The church told of Mr. Ed. Bagshaw's scandals and warned of the dangerous snares…

The only man that rose up against this Writing with furious indignation, was Mr. Edw. Bagshaw, a man that had before ⟨p. 5⟩written against Bishop Morley's Letter published against me, and lain in prison many years. And gave the world a notable proof of one of the chief passages displeasing to them in my Book; viz. That there is a marvellous affinity between the spirit of Persecution, and of sinful SEPARATION, though several opinions or capacities cause them to operate several ways.

The only man that rose up against this Writing with furious indignation, was Mr. Edw. Bagshaw, a man that had before ⟨p. 5⟩written against Bishop Morley's Letter published against me, and lain in prison many years. And gave the world a notable proof of one of the chief passages displeasing to them in my Book; viz. That there is a marvellous affinity between the spirit of Persecution, and of sinful SEPARATION, though several opinions or capacities cause them to operate several wayes.

By this time I discerned the guilty from the innocent, by the Cry which signified their smart. I had seen so much of the workings of that spirit, that I expected not to escape their sharpest censure. And verily, I expected neither preferment, nor so much as Liberty to preach, as a reward from the other side, instead of the favour of those that I knew I was to lose. Nor yet had I such a contempt of them, or a desire to be bitterly censured and reviled, as to invite men to it (as the Circumcellians importuned men to kill them.) I foresaw that some interested men would be angry, as supposing that I would hinder their alienating work, though they could not deny but that I spake the truth: I foresaw that many that look but to the present day and place, would say, It was unseasonable, and served the Prelates design, not considering that their design is not to bad, but that some things which seem their design, do also seem the design of Christ, and his Churches good, and mens salvation. I foreknew those that make uncharitable Divisions their very Religion, would make it a part of their religious duties to call me as bad as their distempers do incline them. These things I prognosticated in my Preface. As Tertullian saith of the Christians martyrdom, It is more the choice of our own will, than the effect of your power. i. e. We dye because we will dye, rather than not do our duty, by the omission of which we could escape: so I say, I could easily have kept as large an interest in the favour and applause of all the parties that ever railed at me, as most men of my profession, as their own words have told me. What did it gain me in the world, to do what I have done, to lose the favour of the Papists, the Ithacian Prelatists, the Anabaptists, the Separatists, the Quakers, the seekers, &c. But I saw whither the temptations of this age did tend. And this was a work that some body must do, (or else woe to the Ministry that in their very sufferings would be so unfaithful.) And I thought my reputation with the Uncurable as fit to be cast away, and my self as fit to bear their slanders, as most of my brethren's, who had more