content and grudg not to let thy brother have the same with thee Dost thou pray and fast for Freedom and give God thanks again for it Why know that God is not partial for if thou pray it must be for Freedom to all and if thou give thanks it must be because Freedom covers all people for this will prove a lasting Peace Every one is ready to say They fight for their Country and what they do they do it for the good of their Country Well let it appear now that thou hast fought and acted for thy Countries Freedom But if when thou hast power to settle Freedom in thy Country thou tukest the possession of the Earth into thy own particular hands and makest thy brother work for thee as the Kings did thou hast fought and acted for thy self not for thy Country and here thy inside 〈◊〉 is discovered But here take notice That common Freedom which is the Rule I would have practised and not talked on was thy pretence but particular Freedom to thy self was thy intent 〈◊〉 or else thou wilt be shamed when Knowledg doth spread to cover the Earth even as the waters cover the Seas And so Farewell J. W. THE Law of Freedom in a Platform OR True Magistracy Restored CHAP. I. THe great searching of heart in these days is to finde out where true Freedom lies that the Commonwealth of England might be established in Peace Some say It lies in the free use of Trading and to have all Pattents Licenses and Restraints removed But this is a Freedom under the Will of a Conqueror Others say It is true Freedom to have Ministers to preach and for people to hear whom they will without being restrained or compelled from or to any form of worship But this is an unsetled Freedom Others say It is true Freedom to have Community with all Women and to have liberty to satisfie their lusts and greedy appetites But this is the Freedom of wanton unreasonable Beasts and tends to Destruction Others say It is true Freedom that the elder Brother shall 〈◊〉 Landlord of the Earth and the younger Brother a Servant And this is but a half Freedom and 〈◊〉 murmurings wars and quarrels All these and such like are Freedoms but they lead to Bondage and are not the true Foundation-Freedom which settles a Commonwealth in Peace True Commonwealths Freedom lies in the free Enjoyment of the Earth True Freedom lies where a man receives his nourishment and preservation and that is in the use of the Earth For as Man is compounded of the four Materials of the Creation Fire Water Earth and Ayr so is he preserved by the compounded bodies of these four which are the fruits of the Earth and he cannot live without them for take away the free use of these and the body languishes the spirit is brought into bondage and 〈◊〉 length departs and ceaseth his motional action in the body All that a man labors for saith Solomon is this That he may enjoy the free use of the Earth with the fruits thereof Eccles. 2. 24. Do not the Ministers preach for maintenance in the Earth the Lawyers plead causes to get the possessions of the Earth Doth not the Soldier fight for the Earth And doth not the Landlord require Rent that he may live in the fulness of the Earth by the labor of his Tenants And so from the Thief upon the high way to the King who sits upon the Throne do not every one strive either by force of Arms or secret cheats to get the possessions of the Earth one from another because they see their Freedom 〈◊〉 in plenty and their bondage lies in poverty Surely then oppressing Lords of Manors exacting Landlords and Tythe-takers may as well say their brethren shall not breathe in the ayr nor enjoy warmth in their bodies nor have the moyst waters to fall upon them in showres unless they will pay them Rent for it As to say Their brethren shall not work upon Earth nor eat the fruits thereof unless they will hire that liberty of them for he that takes upon him to restrain his brother from the liberty of the one may upon the same ground restrain him from the liberty of all four viz. Fire Water Earth and Ayr A man had better to have had no body then to have no food for it therefore this restraining of the Earth from brethren by brethren is oppression and bondage but the free enjoyment thereof is true Freedom I speak now in relation between the Oppressor and the oppressed the inward bondages I meddle not with in this place though I am assured that if it be rightly searched into the inward bondages of the minde as 〈◊〉 pride hypocriste envy sorrow fears desperation and madness are all occasioned by the outward bondage that one sort of people lay upon another And thus far natural experience makes it good That true Freedom lies in the free enjoyment of the Earth If we look into the old Scriptures We finde That when Israel had conquered the Nations he took 〈◊〉 of the Enemies Land and divided it by lot among the Tribes counting the Enjoyment of the Earth their perfect Freedom In the beginning of their wars they first sent Spies to view the Land of Canaan Numb. 13. 23. to 33. for the enjoyment of that was the Freedom they aymed at for being so long in the barren wilderness and children multiplying upon them they wanted Land to live upon Deut. 1. 28. And when the Spies returned and shewed them the fruits of the Land and had declared what a fruitful Land it was they were encouraged and restless till they were come thither and when they heard bad tydings of the Land their hearts fell and they were discouraged And when the spirit of wisdom courage and providence in them had subdued those Gyants and had given the house of Israel the Land of Canaan the Rulers and chief Officers of Israels Army did not divide the Land among themselves but being faithful spirited men they forthwith divided the Land by lot to every Tribe his portion without exception And when Israel intreated the King of Syhon to suffer him to pass through his land he would not suffer him but gathered all his people together and sought with Israel And the Lord gave Syhon into Israels hand And he took possession of his land So that we see by Scripture proof likewise the land is that which every one place their freedom in If we look into the practise of Kings and Conquerors Since the Scriptures of Moses were writ we finde they placed their freedom in the enjoyment of the free use of the earth When William Duke of Normandy had conquered England he took possession of the earth for his freedom and disposed of our English ground to his friends as he pleased and made the conquered English his servants to plant the earth for him and his friends And all Kings from his
time to King Charles were successors of that conquest and all Laws were made to confirm that Conquest For there are his old Laws and Statutes yet to be read that do shew how he allowed the conquered English but three pence and four pence a day for their work to buy them bread of their Task-masters but the freedom of the earth he and his friends kept in their own hands And as Kings so the old Gentry and the new Gentry likewise walking in the same steps are but the successors of the Norman victory But are not the Normans and their power conquered by the Commoners of England And why then should we not recover the freedom of our land again from under that yoak and power Then further The Norman Conqueror made Laws whereby this English earth should be governed and appointed two national Officers to see those Laws performed The first Officer was the Lawyer And his work is conversant about nothing but the disposing of the earth and all Courts of Judicature and Snits of Law is about the ordering of the Earth according to his Law made by him and his party The next Officer was the national Clergie and their work was to perswade the multitude of people to let William the Conqueror alone with a quiet possession and government 〈◊〉 the earth and to call it his and not theirs and so not to rebell against him And they were to tell the people 〈◊〉 they would acknowledge William Duke of Normandy and his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be their Lord King and Ruler and would be obedient to his Government then they should live in the Haven that is in peace and they should quietly enjoy their land which they rented their houses and fruits of their labors without disturbance But if they would not acknowledg him to be their Lord King and Ruler nor submit to his Government then they should be cast into Hell that is into the sorrows of prisons poverty whips and death and their houses and riches should be taken from them c. And this was a true prophetical and experimental Doctrine for do we not see that the Laws of a King while a King had the Power of life and death in them And he who fell under the power of this Lord must pay the uttermost farthing before he was released And for their pains for thus preaching the King established by his Laws that they should have the tenth of the encrease of all profits from the Earth 1 Sam. 8. 15. placing their freedom where he placed his own and that is in the use of the Earth brought into their hands by the labors of the enslaved men But in after times when this National Ministry appeared to the people to be but hirelings and as the people grew in knowledg they discovered their hypocrisie more and more as they do in these days Then this Clergy the spirit of the old Pharisees began to divine and to deceive the people by a shew of holiness or spititual doctrine as they call it difficult to be understood by any but themselves perswading the people to beleeve or fancy That true Freedom lay in hearing them preach and to enjoy that Heaven which they say every man who beleeves their doctrine shall enjoy after he is dead And so tell us of a Heaven and Hell after death which neither they nor we know what wil be So that the whole world is at a loss in the true knowledg thereof as Solomon said Who shall bring him to see what shall be after he is dead Eccles. 3. 22. 6. 11. The former hell of prisons whips and gallows they preached to keep the people in subjection to the King but by this divined Hell after death they preach to keep both King and people in aw to them to uphold their trade of Tythes and new rased Maintenance And so having blinded both King and people they become the god that rules This subtle divining spirit is the Whore that sits upon many waters This is Nahash the Amonite that would not make peace with Israel unless Israel would suffer him to put out their right eyes and to see by his 1 Sam. 1 1. 2. For so long as the people call that a Truth which they call a Truth and believe what they preach and are willing to let the Clergy be the Keepers of their eyes and knowledg that is as much as Nahash did put out their eyes to see by theirs then all is well and they tell the people they shall go to Heaven But if the eyes of the people begin to open and they seek to find knowledg in their own hearts and to question the Ministers Doctrine and become like unto wise-hearted Thomas to believe nothing but what they see reason for Then do the Ministers prepare War against that man or men and will make no Covenant of Peace with him till they consent to have their right eyes put out that is to have their Reason blinded so as to believe every Doctrine they preach and never question any thing saying The Doctrine of Faith must not be tryed by Reason No for if it be their Mystery of Iniquity will be discovered and they would lose their Tythes Therefore no marvel though the National Clergy of England and Scotland who are the Tything Priests and Lords of blinded mens spirits stuck so close to their Master the King and to his Monarchial oppressing Government for say they If the people must not work for us and give us Tythes but we must work for our selves as they do our Freedom is lost I but this is but the cry of an Egyptian Task-master who counts other mens freedom his bondage Now if the Earth could be enjoyed in such a maner as every one might have provision as it may by this Platform I have offered then will the Peace of the Commonwealth be preserved and men need not act so hypocritically as the Clergy do and others likewise to get a living But when some shall enjoy great possessions and others who have done as much or more for to purchase Freedom shall have none at all and be made slaves to their brethren this begets offences The glory of Israels Commonwealth is this They had no Begger among them As you read when they had conquered the Canaanites and won that Land by the purchase of the blood and labour and by a joynt assistance throughout the whole Tribes of Israel the Officers and Leaders of the people did not sell the Land again to the remainder of their Enemies nor buy and sell it among themselves and so by cheating the people set up a new Oppression upon a new account Neither did they fall a parting the Land before the crowning Victory was gotten But they forbore the disposing of the Land till the War was over and all the Tribes stuck close together till all the fighting work was done And when they saw the Enemies heart was broke and that now they were the Masters of the field then
they quietly took possession of the Land as a free reward for all their hazards and labour The Officers and Leaders were careful to keep Promise and Engagements to the people and there was no treachery found in them as to inrich themselves with the Commonwealths Land and to deprive others of the price of their Blood and Free-quarter and Taxes But they made Canon with all the Crown Lands therein and all other forfeited Lands which was gotten by a joynt Assistance of person and purse of all the Tribes The Scriptures say They made this Canon Land a common Treasury of livelyhood to the whole Commonwealth of Israel and so disposed of it as they made provision for every Tribe and for every family in a Tribe nay for every particular man in a family every one had enough no man was in want there was no beggery among them They did not divide this Land only to particular men who went out to War but they who stayd at home had an equal share they did not make one brother a Lord of Manor and Landlord and other brothers to be servants to them But seeing the Enemies were beaten not by the Counsellors only not by the Leaders of the Army only but by the common Souldiers also and not only by them but by the Laborers who staid at home to provide Victuals and Free-quarter Therefore did the Counsellors and chief Officers of the Army agree to make provision for every one that assisted either by person or purse and this was pure Righteousness And to those families in a Tribe which had many persons in it to them they allotted more Land and to those families which had less number of persons they allotted less Land So that not only the Tribes in general but every family and person in a Tribe younger brother as well as elder brother he who wrought at home to provide food as well as he that went to War all had sufficient there was no want the Oppression of Beggary was not known among them all burdens were taken of and Israel in all his Tribes and Families was made a free Commonwealth in Power as well as in Name 1 Sam. 30. 24. Josh. 16. 17 18. Chapters And thus the Land was divided and the whole Land was the Common Stock every one had a brotherly freedom therein for the freedom of the one was the freedom of the other there was no difference in that they were men of true faithful and publick spirits notfalse-hearted And so likewise when Esther prevailed with King Ahasuerus for freedom she did not seek her own freedom and interest but the freedom of all her kindred and friends for common Freedom was that which men of righteous spirits always sought after All that I shall say is this O that those who pretend to set up a Gospel-Commonwealth in England Scotland and Ireland would not be worse then Moses but rather exceed Moses knowing that if this our English Commonwealths Government carry perfect Freedom in his hand then shall the Law go forth from England to all the Nations of the World This Foundation being layd from the Example of Israels Common-wealth and Testimony of Gods Word I shall proceed how the Earth shall be governed for the Peace of a Common-wealth But by the way to prevent mistake I shall insert A short Declaration to take of Prejudice Some hearing of this Common Freedom think there must be a Community of all the fruits of the Earth whether they work or no therefore strive to live idle upon other mens labours Others through the same unreasonable beastly ignorance think there must be a Community of all men and women for Copulation and so strive to live a bestial life Others think there will be no Law but that every thing will run into confusion for want of Government but this Platform proves the contrary Therefore because that transgression doth and may arise from ignorant and rude fancy in man is the Law added That which true Ringhteousness in my Judgment calls Community is this To have the Earth set free from all Kingly Bondage of Lords of Manors and oppressing Landlords which came in by Conquest as a Thief takes a true mans purse upon the high-way being stronger then he And that neither the Earth nor any fruits thereof should be bought or sold by the Inhabitants one among another which is a slavery the Kingly Conquerors have brought in therefore he set his stamp upon silver that every one should buy and sell in his name And though this be yet shall not men live idle for the Earth shall be planted and reaped and the fruits carried into Barns and Store-houses by the assistance of every family according as is shewed hereafter in order Every man shall be brought up in Trades and labours and all Trades shall be maintained with more improvement to the inriching of the Common-wealth more then now they be under Kingly Power Every Tradesman shall fetch Materials as Leather Wool Flax Corn and the like from the publike Store-houses to work upon without buying and selling and when particular works are made as Cloth Shooes Hats and the like the Tradesmen shall bring these particular works to particular shops as it is now in practise without buying and felling And every family as they want such things as they cannot make they shall go to these shops and fetch without money even as now they fetch with money as hereafter is shewed how in order If any say This will nurse Idleness I answer This Platform proves the contrary for idle persons and beggers will be made to work If any say This will make some men to take goods from others by violence and call it theirs because the Earth and fruits are a Common Stock I answer The Laws or Rules following prevents that ignorance For though the Store-houses and publike Shops be commonly furnished by every families assistance and for every families use as is shewed hereafter how yet every mans house is proper to himself and all the furniture therein and provision which he hath fetched from the Store-houses is proper to himself every mans wife and every womans husband proper to themselves and so are their children at their dispose till they come to age And if any other man endeavor to take away his house furniture food wife or children saying every thing is common and so abusing the Law of Peace such a one is a Transgressor and shall suffer punishment as by the Government and Laws following is expressed For though the publike Store-houses be a common Treasury yet every mans particular dwelling is not common but by his consent and the Commonwealths Laws are to preserve a mans peace in his 〈◊〉 and in his private dwelling against the rudeness and ignorance that may arise in Mankind If any man do force or abuse women in folly pleading Community the Laws following do punish such ignorant and unrational practise for the Laws of a Commonwealth are Laws of moderate
onely but the Will of his People likewise and the Law of common Preservation Peace and Freedom was the righteous Law that governed both Adam and his houshould But yet observe That from the Father in a Family was the first rise of Magisterial Government because Children wanting experience of their own preservation therefore such as are experienced are to propound the Law of Government to them and therefore from Adam to this day the Law of common Preservation is the Rule and Foundation of true Magistracy and it is the work of all Magistrates to help the weak and the foolish There are two root from whence Laws do spring The first root you see is common Preservation when there is a principle in every one to seek the good of others as himself without respecting persons and this is the root of the tree Magistracy and the Law of Righteousness and Peace and all particular Laws found out by experience necessary to be practised for common Preservation are the boughs and branches of that Tree And because among the variety of Mankinde Ignorance may grow up therefore this Original Law is written in the heart of every man to be his guide or leader so that if an Officer be blinded by covetousness and pride and that ignorance rule in him yet an inferior man may tell him where he goes astray for common Preservation and Peace is the Foundation Rule of all Government and therefore if any will preach or practise Fundamental Truths or Doctrine here you may see where the Foundation thereof lies The second Root is Self preservation when particular Officers seek their own Preservation Ease Honor Riches and Freedom in the Earth and do respect persons that are in Power and Riches with them and regard not the Peace Freedom and Preservation of the weak and foolish among Brethren And this is the root of the Tree Tyranny and the Law of Unrighteousness and all particular Kingly Laws found out by covetous Policy to enslave one brother to another whereby bondage tears sorrows and poverty are brought upon many men are all but the boughs and branches of that Tree Tyranny and such Officers as these are fallen from true Magigistracy and are no Members thereof but the Members of Tyranny who is the Devil and Satan And indeed this Tyranny is the cause of all Wars and Troubles and of the removal of the Government of the Earth out of one hand into another so often as it is in all Nations For if Magistrates had a care to cherish the peace and liberties of the common people and see them set free from Oppression they might sit in the chair of Government and never be disturbed But when their sitting is altogether to advance their own interest and to forget the asslictions of Joseph or their brethren that are under bondage this is a so 〈◊〉 of their own downfall and oftentime proves the plague to the whole Land Therefore the work of all true Magistrates is to maintain the common Law which is the root of right Government and preservation and peace to every one and to cast out all self-ended principles and interests which is Tyranny and Oppression and which breaks common peace For 〈◊〉 the disorderly actings of Officers break the peace of the Commonwealth more then any men whatsoever All Officers in a true Magistracy of a Commonwealth are to be chosen Officers In the first Family which is the Foundation from whence all Families sprang there was the Father he is the first link of the chain Magistracy The necessity of the children that sprang from him doth say Father do thou teach us how to plant the Earth that we may live and we will obey By this choyce they make him not onely a Father but a Master and Ruler And out of this root springs up all Magistrates and Officers To see the Law executed and to preserve Peace in the Earth by seeing that right Government is observed For here take notice That though the children might not speak yet their weakness and simplicity did speak and chose their Father to be their Overseer So that he who is a true Commonwealths Officer is not to step into the place of Magistracy by policy or violent force as all Kings and Conquerors do and so become oppressing Tyrants by promoting their selfended Interests or Machiavilian Cheats that they may live in plenty and rule as 〈◊〉 over their Brethren But a 〈◊〉 Commonwealths Officer is to be a chosen one by them who are in 〈◊〉 and who judg him fit for that work And thus a Father in a Family is a Commonwealths Officer because the Necessity of the young children choose him by a joynt consent and not otherwise Secondly In a bigger Family called a Parish the body of the people are confused and disordered because some are wise some foolish some subtil and cunning to deceive others plain-hearted some strong some weak some rash angry some milde and quiet-spirited By reason whereof offences do arise among brethren and their common peace is broken Therefore as Necessity hath added a Law to limit mens manners because of Transgressiens one against another So likewise doth the necessity of common peace move the whole body of the Parish to choose two three or more within that circuit to be their Overseers to cause the unruly ones for whom onely the Law was added to be subject to the Law or Rule that so peace may be preserved among them in the planting of the Earth reaping the fruits and quiet enjoyment Thirdly In every County Shire or Land wherein the Families are encreased to a larger Commonwealth the necessity of the people moves them still to choose more Overseers and Officers to preserve common peace And when the people have chose all Officers to preserve a right Order in Government of Earth among them then doth the same necessity of common Peace move the people to say to their Overseers and Officers Do you see our Laws observed for our preservation and peace and we will assist and protect you And this word assist and protect 〈◊〉 The rising up of the people by force of Arms to defend their Laws and Officers against any Invasion Rebellion or Resistance 〈◊〉 to beat down the turbulency of any foolish or self-ended spirit that endevors to break their common Peace So that all true Officers are chosen Officers and when they act to satisfie the necessity of them who chose them then they are faithful and 〈◊〉 servants to that Commonwealth and then there is a rejoycing in the City But when Officers do take the possessions of the Earth into their own hands lifting themselves up thereby to be Lords over their Masters the people who chose them and will not suffer the people to plant the Earth and reap the fruits for their livelyhood unless they will hire the Land 〈◊〉 them or work for day-wages for them that they may live in ease and plenty and not work These Officers are sallen from true
away the purchased Land from the Purchasers or from part of them into the hands of particular men to uphold Monarchial Principles But though this be a fault let it be bore withall it was ignorance of brethren for England hath layn so long under Kingly slavery that few knew what Common Freedom was And let a restoration of this redeemed Land be speedily made by them who have the possession of it For there is neither Reason nor Equity that a few man should go away with that Land and Freedom which the whole Commoners have paid Taxes Free-quarter and wasted their Estates Healths and Blood to purchase out of Bondage and many of them are in want of a comfortable livelyhood Well these are the men that take away other mens Rights from them and they are Members of the covetous generation of Self-seekers therefore unfit to be chosen Officers or to choose Who then are fit to be chosen Commonwealths Officers Why truly choose such as have a long time given testimony by their actions to be Promoters of Common Freedom whether they be Members in Church fellowship or not in Church fellowship for all are one in Christ Choose such as are men of peaceable spirits and of a peaceable conversation Choose such as have suffered under Kingly Oppression for they will be fellow-feelers of others bondages Choose such as have adventured the loss of their Estates and Lives to redeem the Land from Bondage and who have remained constant Choose such as are understanding men and who are experienced in the Laws of peaceable and right ordered Government Choose men of courage who are not afraid to speak the Truth for this is the shame of many in England at this day they are drowned in the dunghill mud of slavish fear of men these are covetous men not fearing God and their portion is to be cast without the City of Peace amongst the Dogs Choose Officers out of the number of those men that are above forty years of age for these are most likely to be experienced men and all these are likely to be men of courage dealing truly and hating Covetousness And if you choose men thus principled who are poor men as times go for the Conquerors Power hath made many a righteous man a poor man then allow them a yearly Maintenance from the Common Stock until such time as a Commonwealths Freedom is established for then there will be no need of such allowances What is the reason that most people are so ignorant of their Freedoms and so few fit to be chosen Commonwealths Officers Because the old Kingly Clergy that are seated in Parishes for lucre of Tythes are continually distilling their blind Principles into the people and do thereby nurse up Ignorance in them for they observe the bent of the peoples minds and make Sermons to please the sickly minds of ignorant people to preserve their own riches and esteem among a charmed befooled and befotted people CHAP. IV. What are the Officers Names in a free Commonwealth IN a private Family a Father or Master is an Officer In a Town City or Parish A Peace-maker A four-fold Office of Overseers A Souldier A Task-master An Executioner In a County or Shire A Judg. The Peace-makers of every Town within that Circuit The Overseers and Soldiers attending thereupon This is called either the Judges Court or the County Senate In a whole Land A Parliament A Commonwealths Ministry A Post-master An Army All these Offices are like links of a Chain they arise from one and the same root which is necessity of Common Peace and all their works tend to preserve Common Peace therefore they are to assist each other and all others are to assist them as need requires upon pain of punishment by the breach of the Laws And the Rule of right Government being thus observed may make a whole Land nay the whole Fabrick of the Earth to become one family of Mankind and one well governed Commonwealth as Israel was called one house of Israel though it consisted of many Tribes Nations and Family The Work of a Father or Master of a Family A Father is to cherish his children till they grow wise and strong and then as a Master he is to instruct them in reading in learning languages Arts and Sciences or to bring them up to labour or employ them in some Trade or other or cause them to be instructed therein according as is shewed hereafter in the Education of Mankind A Father is to have a care that as all his children do assist to plant the Earth or by other Trades provide necessaries so he shall see that every one have a comfortable livelyhood not respecting one before another He is to command them their work and see they do it and not suffer them to live idle he is either to reprove by words or whip those who offend for the Rod is prepared to bring the unreasonable ones to experience and moderation That so children may not quarrel like beasts but live in Peace like rational men experienced in yielding obedience to the Laws and Officers of the Commonwealth every one doing to another as he would have another do to him The Work of a Peace-maker In a Parish or Town may be chosen three four or six Peace-makers or more according to the bigness of the place and their work is twofold First In general to sit in Councel to order the Affairs of the Parish to prevent troubles and to preserve Common Peace and here they may be called Councellors Secondly If there arise any matters of offence between man and man by reason of any quarrels disturbance or foolish actings the offending parties shall be brought by the Souldiers before any one or more of these Peace-makers who shall hear the matter and shall endeavor to reconcile the parties and make peace and so put a stop to the rigor of the Law and go no further But if the Peace-maker cannot perswade or reconcile the parties then he shall command them to appear at the Judges Court at the time appointed to receive the Judgment of the Law If any matters of publike concernment fall out wherein the Peace of the City Town or Country in one County is concerned then the Peace-makers in every Town thereabouts shall meet and consult about it and from them or from any six of them if need require shall issue forth any Order to inferior Officers But if the matters concern only the limits of a Town or City then the Peace-makers of that Town shall from their Court send forth Orders to inferior Officers for the performing of any publike service within their limits Thirdly If any proof be given that any Officer neglects his duty a Peace-maker is to tell that Officer between them two of his neglect and if the Officer continue negligent after this reproof the Peace-maker shall acquaint either the County Senate or the National Parliament therewith that from them the offendor may receive condign punishment And
Laws and to give Orders Encouragements and Directions unto the poor oppressed people of the Land that they forthwith plant and manure this their own Land for the free and comfortable livelyhood of themselves and posterities And to declare to them it is their own Creation rights faithfully and couragiously recovered by their diligence purses and blood from under the Kingly Tyrants and Oppressors Power The work of a Parliament secondly Is to abolish all old Laws and Customs which have been the strength of the Oppressor and to prepare and then to enact new Laws for the ease and Freedom of the people but yet not without the peoples knowledg For the work of a Parliament herein is three-fold First When old Laws and Customs of the Kings do burden the people and the people desire the remove of them and the establishment of more easie Laws It is now the work of a Parliament to search into Reason and Equity how relief may be found out for the people in such a case and to preserve a common Peace and when they have found out a way by debate of Councel among themselves whereby the people may be relieved they are not presently to establish their Conclusions for a Law But in the next place they are to make a publike Declaration thereof to the people of the Land who choose them for their approbation and if no Objection come in from the people within one moneth they may then take the peoples silence as a consent thereto And then in the third place they are to enact it for a Law to be a binding Rule to the whole Land For as the remove of the old Laws and Customs are by the peoples consent which is proved by their frequent 〈◊〉 and Requests of such a thing so the enacting of new Laws must be by the Peoples consent and knowledg likewise And here they are to require the consent not of men interessed in the old oppressing Laws and Customs as Kings used to do but of them who have been oppressed And the Reason is this Because the people must be all subject to the Law under pain of punishment therefore it is all reason they should know it before it be enacted that if there be any thing of the Councel of Oppression in it it may be discovered and amended But you will say If it must be so then will men so differ in their judgments that we shall never agree I answer There is but Bondage and Freedom particular Interest or common Interest and he who pleads to bring in particular interest into a free Commonwealth will presently be seen and cast out as one bringing in Kingly Slavery again And men in place and office where greatness and honor is coming in may sooner be corrupted to bring in particular Interest then a whole Land can be who must either suffer sorrow under a burthensom Law or rejoyce under a Law of Freedom And 〈◊〉 those men who are not willing to enslave the People will not be unwilling to consent hereunto The work of a Parliament thirdly Is to see all those burthens removed actually which have hindered or do hinder the oppressed People from the enjoyment of their Birth-Rights If their Common Lands be under the Oppression of Lords of Manors they are to see the Land freed from that Slavery If the Commonwealths Land be sold by the hasty Councel of subtil covetous and ignorant Officers who act for their own particular Interest and so hath entangled the Commoners Land again under colour of being bought and sold A Parliament is to examine what Authority any had to sell or buy the Commonwealth Land without a general consent of the People for it is not any ones but every ones Birth Right And if some through covetousness and self interest gave 〈◊〉 privately yet a Parliament who is the Father of a Land ought not to give consent to buy and sell that land which is all the childrens Birth-Right and the price of their labors monies and blood They are to declare likewise that the birgain is unrighteous and that the Buyers and Sellers are Enemies to the Peace and Freedom of the Commonwealth For indeed the Necessity of the people chose a Parliament to help them in their weakness and where they see a danger like to impoverish or enslave one part of the people to another they are to give warning and so prevent that danger for they are the Eyes of the Land And surely those are blinde Eyes that lead the People into Bogs to be entangled in Mud again after they are once pulled out And when the Land is once freed from the Oppressors Power and Laws a Parliament is to keep it so and not suffer it by their consent to have it bought or sold and so entangled in bondage upon a new account And for their faithfulness herein to the People the People are engaged by Love and Faithfulness to cleave close to them in defence and protection But when a Parliament have no care herein the hearts of the People run away from them like sheep who have no Shepherd All grievances are occasioned either by the covetous Wills of State-Officers who neglect their obedience to the good Laws and then prefer their own Ease Honor and Riches before the Ease and Freedom of the oppressed People And here a Parliament is to cashier and punish those Officers and place others who are men of publique spirits in their rooms Or else the Peoples Grievances arise from the practise and power that the Kings Laws have given to Lords of Manors covetous Landlords Tythe-takers or unbounded Lawyers being all strengthened in their oppressions over the People by that Kingly Law And when the people are burthened herewith and groan waiting for deliverance as the oppressed people of England do at this day it is then the work of a Parliament to see the people delivered and that they enjoy their Creation-Freedoms in the Earth They are not to dally with them but as a Father is ready to help his children out of misery when they either see them in misery or when the children cry for help so should they do for the oppressed People And surely for this end and no other is a Parliament chosen as is cleared before for the Necessity of common preservation and peace is the Fundamental Law both to Officers and People The Work of a Parliament fourthly is this If there be occasion to raise an Army to wage War either against an Invasion of a Forreign Enemy or against an Insurrection at home it is the work of a Parliament to manage that business for to preserve common Peace And here their work is three-fold First To acquaint the people plainly with the cause of the War and to shew them the danger of such an Invasion or Insurrection and so from that cause require their assistance in person for the preservation of the Laws Liberties and Peace of the Commonwealth according to their Engagement when they were chosen which
of freedom righteousness and peace or whether you will return to Monarchy to embrace that Egyptian bondage still Well here is life and death set before you take whether you will but know that unless your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Kingly and Lordly Scribes and Pharisees you shall never enjoy true peace in your spirit CHAP. VI The Kings old laws cannot govern a free Commonwealth THey cannot govern in times of bondage and in times of freedom too they have indeed served many masters Popish and Protestant they are like old souldiers that will but change their name and turn about and as they were and the reason is because they are the prerogative will of those under any Religion that count it no freedom to them unless they be lords over the minds persons and labors of their brethren They are called the Kings laws because they are made by the Kings If any say they were made by the Commoners It is answered They were not made by the Commoners as the Commoners of a free Commonwealth are to make laws For in the dayes of the Kings none were to chuse nor be chosen Parliament men or law makers but Lords of Mannors and Freeholders such as held title to their inclosures of Land or Charters for their liberties in trades under the King who called the land his as he was the Conquerer or his successor All inferior people were neither to chuse nor to be chosen and the reason was because all freeholders of land and such as held their liberties by Charter were all of the Kings interest and the inferior people were successively of the rank of the conquered ones and servants and slaves from the time of the conquest And further when a Parliament was chosen in that manner yet if any Parliament man in the uprightness of his heart did endeavor to promote any freedome contrary to the Kings will or former customes from the Conquest he was either committed to prison by the King or by his house of Lords who were his ancient Norman successive councel of war or else the Parliament was dissolved and broke up by the King So that the old laws were made in times under kingly slavery not under the liberty of Commonwealths freedome because Parliament men must have regard to the Kings prerogative interest to hold his Conquest or else indanger themselves As sometimes it is in these dayes some officers dare not speak against the minds of those men who are the chief in power nor a private souldier against the minde of his officer lest they be cashiered their places and livelihood And so long as the promoting of the Kings will and prerogative was to be in the eye of the law makers the oppressed Commoners could never enjoy Commonwealths freedome thereby Yet by the wisdome courage faithfulness and industry of some Parliament men the Commoners have received here a line and there a line of freedome inserted into their laws as those good lines of freedom in Magna Charta were obtained by much hardship and industry Secondly they were the Kings laws because the Kings own creatures made the laws or Lords of Mannors Freeholders c. were successors of the Norman souldiers from the Conquest therefore they could do no other but maintaine their own and their kings interest And do we not see that all laws were made in the dayes of the Kings to ease the rich Landlord but the poor laborers were left under bondage still they were to have no freedome in the earth by those pharisaical laws for when laws were made and Parliaments broke up the poor oppressed Commoners had no relief but the power of Lords of Mannors withholding the free use of the Common land from them remained still for none durst make use of any Common land but at the Lords leave according to the will and law of the Conquerer therefore the old laws were called the Kings laws And these old laws cannot govern a free Commonwealth because the land now is to be set free from the slavery of the Norman Conquest and the power of Lords of Mannors and Norman freeholders is to be taken away or else the Commoners are but where they were if not faln lower into straights then they were and the old laws cannot look with any other face then they did though they be washed with Commonwealths water their countenance is still withered therefore it was not for nothing that the Kings would have all their Laws written in French and Latine and not in English partly in honour to the Norman Race and partly to keep the common people ignorant of their Creation-freedoms lest they should rise to redeem themselves and if those Laws should be writ in English yet if the same Kingly principles remain in them the English language would not advantage us any thing but rather increase our sorrow by our knowledge of our bondage What is Law in general Law is a Rule whereby Man and other creatures are governed in their actions for the preservation of the common peace And this Law is twofold First it is the power of Life called the Law of Nature within the creatures which does move both man and beast in their actions or that causes grass trees 〈◊〉 and all plants to grow in their several seasons and whatsoever any body does he does it as he is moved by this inward Law And this law of Nature moves twofold viz. unrationally or rationally A man by this inward Law is guided to actions of generation and present content rashly through a greedy self-love without any consideration like foolish children or like the bruit beasts by reason whereof much hurt many times follows the body And this is called the law in the 〈◊〉 warring against the law of the minde Or when there is an inward watchful oversight of all motions to action considering the end and effects of those actions that there be no excess in diet in speech or in action break forth to the prejudice of a mans self or others And this is called the light in man The reasonable power Or the law of the minde And this rises up in the heart by an experimental observation of that peace and trouble which such and such words thoughts and actions bring the man into And this is called the record on high for it is a record in a mans heart above the former unreasonable power And it is called the witness or testimony of a 〈◊〉 own 〈◊〉 And it is said To the law and to the testimony c. for this moderate watchfulness is still the law of Nature in a higher resurrection then the former 〈◊〉 it hath many terms which for 〈◊〉 sake I let pass And this twofold work of the law within man strives to bring 〈◊〉 themselves in writing to 〈◊〉 numbers of bodies on their fides And that power that begets the biggest number alwayes Rules as King and Lord in the creature and in the creation till the other part overtop him even as
torment him in that 〈◊〉 But surely Light is so broke out that it will cover the Earth so that the Divinity Charmers shall say The people will 〈◊〉 bear the voyce of our charming charm we never so wisely And all the Priests and Clergy and Preachers of these spiritual and heavenly things as they call them shall take up the lamentation which is their portion Alas alas that great City Babylon that mighty City Divinity which hath filled the whole Earth with her forcery and deceived all people so that the whole world wondered after this Beast how is it faln and how is her Judgment come upon her in one hour And further as you may read Rev. 18. 10. The Office of the Post-master In every Parish throughout the Commonwealth shall be chosen two men at the time when other Officers are chosen and these shall be called Postmasters And whereas there are four parts of the Land East West North South there shall be chosen in the chief City two men to receive in what the Post-master of the East Country brings in and two men to receive in what the Post-master of the West brings in and two for the North and so two for the South Now the work of the Country Post-master shall be this They shall every Moneth bring up or send by tydings from their respective Parishes to the chief City of what accidents or passages fall out which is either to the honor or dishonor hurt or profit of the Commonwealth and if nothing have faln out in that Moneth worth observation then they shall write down peace or good order in such a Parish And when these respective Post-masters have brought up their Bills or Certificates from all parts of the Land the Receivers of those Bills shall write down every thing in order from Parish to Parish in the nature of a Weekly Bill of Observation And those eight Receivers shall cause the Affairs of the four quarters of the Land to be printed in one Book with what speed may be and deliver to every Postmaster a Book that as they bring up the Affairs of one Parish in writing they may carry down in Print the Affairs of the whole Land The benefit lies here That if any part of the Land be visited with Plague Famine Invasion or Insurrection or any casualties the other parts of the Land may have speedy knowledg and send Relief And if any accident fall out through unreasonable action or careless neglect other parts of the Land may thereby be made watchful to prevent like danger Or if any through industry or ripeness of understanding have found out any secret in Nature or new invention in any Art or Trade or in the Tillage of the Earth or such like whereby the Commonwealth may more flourish in peace and plenty for which Vertues those persons received honor in the places where they dweit When other parts of the Land hear of it many thereby will be encouraged to employ their Reason and industry to do the like that so in time there will not be any Secret in Nature which now lies hid by reason of the iron age of 〈◊〉 oppressing Government but by some or other will be brought to light to the beauty of our Commonwealth The Rise of a Commonwealths Army After that the necessity of the People in a Parish in a County and in a Land hath moved the People to chuse Officers to preserve common peace the same necessity causeth the People to say to their Officers Do you see our Laws observed for our common preservation and we will assist and protect you This word assist and protect implies the rising of the people by force of Arms to defend their Laws and Officers who rule well against any Invasion Insurrection or Rebellion of selfish Officers or rude people yea to beat down the turbulency of any foolish spirit that shall arise to break our common Peace So that the same Law of Necessity of common Peace which moved the people to chuse Officers and to compose a Law for to be a Rule of Government The same Law of Necessity of Protection doth raise an Army so that an Army as well as other Officers in a Commonwealth spring from one and the same root viz. from the Necessity of common Preservation An Army is two-fold viz. A Ruling Army or a Fighting Army A ruling Army is called Magistracy in times of Peace keeping that Land and Government in Peace by Execution of the Laws which the fighting Army did purchase in the field by their Blood out of the hands of Oppression And here all Officers from the father in a family to the Parliament in a Land are but the Heads and Leaders of an Army and all people arising to protect and assist their Officers in defence of a right ordered Government are but the Body of an Army And this Magistracy is called the rejoycing of all Nations when the Foundation thereof are Laws of common Equity whereby every single man may enjoy the fruit of his labour in the free use of the Earth without being restrained or oppressed by the hands of others Secondly A fighting Army called Souldiers in the field when the necessity of preservation by reason of a forraign Invasion or inbred Oppression do move the people to arise in an Army to cut and teer to pieces either degenerated Officers or rude people who seek their own Interest and not common Freedom and through treachery do endeavor to destroy the Laws of common Freedom and to enssave both the Land and people of the Commonwealth to their particular wills and lusts And this War is called a Plague because that cursed enmity of Covetousness pride and vain glory and envy in the heart of Mankind did occasion the rise of it because he will not be under the moderate observation of any free and right Order unless he himself be King and Lord over other persons and their labours For now the people do arise to defend their faithful Officers against such Officers as are unfaithful and to defend their Laws and Common Peace The use or work of a fighting Army in a Commonwealth Is to beat down all that arise to endeavor to destroy the Liberties of the Commonwealth For as in the days of Monarchy an Army was used to subdue all who rebelled against Kingly Propriety so in the days of a free Commonwealth an Army is to be made use of to resist and destroy all who endeavor to keep up or bring in Kingly Bondage again The work of this fighting Army is twofold The first is to withstand the Invasion or coming in of a forraign Enemy whose Invasion is for no other end but to take away our Land and Earth from us to deny us the free use thereof to become Kings and Landlords over us and to make us their slaves As William the Conqueror when he had conquered England he gave not only the Land in parcels to his Souldiers but he gave all men their
wives and children within such a Lordship to his Lords of Manors 〈◊〉 do with them as they pleased And for this cause now doth an Army arise to keep out an Invasion of a Forraigner that by the defence of our Army who is part of our selves the rest of our brethren in the Commonwealth may plow sow and reap and enjoy the fruits of their labours and so live in peace in their own Land Or secondly If a Land be conquered and so enslaved as England was under the Kings and conquering Laws then an Army is to be raised with as much secrecy as may be to restore the Land again and set it free that the Earth may become a Common Treasury to all her children without respecting persons as it was before Kingly Bondage came in as you may read 1 Sam. 8. This latter is called Civil Wars and this is the Wars of the Commoners of England against King Charls now cast out for he and his Laws were the successive Power of that Norman Conquest over England And now the Commeners of England in this age of the World are rise up in an Army and have cast out that Invasion of the Duke of Normandy and have won their Land and Liberties again by the Sword if they do not suffer their Councels to 〈◊〉 into slavery again upon a new accompt Therefore you Army of Englands Commonwealth look to it the Enemy could not beat you in the field but they may be too hard for you by policy in 〈◊〉 if you do not stick close to see Common Freedom established For if so be that Kingly Authority be set up in your Laws again King Charls hath conquered you and your posterity by policy and won the field of you though you seemingly have cut off His Head For the strength of a King lies not in the visible appearance of his body but in his Will Laws and Authority which is called 〈◊〉 Government But if you remove Kingly Government and set up true and free Commonwealths Government then you gain your Crown and keep it and leave peace to your posterity otherwise not And thus doing makes a War either lawful or unlawful An Army may be Murtherers and unlawful If an Army be raised to cast out Kingly Oppression and if the Heads of that Army promise a Commonwealths Freedom to the oppressed people if in case they will assist with person and purse and if the people do assist and prevail over the Tyrant those Officers are bound by the Law of Justice who is God to make good their Engagements And if they do not set the Land free from the branches of the Kingly Oppression but reserve some part of the Kingly Power to advance their own particular Interest whereby some of their friends are left under as great slavery to them as they were under the Kings Those Officers are not faithful Commonwealths Souldiers they are worse Thieves and Tyrant then the Kings they cast out and that Honor they seemed to get by their Victories over the Commonwealths Oppressor they lose again by breaking Promise and Engagement to their oppressed friends who did assist them For what difference is there between a professed Tyrant that declares himself a Tyrant in words Laws and deeds as all Conquerors do and him who promises to free me from the Power of the Tyrant if I 'le assist him and when I have spent my estate and blood and the health of my body and expect my bargain by his Engagements to me he sits himself down in the Tyrants Chair and takes the possession of the Land to himself and calls it 〈◊〉 and none of mine and tells me he cannot in Conscience let me enjoy the Freedom of the Earth with him because it is another mans 〈◊〉 And now my health and estate is decayed and I grow in age I must either beg or work for day wages which I was never brought up to for another when as the Earth is as freely my Inheritance and birthright as his whom I must work for and if I cannot live by my weak labors but take where I need as Christ sent and took the Asse coìt in his need there is no dispute but by the Kings and Laws he will hang me for a thief But hear O thou Righteous Spirit of the whole Creation and judg who is the thief Him who takes away the freedom of the common-earth from me which is my Creation rights and which I have helped to purchase out of the hands of the Kingly Oppressor by my purse and person and which he hath taken for wages of me Or I who takes the Common-earth to plant upon for my free livelyhood endeavouring to live as a free Commoner in a free Common-wealth in righteousness and peace Such a souldier as this engagement breaker is neither a friend to the Creation nor to a particular Common-wealth but a self lover and a hypocrite for he did not fight to set the Earth free from the bondage of the Oppressor as he pretended by his Engagements but to remove that power out of the others hand into his own And this is just like the beasts who fight for mastery and keeps it not releaving but still Lording and Kinging over the weak These are Monarchial souldiers not Common-Wealths souldiers and such a souldier is a murderer and his warfare is unlawful But souldiers of true noble spirits will help the weak and set the oppressed free and delight to see the Common-wealth flowrish in freedom as wel as their own gardens There is none of this true nobility in the Monarchial Army for they are all self lovers the best is as a briar and the most upright amongst them is as a thorne held speak you Prophers of old if this be not true A Monarchial Army lifts up mountains and makes vallies viz. Advances Tyrants and treads the oppressed in the barran lanes of poverty But a Commonwealths Army is like John Baptist who levels the Mountains to the Valleys pulls down the Tyrant and 〈◊〉 up the Oppressed and so makes way for the spirit of Peace and Freedom to come in to rule and 〈◊〉 the Earth And by this which hath been spoken an Army may see wherein they may do well and wherein they may do hurt CHAP. V. Education of mankinde in Schools and Trades MAnkinde in the days of his youth is like a young Colt wanton and foolish till he be broke by Education and correction and the neglect of this care or the want of wisdom in the performance of it hath been and is the cause of much division and trouble in the world Therefore the Law of a Common-wealth does require that not onely a father but that all Overseers and Officers should make it their work to educate children in good manners and to see them brought up in some trade or other and to suffer no children in any Parish to live in idleness and youthful pleasure all their days as many have been but that they be brought up