Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	act_n	act_v	action_n	376	4	6.5285	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A95059	The true Levellers standard advanced: or, The state of community opened, and presented to the sons of men. By William Everard, Iohn Palmer, Iohn South, Iohn Courton. William Taylor, Christopher Clifford, Iohn Barker. Ferrard Winstanley, Richard Goodgroome, Thomas Starre, William Hoggrill, Robert Sawyer, Thomas Eder, Henry Bickerstaffe, Iohn Taylor, &c. Beginning to plant and manure the waste land upon George-Hill, in the parish of Walton, in the county of Surrey.	Everard, William.	1649 (1649)	Wing T2716; Thomason E552_5; ESTC R205713	15,458	23

The True Levellers Standard ADVANCED OR The State of Community opened and Presented to the Sons of Men. By William Everard Iohn Palmer Iohn South Iohn Courton William Taylor Christopher Clifford Iohn Barker Ferrard Winstanley Richard Goodgroome Thomas Starre William Hoggrill Robert Sawyer Thomas Eder Henry Bickerstaffe Iohn Taylor c. Beginning to Plant and Manure the Waste land upon George-Hill in the Parish of Walton in the County of Surrey LONDON Printed in the Yeer MDCXLIX To all my fellow Creatures that shall view these ensuing Lines THE God of this world blinding the eyes of the men of the world have taken possession of them and their Lives Rules and Raigns and in a high measure opposeth the everlasting spirit the King of Righteousness both in them and on the whole Creation bending all its wit and power to destroy this spirit and the persons in whom it lives rules and governs making Lawes under specious pretences yea and penalties too that all Nations Tongues and Languages shall fall down and worship this god become subject yea in slavery to it and to the men in whom it dwels But the god of this world is Pride and Covetousness the rootes of all Evil from whence flowes all the wickedness that is acted under the Sun as Malice Tyranny Lording over and despising their fellow Creatures killing and destroying those that will not or cannot become subject to their Tyranny to uphold their Lordly Power Pride and Covetousness I have had some Conversation with the Author of this ensuing Declaration and the Persons Subscribing and by experience find them sweetly acted and guided by the everlasting spirit the Prince of Peace to walk in the paths of Righteousness not daring to venture upon any acts of injustice but endeavouring to do unto all as they would have done to them having Peace and Joy in themselves knit together and united in one Spirit of Glory and Truth Love to their fellow Creatures Contentation with Food and Rayment shewing much Humility and Meekness of spirit such as these shall be partakers of the Promise Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the Earth Secondly For this action of theirs in labouring to Manure the wast places of the Earth it is an action full of Iustice and Righteousnesse full of Love and Charity to their fellow Creatures nothing of the god of this world Pride and Covetousnesse seen in it no self-seeking or glorying in the Flesh Vouchsafe to reade or view over these ensuing Lines yee Powers of the Earth Oh that Reason might sit upon the throne of your hearts as Iudge I am confident there is nothing written in anger or hatred to your persons but in love to them as fellow Creatures but against that which have bound up your own Spirits in slavery if you could speak impartially your own Consciences can bear me witnesse and only bears sway in your forcing you to exercise Tyranny scourging and trampling under foot your fellow Creatures especially those whose eyes are opened and can cleerly discover the great Devil Tyranny Pride and Covetousnesse working to and fro upon your Spirits and raigning in you which will prove your own destruction The Angels that kept not their first Estate are reserved under Chains of darknesse unto the Iudgment of the great day The whole Creation are the Angels of the everlasting Spirit of Righteousnesse they are all ministring spirits speaking every Creature in its kind the Will of the Father The Chariots of God are 20000 thousands of Angels Psal c. But yee the great ones of the Earth the Powers of this world yee are the Angels that kept not your first estate and now remain under Chains of darknesse Your first Estate was Innocency and Equallity with your fellow Creatures but your Lordly power over them both Persons and Consciences your proud fleshly imaginations lofty thoughts of your selves are the fruits of darknesse which you are kept under The whole Creation groaneth and is in bondage even until now waiting for deliverance and must wait till he that with-holdeth be taken away that man of sin that Antichrist which sits in the throne in the hearts of the men of this world the Powers of the Earth above all that is call●d God I know you have high thoughts of your selves think you know much and see much but the Light that is in you is Darknesse and how great is that darknesse They that live in the light of the Spirit can discover that to be the blacknesse of darknesse which you count light And truly a great Light a bright Morning Star which will flourish and spread it self shining in Darknesse and darknesse shall not be able to comprehend it though you Spurn never so much against it I expect nothing but opposition mockings deridings from Lord Esau the man of Flesh I know it will be counted in the eye of Flesh a foolish undertaking an object of scorn and laughter but in this is their Comfort and incouragement That the power of Life and Light the Spirit by whom they are commanded will carry them on strengthen and support them rescuing them from the Jaw of the Lyon and Paw of the Bear For great is the work which will shortly be done upon the Earth Despise not Visions Voyces and Revelations examine the Scriptures Prophesies are now fulfilling be not like Josephs Brethren speak not evil of things you know not For whatsoever is of God will stand do what you can though you may crush it for a time the time is neer expired it will spring up again and flourish like a green Bay tree What is not of the Father will fall to the ground though you bend all your wit power and policy to keep it up but of that will be no Resurrection That the eternal Spirit may enlighten you that Reason may dwel in you and act accordingly is the desire of your Loving Friend and Fellow Creature JOHN TAYLOR April 20 1649. A Declaration to the Powers of England and to all the Powers of the World Shewing the Cause why the Common People of England have begun and gives Consent to Digge up Manure and Sowe Corn upon George-Hill in Surrey by those that have Subscribed and thousands more that gives Consent IN the beginning of Time the great Creator Reason made the Earth to be a Common Treasury to preserve Beasts Birds Fishes and Man the lord that was to govern this Creation for Man had Domination given to him over the Beasts Birds and Fishes but not one word was spoken in the beginning That one branch of mankind should rule over another And the Reason is this Every single man Male and Female is a perfect Creature of himself and the same Spirit that made the Globe dwels in man to govern the Globe so that the flesh of man being subject to Reason his Maker hath him to be his Teacher and Ruler within himself therefore needs not run abroad after any Teacher and Ruler without him for he needs not

that any man should teach him for the same Anoynting that ruled in the Son of man teacheth him all things But since humane flesh that king of Beasts began to delight himself in the objects of the Creation more then in the Spirit Reason and Righteousness who manifests himself to be the indweller in the Five Sences of Hearing Seeing Tasting Smelling Feeling then he fell into blindness of mind and weakness of heart and runs abroad for a Teacher and Ruler And so selfish imaginations taking possession of the Five Sences and ruling as King in the room of Reason therein and working with Covetousnesse did set up one man to teach and rule over another and thereby the Spirit was killed and man was brought into bondage and became a greater Slave to such of his own kind then the Beasts of the field were to him And hereupon The Earth which was made to be a Common Treasury of relief for all both Beasts and Men was hedged in to In-closures by the teachers and rulers and the others were made Servants and Slaves And that Earth that is within this Creation made a Common Store-house for all is bought and sold and kept in the hands of a few whereby the great Creator is mightily dishonored as if he were a respector of persons delighting in the comfortable Livelihood of some and rejoycing in the miserable povertie and straits of others From the beginning it was not so But this coming in of Bondage is called A-dam because this ruling and teaching power without doth dam up the Spirit of Peace and Liberty First within the heart by filling it with slavish fears of others Secondly without by giving the bodies of one to be imprisoned punished and oppressed by the outward power of another And this evil was brought upon us through his own Covetousnesse whereby he is blinded and made weak and sees not the Law of Righteousnesse in his heart which is the pure light of Reason but looks abroad for it and thereby the Creation is cast under bondage and curse and the Creator is sleighted First by the Teachers and Rulers that sets themselves down in the Spirits room to teach and rule where he himself is only King Secondly by the other that refuses the Spirit to be taught and governed by fellow Creatures and this was called Israels Sin in casting off the Lord and chusing Saul one like themselves to be their King when as they had the same Spirit of Reason and government in themselves as he had if they were but subject And Israels rejecting of outward teachers and rulers to embrace the Lord and to be all taught and ruled by that righteous King that Jeremiah Prophesied shall rule in the new Heavens and new Earth in the latter dayes will be their Restauration from bondage Ier. 23.5 6. But for the present state of the old World that is running up like parchment in the fire and wearing away we see proud Imaginary flesh which is the wise Serpent rises up in flesh and gets dominion in some to rule over others and so forces one part of the Creation man to be a slave to another and thereby the Spirit is killed in both The one looks upon himself as a teacher and ruler and so is lifted up in pride over his fellow Creature The other looks upon himself as imperfect and so is dejected in his Spirit and looks upon his fellow Creature of his own Image as a Lord above him And thus Esau the man of flesh which is Covetousness and Pride hath killed Jacob the Spirit of meeknesse and righteous government in the light of Reason and rules over him And so the Earth that was made a common Treasury for all to live comfortably upon is become through mans unrighteous actions one over another to be a place wherein one torments another Now the great Creator who is the Spirit Reason suffered himself thus to be rejected and troden under foot by the covetous proud flesh for a certain time limited therefore saith he The Seed out of whom the Creation did proceed which is my Self shall bruise this Serpents head and restore my Creation again from this curse and bondage and when I the King of Righteousnesse raigns in every man I will be the blessing of the Earth and the joy of all Nations And since the coming in of the stoppage or the A-dam the Earth hath been inclosed and given to the Elder brother Esau or man of flesh and hath been bought and sold from one to another and Iacob or the yonger brother that is to succeed or come forth next who is the universal spreading power of righteousnesse that gives liberty to the whole Creation is made a servant And this Elder Son or man of bondage hath held the Earth in bondage to himself not by a meek Law of Righteousnesse But by subtle selfish Councels and by open and violent force for wherefore is it that there is such Wars and rumours of Wars in the Nations of the Earth and wherefore are men so mad to destroy one another But only to uphold Civil propriety of Honor Dominion and Riches one over another which is the curse the Creation groans under waiting for deliverance But when once the Earth becomes a Common Treasury again as it must for all the Prophesies of Scriptures and Reason are Circled here in this Community and mankind must have the Law of Righteousnesse once more writ in his heart and all must be made of one heart and one mind Then this Enmity in all Lands will cease for none shall dare to seek a Dominion over others neither shall any dare to kill another nor desire more of the Earth then another for he that will rule over imprison oppresse and kill his fellow Creatures under what pretence soever is a destroyer of the Creation and an actor of the Curse and walks contrary to the rule of righteousnesse Do as you would have others do to you and love your Enemies not in Words but in actions Therefore you powers of the Earth or Lord Esau the Elder brother because you have appeared to rule the Creation first take notice That the power that sets you to work is selvish Covetousnes and an aspiring Pride to live in glory and ease over Iacob the meek Spirit that is the Seed that lies hid in among the poor Common People or yonger Brother out of whom the blessing of Deliverance is to rise and spring up to all Nations And Reason the living king of righteousnesse doth only look on and lets thee alone That whereas thou counts thy self an Angel of Light thou shalt appear in the light of the Sun to be a Devil A-dam and the Curse that the Creation groans under and the time is now come for thy downfal and Iacob must rise who is the universal Spirit of love and righteousnesse that fils and will fill all the Earth Thou teaching and ruling power of flesh thou hast had three periods of time to vaunt

an universal Consent of making the Earth a Common Treasury that they may live together as one House of Israel united in brotherly love into one Spirit and having a comfortable livelihood in the Community of one Earth their Mother If you look through the Earth you shall see That the landlords Teachers and Rulers are Oppressors Murtherers and Theeves in this manner But it was not thus from the Beginning And this is one Reason of our digging and labouring the Earth one with another That we might work in righteousness and lift up the Creation from bondage For so long as we own Landlords in this Corrupt Settlement we cannot work in righteousness for we should still lift up the Curse and tread down the Creation dishonour the Spirit of universal Liberty and hinder the work of Restauration Secondly In that we begin to Digge upon George-Hill to eate our Bread together by righteous labour and sweat of our browes It was shewed us by Vision in Dreams and out of Dreams That that should be the Place we should begin upon And though that Earth in view of Flesh be very barren yet we should trust the Spirit for a blessing And that not only this Common or Heath should be taken in and Manured by the People but all the Commons and waste Ground in England and in the whole World shall be taken in by the People in righteousness not owning any Propriety but taking the Earth to be a Common Treasury as it was first made for all Thirdly It is shewed us That all the Prophecies Visions and Revelations of Scriptures of Prophets and Apostles concerning the calling of the Jews the Restauration of Israel and making of that People the Inheritors of the whole Earth doth all seat themselves in this Work of making the Earth a Common Treasury as you may read Ezek. 24.26 27 c. Jer. 33.7 to 12. Esay 49.17 18 c. Zach. 8. from 4 to 12. Dan. 2.44 45. Dan. 7.27 Hos 14.5 6 7. Joel 2.26 27. Amos 9. from 8 to the end Obad. 17.18.21 Mic. 5. from 7 to the end Hab. 2.6 7 8.13 14. Gen. 18.18 Rom. 11.15 Zeph. 3. c. Zach. 14.9 And when the Son of man was gone from the Apostles his Spirit descended upon the Apostles and Brethren as they were waiting at Ierusalem and the Rich men sold their Possessions and gave part to the Poor and no man said That ought that he possessed was his own for they had all things Common Act. 4.32 Now this Community was supprest by covetous proud flesh which was the powers that ruled the world and the righteous Father suffered himself thus to be suppressed for a time times and dividing of time or for 42 months or for three dayes and half which are all but one and the same term of time And the world is now come to the half day and the Spirit of Christ which is the Spirit of universal Community and Freedom is risen and is rising and will rise higher and higher till those pure waters of Shiloe the Well Springs of Life and Liberty to the whole Creation do over-run A-dam and crown those banks of Bondage Curse and Slavery Fourthly This work to make the Earth a Common Treasury was shewed us by Voice in Trance and out of Trance which words were these Work together Eate Bread together Declare this all abroad Which Voice was heard Three times And in Obedience to the Spirit Wee have Declared this by Word of mouth as occasion was offered Secondly We have declared it by writing which others may reade Thirdly We have now begun to declare it by Action in Diging up the Common Land and casting in Seed that we may eat our Bread together in righteousness And every one that comes to work shall eate the Fruit of their own labours one having as much Freedom in the Fruit of the Earth as another Another Voice that was heard was this Israel shall neither take Hire nor give Hire And if so then certainly none shall say This is my Land work for me and I 'le give you Wages For The Earth is the Lords that is Mans who is Lord of the Creation in every branch of mankind for as divers members of our human bodies make but one body perfect so every particular man is but a member or branch of mankind and mankind living in the light and obedience to Reason the King of righteousness is thereby made a fit and compleat Lord of the Creation And the whole Earth is this Lords Man subject to the Spirit And not the Inheritance of covetous proud Fesh that is selvish and enmity to the Spirit And if the Earth be not peculiar to any one branch or branches of mankind but the Inheritance of all Then is it Free and Common for all to work together and eate together And truly you Counsellors and Powers of the Earth know this That wheresoever there is a People thus united by Common Community of livelihood into Oneness it will become the strongest Land in the World for then they will be as one man to defend their Inheritance and Salvation which is Liberty and Peace is the Walls and Bulwarks of that Land or City Wheras on the otherside pleading for Propriety and single Interest divides the People of a land and the whole world into Parties and is the cause of all Wars and Bloud-shed and Contention every where Another Voice that was heard in a Trance was this Whosoever labours the Earth for any Person or Persons that are lifted up to rule over others and 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 This Declares likewise to all Laborers or such as are called Poor people that they shall not dare to work for Hire for any Landlord or for any that is lifted up above others for by their labours they have lifted up Tyrants and Tyranny and by denying to labor for Hire they shall pull them down again He that works for another either for Wages or to pay him Rent works unrighteously and still lifts up the Curse but they that are resolved to work and eat together making the Earth a Common Treasury doth joyn hands with Christ to lift up the Creation from Bondage and restores all things from the Curse Fiftly That which does incourage us to go on in this work is this We find the streaming out of Love in our hearts towards all to enemies as well as friends we would have none live in Beggery Poverty or Sorrow but that every one might enjoy the benefit of his creation we have peace in our hearts and quiet rejoycing in our work and filled with sweet content though we have but a dish of roots and bread for our food And we are assured that in the strength of this Spirit that hath manifested himself to us we shall not be startled neither at Prison nor Death