Earth, mankind, he will take off that bondage, and give a universal
liberty, and there shall be no more complainings against
oppression, poverty, or injustice."
Winstanley, however, warns his readers that "this is not to be done by
the hands of a few, or by unrighteous men that would pull down the
tyrannical government out of other men's hands and keep it in their own
heart, as we feel this to be a burden of our age. But it is to be done
by the universal spreading of the Divine Power, which is Christ in
mankind, making them all to act in one spirit, and in and after one law
of reason and equity."
In the next chapter (chap. viii.) Winstanley describes his peculiar
state of mind at the time he first arrived at his fundamental
conclusions, which he evidently regarded as directly revealed to him, in
the following mystic words:
"As I was in a trance not long since, divers matters were present
to my sight, which here must not be related. Likewise I heard these
words--_Work together: Eat bread together: Declare this all
abroad_. Likewise I heard these words--_Whosoever it is that labors
in the earth--for any person or persons that lift up themselves as
Lords and Rulers over others, and that doth not look upon
themselves as equal to others in the Creation, the hand of the Lord
shall be upon that laborer. I the Lord have spoke it and I will do
it. Declare this all abroad._"
He then continues:
"After I was raised up I was made to remember very fresh what I had
seen and heard, and did declare all things to them that were with
me, and I was filled with abundance of quiet peace and secret joy.
And since that time those words have been like very fruitful seed,
that have brought forth increase in my heart, which I am much
pressed in spirit to declare all abroad."
He further explains the meaning of this revelation in the following
words:
"The poor men by their labors in this time of the first Adam's
government, have made the buyers and sellers of land, or rich men,
to become tyrants and oppressors over them. But in the time of
Israel's restoration, now beginning, when the King of Righteousness
himself shall be Governor in every man, none then shall work for
hire, neither shall any give hire, but everyone shall work in love,
one with and for another, and eat bread together, as being members
o
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