And here it may be very pertinent to observe, how industrious Mr. Henry was at this time, when he and his Friends suffered such hard things from the Government, to preserve and promote a good affection to the Government notwithstanding. It was commonly charged at that time upon the Nonconformists in general, especially from the Pulpits, that they were all a factious and turbulent People, and as was said of old, Ezra 4. 15. hurtful to Kings and Provinces; that their Meetings were for the sowing of Sedition and Discontents, ⟨p. 120⟩and the like; and there is some reason to think, that one thing intended by the Hardships put upon them, was to drive them to this; there is a way of making a wise Man mad: But how peaceably they carried themselves, is manifest to God, and in the Consciences of many. For an Instance of it, it will not be amiss to give some Account of a Sermon, which Mr. Henry Preached in some very private Meetings, such as were called Seditious Conventicles, in the Year 1669. when it was a day of treading down, and of perplexity; it was on that Text, Psal. 35. 20. Against them that are quiet in the Land; Whence (not to curry favour with Rulers, for whatever the Sermon was, the very Preaching of it had it been known, must have been severely Punished, but purely out of Conscience towards God) he taught his Friends this Doctrine, That it is the Character of the People of God, that they are a quiet People in the Land. This Quietness he described to be an orderly, peaceable Subjection to Governors and Government in the Lord. We must maintain a reverent Esteem of them, and of their Authority, in opposition to despising Dominion, 2 Pet. 2. 10. we must be Meek under severe Commands, and burdensome Impositions, not murmuring and complaining, as the Israelites against Moses and Aaron; but take them up as our Cross in our way, and bear them as we do foul Weather. We must not speak evil of Dignities, Jude 8. nor revile the gods, Exod. 22. 28. Paul checked himself for this, Acts 23. 5, [Greek or Hebrew]: I did not consider it, if I had, I would not have said so. We must not traduce their Government as Absalom did David's, 2 Sam. 15. 3. Great care is to be taken, how we speak of the faults of any, especially of Rulers, Eccl. 10. 20.—The People of God do make the word of God their Rule, and ⟨p. 121⟩by that they are taught, (1.)
And here it may be very pertinent to observe, how industrious Mr. Henry was at this time, when he and his Friends suffered such hard things from the Government, to preserve and promote a good affection to the Government notwithstanding. It was commonly charged at that time upon the Nonconformists in general, especially from the Pulpits, that they were all a factious and turbulent People, and as was said of old, Ezra 4. 15. hurtful to Kings and Provinces; that their Meetings were for the sowing of Sedition and Discontents, ⟨p. 120⟩and the like; and there is some reason to think, that one thing intended by the Hardships put upon them, was to drive them to this; there is a way of making a wise Man mad: But how peaceably they carried themselves, is manifest to God, and in the Consciences of many. For an Instance of it, it will not be amiss to give some Account of a Sermon, which Mr. Henry Preached in some very private Meetings, such as were called Seditious Conventicles, in the Year 1669. when it was a day of treading down, and of perplexity; it was on that Text, Psal. 35. 20. Against them that are quiet in the Land; Whence (not to curry favour with Rulers, for whatever the Sermon was, the very Preaching of it had it been known, must have been severely Punished, but purely out of Conscience towards God) he taught his Friends this Doctrine, That it is the Character of the People of God, that they are a quiet People in the Land. This Quietness he described to be an orderly, peaceable Subjection to Governours and Government in the Lord. We must maintain a reverent Esteem of them, and of their Authority, in opposition to despising Dominion, 2 Pet. 2. 10. we must be Meek under severe Commands, and burthensome Impositions, not murmuring and complaining, as the Israelites against Moses and Aaron; but take them up as our Cross in our way, and bear them as we do foul Weather. We must not speak evil of Dignities, Iude 8. nor revile the gods, Exod. 22. 28. Paul checked himself for this, Acts 23. 5, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉: I did not consider it, if I had, I would not have said so. We must not traduce their Government as Absalom did David's,
