The Digger Movement in the Days of the Commonwealth: As Revealed in the Writings of Gerrard Winstanley, the Digger, Mystic and Rationalist, Communist and Social ReformerBerens, Lewis Henry
History
The Digger Movement in the Days of the Commonwealth: As Revealed in the Writings of Gerrard Winstanley, the Digger, Mystic and Rationalist, Communist and Social Reformer
Berens, Lewis Henry
Communism; Land use; Winstanley, Gerrard, 1609-
"And so I went away and left them, being quiet in my heart, and
filled with comfort within myself, that the King of Righteousness
would cause this to work for the advancing of His own cause, which
I prefer above estate and livelihood. Saying within my heart as I
went along, that if I could not get meat to eat, I would feed upon
bread, milk and cheese. And if they take the cows, and I cannot
feed on this, or hereby make a breach between me and him that owns
the cows, then I'll feed upon bread and beer, till the King of
Righteousness clears up my innocency and the justice of His own
cause. And if this be taken from me for maintaining His cause, then
I'll stand still and see what He will do with me; for as yet I know
not.
"Saying likewise within my heart as I was walking along--O thou
King of Righteousness, show thy power and do thy work thyself, and
free thy people now from under this heavy bondage of misery. And
the answer in my heart was satisfactory, and full of sweet joy and
peace: and so I said, Father, do what thou wilt, for this cause is
thine, and thou knowest that the love to righteousness makes me do
what I do."
He then continues:
"I was made to appeal to the Father of Life in the speakings of my
heart likewise thus--Father, thou knowst that what I have writ or
spoken concerning this light, that the Earth should be restored and
become a Common Treasury for all mankind, without respect of
persons, was thy free revelation to me, I never read it in any
book, I heard it from no mouth of flesh, till I understood it from
thy teaching first within me. I did not study nor imagine the
conceit of it; self-love to my own particular body does not carry
me along in the managing of this business; but the power of love
flowing forth to the liberty and peace of thy whole Creation, to
enemies as well as to friends: nay, towards those who oppress me,
endeavouring to make me a beggar to them. And since I did obey thy
voice, to speak and act this truth, I am hated, reproached and
oppressed on every side. Such as make professions of thee, yet
revile me. And though they see I cannot fight with fleshy weapons,
yet they will strive with me by that power. And so I see, Father,
that England yet doth choose rather to fight with the Sword of Iron
and Covetousness than with the Sword of the Spirit, which is Love.
And what thy purpose is with this Land or with my body, I know not,
but establish thy power in me, and then do what pleases thee.
"These and such like sweet thoughts dwelt in my heart as I went
along; and I feel myself now like a man in a storm, standing under
shelter upon a hill in peace, waiting till the storm be over to see
the end of it, and of many other things that my eye is fixed upon."
The pamphlet concludes as follows:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account