A Second Admonition to Edward Bagshaw, Part 2 · Section 30 – Section 31
Sect. 30. E. B. I look upon it alſo as a ſtrange piece of boaſting,27, 28. & 29. Viſible untruths. when you tell us, that men of all judgements have written againſt you:—Is it indeed true that you offend all, and pleaſe none, and can you glory that you are accounted the Iſhmael of the age?
R. B. Alas, poor man! Is this Conſcience ſcrupulous of Communion with us Publicans and ſinners? Here are no leſs than three more viſible Vntruths thraſt together. 1. That I ſay, [That men of all judgements have written againſt me] when my words are theſe [Whereas our differences in Doctrine, Worſhip and Diſcipline have engaged men of ſeveral minds in ſuch Writings againſt me.] Where did I ſay, that men of the judgement of Peter or Paul, of Auguſtine or Proſper, wrote againſt me? Are thoſe Infidels, Quakers, with the &c. [All]? 2. That I glory that I am accounted the Iſhmael of the age (which is intimated in the queſtion) or boaſt of mens contradiction? Which is ſo notorious a falſhood, that I mention it only as other mens contradiction of each other (who blame me for contrary things) and as my own trouble. I only told you, how impoſſible it is for me to pleaſe all men, while men expect ſo many contrary things of me: The Anabaptiſts are quite diſpleaſed with me for writing for Infants Baptiſm: The Conformiſts are angry, becauſe I will not ſubſcribe that [It is certain by Gods Word, that Children which are baptized, dying before they commit actuall ſin, are undoubtedly ſaved] without excepting thoſe that are wrongfully baptized, Turks, Heathens, &c. The Antinomians are offended with me for oppoſing their ſubverſion of the Goſpel under pretence of extolling free grace: And others are angry that I come ſo near them, as to the ceſſation of Moſes Law. And ſo it is with all the reſt. How vain therefore is it to turn a Man-pleaſer, when the task is as impoſſible as unprofitable. But O, ſaith E. B. what a ſtrange boaſt is this, to tell us that men of all judgements have written againſt you! That which I recite as my tryal and trouble, he falſly tells the world, I boaſt of.
3. The third known falſhood is (intimated) that [I offend all and pleaſe none.] As if he did believe that thoſe whom I mentioned (even with an &c.) were [all] and there were no others in the world?
2. But beſides theſe falſhoods, he again condemneth himſelf for his accuſation. For 1. If it be a matter of Pride to declare that I am written againſt, why will this man write himſelf againſt me, and tempt me to be more proud, when he accuſeth me of pride? Is not his Writing publiſhed by himſelf? Why then will he publiſh that which himſelf ſuppoſeth to be my glorying? and ſo advance my reputation? (which few adverſaries ever did more effectually) 2. And if I offend all and pleaſe none, what need he be at all this labour to ſave men from being pleaſed by me? But it is fatal or natural to men of his vice, to have bad memories.
The former untruth he again implyeth, [You would be grieved for grieving them, and not put it in among your triumphs, that you had provoked ſo many able worthy men.] He that hath once ventured upon an untruth, may do it boldlier the ſecond time, and may come at laſt to believe himſelf.
As for the worthy Opponents whom he nameth, 1. I can honour and love them as much as he, without thinking them infallible: And I can. differ from them without diſaffection. 2. Which of them is it that the man would have me grieve for grieving? Doubtleſs thoſe that are in the points controverted of his mind! So kind is he to them or himſelf. It cannot be all, unleſs he would have me, either ſay nothing of the matter, or write contrary things to pleaſe contrary parties. 3. And doth he not differ from moſt whom he nameth himſelf, by his Separation? And yet he ſticketh not thus to grieve many more than them.
Sect. 31. E. B. p. 9. [When I ſaid in one of my exceptions,15. Crime, Impudency in calumniating. that I feared you were not ſound in the doctrine of Juſtification by faith alone without works, inſtead of anſwering directly, and ſatisfying my ſcruple (which you might have done in few words) you refer me to five or more Treatiſes, which you ſay you have written on that ſubject.—
R. B. 1. Did you believe when you wrote this, that this reference was a proof of my Pride? Of Juſtification.2. Why would you no more regard your reputation, than to recite ſuch a paſſage as this? Will your Reader doubt whether you ſhould repent of ſuch things as words of Impudency unbeſeeming a man of underſtanding?
For 1. Was it modeſty in you to divulge ſuch an accuſation as this [I am afraid you are not ſound in the doctrine of Juſtification] without reciting one word of mine which you accuſe, or telling the Reader or me any reaſon of your fears? 2. And could you expect that he that had written ſo many Books to declare his judgement in that point, muſt write part of another, to tell you what he holds, and conſequently write as many, or as oft as men ſhall ſo by their Fears invite him? 3. And do you not at that very time prove me proud for writing ſo many Books, when by this and other paſſages you call for an anſwer, that is, for more? 4. Could you think that [a few words] would open a mans mind ſo plainly, as many Books can do? 5. Could humane ingenuity expect more from one thus ſlightly queſtioned, than to be referred to thoſe Books, which were purpoſely written both to ſtand as a full Confeſſion of my faith in that point after other mens ſuſpicions, and alſo to give the reaſons of it, and to defend it againſt all thats ſaid againſt it? And could I expect, that he that will diſdain to read theſe Books, will read another that repeateth the ſame things? And ſhall I write more to remove his Fears, who will rather blindly vent them by calumny, than read for his ſatisfaction what I have ſaid? If you have read them, why would you ſay you Fear, which ſignifieth uncertainty? When you might have come to a certain knowledge? If you read them not, why would you not uſe a viſible means to diſcuſs your fears, before you divulged them? And if this way be right in the eyes of others, what made Dr. Owen, and other Congregational Brethren, admoniſh your Brother Mr. Powell for preaching openly (almoſt as ſoon as he came out of Priſon) particularly againſt me and another (then thought to have been Mr. Nie, but he ſaid he meant Mr. Tombs) by deſcription; and the deſcription of me was [He that is not ſound in the Doctrine of Juſtification] or to that ſenſe. And what made them threaten to diſown him if he would not ceaſe ſuch wayes? Did ever ſober men go about with ſuch general accuſations, and expect that men anſwer to they know not what? 6. But what are the few words that would ſatisfie you? A yea, or a nay? What if I ſay, Sir I think I am ſound in the doctrine of Juſtification, and I think you ſpeak evil of the things you know not] Would that have ſatisfied you?