A Second Admonition to Edward Bagshaw, Part 2 · Section 80 – Section 96
Sect. 80. R. B. 23. Mr. Bagſhaw having done, begins again to call me to recant unſeemly abuſes of Mr. Brown, and one that a Book prefaced by him is written of: And he reciteth both their Letters. As to Mrs.—Letter, I give her this account of my thoughts of her and the Book thats written of her: 1. That I make no doubt but all the holy truth which ſhe hath learned, all the mortification of ſin, and reformation of life, all the faith in Chriſt, and Love to God and holineſs, which is in her, are the true fruits of the Spirit of God, and he is a wretched perſon that will aſcribe theſe to Melancholy: 2. And I doubt not but in a Melancholy diſtemper, as Satan findeth his advantage for ſome ſpecial temptations, ſo God can make his advantage to further the ſanctification of ſuch a ſoul.
3. But he that giveth me that Book to read, and would have me ignorant that Melancholy had a great hand in her faſtings, temptations and ſeveral conceits, there mentioned, and this after my experience of multitudes in the like condition, yea, when I am ſtill wearied out with the Caſes of ſuch, from time to time, doth put an utter impoſſibility upon me: For if my Ignorance herein would gratifie ſuch, it is not in my power to be ignorant when I will: But I can bear with it in others.
Therefore her words [If this be the effect of Melancholy] go on an untrue ſuppoſition.1. Untruth of Mrs.— I have told you what were the effects. And her ſorrow that [I am found deriding] the effects ſhe mentioneth, is the effect of worſe than Melancholly, as being founded in her untruth.
Next this Woman accuſeth me with all theſe following untruths.
1. That Brother Browne was the Author of that Book.2. Untruth.
Anſw. Not a true word: I only ſaid that it was publiſhed by him, as uncontrolled fame affirmed;] but not that he was the Author: I can find no ſuch word in my writings: If you can, tell me where. And doth not his Epiſtle before it ſhew that he was one of the Publiſhers?
2. That I was ſuddenly moved to go hear Mr. Baxter.3d Untruth.
Anſw. Falſe again: I only ſaid [was ſuddenly moved to go into the Church;] that is, As ſhe was paſſing by in the ſtreet, not knowing who Preached.
3. That ought of his Sermon had any impreſſion upon me (which I could not attend to, becauſe I was ſo terrified with the words of the Text,4th Untruth. Rom. 6. 21.)
Anſw. Falſe again: I have no ſuch words that ought of my Sermon had any impreſſion on her? but only of the Time, that before the Sermon was done ſhe oould hardly forbear crying out.
4. That I went away reſolved upon a holy life.
Anſw. Another miſtake: I ſaid only, [ſhe went home a changed perſon; Reſolved, (that is, did reſolve) for a holy life. That ſhe went home changed ſhe denyeth not, for her terrours were ſome change: That ſhe Reſolved for a holy life, her ſelf and her Book profeſs; But whether as ſoon as ſhe went home, or how many dayes after, I never undertook to tell! But how could ſhe be Converted without reſolving of a holy life?
5. That Brother Browne inſtructed me in the fifth Monarchy principle, whereas he then oppoſed it.
Anſw. I ſaid [Mr. Browne and others were her Inſtructers, who were very zealous for the way called the fifth Monarchy, and having inſtructed her in thoſe opinions, &c. If I did miſtake here I recant my errour; But I will tell you my grounds. 1. That the others were of that opinion as they deny not, ſo I have heard no others deny. 2. At the publiſhing of that Book, ſame ſpake the ſame of Mr. Browne and of his companion. 3. The Book doth plead for that opinion. 4. His Epiſtle is before the Book as a Publiſhing applauſe of it. 5. He profeſſeth that opinion to this day. And all theſe appearances might induce ſuch a judgement of him. But if he took it up between the Action, and the publication of the Book, on what day or week, it is none of my buſineſs to declare: He better knoweth thoſe himſelf.
[6. That I impoſed abſtinence upon my ſelf as to meat (when I would gladly have eaten but durſt not,5th Untruth. becauſe I apprehended I had no right to the Creature being out of Chriſt) This is all falſe and untrue; and I am aſtoniſhed that Mr. Baxter ſhould with ſo much confidence affirm theſe things.]
Anſw. 1. The good Woman underſtandeth not that ſhe contradicteth her ſelf: She did not impoſe abſtinence on her ſelf; but ſhe durſt not eat for the reaſon here given: that is, She did not impoſe abſtinence on her ſelf, but ſhe did impoſe it for fear upon this reaſon. Theſe untruths and nonſence in a Woman are more excuſable than in her Teachers: Why doth She render a Reaſon why She durſt not eat, if by that fear and for that reaſon ſhe did not impoſe abſtinence on her ſelf? Did any other impoſe it, or ſhut her mouth? Is not that our own doing which we give a reaſon of, and ſay that we did it through fear? Doth not he that giveth a Thief his Purſe, conſent himſelf to it, and make it his own act to ſave his life? If ſhe knew not what ſhe did, why is ſhe angry for being thought Melancholy, (which is many a Godly perſons caſe?) If ſhe did know, why doth ſhe falſly call it an untruth, that ſhe impoſed it on her ſelf? By this taſte you may ſee that even in well-meaning people the ſame principles will oft have the ſame practices, when here are five untruths in this ſhort Letter, and four at leaſt of her accuſation of my words are viſible untruths.
But I would know of Mr. E. B. or her, whether it be true doctrine, that one out of Chriſt ſhould not eat, becauſe they have no right, and whether almoſt to conſume her ſelf with Famine was well done? If ſo, muſt all wicked men do ſo? If it be falſe doctrine (as undoubtedly it is) I further ask, whether it was the ſpirit of God, or Satan that was the Author of it? I hope ſhe dare not father ſin and falſhood on Gods Spirit: And if it was a Temptation of Satan (as it was) I ask whether to yield ſo far to a Temptation ſo much againſt the light of Scripture, nature, and ſelf-preſervation, in a caſe ſo plain that common people know the errour of it, and to proceed ſo long almoſt to famiſhment in that errour and ſin, I ſay, whether this ſhewed not ſome flaw at that time in natural underſtanding and reaſoning as well as in grace? If it did (as ſure it did) what could it be leſs than Melancholy? And I hope it was never the mind of Mr. Jordan, or Mr. Browne in that Book, to father this opinion or practice on Gods ſpirit. I doubt not but God thus oft tryeth his own; but it is as little doubt but that he oft leaveth them under Melancholy as the Tempters opportunity and advantage. And its pitty that poor ſouls ſhould be angry with thoſe that know their caſe, better than they themſelves, and truly pitty them.
Sect. 81. R. B. I come now to Mr. Brownes Letter; wherein I will not reckon it (as it is) with his untruths, that my [two laſt Treatiſes give great occaſion to the Adverſaries of Truth and Purity to reproach and Blaſpheme God and his people] For the man ſpeaketh as his ill cauſe and principles have made him think. And that this is no more than ſome of my Diſciples have ſuggeſted to him, whether it be true or falſe I know not. What men that I have been eleven years driven from, may be drawn to by cruelties on the one hand, and ſeducers on the other, I can give no account of at this diſtance: Let them anſwer for themſelves.
The firſt untruth I charge him with is that I have uttered many falſhoods of himſelf and others. 1st. Untruth.The caſe is anon to be tryed.
Sect. 82. Mr. Browne. P. 27. [How the preſent Conformiſts can be excuſed from ſome degree of Idolatry remains to be better proved—
R. B. An anſwer to what I ſaid had been more congruous than this putoff. And that you take it for no Railing to call almoſt all Chriſts Churches on Earth (even the Reformed) Idolatrous, and yet take it for railing to be told that you ſo accuſe them ignorantly, raſhly and ſelf-conceitedly, doth but ſhew the blinding power of ſelfiſhneſs and dividing principles, when there is ſo vaſt a diſparity, 1. In the matter of the charge. 2. And in the perſons charged.
That your Brother Bagſhaw liath as you call it, now deceived your expectation and wronged his cauſe, that is, hath been fain to leave his untruths unjuſtified, I ſuppoſe you cannot deny in conſiſtence with your own expreſſions.
Sect. 83. Mr. Browne. p. 28.2d Untruth. [Indeed ſir, in two lines there are no leſs than two Vntruths publiſhed to the world concerning me: The firſt is that I am the Author and Publiſher of that Book, which is affirmed by him againſt the moſt notorious evidence in the World to the contrary: The Author Mr. Timothy Jordain—and all that I did was, being deſired to write an Epiſtle wherein I acquaint the Reader that I am not the Author of it, but only did joyne in Teſtimony to ſignifie what was recorded in the enſuing Treatiſe was true.
R. B. Reader, wouldſt thou think it poſſible for a man that voluminouſly accuſeth the Churches, and chargeth them with Idolatry, and had read my detection of his Brothers Untruths, to face men down with ſuch words as theſe that I ſay that which I never ſaid! I have many times over read my own words, and I can find no ſyllable of what he ſaith, that I affirm him to be the Author of that Book. I only ſaid [the Publiſher] and he addeth [the Author] as may preſently by the Readers eye-ſight be convicted. I ſay, [Publiſhed by Mr. Browne as is uncountroledly affirmed.] And is not this alſo a raſh and careleſs man, that no better heedeth what he readeth and what he writeth? And doth he not here declare himſelf a Publiſher of it, when he confeſſeth he put an Epiſtle to it, to joyne in Teſtimony, that what was recorded was true. And is this Printed Epiſtle and Teſtimony no Publication?
Sect. 84. Mr. Bowne. The ſecond untruth is,3d Untruth. that I am uncontrolledly affirmed ſo to be, when I believe he had never a ſecond in the world that either will or can affirm it.
R. B. Here are two more falſhoods, 1. That it is an Vntruth that I ſaid of him. 2. That I ſaid it was uncontrolledly affirmed that he was the Author. But that he was a Publiſher you have now his own Confeſſion of his Epiſtle, which I had read, and Mr. Joſeph Baker gave me the Book, and told me it was publiſhed by Mr. Jordain, and Mr. Browne, and this report I oft after heard, and it never was controlled to me; which is all that I can reaſonably mean my [uncontrolled.] For how is it poſſible for me to know what is ſaid of him to all others, in every diſtant place and corner?
Sect. 85. Mr. Browne. As for the Book it ſelf and the matter of fact contained in it, I never yet met with any judicious ſober Chriſtian that had ſeriouſly peruſed it, who durſt adventure to pronounce either of the whole or any conſiderable part of it, that it was an effect of Melancholy.
R. B. Who talkt of the whole? But what part you will call conſiderable who knows? Is not this a conceſſion that ſome part is ſo judged of? And muſt your Ignorance of ſuch matters as Melancholly have ſo great influence into your Divinity? But you may ſay true, For moſt now adayes converſe with few but thoſe of their own mind. And the Book is not to be got in any ſhop that I can hear of.
Sect. 86. Mr. Browne. Whether this decrying of experiences, this ſlighting the work of Gods ſpirit in the ſoul, the crying out that theſe things are but the effects of Melancholy, be not the ready way to make all ſupernatural Converſion derided, and the whole myſterie of Godlineſs contemned— conſider—.
R. B. 1. Here is implyed a fourth Untruth,4th Untruth. that I decry experiences, and the reſt here mentioned. 2. Alas, muſt the poor Church of Chriſt have ſuch miſerable Guides, that build hay and ſtubble, and think if it be burnt the Church muſt fall! I tell you ſir, ſuch raſh and Ignorant Teachers, as your Writings ſhew you to be, are the men that do ſo much towards the very ſame effects which you ſeem to fear, even to tempt men to deride all ſupernatural converſion, as that I ſcarce know a more powerful way.
If you heard one man ſay [Satan as an Angel of Light ſtirred up the Quakers to pretend Miracles, Propheſies and ſpiritual raptures, purpoſely to tempt the World to Infidelity, by perſwading them that the Spirit in the Prophets and Apoſtles was but the like] And if you heard James Naylor ſay, [Your calling the Spirit in us a vain Imagination or deceit, is the way to perſwade men that the ſpirit in the Prophets and Apoſtles was but imagination and deceit;] Which of theſe two ſayings would you believe? I take the caſe which I ſpake of to be the like.
I tell you ſtill, that all the Truth and Goodneſs that your Book mentioneth truly, was wrought by the ſpirit of God. But if men will make the world believe that any falſe doctrine, or any ſin, or any falſe expoſition of Scripture is of the ſpirit, or that their unproved Impulſes which are not agreeable to the word, but are againſt it or beſides it, muſt be believed to be of God, and will deſcribe theſe as Experiences and Gods way of Converting ſouls, their Ignorance will as effectually ſerve the Devil to bring true Converſion and the ſpirit into ſcorn, as the deriſions of a Drunkard will do, if not more. It is no new thing for Satan to deceive as an Angel of light, and his Miniſters as Miniſters of Righteouſneſs. And if you know not his wiles, expect not that we ſhould all concur with you in expoſing ſpirituality and holineſs to the ſcorn of ſuch as now abhorr it, or as of late have taken ſuch advantages againſt thoſe that are better than themſelves.
Sect. 87. R. B. Whether you inſtructed her in thoſe principles you know beſt: If you deny it, I retract it. That you were very zealous in them is paſt doubt; but juſt the day when you began, whether before that Book was begun, or before it was finiſhed, or when, I leave to your own report.
Sect. 88. Mr. Browne. Indeed it is now my Opinion that there is a glorious ſtate of the Church yet to come, before the laſt end of all things, when all Oppreſſion and Oppreſſours ſhall ceaſe, and every thing of man ſhall be laid down in ſubſerviency to the Intereſt of Chriſt, and the Kingdom of the World ſhall become his.
R. B. Amen! It is my earneſt Deſire as well as yours; See Jer. 28. 6.But Deſire and Belief are not all one. The Propheſies that you ſuppoſe foretell all this, I thought I almoſt underſtood thirty two years agoe; but ſince I perceive I did not: But I contradict not that which I do not underſtand, nor never did. Who will plead for Oppreſſion? And what Chriſtian deſireth not the greateſt Holineſs and Righteouſneſs in the World? I freely confeſs my Ignorance in the point, whether on this ſide the general Reſurrection, there ſhall be ſo perfect and univerſal Righteouſneſs as you deſcribe, as that All Oppreſſion ſhall ceaſe. My greateſt Hope is in the three Petitions of the Lords Prayer, Thy Name be Hallowed, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven: And I am ſure this will warrant my deſires. And I the better like thoſe Opinions of a perfect age, becauſe Hope will ſet men upon praying for it. But as I deteſt all Rebellions againſt juſt Authority on pretence that they are not truly Godly, and all ſetting up mens ſelves on pretence of ſetting up Chriſt, and uſing unlawful means on pretence of good ends, ſo I am afraid of being tempted down from the Heavenly Hopes and Comforts, by looking for more on earth than is indeed to be expected.
Sect. 89. Mr. Browne. p. 29. [He tells us firſt that ſhe was ſuddenly moved to come to hear him Preach—
R. B. A meer untruth:5th Untruth. as I have before ſhewed. I ſaid not ſo.
Sect. 90. Mr. Browne. That ſhe had ſuch convictions from his Sermon (for ſo he ſeems to intimate,) &c.
R. B. Untrue again:6th Untruth. as is before ſhewed: Nor will your ſeeming ſalve it.
Sect. 91. Mr. Browne. That ſhe deſired to ſpeak with him is another untruth.
R. B. Of that I ſhall ſpeak anon.
Sect. 92. Mr. Browne. That ſhe did impoſe on her ſelf abſtinence from meat—
R. R. Here he contradicts himſelf as ſhe did,7th Untruth. and ſaith ſhe durſt not eat, and yet falſly chargeth me with untruth for ſaying the ſame ſence.
Sect. 93. Mr. Browne. Laſtly, She never fell in ſo among the Quakers as to be one of them; though it is true that through the power of Temptations ſhe was ſomewhat enclined to them.
R. B. Here he untruly intimated that I ſaid more, who never ſaid ſo much; but only that ſhe thought they lived ſtrictlyer than we, and fell in among them. And now Reader I ſhall again tell thee my reaſons for all that I ſaid of her.
Mr. Joſeph Baker then Preacher in Worceſter (a man of unqueſtionable Prudence and Credit, now with Chriſt) told me all that I have ſaid of this Woman, and that ſhe had not been at Church of a long time before, and was paſſing along the Streets, and was ſuddenly moved to go in to the Church at Lecture time; and that ſhe was ſtruck as aforeſaid at the hearing of the Text, and before Sermon was done could hardly forbear crying out in Church; and that ſhe had on the conceit of their ſtrictneſs faln in among the Quakers; and been often at their meetings; but hearing them ſpeak againſt Scriptures and Miniſters was troubled, and thought that they ſpake that which her experience would not ſuffer her to conſent to: and that ſhe was like in theſe perplexities to fall into great Melancholy, and her body alſo to be weakened by the troubles of her mind, and that through his motion or perſwaſion ſhe was deſirous to ſpeak with me: I had no reaſon to deny belief to him: When I came next to his houſe the Gentle-woman came to me, and he and ſhe together repeated the ſubſtance of all this again, and ſhe ſpake not a ſyllable againſt it: And ſpeaking a few words to diſſwade her from the Quakers in haſte, I never ſaw her more: The ſaid Mr. Baker told me after of all her ſad and Melancholy abſtinence and weakneſs, and of Mr. Browne and Mr. Jordanes frequency with her; And ſhortly after ſhewed me the Book, with Mr. Brownes Epiſtle to it, and told me that which they now thus quarrel with, that Mr. Browne was one of the publiſhers of it, and was for the doctrine in it. Though I diſcerned by the Book that ſhe her ſelf was taken with that point. Theſe things I long heard affirmed and confirmed, and never contradicted till this day, and now you hear that the Timeing of Mr. Brownes Opinion and endeavours, is all that they can ſay any thing againſt themſelves. And thus much I thought meet to ſay againſt their raſh occaſions on this by-occaſion.
Sect. 94. R. B. p. 30. I have not yet done with Mr. Bagſhaw: He comes on again in a Poſtſcript with more Untruths; And firſt he tells you how little commendation it is to my honeſty to have yet ſuch eaſie acceſs now to the Licenſers and Preſs that he can Print two Books before another man can Publiſh a few ſheets—
Anſw. 1. I never ſpake with the Licenſor,45th Untruth by E. B. nor ſaw him; And if neither of thoſe two Books were Licenſed (when he wrote this at leaſt) is not this ſtill a fearleſs heedleſs man?
2. Is not Honeſty among theſe men become a word of a new ſignification?A new ſort of Honeſty. And is it any wonder if our diſhoneſty make us unworthy of their Communion, when our honeſty is queſtionable for the Licenſing of our Books? If it be a ſign of diſhoneſty to do any thing which our Rulers will but allow of, it may next be diſhoneſty to ſpeak any thing that they think worthy to be believed, and to Preach the Goſpel if they do but allow it. And may not your honeſty be as reaſonably queſtioned becauſe you are ſuffered to Preach? Sure the Licenſers are not ſo bad men, as to prove all diſhoneſt whoſe Books they Licenſe?
Sect. 95. E. B. His laſt Book about the Sabbath—might have been wholly ſpared, Dr. Owen having judiciouſly and accurately handled that Queſtion before him.]
R. B. 1. The Wiſdom from above is without partiality and without hypocriſie. Envy and partiality.Was it a blot on Dr. Owens honeſty that his Books are Licenſed? O forgetful man! 2. Who made the Law, that no man muſt write on a ſubject after Dr. Owen? was Dr. Owen to be blamed for needleſs work, becauſe he wrote on the Sabbath after Dr. Bound, Dr. Young, Dr. Twiſſe, Mr. Eaton, Mr. Bifield, Mr. Shephard, and many more? 3. Mine was Written and in the Preſs before Dr. Owens was abroad: (Though I had before ſeen Mr. Hughes his accurate Treatiſe that then came out.)
Sect. 96. E. B. His laſt Book about the Sabbath—doth make ſo full a diſcovery of Mr. Baxters ſpirit in pleading for Saints dayes, (that is, for will-worſhip.)
R. B. 1. Remember,Superſtition. Reader, that it is my own Book, and not his, that diſcovereth my ſpirit. Fetch thy judgement of it thence and ſpare not. 2. And if thou find cauſe to put down the Commemoration of the Powder-plot or ſuch other dayes for fear of willworſhip, do not therefore renounce all ſee houres for ſecret and family-prayer and Lectures; it being equally will-worſhip to appoint a ſet hour as a ſet day, which God in Scripture hath not appointed.