A defence of The antidote against Mr. Baxter's palliated cure of church divisions wherein Mr. Baxter's contradictions and inconsistences ... are clearly discovered, and the great question about conformity briefly stated in a letter to Mr. Richard Baxter / by Edward Bagshaw.

Some Passages out of Mr. Brown's Letter.

Dear Brother,

I Have some time since perused Mr. Baxters two last Treatises, which (to speak modestly) give great Oc∣casion to the adversaries of Truth and Purity, to reproach and blaspheme God and his People, and have caused great grief of heart to many that truly fear him; and this is no more (for the substance of it) than some of Mr. Baxters own Disciples have suggested to me. In his last (Entituled, A defence of the Principles of Love) He severely chargeth you, but you need not be over solicitous, for those that know the complexion and temper of the man, who writes thus, will wait to see your defence, before they believe you guilty of so many gross Ʋntruths; especially since I can prove Mr. Baxter (even while he thus condemns you) to be guilty himself of uttering many Falsities both of my self and of others.

I will not conceive my self concern'd with what he speaks Part. 2. p. 31. touching his Dispute with Mr. Brown, An Army Chaplain (which I never was) about the Godhead of Christ [which I ever owned.] That Person was another of the same name, whom I never knew, and his Principles, so far as I have understood them, opposing the Doctrine of the Gospel, I utterly detest; so that all wherein I may by any be supposed to be concerned, is, what he mentions, pag. 58, 59. Part. 2d.

First, That I am the Author of that Treatise [mentioned by him, as written against Mr. Tombe] against the lawful∣nesse of Communion with Parish Churches: this is more than Mr. Baxter or any of his Informers can prove: and were he able, yet I think his mentioning of it, when in that place, there is not the least occa Wsion for it, is scarce becoming those Principles of Love and Charity he is so great a pretender to. Whether I writ the Book or not, I conceive it not requisite to give him an account; for I should be unwilling to trust one with a secret, who will, it seems, when the humor takes

him, publish to the World, what he cannot, dares not, swear is true, although occasion be thereby given, to such as are no backward to lay hold upon every such opportunity, utterly to ruine the Person of whom he reports it. I shall only add, that, whoever the Author was, I see no cause to disown any thing considerable in that Book: and when Mr. Baxter shall undertake a through discussion of the Arguments con∣tained in it, not like a Dictator, but as an humble modest Christian, I will either publickly Recant what I have now af∣firmed, or in meeknesse debate it with him, provided he doth more candidly represent Arguments, than he hath done ma∣ny of yours, & particularly, that about Idolatry, in which you give the general sense of all the Protestants, almost, that have writ upon the second Command, who do universally reduce to it, as Forbidden there, whatever is added, or devised by men in the worship of God. So that how the present Con∣formises can be excused from some degree of Idolatry, re∣mains to be better proved, than to call all those, that fear this of them Ignorant, Rash, and self-conceited. This in a∣nother would be Railing; perhaps Mr. Baxter thinks it Re∣thorick, Religion I am sure it is not; nor will it be accoun∣ted so by those that conceive of God, as Holy and Jealous, and therefore dare not join in any thing which he hath not commanded, lest he should charge folly and sin upon them for doing ignorantly they know not what. More may be said, but in this Point, I shall leave Mr. Baxter to you, and if you do not take notice of his perverting his Adversaries arguments, and imposing upon them a strange new sense of his own, if you do not reprove him for his vanity, in making men of straw, and then unmercifully fighting against them, as if he took a pleasure in demolishing the work of his own hands; if you do not observe and call him to an account for this, you will much wrong your Cause, and deceive my ex∣pectation of you.

To come more closely to my self, He informs us, that I am the Author or Publisher of a Book, concerning the Experien∣ces and strange work of God, upon a Gentlewoman in Wor∣cester, and that I am uncontrouledly affirmed so to be. Give me leave to tell you Sir, that I cannot but wonder at the un∣parallel'd confidence of the man; should he be any longer

suffered to take this liberty without controul, I might be supposed, for ought I see, to cumber the World with as ma∣ny Books, (& perhaps to as little purpose) as some body else: For indeed Sir, in two lines, there are no lesse than two un∣truths. (I may I hope use Mr. Baxters word) published to the VVorld concerning me. The First, That I am the Au∣thor and Publisher of that Book, which is affirmed by him a∣gainst the most notorious evidence in the VVorld to the con∣trary. The Author Mr. Timothy Jordain, a precious ser∣vant of the Lord, and now at rest with him, subscribed his Name to the Book, and in the Epistle prefixed, owns, and a∣vows himself to be the Author and Publisher of it; 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 joyn in Testimony to signifie what was Recorded in the ensuing Treatise was true. The second Ʋntruth is, That I am uncontrouledly affirmed so to be, when I believe Mr. Baxter hath never a second in the VVorld, that either will or can affirm it.

As for the Book it self, and the matter of fact contained in it, I never yet met with any judicious, sober Christian, (that hath seriously perused it) who durst adventure to pro∣nounce either of the whole, or any considerable part of it, that it was an effect of Melancholy. Sir, one of the great designs of the Devil at this day, seems to be to drive men into direct Atheism,; and there are many too just complaints of its prodigious encrease in the Nation. 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 Mystery of Godliness contemned, I leave it with you to consider.

That I was this Gentlewomans Instructer in the Fifth Monarchy Principle, and that I was very zealous for it, are two more untruths; For I was neither zealous for that Principle, nor her Instructer; but I did at that time (ignorantly) oppose her in it; though indeed now it is 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 Oppressors shall cease, and every thing of

man shall be laid down in a subserviency io the interest of Christ, and the Kingdoms of the World shall become his; which point I am ready to discourse with Mr. Baxter, when ever he shall think fit to doe it.

He is also lamentably mistaken in the account he gives of the Lords dealing with the Gentlewoman, of which I shall give you a few remarks, He tells us — First, that she was suddainly moved to come to hear him Preach, whereas she went (having been long sick after Child bear∣ing) in the accustomed formall manner that others were wont to do.

Secondly, That she had such convictions from his Sermon (for so he seems to intimate) that she went home resolved for an holy Life; whereas she heard little or nothing of his Sermon, it was the Reading of the Text, Rom. 6.21. that struck her heart; yet she wrestled against her convictions, and would gladly have got from under them, and for that end went into the Company of some friends, thinking to forget them.

Thirdly, that she desired to speak with him is another un∣truth (a Mistake is too soft a word) For she was hardly prevailed with to go to a Neighbours house to discourse with him.

Fourthly, that she did impose upon her self an Abstinence from Meat; She would gladly have eaten, and attempted it several times, but being under the sence of her own vile∣ness and unworthiness, supposing she had no interest in the Lord, and so no right to the Creature (through the cun∣ning of him that lyes in wait to destroy) she durst not eat.

Lastly, she never fell in so among the Quakers as to be one of them; though it is true, through the Power of Temptation, she was somewhat enclined to them. But from them was marvellously recovered, as is intimated in the fore-mentioned Treatise; and now she remains at as great a distance from them and their principles, as Master Baxter himself; nay (if I understand his principles) at a far greater: being fixed in following after the Lord and his Teachings in and by the Scriptures: And I hope, and am

perswaded, that, after all her shakings, tryals and tempta∣tions, God will for ever establish her here.

Dear Brother, I am sorry that I have given you this trouble, but Love to the Truth, to the interest of the Lord, and to Mr. Baxters soul (whom I pray the Lord to forgive and humble) hath compelled me; I leave it to your wisdom to make use of it, as you judge may be most conducing to those forementioned ends, &c.