And if I cannot live by my
weak labors, but take where I need, as Christ sent and took the
Asses Colt in his need, there is no dispute, but by the Kings and
Laws, he will hang me for a thief."
THE TRUE FUNCTION OF A COMMONWEALTH ARMY.
"A Monarchial Army lifts up mountains and makes valleys, viz.,
advances Tyrants and treads the oppressed in the barren lanes of
poverty. But a Commonwealth's Army is like John the Baptist, who
levels the Mountains to the Valleys, pulls down the Tyrant, and
lifts up the Oppressed: and so makes way for the Spirit of Peace
and Freedom to come in to rule and inherit the Earth.
"By this which has been spoken an Army may see wherein they may do
well and wherein they may do hurt."
THE OFFICE OF THE POST-MASTER.
Under this heading Winstanley describes an office by which he evidently
thought the social bonds uniting the whole Nation might be strengthened
and all parts thereof be brought into closer and more intimate relations
one with the other. He describes its functions as follows:
"In every Parish throughout the Commonwealth shall be chosen two
men (at the time when the other Officers are chosen), and these
shall be called Post-Masters. 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 what the Post-Master of the East
Country brings in"; and so on.
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