A26780:237
An account of the life and death of Mr. Philip Henry, minister of the…
An account of the life and death of Mr. Philip Henry, minister of the gospel near Whitechurch in Shropshire, who died June 24, 1696, in the sixty fifth year of his ageAn account of the life and death of Mr. Philip Henry, minister of the gospel near Whitechurch in Shropshire, who dy'd June 24, 1696, in the sixty fifth year of his age
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1698
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
In September 1660. Mr. Fog and Mr. Steel and Mr. Henry were Presented at Flint-Assizes for not Reading the Common Prayer, though as yet it was not enjoined, but there were some busy People, that would out-run the Law. They entered their Appearance, and it fell; for soon after the King's Declaration, touching Ecclesiastical Affairs came out, which promised Liberty and gave hopes of Settlement, but the Spring-Assizes afterwards Mr. Steel and Mr. Henry were presented again. On this he writes. Be merciful to me O God, for Man would swallow me up. The Lord show me what he would have me to do, for I am afraid of nothing but Sin.
In September 1660. Mr. Fogg and Mr. Steel and Mr. Henry were Presented at Flint-Assizes for not Reading the Common Prayer, though as yet it was not enjoyn'd, but there were some busie People, that would out-run the Law. They entred their Appearance, and it fell; for soon after the King's Declaration, touching Ecclesiastical Affairs came out, which promised Liberty and gave hopes of Settlement, but the Spring-Assizes afterwards Mr. Steel and Mr. Henry were presented again. On this he writes. Be merciful to me O God, for Man would swallow me up. The Lord shew me what he would have me to do, for I am afraid of nothing but Sin.
It appears by the Hints of his Diary that he had Melancholy Apprehensions, at this Time about public Affairs, seeing and hearing of so many faithful Ministers disturbed, silenced, and ensnared; the ways of Zion mourning, and the quiet in the Land treated as the troublers of it; his Soul wept in Secret for it. And yet he joined in the Annual Commemoration of the King's Restoration, and preached on Mar. 12. 17. Render to to Caesar the Things that are Caesar's,) considering (saith he) that it was his right; also the sad Posture of the Civil Government through Usurpers, and the manner of his coming in, without Bloodshed. This he would all his Days speak of as a national Mercy, but what he rejoiced in with a great Deal of Trembling for the Ark of God; and he would sometimes say, That during those Years between forty and sixty, though on Civil accounts there were great Disorders, and the Foundations were out of Course, yet in the matters of God's Worship, things went well; there was Freedom, and Reformation, and a Face of Godliness was upon the Nation, tho' there were those that made but a mask of it. Ordinances were administered in Power and Purity, and though there was much amiss, yet Religion