he Devil. But he who is a true
worshipper must know who God is and how He is to be worshipped,
from the Power of Light shining within him, if ever he have true
peace."

"Hence," he continues, "a report is raised, and is frequent in the
mouth of the teachers, that I deny God. Therefore, first, I shall
give account of what I see and know Him to be; and let the
understanding in heart judge me."

Winstanley then endeavours to formulate his theistic views and beliefs
in a series of questions and answers, from which we feel compelled to
quote the following:

"_Q._ What is God?

"_A._ I answer, He is the incomprehensible Spirit Reason;[63:1]
who as He willed the Creation should flow out of Him, so He
governs the whole Creation in righteousness, peace, and moderation.
And He is called the Father, because as the whole Creation comes
out of Him, so He is the life of the whole Creation, by whom every
creature doth subsist.

"_Q._ When can a man call the Father his God?

"_A._ When he feels and sees, by experience, that the Spirit which
made the flesh doth govern and rule king in his flesh. And so can
say, I rejoice to feel and see my flesh made subject to the Spirit
of Righteousness.

"_Q._ But may not a man call Him God till he have this experience?

"_A._ No: for if he do, he lies, and there is no truth in him. For
whatsoever rules as king in his flesh, that is his God....

"_Q._ But I hope that the Father is my Governor, and therefore may
I not call Him God?

"_A._ Hope without ground is the hope of the hypocrite. Thou canst
not call Him God till thou be able in pure experience to say thy
flesh is subject to Him. For if thy knowledge be no more but
imagination or thoughts, it is of the Devil, and not of the Father.
Or if thy knowledge be merely from what thou hast read or heard
from others, it is of the flesh, not of the spirit.

"_Q._ When then may I call him God, or the Mighty Governor, and not
deceive myself?

"_A._ When thou art by that Spirit made to see Him rule and govern,
not only in thee but in the whole creation.... Wait upon Him till
He teach thee. All that read do not understand; the Spirit only
sees truth, and lives in it."

Winstanley subsequently explains his views at considerable length. True
knowledge, he contends, co