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A29066 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. Bagshaw, Edward, 1629-1671. 1671 (1671) Wing B407; ESTC R35299 23,696 31

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they reproved such as Preached up Circumcision and other Legall Ceremonies at that day when as the Apostles had given them no such Commandement saying of them that they subverted or spoiled the souls of the Disciples then may we affirm the like of those now who in things equally indefensible doe act with every whit as little authority from whom upon that very account we think it our duty to separate I am not ignorant that you after many others who have formerly much better pleaded this cause do insist upon two Arguments by which you labour to defend your irregular way of Communion The first is that in the Primitive Churches there were many Corruptions which the Apostle writes against but doth not advise any because of them to separate But I answer that in this Instance● as well as in your State you do wholly I will not say ignorantly mistake the Question For it is not Corruption or Errour barely considered as such that we account to be a sufficient ground of Separation but the imposing of that error with an high hand and making a submission to it at least in our practice and outward observance the very condition of Communion this we say is a thing which necessitates us to make a Separation and that for the Reasons I have already urged To which I will adde only this that however the presenting our Bodies at a Worship which we doe not inwardly approve of may render us excusable and justifie us among men yet we are sure it will not in the sight of God who hates hypocrisie in his service and values every offering by the heart of him that brings it I might content my self with urging thus much but because the Corruptions that were in the first Churches are often pleaded in this Case I will therefore examine the argument drawn from them a little farther and First this is clear in Scripture that our Lord Christ who was himself Holy and separated from sinners did never Call nor design his Church to be an impure mixt body of Holy and Vnholy without any distinction blended and hudled up together but we have it frequently mentioned in Scripture that he called his people out of the world to be an Holy seperate people an habitation and house for himself by his spirit to dwell in with many expressions to the same purpose whereupon every one who names the Name of Christ is solemnly commanded to depart from all unrighteousness Secondly though through the Corruption of men and negligence of Church Officers for which they are blamed Rev. 2.14.20 many Ungodly Prophane Formalists and Hypocrites did and daily doe creep in yet there is a strict command given to put such out of the Church 1 Cor. 5. 2 Thes 3 Rev. 2. And all are commanded to turn aside from them 2 Tim. 3 5. Rom. 16.17 which commands do strongly and convincingly imply that if such are to be with drawn from then if any Church who is admonished concerning them shall still maintain abet and countenance such that Church also is thereby defiled and become unfit to be communicated with For a little leaven leavens a whole lump 2 Cor. 5.7 and one sinner destroyes much good Eccl. 9.18 and many are defiled by the contagion of one Heb. 12.15 All which places show that 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 Lastly which will fully answer the scruple it is to be considered that the Primitive Churches were setled by the Apostles and constituted according to the divine pattern having all the Ordinances of Christ and true Officers rightly established amongst them so that though many scandalous sins did break out and were visible among some of the Members yet a power was still retained in each Church for the keeping themselves pure by casting out Offenders whereby they were kept to the Institution and Orders of Christ without any universal Innovation or degenerating in those Essentials of Order as well as Doctrine which they fell into in the ages after and when Anti-Christianism which was then working did manifestly shew it self not only in rejecting the Truth 2 Thes 2. but in imposing error Rev. 13.16.17 then was Separation necessary to be made which is implied in measuring as it were circumscribing and enclosing the Altar-Worshippers and casting out the others Rev. 11.1.2 and likewise in the sealed ones that had a mark upon their Foreheads whereby is meant some outward note of distinction from Anti-Christs Followers Rev. 7.1.2 and 14.1 This necessity of Separation which began then continues still since our Churches though Reformed from Popery that is from Anti-Christianisme in some points yet are not restored unto the Primitive pattern and purity so that more may be said for separation now when whole Churches are out of Order and Corrupt then could be at that time when Corruption had infected only some particular members for it is not as I said before Corruption barely no nor Imposition barely that is a sufficient ground for any to separate for where some lesser errors are held but not imposed or where only Necessary things are imposed we shall not forbear Communion but when Error is once imposed and by a strong hand forcibly maintained notwithstanding all admonitions and endeavours of Reformation here we must separate or consent to sin which is our present case and till you draw your Parallel exact and suit it in all respects to what it was before your instances from the practice of former times are but impertinent and unconcluding The second Argument that you do with much vehemency press is the example of the Former Non-Conformists who you say were all against separation and why should we be wiser then they To which I answer in Learned and Judicious Mr. Hildershams words and the rather because I find you quote his Name in favour of your opinion First It hath been an old trick of Hypocrites to pretend great Reverence and respect to the Servants of God that are dead when their credit might serve to the disgrace of Gods servants that now live and are their Teachers so did the Jews speak gloriously of Moses and the Prophets Mat. 23.29 Whereas on the other side the Faithful are described by this Note They embrace and are established in the present Truth 2 Pet. 1.12 that is in the truth that is now taught them Secondly admit that the Servants of God whose judgement and practice these men do seem to stand so much upon had been never so Learned and Godly men yet we may not build our Concience upon the credit of any man neither of them that have taught us heretofore nor of them that teach us now but only upon the Word of God If any though far inferiour to them in Piety and Learning shall bring you the word of God the manifest word of God against such or
desired to speak with him is another untruth 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 vileness and unworthiness supposing she had no interest in the Lord and so no right to the Creature through the cunning 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 temptations 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. An Advertisement to the Christian Reader IT will I believe easily pass for a Commendation of Mr. Baxter's Wit though but little of his Honesty that after he hath writ so much against both the King and Bishops he hath yet such easie access now to the Licensers and Press that he can Print Two books before another can Publish a few Sheets in answer to One but his last book about the Sabbath besides that it might have wholly been spared Dr. Owen having judiciously and accurately handled that Question before him doth make so full a discovery of Mr. Baxters spirit in pleading for Saints-days that is for Will-worship and in Atheistically arguing against the Divine and Self-evidencing Authority of the Holy Scripture which he doth for many Pages together that henceforth I hope he will no longer be a Snare but justly be Rejected of all as one of the worst sort of Hereticks since under the Notion of being a Christian and a Protestant he doth with his utmost Industry and Cunning labour to overthrow our Foundation in that he puts the Credit of Scripture upon the Truth of History and denyes any Certainty but what may be gathered from that which dangerous Doctrine I could not but warn thee Christian Reader as thou lovest thy Peace and Comfort as well as the Truth of Christ that thou wilt diligently beware of and I must leave it to thee to judge whether that Conformity which such a Person pleads for is not justly to be suspected Edw. Bagshaw 3d. Month or May 15 1671. (a) Part 1. p. 99 100 101. (b) Pag. 2. p. 7. part 1. p. 60 61. (c) Par. 2. p. 10 11. p. 1. p. 26 27. (d) p. 486. (e) Holy Common-wealth pa. 257 258. (f] pag. 374. last book part 2. pag. 140 141. [g] Part 1. pag. 26 27 [h] Cure pag. 257. Common-wealth p. 483 484. k Bish of Worcest Letter l Animad versions on Bishop of Worc. Letter [b] Part 2. p. 55.59.4.110 [c] Holy Common-wealth p. 221 222. [d] Pag. 73 74 75. part 2 [e] Part 2 p. 60.74.80 [f] Part 1 pag. 40. [g] part 1. pag. 26. [h] part ● p. 127. [i] part 2. p. 18. [k] Premonition to the Saints rest [l] part 2. pag 25. [m] part 2. pag. 91. [n] Premonition to the Saints rest [o] part 1. p. 8.9 74 75. [p] part 1. p. 36. [q] part 1. p. 76 [r] part 1. p. 78. Lecture 59 on John 4. Lecture 8 on John 4. a Part 1. p. 6 7. Preface to the 5 Disputations b part 1. p. 100. Part 2. p. 35. a Part 2. p. 38. a Part. 2d p. 145. b Part. 2d p. 133. c Part. 1. pag. 78. d Part 1. pag. 8. [d] Part 1. p 36. [e] part 1. p. 52. [f] part 1. p. 99 100. Part 2d p. a p. 60. to 69.