[49:1] The Rev. Thos.  Bennet, on p. 4 of An Answer to the Dissenters’ Pleas for Separation, published in 1711, referring to the origin of the various sorts of dissenters, speaks of the time “when Winstanley published the principles of Quakerism, and enthusiasm broke out.”  In a footnote he mentions The Saint’s Paradise.

[49:2] Gerard Croese in The General History of the Quakers, published 1696, says, “The Quakers themselves date their first rise from the forty-ninth year of the present century.”

[49:3] See An account of what passed between the King and Richard Hubberthorne, after the delivery of George Fox his letter to the King, which is to be found amongst Thomasson’s Pamphlets, British Museum.

[50:1] As our readers will notice, all Winstanley’s theological writings were written and published in 1648-1649.  The Preface to Truth Lifting up its Head above Scandals is dated October 16th, 1648; The Saint’s Paradise bears no date, but was certainly written before The New Law of Righteousness, the Preface to which is dated January 26th, 1648 (1649). (At that time the New Year commenced on March 26th.)

[50:2] Coomber had already pointed out that Quakerism arose in the North of England, and mainly in Winstanley’s native county of Lancashire.  His reference to Giles Calvert, the printer, is also most suggestive; for Calvert published almost all Winstanley’s pamphlets, and later was one of the first authorised publishers of the official publications of the Society of Friends.  Calvert’s establishment seems to have been the source, as well as the depository, of much of the advanced literature of his times.  In his Protest against Toleration of Printing Pamphlets against Non-Conformists, Baxter refers to it as follows:  “Let all the Apothecaries of London have liberty to keep open shop.  But O do not under that pretence let a man keep an open shop of poisons for all that will destroy themselves freely, as Giles Calvert doth for Soul-poisons.”  Calvert was suspected of having provided the funds for one of the later risings of the Fifth Monarchy Men.  He subsequently joined the Quakers.

CHAPTER VI

WINSTANLEY’S EXPOSITION OF THE QUAKER DOCTRINES (1648-1649)

“There is nothing more sweet and satisfactory to a man than this, to know and feel that spiritual power of righteousness to rule in him which he calls God....  Wait upon the Lord for teaching.  You will never have rest in your soul till He speaks in you.  Run after men for teaching, follow your forms with strictness, you will still be at a loss, and be more and more wrapped up in confusion and sorrow of heart.  But when once your heart is made subject to Christ, the Law of Righteousness, looking up to Him for instruction, waiting with a meek and quiet spirit till He appear in you:  then you shall have peace; then