A Second Admonition to Edward Bagshaw, Part 1 – Part 2
To Mr. EDWARD BAGSHAW.
BROTHER, it is not a little troubleſome to me, and will be troubleſome to many peaceable Readers, both that theſe Writings ſhould paſs between us, and that I ſhould mention your faults ſo plainly as I do. But as I began not with you, ſo I know not how to let you talk on, without betraying the peace of the Church, the credit of the Non-conformiſts (who are by your ſelf obliged to diſown you) and the ſouls of the weak brethren, for whom Chriſt dyed. And I am conſtrained plainly to name your faults; 1. Becauſe truth conſiſteth in ſpeaking of things as they are. 2. And becauſe my buſineſs is now to ſummon you to Repentance, to which end the opening of your ſin is neceſſary. 3. And becauſe theſe following Scriptures are my ground, and your own word ſeem to me to charge it on me as my neceſſary duty, upon dreadful penalties.
The Scriptures that I ſet before me are Lev. 19. 17. after mentioned, Rom. 16, 17. Mark them which cauſe Diviſions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them. Jam. 3. 14, 15, 16, 17. But if ye have bitter envying (or zeal) and ſtrife in your hearts, glory not, and lye not againſt the truth: This wiſdom deſcendeth not from above, but is earthly, ſenſual, deviliſh. For where envying, (zeal) and ſtrife is, there is confuſion and every evil work, &c. 1 Cor. 1. 10, 11, 12, 13. & 3. 1, 2, 3, 4. John 17. 21, 22. Rom. 14. & 15. John 8. 44. When he ſpeaketh a lye, he ſpeaketh of his own; for he is a lyer and the Father of it. Rev. 21. 8. All lyers ſhall have their part, &c. & 22. 15. Whoſoever loveth and maketh a lye. Pſal. 15. 2, 3. That ſpeaketh the truth, in his heart, backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach againſt his neighbour. 3 John 9, 10. I wrote unto the Church: but Diotrephes who loveth to have the preheminence among them, receiveth us not: wherefore if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doth, prating againſt us with malicious words: And not content therewith, neither doth he himſelf receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and caſteth them out of the Church: Gal. 2. 11, 12, 13, 14. I withſtood him to the face, becauſe he was to be blamed. For—he withdrew and ſeparated himſelf, fearing them which were of the circumciſion; and the other Jews diſſembled likewiſe with him; inſomuch that Barnabas alſo was carried away with their diſſimulation. But when I ſaw that they walked not uprightly, &c.—Tit. 3. 10, 11. A man that is an Heretick after the firſt and ſecond admonition, reject—
Your own doctrine is as followeth: pag. 1. It will be a favour if you look upon me as one that neither deſires, (nor if you believe what your ſelf have writ) deſerves ſuch expreſſions of your familiarity. Pag. 2. I hope you are not to learn, that every untruth is a lye— Pag. 11, 12. There being little difference in the ſight of God, between the perſecuting of brethren our ſelves, and by not ſharply reproving it, ſeeming to approve of it in others. And I hope you will ſay as much againſt approveing your own ſin as other mens. Pag. 14. All are commanded to turn aſide from them— A Church which after admonition and diſcovery of offenders, will not uſe her authority in caſting them out, doth partake of their ſins, and becomes as guilty as they, and therein as unworthy of communion.
I cite Gods word as my Rule of ſpeaking, and yours as that which I may ſuppoſe ſheweth what you expect to hear.
All that I now deſire of you is, to bring your ſelf to ſome impartiality in reviewing the two Libells which you have written; And if you cannot, yet condeſcend to hear the judgement of ſome underſtanding impartial perſons who have ſeriouſly peruſed your writings and mine: And hate not repentance, and ſet not your ſelf againſt it, and juſtifie not all the Crimes, falſe Doctrines, and eighty untruths, which your two Libells do contain. And beg of God more Judgement, Humility, Meekneſs, Conſiderateneſs and tenderneſs of Conſcience: And abuſe no longer the ſouls of weak Chriſtians, with ſuch falſe Doctrine, which you defend no better than I have done. I reſt
A deſirer of your Repentance and Sobriety, Richard Baxter. M. 4. (Jun.) d. 9. 1671.