An account of the life and death of Mr. Philip Henry, minister of the…

One thing which he comforted himself with in his Nonconformity was, that as to Matters of doubtful Disputation touching Church-Government, Ceremonies and the like, he was unsworn either on one side or the other, and so was free from those snares and bands in which so many find themselves both tied up from what they would do, and entangled that they knew not what to do. He was one of those that feared an Oath, Eccl. 10. 2. and would often say, Oaths are Edge-Tools, and not to be played with. One passage I find in his Papers which confirmed him in this satisfaction; 'tis a Letter from no less a Clergy-man than Dr. F. of Whitchurch to one of his Parishioners, who desired him to give way that his Child might be Baptized by another without the Cross and Godfathers, if he would not do it so himself; both which he refused: 'Twas in the Year 1672/3. For my part (saith the Doctor) I freely profess my Thoughts, that the strict urging of indifferent Ceremonies, hath done more harm than good; and possibly (had all Men been left to their liberty therein) there might have been much more Unity, and not much less Uniformity. But what Power have I to dispense with my self, being now under the Obligation of a Law and an Oath? And he Concludes, I am much grieved at the unhappy condition of my self, and other Ministers, who must either lose their Parishioners Love, if they do not comply with them, or else break their solemn Obligations to please them.

One thing which he comforted himself with in his Nonconformity was, that as to Matters of doubtful Disputation touching Church-Government, Ceremoni•s and the like, he was unsworn either on one side or the other, and so was free from those snares and bands in which so many find themselves both ty'd up from what they would do, and entangled that they knew not what to do. He was one of those that fear'd an Oath, Eccl. 10. 2. and would often say, Oaths are Edg-Tools, and not to be played with. One passage I find in his Papers which confirm'd him in this satisfaction; 'tis a Letter from no less a Clergy-man than Dr. F. of Whitchurch to one of his Parishioners, who desired him to give way that his Child might be Baptized by another without the Cross and Godfathers, if he would not do it so himself; both which he refus'd: 'Twas in the Year 1672/3. For my part (saith the Doctor) I freely profess my Thoughts, that the strict urging of indifferent Ceremonies, hath done more harm than good; and possibly (had all Men been left to their liberty therein) there might have been much more Unity, and not much less Uniformity. But what Power have I to dispense with my self, being now under the Obligation of a Law and an Oath? And he Concludes, I am much grieved at the unhappy condition of my self, and other Ministers, who must either lose their Parishioners Love, if they do not comply with them, or else break their solemn Obligations to please them.