The original rights of mankind freely to subdue and improve the earth. Asserted and maintained by J.M. ; [Seven lines of Scripture texts]

The original rights of mankind freely to subdue and improve the earth. Asserted and maintained by J.M. ; [Seven lines of Scripture texts]

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Title page

Quarles Pentelogia.

TO THE Courteous Candid RREADER.

The Original RIGHTS of Mankind, freely to Subdue and Improve the Earth: Asserted and Maintained.

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THE ORIGINAL RIGHTS OF Mankind Freely to Subdue and Improve the EARTH. Asserted and Maintained

By I. M.

And hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men to Dwell on all the face of the Earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the Bounds of their Habitation, Act, 17. 26. chap. 4. 24. Jer. 51. 15. Deut. 10. 14. Gen. 13. 9. to the end of the Chapter.

Revealed Truths when manifested, ought not to be rejected, but complied with, lest we fall into the Sin of the Israelites,Ezek. 12. 2.

Boston, Printed for the [...]. 1722.

Quarles Pentelogia.

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WHat is the World? a great Exchange of Ware,

Wherein all Sorts and Sexes Cheapning are.

The Flesh, the Devil sit and cry, What lack ye?

When most they fawn, they most intend to wrack ye

Who live to Sin, are all but Thieves to Heav'n

And Earth: they steal from God, & take ungiv'n.

Good Men they rob, and such as live upright,

And being Bastards, share the Freemans Right.

They're all as Owners in the Owners stead,

And like (to Dogs) devour the Childrens bread.

Lord, What I have, let me enjoy in thee,

And thee in it, or else take it from me!

In Loving God, if I neglect my Neighbour,

My Love hath lost its proof, and I my Labour.

My zeal, my faith, my hope, that ne'r fails me,

(If Charity be wanting) nought avails me.

(Lord) In my Soul a Spirit of Love create me,

And I will love my Brother, if he hate me.

In nought but Love let me Envy my Betters,

And then forgive my Debts, as I my Debtors.

So Rich is Man (that all his Debts being paid)

His Wealth's the Winding-sheet wherein he's laid,

TO THE Courteous Candid RREADER.

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THE Good of the Governed is the sole end of all Government, which the English Constitution, Wholsome Laws, and bright Magistrates will Effect. Good Magistrates are God-like Men, (the greatest Blessings on Earth to Mankind) and Merit the greatest Service, Praise and Honour from them: They are their greatest Benefactors, Imitating their Maker, always doing Good; Uneasy when they want Ability, or Opportunity thereto; they look upon themselves Appointed, Set up and Advanced by God, & also Dignified by their Brethren for that very End; knowing, that all the Governed are ready to Contribute their Lives, and all [...] their Glory; therefore Gratefully they Exert all their Power for the Good of all the Governed, and promote every one who contributes thereto.

They are Men of Souls above their Brethren, possest with soaring elevated Thoughts and Designs for the Good of Mankind, & o make their Brethren happy, watching over them, to keep off all Evil, to take off all heavy Burthens, & to break all Yokes, and to possess them of all GOOD Happy, Happy are the People that are in such a Case! In such a Government there is no difference in the Views & Interests of the Governours and Governed, but each striving to Excel, in promoting one the others Happiness. It has been so in N-England, & why may it not now, if in our Elections, [Page] we make Choice of Good Delegates, and they of Good MAGISTRATES? we have an Excellent Governour, who is must willing to do every thing by Counsel, for the best Good and Welfare of this People; therefore if we be not happy, we must condemn our selves for it. Pray God increase our Wisdom, and Love one to another, and remove all Jealousies, and Direct all our Elections to his Glory, and the best Good for this Province.

The Design aimed at in this Scroul, is to do all Men good, without wrong to any, by removing from all, all causes of just Complaint, and by giving to the Industrious all due Encouragement, and wherein this falls short thereof, may the Ingenious give further Light.

Ambition, Custome and Interest will move some to Object against the Positions argued from, but if no Wrong be done, then no Person hath just Cause of Complaint.

For which is most to be Avoided, a positive or a privitive Evil, is it not according as the degrees thereof be! Certainly that which is the greatest Paenal Evil is most to be Feared; for if a Privitive Evil be a greater damage, it is by so much the more to be avoided; for is it not better to suffer a less Positive Evil (tho' to be Robbed) than a greater Privative Evil, (for Men and their Posterity to be deprived of their Birth-right) and a far greater Sum it amounts to then many Robberies; it is a progressive Robbery, from Generation to Generation, &c. And only suffers Mankind to Live, that they may be Slaves to Monopolizers; for so much as they can Raise (if not more) they must give them for Deeds, [...] to Improve Dormant Lands; especially considering that this Earth is the free Gift of God to the Improver, & that all Government is to Dispense Justice in Equity and Mercy to the Governed; otherwise Iniquity [Page] may be committed by a Law, and Men and their Posterity be made to Work & Fight for others, & to feed & pay themselves for the support of Pride, Ambition and Coveteousness. For is it not just cause of Complaint, that men shall be possest of a Visible Increasing Estate in Dormant Lands? (that is no benefit to, but Impoverish the Province, also is defended by the Blood & Purse thereof) worth 10, 20 or 30 Thousand Pounds, more or less, and Pay no Rates for it; when others are constantly Taxed for their Improved Lanes, which is the Enriching and Support of the Country; for whether is to be justified a necessity for the Farmers to purchase Dormant Lands? and thereby make the Farmers that subdues & improves the Earth Slaves, or the Taxing of Dormant Lands to prevent Slavery; & [...] thereby necessitate the Monopolizes to Improve them, or to give them up to Authority to see thereto; especially considering if Monopolizers will but Improve Lands, they and their Posterity will have the Land free before them, without price, bounds or Emitation, and all set off regularly better appointed, &c. lying far more Commodious, both for Defence & Improvement. Always next to improved Lands (page [...]) here is nothing touched or struck at, but only a Moral & Paenal Evil, which if once removed, we may hope for God's Blessings, and the Countries Happiness; and who have any just came to Complain for being prevented from Tyranizing over, and Oppressing one another? also the Consequences will be very great, the comfortable Necessaries of Life will be much cheaper; for when the Farmer & his Posterity, shall have their Land free, then they may Sell what they Raise therefrom, at much lower Rates; (only to be honourably paid for their Labour) whereas now they must advance so much more as will pay for their Purchasing Dormant [Page] Lands for themselves and their Posterity, or leave them naked.

The first beginning of this Mystery of Iniquity, (to set up Idol self) was a shadow of Justice and Righteousness, under specious pretences of our just and natural Rights, giving large Towns to a few Men, who finding that dividing all the Towns Lands among themselves, the more Land they could keep for their Posterity, & Sell to Strangers that wanted Land to improve; and at first selling shares at low prices, it was not much minded, but now it is risen to so great a price as to make us all Oppressors or Slaves, (that is Monopolizers or Purchasers of Dormant Land,) therefore it's high time to be looked upon as a great Iniquity; and Laws made to free us therefrom, to prevent such attempts for the future. It's true, the first Towns-men dividing the Towns Land among themselves, thereby have kept Land for their Children, else the Country would have been less improved, and their Posterity necessitated to have Removed, as a multitude have done, and Settled many Towns in Connecticut. To Conclude, if nothing be struck at, but what is a Provoking Sin, both against God & Man, Let us beware of persevering therein; for whether is Wisdoms Choice, the removing of Sin, and thereby saving the Land, or to uphold Sin, and thereby destroy the Country; for God is a Jealous God, and will not suffer Coveteous Hucksters to interpose betwixt his Gift (and the Subject Man, to whom it is given) and thereby destroy his free Bounty, to Serve their Lusts, and Ruin their Brethren.

I. M.

The Original RIGHTS of Mankind, freely to Subdue and Improve the Earth: Asserted and Maintained.

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IF GOD by the Word of His Almighty Creating Power, hath spoke this Earth, with the Creatures thereof into Being, Upholds and Provides for them; then this Earth, with the Creatures thereof, are at his Disposal!

But God by the Word of his Almighty Creating Power hath spoke this Earth, with the Creatures thereof into being, Upholds and Provides for them *.

Therefore this Earth, with the Creatures thereof, are at his Disposal.

If God hath given this Earth to that Species Man Adam, as he Represented, and was Potentially and Seminally all Mankind, without Price or Purchase, to subdue and replenish the same; then that Species Man Adam (that is all Mankind) without Price or Purchase, hath a Divine Right to subdue and replenish this Earth.

But God hath given this Earth to that Species Man Adam, as he Represented, and was Potentially and Seminally all Mankind, without Price or Purchase to Subdue and Replenish the same †.

Therefore that Species Man Adam, (that is all Mankind) without Price or Purchase hath a Divine Right to Subdue and Replenish this Earth.

[Page]If the Scriptures, and our Reasonable Nature give Testimony thereto, then it is unquestionably true.

But the Scriptures and our Reasonable Nature do give Testimony thereto *.

Therefore it is unquestionably true. For,

If Men now stand in the same Relation to this part of the Creation that Adam our Origine, and after him Noah and his Family stood in, then Men have without Price or Purchase, a Divine Right from the Donation of God, freely to subdue, replenish and improve this part of the Creation.

But Men do now stand in the same relation to this part of the Creation that Adam our Origine, and after him Noah and his Family stood in: For Noah and his Seed are the Subjects of all general Gifts, Promises and Blessings contained in the Scriptures.

Therefore Men have without Price or Purchase a Divine Right from the Donation of God, freely to subdue, replenish and improve this part of the Creation.

If Adam our Origine, and after him Noah and his Family represented and were Potentially & Seminally all Mankind, and this Earth was given to them without Price or Purchase, freely as they Represented, and were Seminally and Potentially all Mankind; then the Donation of God was, and is to all Mankind. Into your hands are they delivered, &c.

But Adam our Origine, and after him Noah and his Family Represented & were Potentially, &c. all Mankind; & this Earth was given to them without Price or Purchase, freely as they represented, and were Seminally and Potentially all Mankind †. [Page] God blessed Noah and his Sons, and said to them, be [...] and replenish the Earth, and all that [...] on the Earth, and the Fishes in the Sea; into your hands are they delivered, even as the green Herb have I given you all things; that is, as they represented, and were potentially and seminally all Mankind.

Therefore the Donation of God was, and is to Mankind. Into your hands are they delivered. &c.

If the Gift of God to our Origine, or first & Common Stock, or Parents, must be understood as they represented and were potentially and [...] all Mankind, (and no other construction can be put upon the Text) then all Mankind hath a Divine Right from God, freely without price or purchase to subdue and replenish the Earth.

But the Gift of God to our Origine, or first & Common Stock, or Parents, must be understood as they represented, and were potentially and seminally all Mankind; * (and no other Construction can be put upon the Text.)

Therefore all Mankind hath a Divine Right from God, freely without Price or Purchase, to subdue and replenish the Earth.

Our Reasonable Nature is that of Man which in his Creation was nearest, and the most perfect Shadow and Image of the Divine Being, that he was capable of being made the Subject [...], and is the Matrix, or the Universal Created Reason, Equity and Justice, from whence flows good and excellent Conduct and Government, following the Intentions of its Author and Maker; all Humane Goodness is from our Reasonable Nature, and [Page] it's satisfied with small Matters; all it requires is comfortable Necessaries, what more is of our Lusts.

If our Reasonable Nature in Adam's perfect State, and afterward in his and Noah's Apostate State, was God's Law to them as they represented and were the Root and Stock, and all Mankind, their Seed and Branches from them; then is they were without price or purchase freely possest of this Earth, &c. So are all their Seed, that are Branches from them, (that is, all Mankind.)

The Indians of this Continent, their Natures were not so much Vitiated, as for their Sachems to Sell the Common Earth to their Subjects, nor their Subjects one to another, but by Tradition from Generation to Generation; they all improved according to Divine Donation freely, without Price or Purchase, and so continue to this Day; and where the English Possest, they set them off parcels of Land free from Price or Purchase more than they can improve.

If the Proposition be sufficiently proved by Scripture & our reasonable Nature, that the Earth & the Creatures thereof, ought to be free without Price or Purchase to the Subduer, Replenisher and Improver thereof; then it is Unscriptural, and contrary to our Reasonable Nature, that the Earth & the Creatures thereof should be Sold, or by Laws, Deeds, Grants, or any other colour or manner of device whatsoever, be made the Property of particular Persons; who exact all the Fruits of the Sweat of the poor Husbandman and his Families Labours; and thereby make their Families, nay, the Province to be their Slaves.

But the Proposition is sufficiently proved by Scripture, and our Reasonable Nature; that the Earth and the Creatures thereof ought to be free: without price or purchase to the Subduer, Replenisher & Improver thereof.

[Page]Therefore it is Unscriptural, and contrary to our Reasonable Nature, that the Earth, &c. should be Sold, or by Laws, Deeds, Grants, or any other colour or manner of device whatsoever, be made the property of particular Persons; who exact all the fruits of the poor Husbandman & his Families Labours, and thereby make their Families; nay, the Province to be their Slaves. For,

If all Men have a Divine Right, as they are Men, (except they have forfeited their Birth-right) freely without price or purchase, to Subdue and Replenish the Earth, as hath been proved; then every Person that puts in his Claim, ought to be possest with a portion thereof, to Subdue and Replenish the same; and that portion to be his Fee Simple for ever, it being his Birth right, as he is a Man.

But all Men have a Divine Right as they are Men, freely without Price or Purchase to Subdue and Replenish the Earth, as hath been proved.

Therefore every Person that puts in his Claim, ought to be Possest with a portion thereof, and that portion to be his Fee Simple for ever, it being his Birth-right, as he is a Man.

If it be granted, that this Earth, &c. is the free Donation of God to the Species Man; and its manifested so to be by Revelation, and our Reasonable Nature; but yet some assert, that God hath given this part of the Earth to the Natives, or Indians born in the Country, exclusive of all others. Their Argument is.

If God hath freely given all this American Part of the Earth, &c. to the Natives or Indians born in the Country, exclusive of all others, and they be rightfully Possest with the Property thereof, and have subdued, replenished, divided & improved the whole amongst themselves; and we have legally purchased, and the Natives have legally [Page] Conveved their Property to us, then we are rightfully and legally possest thereof.

But God hath freely given all this American part of the Earth, &c. to the Natives or Indians, born in the Country, exclusive of all others, & they are rightfully possest with the Property thereof, and have subdued, replenished, divided and improved the whole amongst themselves, and we have legally purchased, & the Natives have legally conveyed their Property to us. Therefore we are rightfully and legally Possest thereof. The Assumption wants proof.

1. That God hath given this American part of the Earth to the Indians, exclusive of all others; for if being born in the Country gives them the Property thereof, then they of English Extraction are possest equally thereof with them, they being also born in the Country; and have equal reason to Exclude the Indians, as the Indians have to Exclude them.

2. As for their rightful Possession, it is granted, that where they have subdued, replenished, & are actually improving that is their Property; and to take that from them, is to Rob them; also to improve too near their Settlements, is annoyance that ought not to be tolerated. But

3. Is it not unaccountable, that the [...] or Indians should be invested with the Property of all this vast [...], unreplenished, unimproved, unknown, and greatest part of this Creation, exclusive of all others; for they came here only Providentially as the English came.

4. As for their dividing & improving the whole Continent amongst themselves, there is neither ground nor col [...] of pretence for such Assertion, or did they ever Bay or Sell Land, the English first [...] into their needs; before the Land was all free to the Improver, they never so much as inquired whose the Property was, nor knew they of [Page] any such thing; only where they Improved, if [...] but agreeable to the Primitive Practice of Abraham and Lot, the Land was before them, to turn to the Right hand or to the Left, and to Improve where ever they came, freely without price or purchase; so the Land of Judea was given to the Israelites, every Tribe, Family and Person had their there, and all freely, without price or purchase. Also in England, the Lord will not Out his Tenant that holds by Lives, except the Purchaser first Bay his Tenants Right; also in this Province by the Law of Possession, Improving 12 years, make their Title good against all Claimers [...]; which if the Earth were not free to the Species Man, would be Unjust.

5 As for the Indians legal Sale, and the Monopolizers legal Purchase, and they being thereby legally and rightfully possest thereof.

If the Indians had no property, but where they have subdued, replenished, and improved, (as hath been proved) then neither the English, nor any other Nation could purchase Land of them, save [...] they have subdued, replenished and Improved.

But if this vast Continent be the Natives Property, it ought to be manifested by Revelation or Reason, and if it can bring it to light, that it may be known, who are the Lord Proprietors of this vast Continent.

If it cannot be proved, that God hath given the Property of all this vast unsubdued and unknown American Part of the Creation to the Indians, exclusive of all others, nor that they have subdued or improved one hundred thousand part thereof; (they only were born and brought up in the Country, as also the wild and savage Creatures were, and preyed on every thing they could catch, a Rattle Snake could not escape their teeth) then the Natives have no more Property, save the Land they have subdued [Page]and improved; for no People have a Right to Exclude the Species Man from subduing, replenishing and improving the Earth.

If God in his Providence brought the English to this almost Vacant and Uninhabited part of the World, which was neither subdued, replenished nor improved; and the great Sachems submitted and surrendred to the Crown and Nation of England, and became our Kings Subjects; and all Opposing Powers and Rebels by the King of England's Subjects, both of English and Indian Extraction, were subdued and brought into subjection; and this part of the Earth subdued, improv'd and replenished by the Subjects of England, they bringing into this Continent all sorts of Cattle, Grain, Seeds, Herbs, Roots, Fruits & Fowls, and all sorts of Tools, Utensils, Arts and Sciences, with the true Knowledge and Worship of God, & also [...] and protected the same; then it is manifest, that the Property is not invested in the Indians, but in the Crown and Nation of Great Britain.

But God in his Providence did bring the English to, &c. as Mr. Nathaniel Morton, Secretary of Plymouth gives account thereof, in his History of New-England, at large especially in the second Edition, Page 39.

Therefore it is manifest, that the Property is not invested in the Indians, but in the Crown and Nation of Great Britain.

If we consider theIndians orNatives as Communities, then this vast Continent either is theirProperty,exclusive of all others, or it is not; if it be the Communities Property, what right have theirSachems to Sell it; for ifSachems, or any in Authority do destroy, or alienate their innocent Subjects, their Liberties and Properties to Strangers (without their [...]) by any device or colour [Page] whatsoever. Thereby they forfeit all Right of Authority to Govern, and are manifested to be Tyrants; and then they ought to be deposed; for illegal Destraction and Alienation are contrary to, and inconsistent with both Moral Virtue, Reason and Government; and also destroys the end thereof, which is the Preservation of Life, Liberty and Property.

Before the English Arrived to this Continent, there was nothing in this Country, save Indian Corn and Squashes, not one tame Creature, save our Dogs, nor any thing made of Metal, nor the least step of Literature; nor did the Indians pretend to be invested with the property of the Soil, save where they had improved if that till the English possessed them therewith; designing Men thereby to take Umbrage for a colour and pretence to Monopolize Lands, which they have effected one or two hundred miles deep into the back Wilderness, more or less; also in Towns, to the Inslaving of their Brethren. For the Earth by God is as freely given to the Species Man, as the light and influence of the Sun, or as the Air we brethe in, & is as necessary for his subsisting, and ought to be as free to the Improver. For,

What necessity for any Men to have such great quantities of Dormant Lands more than they can improve, (is it not the effect and fruit of a Covetous Spirit, & what is worse) that they may reap the Effects of the Farmers, and Labouring Mens Industry; knowing, that Farmers cannot live, nor the World be supported but by Farmers and Labourers subduing and improving the Earth; and therefore by their Monopolizing Dormant Lands, they bring the Farmer under a necessity to Buy of them, and give them their Price.

And so great a Price do Farmers give for Dormant Lands, that when they are improved, if you [Page] compute what the Building, Subduing, Fence and Fencing, breaking up the Land, & all other Charges amounts to; suppose that Labourers were Hired to do all the Work (except some few instances) their Farms would not Sell for more, & many Farms not for so much as to pay the Labourers; (only near Navigable Rivers, where Timber and Wood is worth Money to carry to Boston, or some Fire-works that for Cole enables the Farmer to clear his Land) therefore generally what Money the Farmer gives for Dormant Lands, is so much to the Monopolizer for nothing; for if he Sells his Farm for no more than will pay for his Labour done upon it, then he loseth all he paid for the Purchase.

Government is the Appointment of God for Good to the Species Apostate Man, and while it moves in its proper channels of Love, Truth Justice, Equity and Mercy, its sovereign Authority is the greatest resemblance of God we have on Earth; but if reversed, the greatest resemblance of Satan, & of the Tyranny & Oppression of his Kingdom.

Government is the Foundation of all Humane Societies, and the Vital Spirit & Conduct thereof, appointed of God for Peoples Safety & Utility.

Princes in Possession of Government ought not to Sacrifice Divine Donations to that great and almost Universal Idol Self, nor to their Families, Relatives, Friends, Parasites, Companions, Servants, nor to their Personal Circumstances, to make themselves or their Great and Honourable, by any Distributions, Exactings or Delaves contrary to Divine Appointment, thereby wronging & grieving their Subjects, and frustrating the Ends of Government; thereby misapplying the Power given to them. For they are Gods Stewards, and must give a strict Account to him for both Persons and Things committed to their Charge and Care; [Page] therefore their safest course is to have special Regard to the Divine Mind in all their Actions, that they may give up their Account with Joy, and be the Subjects of that Blessed Sentence, Well done, &c. and receive that great Reward; Enter into the Joy of your Lord.

It's granted, that Government hath a Divine Rightful Power to Distribute, Proportion, Order & Dispence with Wisdom and good Conduct to their Subjects, without Price or Purchase; that which God hath freely given to them, dividing this Wilderness into Townships, and the Towns into Farms, (quantity and quality considered) appointing the places for Habitation, best for Defence and Improvement, setting off proper Commonages, Roads & High ways; also all Publick Buildings & Revenues thereto; and then whoever will freely, without price or purchase, according to Divine Donation, Settle upon, and Improve a Farm so appointed, and that Farm to be his Fee Simple for ever; and when one Town is full, to set off more; which disposal had it been put in practice by the First Comers, the Province by this time, would have been [...] of the most desirable Places in this World; and much more multiplied with Inhabitants, which is the Glory, Strength & Riches of any Country.

I Appeal to you who are the (Chosen and Beloved) Fathers of our Country; whose Honours, Persons and Estates, we are most willing and ready to Uphold and Defend with our Lives & Fortunes. You are Gods Stewards, it is required of you to be Faithful: You are our Delegates and Guardians, and you have taken our Families, Persons and Estates to be your Charge; we are now become the Subjects of your great Wisdom and Conduct, to Guide and Direct us in all our Affairs; by the Legislative Power, we have Conferred on you, that we may be under [Page] the Direction and Conduct of Good & Wholsome Laws, and have Good Men advanced to Execute the same, Wise Men fearing God, and hating Coveteousness; I say, hating Coveteousness, for it is the root of all Evil; that the bonds of wickedness may be loosed, and heavy burdens taken off, and the Oppressed go free; yea, break every Yoke.

I Appeal to you Fathers, Honourable and Beloved! If a Parent, or any Man Give & Bequeaths Legacies, whether the Legatees may not demand of the Executors? and if they refuse to Pay, Sue them for, and Recover their Legacies.

And is not God as much the Donor of this Earth, as any Parent or Man is of their Estates? Or is not that Species Man the Donees of this Earth, so much as any Legatees are the Donees of Legacies? Or is not this Earth the Donation of Heaven, to that Species Man? (as hath been proved) Or is it only given to a few of them, and the rest to be their Slaves and Vassals, to Subdue, Replenish and Improve this Earth for them? And the Monopolizers to have all the fruits of their Labours.

Pray consider the State and Condition of this Province! Suppose but One hundred Towns (tho' there is more) and that every year ten good Farmers Sons, one Town with another, wants each of them to purchase One hundred Acres of Land, for a Farm to Settle upon, and give only Twenty Shillings an Acre, which is less by half then will purchase good Land, that lies commodiously; How great a Sum doth it amount to? no less than One Hundred Thousand Pound. How shall this be paid, either by their Parents, or their Sons, or both? Two times the number of Blooming Youth, or their paying double the Sum comes to more Money, or Bills of Credit then there is [Page] in this Province; and if yearly so many Young men wants Farms, how can they be purchased? is it not Repugn, & next to a Prohibition, & contrary to the Divine Injunction? Gen. 9. 1. viz. Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the Earth; but suppose they Mortgage their new Farms, and pay but six per Cent. Interest Mony amounts to Six Thousand Pounds a Year; if I may not call it Oppression, is it not a very heavy burden laid upon our blooming Youth, who are both the Strength and Glory of the Province? also it aggavates the burden, considering that this Earth is the free Donation of God to them, with his Injunction to be Fruitful as aforesaid; and also they must Support and Defend it.

If any such Monopolizers, Oppressors and Usurers be in our Legislative Assemblies, is it not high time in our Elections, to leave them out?

In the Jerfies, the Proprietors Demands was but one half-penny an Acre; at which lay, one hundred Acres is but Four Shillings and two pence Yearly; which no doubt might be bought off for twenty years value, which is but Four Pound Three Shillings and four pence for one hundred Acres; but suppose One Penny an Acre, then it will but amount to Eight Pound Six Shillings and Eight pence, clear of all Quit-Rents; but with us if good, and lies commodious, it will fetch Three or Four Hundred Pounds, though no Work done upon it.

If it be Gods Just and Sovereign Prerogative only to punish Mans Apostasie and Sin, and he hath justly so done, by cursing the Earth, Gen. 5. 29. and the Creatures thereof having changed the Quality of the first, causing its Unfruitfulness, except in Bryars, Thorns, &c. and the second rejecting Mans sovereignty and dominion over them, except by force they be subdued; [Page] which is our sore travail, and an heavy wearisome burden, making us sweat and groan in undergoing the some; then is it not presumption for any Man to add to their burden; also by making their Brethren Buy this Earth of them which God hath freely given to all Men, with this injunction, to subdue and replenish the same. Gen. 1. 28.

If the whole Creation groaneth and travaileth in pain to be delivered from the Curse, Rom. 8. 22. God hath justly Executed on account of our Sin upon the Earth, and the Creatures thereof, Gen. 3. 27, 18, 19. then is it not great Oppression and Sin for Men, our Brethren (tho' in Authority) to make addition thereto.

Monopolizing the Common Earth, subjects this Colony to the greatest Slavery, especially Farmers, Husbandmen, Labourers, late Comets and their Progeny; for without Earth for them to Work upon, they cannot follow their Callings; for they having no Land, either must Bay of the Dormant Lands, or must become Barriers to the Monopolized Lands lately set off for that end, and there be exposed to the insults of the Indians, and be excluded the convenience of Life, for the good of both their Souls and Bodies.

If they Bay Monopolized Lands that lies next to Improved Lands, then all the Personal [...] the Husbandman or Farmers and their Families can raise from their Farms, is not sufficient to purchase Land for their Children to Settle upon, and Improve; and so from Generation to Generation, [...]; for Monopolizers have raised the price of Common Earth from Five Shillings one hundred Acres, to Three or Four Hundred Pounds One hundred Acres, and [...] Marsh to ten or twelve Pound an Acre, and all by reason of the Improvement the English have made; its [Page] Value is owing to the Farmers, Husbandmen and Labourers, for before it was not worth any things and now chiefly because it lies commodious, being near at hand to improved Farms, (which is the Industry of the Farmers Labours.)

Tho' Monopolized Dormant Lands be the most visible thriving Estates in the Province, yet neither the Government nor the Subjects are at all bettered by them, (only the Monopolizer) for they do not pay any thing for the support of either, tho' both a Moral Evil, (as hath been proved) and also a great Paenal Evil, driving our blooming Youth to the Seas, and Neighbouring Colonies; also [...] us raising our own Bread, so that we live upon the surplus of all our Neighbouring Provinces viz. Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, the Jersies, Pensyilvania, Virginia, Maryland, and both the Carolina's; besides the West-Indies and Europe, for our Support; which is a great shame for this Province.

Monopolized Dormant Lands are defended [...], Blood and Purse of the Province, for all Taxes are laid on Merchants, Farmers, [...], Traders, Labourers, Heads, Improved Lands, [...] &c. Not One Penny upon Monopolized Dormant Lands, which ought to bear the greatest Taxes, because of the Lives, Blood and Treasure spent for their Defence, also the Oppression of the Husbandman; and its being [...] free from being Taxed, Viz. 100 Years. If we consider this Monopolizing of Dormant Lands, is it [...] they will improve what they Monopolize? nothing less, but knowing that there is a necessity that the Earth must be improved, & that the Husbandman Cannot go to improve one or two hundred; no, nor ten miles back into the Wilderness beyond Inhabitants, where there is no Church, Market, Roads, Neighbours, Doctors, Midwives,[Page]nor Safety, &c. therefore they must Buy of the Monopolized Lands, and take up with what Land the Monopolizers will sell, and give them their price; or leave the Province: Monopolizers of the Common Earth are like the Dog in the Manger, that will neither eat Oats himself, nor suffer the Labouring Horse to eat them.

Nor doth giving the Farmer one half of their Monopolized Lands mend the matter; it is but a bait to draw them to go and improve there; for when they have improved, the Monopolizer raiseth on the remaining Moiety more than six times the first Value; which the Farmer, his Children or others, must of necessity Buy to Improve, or lie under the same Disadvantages as before; nor doth it mend the matter to give a Township to a few men, for in a little time they divide the Land among themselves, & then all after Comers must Buy of them: this Monopolizing of Lands runs some Parallel with Stock Jobbing, which never helps, but always hurts a Country.

Here is a vastly great and desirable Continent, extending from 25 to 52 degrees in North Latitude; the difference of Latitude is 27 degrees, which according to the English Computation makes 1620 Miles.

And we are in Possession of all the Sea Coasts, save Cape Brettoon, which are full of good Harbours, and a multitude of Islands, replenished all along the Coast with great plenty of all sorts of Fish and Fowl, and a back Wilderness of very good Arable Land, of vast and unknown extent; all Uninhabited, except a few scattering Indians, which are mostly, if not all Civilized, and Subdued.

This part of the Continent lieth in a good Climate, a very healthful Air; there is no seasoning, as in the Southern Parts; and if here were [Page] ten Millions more of People, here is Land and Room enough for many times more; and then every thing would be much more plentiful, and for the better Living: for the Honour, Riches, Plenty and Strength of a Country consists in the Multitude of People, &c.

If this Earth were not Monopolized, we should have a multitude more Farmers and Labourers; every one that could would Farm it, and every one that had Money, would Hire, Buy or send for Farmers and Labourers, that they might have a Farm; and thereby the Necessaries and Comforts of Life would be plentiful and cheap; and all Artificers would live cheaper, and their Work would be better and cheaper: and then we should Import less, and Export more, which would be the making of this Country.

Taxing Monopolized Dormant Lands a just and speedy Remedy, and no Person hurt, nor unjustly treated, but gainers thereby. For,

If all Visible Estates ought to be Taxed for the Support of Government, then all Dormant Monopolized Lands ought to be Taxed.

If Moral and Paenal Evils ought to be Taxed till they be removed, then so far as Monopolizing Lands is a Moral and Paenal Evil, it ought to be Taxed till it be removed; that is improved, or given up to the Government, that they may see thereto.

Nor will any Person be unmercifully or unjustly treated, nor be a loser, but a gainer thereby; for now the Monopolizers are circumscribed, bounded and limited; but if the Common Earth were made Free for the Improver, and laid forth in Townships, &c. (as hath been proposed) Page 11, then whosoever would without being limited, might fill up the whole Province with improved Farms; it would be all before them; whereas [Page] now they are limited, so that the Monopolizers if they mean the Good of the Country, that is to improve it, would be gainers thereby, but if they mean to live upon, & reap the fruits of the Husbandman & Labourers Industry, then thereby prevented they are, and should be from so greatly oppressing and burdening their poor industrious Labouring Neighbours.

Monopolizers of Dormant Lands would be the Lords of this Continent, and necessitate the Farmers, their Families, and Posterity, to give them the benefits of all their Labours, from Generation to Generation, for Liberty or Deeds from them, to improve the Common Earth, (which God hath freely given to the Improver) and so the Continent would be the Monopolizers Property, and all Farmers and their Posterity the Monopolizers Slaves for ever; for they will keep Monopolizing this Continent faster than the Husbandman or Farmer can Improve it.

It would be a much easier Lay for the Farmer to hold his Land from the Crown and Nation of Great Britain, paying One Penny an Acre Quit-Reat, for that would be laid out for the Support of the Government, (and in a short time how great [...] would it amount to?) and then Taxes would be so much the less, and thereby the Subject as much eased in Taxes, as the paying of Quit-Reats amounts to; but now the Monopolizers goes away with all, and Contributes nothing for the Support of Government, nor hath done for this 100 years past.

May there be a Cry throughout all your Elections, no Monopolizers, no biting Usurers; for there is more Electors that are neither Monopolizers and biting Usurers then that are such, therefore it being in your Power, shew your selves once more Free-men, and be not over-awed by any [Page] Persons, either by their Great Power or Riches, unless you will chuse Issachars portion, become strong Asses, couching down between two Burdens, and then bow your Shoulders to bear the Burthen.

I Appeal to you our most Learned, Reverend & Pious Seers, to read, & weigh in the Ballance of the Sanctuary, judge & determine with your Spiritual Understanding; and what is contrary to right judgment, condemn and cast over-board, and what agreeable thereto, and for the best good of this Province, justifie and maintain convincing all Gain-sayers; Is it not your Duty, and your great abilities, both natural and acquired; also your faithfulness not only enables, but also obliges you thereto, for you are to be found faithful. What I have Chattered, is as nothing; May you bring so great a current of Truth so well digested and prest from Scripture & Reason, as to bear down all Opposition before it, that the Oppressed may be freed, and every Yoke broken: I pray God to spirit, & increase you with all the Gifts and Graces of His most Holy Spirit, in the greatest degrees you are capable of being made the Subjects of.

Let no one say, this is a levelling Doctrine! for no Person is more against Levelling, than I [...] For suppose a Township set off, containing One hundred Farms, quantity and quality considered, with proper Commonage, &c. as aforesaid, Page 11. One Man may be able to improve Forty Farms, and if whole Townships, it's all his own; another can improve but one Farm, he hath no more: But let all be supplied with Farms, according to the Donation of, God freely, without price or purchase, (for it is their Birth-right as they are [...], as hath been proved, and also the best Good for the Province) [Page] and thereby neither the Richest, nor the Poorest will be discouraged, or have any cause to complain; and when one Town is improved and full, set off more, till you fill this vast and unknown Continent with Inhabitants, that this Continent may sing forth the Praises of God, and Love abound to one another; and then we may expect, that God, even our own God will bless us, and that the Earth will yield her increase. Consider well the 58th Chapter of Isaiah, and also the 34th Chapter of Ezekiel. For while the Rich live upon the Sweat of Labourers, and grind the faces of the Poor, what can we look for, but Judgments from God, as he hath threatned? from which by Faith, Repentance and Holiness, doing as we would be done unto. May our God prevent us.

Upon the whole, if it be sufficiently proved, and self evident,

1. THat God hath given this Earth, &c. to Mankind.

2. That the Indian Sachems have submitted to the Nation of Great Britain.

3. That the English have subdued all Opposing Powers, and brought them into subjection; also Protected and Defended this part of the Continent.

4. That they have Subdued, Improved and Replenished it.

5. That the Indians are not possest with the Property of this Continent, save only where they Improve.

6. That Government is the Appointment of God, for Good to Mankind.

[Page]7. That Princes possest of Government, ought to make it subservient, to the Good of the Governed.

8. That it is Oppression to necessitate the Subject to Buy the Common Earth.

9. That God hath Cursed this Earth, and that it is a Sin for any Man (though in Authority) to add thereto.

10. That Monopolizing Dormant Lands, subjects the Colony to Slavery.

11. That it prevents raising our Bread.

12. That Dormant Lands ought to be Taxed, for Support of Government.

13. That there is a necessity for the Earth to be Improved.

14. That Monopolizers of Dormant Lands lives on the Farmers and their Families Labours.

15. That so high Prices for Dormant Lands, drives our Youth out of the Province, tho' both the Strength, Glory and Defence thereof.

16. That giving a Township to a few men, doth not mend the Matter.

17. That Monopolizers, &c. giving one half to be Subdued, doth not remove the Grievance.

18. That the Glory, Strength and Riches of a Covntry, Consists in the Multitude of Inhabitants.

19. That here is Land & room enough for many Millions more of People.

20. That Moral and Paenal Evils ought to be Taxed till they be removed.

21. That Monopolizers, &c. are no Loosers, but Gainers thereby.

22. That Taxing Dormant Lands will be a means to free Farmers from Oppression and Slavery

23. That Taxing Dormant Lands is no Levelling Doctrine.

24. If the Common Earth, &c. were free to [Page] the Improver, as page 11. then Parents would be able to give their Children a sufficient Competency of Comfortable Necessaries to Subdue and Improve New Farms, Mich. 6. 8.

If what is Premised be worthy the Consideration of our Great and General Assembly, may they have them close at Heart, and by Laws undo heavy Burdens, break every Yoke, make us a free People, to Enjoy without Price or Purchase what God hath freely given us, and thereby they will become our great Deliverers and Benefactors, Eternalizing their Memories, not only to the Present, but also to Succeeding Posterity; that they may be Honourable and Illustrious Instruments, (in the Hands of our Bountiful Creator) for the Good of this Province.

Is the Prayer of

the meanest of Your most Humble and Obedient Servants, I. M.

Notes

*

Gen Chap 1 v 8 to the end Jer. ch. 27 v. 5.

↵

†

Gen. chap. 1. v. 28, 29. also chap. 9. v. 1, 2, 3.

↵

*

Psal. 115. ver. 16. Job 15. verse 19.

↵

†

Gen. chap. 9. verse 1, 2, 3.

↵

*

Gen. 13. 9. The land was free [...] [...] Lev 20. 24. Yea. to the Wicked and their Seed God freely [...] this Earth, Deut. 2 5 9. & 19 chap. 19 26. Josh. 2. 9. though improved, yet freely given.

↵

§

§

I love the World (as Clients love the laws)

To manage the Uprightness of my Cause,

The World loves me, as Shepherds do their Flocks,

To Rob, and Spoil them of their fleecy locks;

I love the World, and use it as mine Inne,

To baite and rest my tired Carcase in:

No man is born unto himself alone;

Who lives unto himself, he lives to none: Q. Pent.

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

The original rights of mankind freely to subdue and improve the earth. Asserted and maintained by J.M. ; [Seven lines of Scripture texts]

J. M.

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI :

Date

2005-03.

ID [DLPS]

N01974

ID [TCP]

N01974

ID [STC]

Evans 2346

ID [NOTIS]

APW4972

ID [IMAGE-SET]

2346

ID [EVANS-CITATION]

99011047

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 2346.

Notes

(Evans-TCP ; no. N01974)

Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 2346)

Images scanned from Readex microprint and microform: (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 2346)

Source

— The original rights of mankind freely to subdue and improve the earth. Asserted and maintained by J.M. ; [Seven lines of Scripture texts], J. M., Morgan, Joseph., Mather, Increase, 1639-1723..

Extent

[6], 22 p. ; 17 cm. (8vo)

Printed for the author.,. Boston, :: 1722.. (The American Antiquarian Society copy is inscribed "-ather, D.D." in a contemporary hand following "J.M." on title page, and has consequently been attributed to Increase Mather. This attribution is refuted in Holmes, T.J. Increase Mather. Holmes identifies J.M. as the author of "Some proposals to benefit the Province" (Boston, 1720), and notes that Trumbull has suggested that this might have been Joseph Morgan.)

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