A second admonition to Mr. Edward Bagshaw written to call him to repentance for…

2. And I must tell you that though you do as much to cure my pride, as almost any mortal man that ever I had to do with, by the way of open demonstration of the Ensigns of it by your self (as the sight of a Leprosy would cure one that were in love with it;) yet you are too blame for Tempting me so much to pride as you do on the other side, while you decry it: For what is it else but an inviting and tempting a man to be proud, to tell the world, that you have nothing to charge him with to prove it, but such silly Calumnies as these of yours?

2. And I must tell you that though you do as much to cure my pride, as almost any mortal man that ever I had to do with, by the way of open demonstration of the Ensigns of it by your self (as the sight of a Leprosie would cure one that were in love with it;) yet you are too blame for Tempting me so much to pride as you do on the other side, while you decry it: For what is it else but an inviting and tempting a man to be proud, to tell the world, that you have nothing to charge him with to prove it, but such silly Calumnies as these of yours?

3. And yet I will say, that I see now that a mans enemies may be more useful to him than his friends: For I can hear that of my Pride from you, which never friend by ⟨p. 76⟩Word or Letter to my remembrance told me in my life. The more too blame they, if you be not mistaken.

2. But next let us see your evidence or proof:¹ Your first is, [What need I have told the world, &c.] would you have an answer to your question or not? If not, why do you ask it? If you would, why did you not take an answer when I gave it you; nor so much as mention it, as if you read it not, when you call for another? Is it because that you remembered, that many that read your Papers, will never read mine, and so will not know what I have said, nor how deceivingly you use them? It may be so: But will that do your work, and hold at last? If I repeat my answer, I shall offend my Readers, for writing the same thing twice, because you take no notice of the first. But this much I will return you now: 1. My avoiding public communion for fear of bringing more suffering on those that scrupled it, (and that so many years together,) was a scandal and temptation to others, and tended to make them think, that I held it to be unlawful; as Peters Separation was a scandal to Barnabas and others: And do you think every man that avoideth scandalizing, is therefore proud: Are not humble men bound to avoid scandal as well as others? If a man by many years forbearing all public Prayer or Sacrament, should tempt others to think that he is against them, or accounts them needless, how