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

He observes in his Diary this Year, how zealous People had generally been for the Observation of Lent, a while ago. and how cold they are towards it now. The same he Notes of Processions in Ascension Week; for (saith he) what hath no good Foundation, will not hold up long; but in that which is Duty, and of God, it is good to be zealously affected always.

He observes in his Diary this Year, how zealous People had generally been for the Observation of Lent, a while ago. and how cold they are towards it now. The same he Notes of Processions in Ascention Week; for (saith he) what hath no good Foundation, will not hold up long; but in that which is Duty, and of God, it is good to be zealously affected always.

In this Year (I think) was the first time that he Administered the Lord's Supper (very privately to be sure) after he was Silenced by the Act of Uniformity; and he did not do it without mature Deliberation. A fear of Separation kept him from it so long; what induced him to it at last, I find thus under his own Hand: I am a Minister of Christ, and as such I am obliged, Virtute Officii, by all means to endeavour the good of Souls. Now here's a company of serious Christians, whose Lot is cast to live in a Parish, where there is one set over them, who Preacheth the Truth; and they come to hear him, and join with him in other parts of Worship; only as to the Lord's Supper; they scruple the lawfulness of the Gesture of Kneeling; and he tells them, his hands are tied, and he cannot administer it unto them any other way; wherefore they come to me, and tell me, they earnestly long for that Ordinance; and there is a competent number of them, and opportunity to partake; and how dare I deny this Request of theirs, without betraying my Ministerial Tr•st, and incurring the Guilt of a grievous Omission.

In this Year (I think) was the first time that he Administred the Lord's Supper (very privately to be sure) after he was Silenced by the Act of Uniformity; and he did not do it without mature Deliberation. A fear of Separation kept him from it so long; what induced him to it at last, I find thus under his own Hand: I am a Minister of Christ, and as such I am obliged, Virtute Officii, by all means to endeavour the good of Souls. Now here's a company of serious Christians, whose Lot is cast to live in a Parish, where there is one set over them, who Preacheth the Truth; and they come to hear him, and join with him in other parts of Worship; only as to the Lord's Supper; they scruple the lawfulness of the Gesture of Kneeling; and he tells them, his hands are tyed, and he cannot administer it unto them any other way; wherefore they come to me, and tell me, they earnestly long for that Ordinance; and there is a competent number of them, and opportunity to partake; and how dare I deny this Request of theirs, without betraying my Ministerial Trst, and incuring the Guilt of a grievous Omission.