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
free Commonwealth Now saith the whisperings of the people The inferior Tenants and Laborers bears all the burdens in laboring the Earth in paying Taxes and Free-quarter beyond their strength and in furnishing the Armies with Souldiers who bear the greatest burden of the War and yet the Gentry who oppress them and that live idle upon their labours carry away all the comfortable livelyhood of the Earth For is not this a common speech among the people We have parted with our Estates we have lost our Friends in the Wars which we willingly gave up because Freedom was promised us and now in the end we have new Task-masters and our old burdens increased and though all sorts of people have taken an Engagement to cast out Kingly Power yet Kingly Power remains in power still in the hands of those who have no more right to the Earth then our selves For say the people If the Lords of Manors and our Task-masters hold Title to the Earth over us from the old Kingly power behold that power is beaten and cast out And two Acts of Parliament are made The one to cast out Kingly power back'd by the Engagement against King and House of Lords The other to make England a free Commonwealth And if Lords of Mannors lay claim to the earth over us from the Armies Victories over the King then we have as much right to the Land as they because our labours and blood and death of friends were the purchasers of the Earths freedome as well as theirs And is not this a slavery say the People That though there be Land enough in England to maintain ten times as many people as are in it yet some must beg of their brethren or work in hard drudgery for day wages for them or starve or steal and so be hanged out of the way as men not fit to live in the earth before they must be suffered to plant the waste land for their livelihood unlesse they will pay Rent to their brethren for it wel this is a burthen the Creation groans under and the subjects so called have not their Birth-right Freedomes granted them from their brethren who hold it from them by club law but not by righteousness And who now must we be subject to seeing the Conqueror is gone I Answer we must either be subject to a Law or to mens wils If to a Law then all men in England are subjects or ought to be thereunto but what Law that is to which every one ought to be subject is not yet established in execution If any say the old Kings Laws are the Rule then it may be Answered That those Laws are so full of confusion that few knows when they obey and when not because they were the Laws of a Conqueror to hold the people in subjection to the will of the Conqueror therefore that cannot be the rule for every one besides we dayly see many actions done by State Officers which they have no Law to justifie them in but their Prerogative will And again if we must be subject to men then what men must we be subject to seeing one man hath as much right to the earth as another for no man now stands as a Conqueror over his Brethren by the Law of righteousness You will say We must be subject to the Ruler it is true but not to suffer the Rulers to call the Earth theirs and not ours for by so doing they betray their trust and run into the line of 〈◊〉 and we lose our freedome and from thence 〈◊〉 and Wars arise A Ruler is worthy double honour when he rules well that is when he himself is subject to the Law and requires all others to be subject thereunto and makes it his work to see the Laws obeyed and not his own will and such Rulers are faithfull and they are to be subjected unto us therein for all Commonwealths Rulers are servants to not Lords and Kings over the people But you will say Is not the Land your brothers and you cannot take away 〈◊〉 mans Right by claiming a share therein with him I Answer It is his either by creation right or by right of Conquest If by Creation right he call the earth his and not mine then it is mine as well as his for the Spirit of the whole Creation who made us both is no respecter of persons And if by Conquest he call the earth his and not mine it must be either by the Conquest of the Kings over the Commoners or by the Conquest of the Commeners over the Kings If he claim the earth to be his from the Kings Conquest The Kings are beaten and cast out and that title is undone If he claim Title to the earth to be his from the Conquest of the Commoners over the Kings then I have right to the Land as well as my brother for my brother without me nor I without my brother did not cast out the Kings but both together assisting with person and purse we prevailed so that I have by this Victory as equall a share in the earth which is now redeemed as my brother by the Law of righteousnesse If my brother still say he will be Landlord through his covetous ambition and I must pay him Rent or else I shall not live in the Land then does he take my right from me which I have purchased by my money in Taxes free quarter and blood And O thou Spirit of the whole Creation who hath this Title to be called King of Righteousness and Prince of Peace judge thou between my brother and me Whether this be righteous c. And now say the people is not this a grievous thing that our brethren that will be Landlords right or wrong will make Laws and call for a Law to be made to imprison crush nay put to death any that denies God Christ and Scripture and yet they will not practise that golden Rule Do to another as thou wouldst have another do to thee which God Christ and Scriptures hath Enacted for a Law are not these men guilty of death by their own Law which is the words of their own mouth is it not a flat denyall of God and Scripture O the confusion and thick darkness that hath over-spread our Brethren is very great I have no power to remove it but lament it in the secrets of my heart when I see Prayers Sermons Fasts Thanksgiving directed to this God in words and-shews and when I come to look for actions of obedience to the Righteous Law suitable to such a profession I finde them men of another Nation saying and not doing like an old Courtier saying Your Servant when he was an Enemy I wil say no more but groan and waite for a restoration Thus Sir I have reckoned up some of those burdens which the people groan under And I being sensible hereof was moved in my self to present this Platform of Commonwealths Government unto you wherein I have declared a full Commonwealths Freedome
diligence and purity of Manners Therefore I desire a patient reading of what hereafter follows and when you have heard the extent of Commonwealths Government or Freedom then weigh it in the ballance with Kingly Government or Bondage and see whether brings most Peace to the Land and establish that for Government For you must either establish Commonwealths Freedom in Power making provision for every ones Peace which is Righteousness or else you must set up Monarchy again Monarchy is twofold either for one King to rule or for many to rule by Kingly Principles for the Kings Power lies in his Laws not in the Name And if either one King rule or many rule by Kings Principles much murmuring 〈◊〉 troubles and quarrels may and will arise among the oppressed people upon every gained opportunity But if Common Freedom be found out and ease the oppressed it prevents murmurings and quarrels and establishes Universal Peace in the Earth Therefore seeing the Power of Government is in the hands of such as have professed to the World a godly Righteousness more purely then that of oppressing Kings without doubt their faithfulness and wisdom is required to be manifested in action as well as in words But if they who profess more Righteousness and Freedom in words then the Kings Government was and yet can find out no Government to ease the people but must establish the Kings old Laws though they give it a new name I will leave the sentence worthy such a profession and such a people to be given by the heart of every rational man And so I shall proceed how the Earth should be governed for the Peace of a Commonwealth CHAP. II. What is Government in general Government is a wise and free ordering of the Earth and the Manners of Mankind by observation of particular Laws or Rules so that all the Inhabitants may live peaceably in plenty and freedom in the Land where they are born and bred In the Government of a Land there are three parts viz. Laws sit Officers and a faithful Execution of those Laws First There must be suitable Laws for every occasion and almost for every action that men do for one Law cannot serve in all 〈◊〉 but every season and every action have their particular Laws attending thereupon for the preservation of right order As for example There is a time to plow and the Laws of right understanding attends upon that work and there is a time to reap the fruits of the Earth and the Laws of right observation attending thereupon So that true Government is a right ordering of all actions giving to every action and thing its due weight and measure and this prevents confusion as Solomon speaks There is a time for all things a time to make Promises and Engagements and a time to see them performed a right order in times of War and a right order in times of Peace every season and time having its Law or Rule suitable and this makes a healthful Government because it preserves Peace in a right order Secondly There must be fit Officers whose spirits are so humble wise and free from Covetousness as they can make the established Laws of the Land their Will and not through pride and vain-glory make their Wills to rule above the Rules of Freedom pleading Prerogative For when the right ordered Laws do rule the Government is healthful but when the Will of Officers rule above Law that Government is diseased with a mortal disease Thirdly There must be a faithful Execution of those Laws and herein lies the very life of Government For a right order in Government lies not in the Will of Officers without Laws nor in Laws without Officers nor in neither of them without Execution But when these three go hand in hand the Government is healthful but if any one of these be wanting the Government is diseased There is a twofold Government a Kingly Government and a Common-wealths Government What is Kingly Government or Monarchy Kingly Government governs the 〈◊〉 by that cheating Art of buying selling and thereby becomes a man of contention his hand is against every man and every mans hand against him and take this Government at the best it is a diseased Government and the very City Babylon full of confusion and if it had not a Club Law to support it there would be no order in it because it is the 〈◊〉 and proud will of a Conqueror enslaving a conquered people This Kingly Government is he who beats pruning hooks and plows into spears guns swords and instruments of War that he might take his younger brothers Creation birth-right from him calling the 〈◊〉 his and not his brothers unless his brother will hire the Earth of him so that he may live idle and at ease by his brothers labours Indeed this Government may well be called the Government of high-way men who hath stoln the Earth from the younger brethren by force and holds it from them by force he sheds blood not to free the people from Oppression but that he may be King and Ruler over an oppressed people The Seituation of this Monarchial Government Lies in the will of Kings alias Conquerors setting up Lords of Manors exacting Landlords Tything Priests and covetous Lawyers with all those pricking bryars attending thereupon to be Taskmasters to oppress the people lest they should rise up in riches and power to disthrone him and so to share the Earth with him redeeming their own Creation rights again which this Kingly Government withholds from Mankind in all Nations for he is the great Man of Sin who is now revealed who sits in the Temple of God ruling above all that is called God and both by force and cheating policy takes the Peoples Freedoms from them Exod. 1. 8. 2 Thes. 2. 8. 9. This Kingly Government is he that makes the elder brethren freemen in the Earth and the younger brethren slaves in the Earth before they have lost their Freedom by transgression to the Law Nay he makes one brother a Lord and another a servant while they are in their Mothers womb before they have done either good or evil This is the mighty Ruler that hath made the Election and Rejection of Brethren from their birth to their death or from Eternity to Eternity He calls himself the Lord God of the whole Creation for he makes one brother to pay rent to another brother for the use of the Water Earth and Ayr or else he will not suffer him by his Laws and Lawyers to live above ground but in beggery and yet he will be called righteous And whereas the Scriptures say That the Creator of all things God is no Respecter of persons yet this Kingly Power doth nothing else but respect persons preferring the rich and the proud therefore he denies the Scriptures and the true God of Righteousness though he pray and preach of the Scriptures and keep Fasts and Thanksgiving-days to God to be a cloak to hide his Oppression
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
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
given Freequarter wasted our Estates and lost our Friends in the Wars and the Taskmasters multiply over us more then formerly I have asked divers this question Why do you say so Some have answered me That Promises Oaths and Engagements have been made as a Motive to draw us to assist in the Wars That priviledges of Parliament and Liberties of Subjects should be preserved and that all Popery and Episcopacy and Tyranny should be rooted out and these promises are not performed Now there is an opportunity to perform them For first say they The current of succeeding Parliaments is stopt which is one of the greatest Priviledges and peoples Liberties for Safety and Peace and if that continue stopt we shall be more offended by an hereditary Parliament then we were oppressed by an hereditary King And for the Commoners who were called Subjects while the Kingly Conqueror was in power have not as yet their Liberties granted them I will instance them in order according as the common whisperings are among the people For say they The burdens of the Clergy remains still upon us in a threefold nature First If any man declare his Judgment in the things of God contrary to the Clergies report or the mind of some high Officers they are cashiered imprisoned crushed and undone and made sinners for a word as they were in the Popes and Bishops days so that though their names be cast out yet their High Commission Courts Power remains still persecuting men for Conscience sake when their actions are unblameable Secondly In many Parishes there are old formal ignorant Episcopal Priests established and some Ministers who are bitter Enemies to Common-wealths Freedom and Friends to Monarchy are established Preachers and are continually buzzing their subtle principles into the minds of the people to undermine the Peace of our declared Commonwealth causing a disaffection of spirit among neighbors who otherwise would live in peace Thirdly The burden of Tythes remains still upon our Estates which was taken from us by the Kings and given to the Clergy to maintain them by one labours so that though their preaching fill the minds of many with madness contention and unsatisfied doubting because their imaginary and ungrounded Doctrines cannot be understood by them and yet we must pay them large Tythes for so doing this is Oppression Fourthly If we go to the Lawyer we find him to sit in the Conquerors Chair though the Kings be removed maintaining the Kings Power to the height for in many Courts and cases of Law the Wil of a Judg Lawyer rules above the letter of the Law and many Cases and Suits are lengthened to the great vexation of the Clients and to the lodging of their Estates in the purse of the unbounded Lawyer So that we see though other men be under a sharp Law yet many of the great Lawyers are not but still do act their will as the Conqueror did as I have heard some belonging to the Law say What cannot we do Fifthly Say they If we look upon the Customs of the Law itself it is the same it was in the Kings days only the name is altered as if the 〈◊〉 of England had paid their Taxes Free-quarter and shed their blood not to reform but to baptize the Law into a new name from Kingly Law to State Law by reason whereof the spirit of discontent is strengthened to increase more Suits of Law then formerly was known to be And so as the Sword pulls down Kingly Power with one hand the Kings old Law builds up Monarchy again with the other And indeed the main Work of Reformation lies in this to reform the Clergy Lawyers and Law for all the Complaints of the Land are wrapped up within them three not in the person of a King Shall men of other Nations say That notwithstanding all those rare wits in the Parliament and Army of England yet they could not reform the Clergy Lawyer and Law but must needs establish all as the Kings left them Will not this blast all our Honor and make all Monarchial Members laugh in their sleeves to see the Government of our Commonwealth to be built upon the Kingly Laws and Principles I have asked divers Souldiers what they fought for they answered they could not tell and it is very true they cannot tell indeed if the Monarchial Law be established without Reformation But I wait to see what will be done and I doubt not but to see our Commonwealths Government to be built upon his own Foundation Sixthly If we look into Parishes the burdens there are many First For the Power of Lords of Manors remains still over their Brethren requiring Fines and Heriots beating them off the free use of the Common Land unless their Brethren will pay them Rent exacting obedience as much as they did and more when the King was in Power Now faith the people By what Power do these maintain their Title over us Formerly they held Title from the King as he was the Conquerors Successor But have not the Commoners cast out the King and broke the band of that Conquest Therefore in equity they are free from the slavery of that Lordly Power Secondly In Parishes where Commons lie the rich Norman Free-holders or the new more covetous Gentry over-stock the Commons with Sheep and Cattle so that inferior Tenants and poor Laborers can hardly keep a Cow but half starve her so that the poor are kept poor still and the Common Freedom of the Earth is kept from them and the poor have no more relief then they had when the King or Conqueror was in power Thirdly In many Parishes two or three of the great ones bears all the sway in making Assessments over awing Constables and other Officers and when time was to quarter Souldiers they would have a hand in that to ease themselves and over-burden the weaker sort and many times make large sums of money over and above the Justices Warrant in Assessments and would give no accompt why neither durst the inferior people demand an accompt for he that spake should be sure to be crushed the next opportunity and if any have complained to Committees or Justices they have been either wearied out by 〈◊〉 and waiting or else the offence hath been by them smothered up so that we see one great man favored another and the poor 〈◊〉 have no relief Fourthly There is another grievance which the people are much troubled at and that is this Country people cannot sell any Corn or other fruits of the Earth in a Market Town but they must either pay Toll or be turned out of Town Now say they This is a most shameful thing that we must part with our estates in Taxes and Free-quarter to purchase the Freedom of the Land and the Freedom of the Towns and yet this Freedom must be still given from us into the hands of a covetous Norman Toll-Taker according to the Kings old burdensom Laws and contrary to the Liberty of a
according to the Rule of Righteousness which is Gods Word It was intended for your view above two years ago but the disorder of the Times caused me to lay it aside with a thought never to bring it to light c. Likewise I hearing that M. Peters and some others Propounded this request That the Word of God might be consulted with to finde out a healing Government which I liked well and waited to see such a Rule come forth for there are good rules in the Scripture if they were obeyed and practised thereupon I laid aside this in silence and said I would not make it publick but this word was like fire in my bones ever and anon Thou shalt not bury thy talent in the earth therefore I was stirred up to give it a 〈◊〉 and to pick together as many of my scattered papers as I could finde and to compile them into this method which I do here present to you and do quiet my own spirit And now I have set the candle at your door for you have power in your hand in this other added opportunity to Act for Common Freedome if you will I have no power It may be here are some things inserted which you may not like yet other things you may like therefore I pray you read it and be as the industrious Bee suck out the honey and cast away the weeds Though this Platform be like a peece of Timber rough hewd yet the discreet workmen may take it and frame a handsome building out of it It is like a poor man that comes cloathed to your door in a torn country garment who is unacquainted with the learned Citizens unsetled forms and fashions take of the clownish language for under that you may see beauty It may be you will say If Tythes be taken from the Priests and Impropriators and Copy-hold Services from Lords of Mannors how shal they be provided for again for is it not unrighteous to take their estates from them I Answer when Tythes were first enacted and Lordly power drawn over the backs of the oppressed the Kings and Conquerors made no seruple of Conscience to take it though the people lived in sore bondage of poverty for want of it and can there be seruple of conscience to make restitution of this which hath been so long stoln goods It is no scruple arising from the Righteous Law but from 〈◊〉 who goes away sorrowfull to heare he must part with all to follow righteousness and Peace But though you do take away Tythes and the Power of Lords of Mannors yet there will be no want to them for they have the freedome of the Common stock they may send to the Storehouses for What they want and live more free then now they do for now they are in care and vexation by servants by casualties by being cheated in buying and selling and many other incumbrances but then they will be free from all for the common Store-houses is every 〈◊〉 not any ones Is not buying and selling a righteous Law No It is the Law of the Conqueror but not the righteous Law of Creation how can that be righteous which is a cheat 〈◊〉 is not this a common practise when he hath a bad Horse or Cow or any bad commodity he will send it to the Market to cheat some simple plain hearted man or other and when he comes home will laugh at his neighbours hurt and much more c. When Mankinde began to buy and sell then did he fall from his Innocency for then they began to 〈◊〉 and cozen one another of their Creation Birth-right As for example If the Land belong to three persons and two of them buy and sell the Earth and the third give no consent his Right is taken from him and his posterity is engaged in a War When the Earth was first bought and sold many gave no consent As when our Crown Lands and Bishops Lands were sold some foolish Soldiers yeelded and covetous Officers were active in it to advance themselves above their Brethren but many who payd Taxes and Freequarter for the purchase of it gave no consent but declared against it as an unrighteous thing depriving posterity of their Birth-rights and Freedoms Therefore this buying and selling did bring in and still doth bring in discontents and wars which have plagued Mankinde sufficiently for so doing And the Nations of the world will never learn to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks and leave of warring until this cheating device of buying and selling be cast out among the rubbish of Kingly power But shall not one man be richer then another There is no need of that for Riches make men vain-glorious proud and to oppress their Brethren and are the occasion of wars No man can be rich but he must be rich either by his own labors or by the labors of other men helping him If a man have no help 〈◊〉 his neighbor he shall never gather an Estate of hundreds and thousands a year If other men help him to work then are those Riches his Neighbors as well as his for they be the fruit of other mens labors as well as his own But all rich men live at ease feeding and clothing themselves by the labors of other men not by their own which is their shame and not their Nobility for it is a more 〈◊〉 thing to give then to receive But rich men receive all they have from the laborers hand and what they give they give away other mens labors not their own Therefore they are not righteous Actors in the Earth But shall not one man have more Titles of Honor then another Yes As a man goes through Offices he rises to Titles of Honor till he comes to the highest Nobility to be a faithful Commonwealths man in a Parliament House Likewise he who findes out any secret in Nature shall have a Title of Honor given him though he be a young man But no man shall have any Title of Honor till he win it by industry or come to it by age or Office-bearing Every man that is above sixty years of age shall have respect as a man of Honor by all others that are younger as is shewed hereafter Shall every man count his Neighbors house as his own and live together as one Family No Though the Earth and Storehouses be common to every Family yet every Family shall live apart as they do and every mans house wife children and furniture for ornament of his house or any thing which he hath fetched in from the Storehouses or provided for the necessary use of his Family is all a propriety to that Family for the peace thereof And if any man offer to take away a mans wife children or furniture of his house without his consent or disturb the peace of his dwelling he shall suffer punishment as an Enemy to the Commonwealths Government as is mentioned in the Platform following Shall we have no Lawyers
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
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
from the people whereby he shews himself to be the great Antichrist 〈◊〉 Mystery of Iniquity that makes War with Christ and his Saints under pretence of owning him The great Law-giver of this Kingly Government Is Covetousness ruling in the heart of Mankind making one brother to covet a full possession of the Earth and a lordly Rule over another brother which he will have or else he will inslave or kill his brother for this is Cain who killed Abel and because of this he is called the great red Dragon the god of this world the Oppressor under which the whole Creation hath 〈◊〉 a long time waiting to be delivered from him The Rise of Kingly Government is twofold First By a politick wit in drawing the people out of Common Freedom into a way of Common Bondage for so long as the Earth is a Common Treasury to all men Kingly Covetousness can never raign as King Therefore his first device was to put the people to buy and sell the Earth and the fruits one to another for this would beget discontents and muddy the waters And when this spirit of Monarchy hath drawn the people into the way of buying and selling and the people begin to vex one another then began his opportunity to raign For in that man wherein this Kingly spirit seats himself he tells the people that are wronged Well I 'le ease you and I 'le set things to rights And then he went about to establish buying and selling by Law whereby the people had some ease for a time but the cunning Machavilian spirit got strength thereby to settle himself King in the Earth For after some time the people through ignorance began to multiply Suits of Law one against another and to quarrel and fight Now saith this subtle spirit Come follow me to one sort of people that are oppressed and stick to me and we will fight with those Who Wrong you and if We conquer them then We Will govern the Earth as we please and they shall be our servants and We Will make them Work for us Thereupon one sort of people followed one head and another sort of people followed another head and so Wars began in the Earth and mankind fell a fighting one part conquering and enslaving another And now Man is faln from his innocency and from the glory of the spirit of common Freedom Love and Peace into Enmity every one striving to be King one over another every one striving to be a Landlord of the Earth and to make his brother his servant to work for him But still here is disorder therefore this subtle spirit of darkness goes further and tells the people You must make one man King over you all and let him make Laws and let every one be obedient thereunto And when the people consented thereunto they gave away their Freedom and they set up Oppression over themselves And this was the rise of Kingly Power first by Policy drawing the people from a common enjoyment of the Earth to the crafty Art of buying and selling Secondly to advance himself by the power of the Sword when that Art of buying and selling had made them quarrel among themselves So that this spirit of Monarchy it is the spirit of Subtilty and Covetousness filling the heart of Mankind with enmity and ignorance pride and vain-glory because the strong destroys the weak and so one Scripture calls this the Power and Government of the Beast another Scripture calls it the god of this World or the Devil For indeed the Monarchial spirit is the power of darkness for it is the great thick Cloud that hath hid the light of the Sun of Righteousness from shining in his full strength a long time And though this Kingly spirit doth call buying and selling a righteous thing thereby to put the simple younger brother upon it yet he will destroy it as he pleaseth by Pattents Licenses or Monopolizing Or else he will at his pleasure take away the riches which his younger brother hath got by trading and so still lift up himself above his brother And as he rise to the Throne by the crafty Art of buying and selling and by the Sword so he is maintained upon the Throne by the same means And the people now see That Kingly Power is the Oppressor and the Maintainers thereof are called Oppressors by the ancient Writers of the Bible This Kingly Power is the old Heaven and the old Earth that must pass away wherein unrighteousness oppression and partiality dwells For indeed we never read that the people began to complain of Oppression till Kingly Government rose up which is the power of covetousness and pride and which Samuel sets forth to be a plague and a curse upon the people in the first rise of it He will take your sons and your daughters to be his servants and to run before his charets to plant his ground and to reap his harvest He will take your fields your Vineyards and Oliveyards even the best of them and give to his servants as pleaseth him He will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his Officers or Ministers 1 Sam. 8. And this was that god who appointed the people to pay Tythes to the Clergy And many other Oppressions did the Kingly Government bring upon the People as you may read at large in Samuel Read 1 Sam. 8. from Vers. 10. to 19. The Winter 's past the Spring time now appears Be gone thou Kingly Tyrant With thy Cavaliers Thy day is past and sure thou dost appear To be the bond-mans son and not the free-born Heir Matt. 15. 13. What is Commonwealths Government Commonwealths Government governs the Earth without buying and selling and thereby becomes a man of peace and the Restoter of ancient Peace and Freedom he makes provision for the oppressed the weak and the simple as well as for the rich the wise and the strong He beats swords and spears into pruning hooks and plows he makes both elder and younger brother Free-men in the Earth Micah 4. 3 4. Isai. 33. 1. 65. 17 to 25. All Slavertes and Oppressions which have been brought upon Mankinde by Kings Lords of Manors Lawyers and Landlords and the Divining Clergy are all cast out again by this Government if it be right in power as well as in name For this Government is the true Restorer of all long lost Freedoms and so becomes the joy of all Nations and the Blessing of the whole Earth for this takes off the Kingly Curse and makes Jerusalem a praise in the Earth Therefore all you who profess Religion and spiritual things now look to it and see what spirit you do profess for your profession is brought to tryal If once Commonwealths Government be set upon the Throne then no Tyranny or Oppression can look him in the face and live For where Oppression lies upon brethren by brethren that is no Commonwealths Government but the Kingly Government still and
the mystery of Iniquity hath taken that peace-makers name to be a cloke to hide his subtil covetousness pride and oppression under O England England wouldst thou have thy Government sound and healthful then cast about and see and search diligently to finde out all those burthens that came in by Kings and remove them and then will thy Commonwealths Government arise from under the clods under which as yet it is buryed and covered with deformity If true Commonwealths Freedom lie in the free Enjoyment of the Earth as it doth then whatsoever Law or custom doth deprive brethren of their Freedom in the Earth it is to be cast out as unsavory salt The scituation of Commonwealths Government Is within the Laws of common Freedom whereby there is a provision for livelyhood in the Earth both for elder and younger brother and not the one enslaving the other but both living in plenty and freedom The Officers Laws 〈◊〉 Customs hereafter mentioned or such like according to such a method may be the Foundation and Pillars of Commonwealths Government This Government depends not upon the Will of any particular man or men for it is seated in the spirit of Mankinde and it is called the light or son of righteousness and peace The Tyrants in all ages have made use of this mans name while he hath lien buryed to cover their cheating mystery of Iniquity for if common Freedom were not pretended the Commoners of a Land would never dance after the pipe of self-seeking wits This Commonwealths Government may well be called the ancient of days for it was before any other oppressing government crept in It is the Moderator of all oppression and so is like Moses and Joseph in 〈◊〉 Court and in time will be the Restorer of long lost Freedoms to the Creation and delights to plant Righteousness over the face of the whole Earth The great Lawgiver in Commonwealths Government Is the spirit of universal Righteousness dwelling in Mankinde now rising up to teach every one to do to another as he would have another do to him and is no respector of persons and this spirit hath been killed by the Pharisaical Kingly spirit of self-love and been buryed in the dunghill of that enmity for many years past And if these be the days of his resurrection to power as we may hope because the name of Commonwealth is risen and established in England by a Law then we or our posterity shall see comfortable effects In that Nation where this Commonwealths Government shall be first established there shall be abundance of peacce and plenty and all 〈◊〉 of the Earth shall come flocking thither to see his beauty and to learn the ways thereof and the Law shall go forth from that Sion and that Word of the Lord from that Jerusalem which shall govern the whole Earth Micah 4 1 2. There shall be no Tyrant Kings Lords of Manors Tything Priests oppressing Lawyers exacting Landlords nor any such like pricking bryar in all this holy Mountain of the Lord God our Righteousness and Peace for the righteous Law shall be the Rule for every one and the Judg of all mens actions David desired rather to be a door keeper in this house of God or Commonwealths Government then to live in the tents of wickedness which was the Kingly oppressing Courts If any go about to build up Commonwealths Government upon Kingly principles they will both shame and lose themselves for there is a plain difference between the two Governments And if you do not run in the right channel of Freedom you must nay you will as you do face about and turn back again to Egyptian Monarchy and so your names in the days of posterity shall stink and be blasted with abhorred infamy for your unfaithfulness to common Freedom and the evil effects will be sharp upon the backs of posterity Therefore seeing England is declared to be a free Commonwealth and the name thereof established by a Law surely then the greatest work is now to be done and that is to escape all Kingly cheats in setting up a Commonwealths Government that the power and the name may agree together so that all the Inhabitants may live in peace plenty and freedom otherwise we shall shew our Government to be gone no further but to the half day of the Beast or to the dividing of Time of which there must be an over-turn Dan. 7. 25. Rev. 12. 14. For Oppression was always the occasion why the spirit of Freedom in the people desired change of Government When Samuels sons took bribes and grew rich upon the common purse and forgot to relieve the oppressed That made the people forsake the Government by Judges and to desire a Kingly Government 1 Sam. And the Oppressions of the Kingly Government have made this Age of the World to desire a Commonwealth Government and the removal of the Kings for the spirit of Light in Man loves Freedom and hates Bondage And because the spirit in Mankinde is various within it self for some are wise some are foolish some idle some laborious some rash some milde some loving and free to others some envyous and covetous some of an inclination to do as they would have others do to them but others seek to save themselves and to live in fulness though others perish for want Therefore because of this was the Law added which was to be a Rule and Judg for all mens actions to preserve common Peace and Freedom as Paul writ The Law was added because of Transgression one against another The Haven gates are now set ope for English Man to enter The Freedoms of the Earth's his due if he will make adventure CHAP. III. Where began the first Original of Government in the Earth among Mankinde THe Original Root of Magistracy is common Preservation and it rose up first in a private Family for suppose there were but one Family in the World as is conceived Father Adams Family wherein were many persons Therein Adam was the first Governor or Officer in the Earth because as he was the first Father so he was the most wise in contriving and the most strong for labor and so the fittest to be the chief Governor For this is the golden Rule Let the wise help the foolish and let the strong help the weak Psa. 35. 10. Rom. 15. 1 2. But some may say here That Adam was under no Law but his Will was a Law to him and his houshold therefore from the root from whence Magistracy first rose it is clear That Officers are to be under no Law but their own Wills and the people are to be subject thereunto I answer The Law of Necessity that the Earth should be planted for the common preservation and peace of his houshold was the righteous Rule and Law to Adam and this Law was so clearly written in the hearts of his people that they all consented quietly to any counsel he gave them for that end Therefore not Adams Will
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
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