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

On this Mr. Henry writes, It is a thing diversly resented, as Mens Interests lead them; the Conformists displeased, the Presbyterians glad, the Independents very glad, the Papists triumph. The danger is (saith he) lest the allowing of separate places help to over-throw our Parish-Order, which God hath owned, and to beget Divisions and Animosities among us, which no honest Heart but would rather should be healed. We are put hereby (saith he) into a Trilemma, either to turn Independents in Practise, or to strike in with the Conformists, or to sit down in former Silence and Sufferings (and Silence he accounted one of the greatest Sufferings) till the Lord shall open a more effectual door. That which (he saith) he then heartily wished for, was, That those who were in place, would admit the sober Nonconformists, to Preach sometimes occasionally in their Pulpits; by which means he thought Prejudices would in time wear off on both sides, and they might mutually strengthen each others Hands against the common Enemy the Papists; who (he foresaw) would fish best in troubled Waters. This he would choose much rather than to keep a separate Meeting: But it could not be had; no, not so much as leave to Preach at Whitewel Chapel when it was vacant, as it often was, though 'twere three long Miles from the Parish-Church. He found that some People, the more they are courted, the more coy they are; however, the Overtures he made to this purpose; and the slow steps he took towards the setting up of a distinct Congregation yielded him satisfaction afterwards in the Reflection, when he could say, we would have been united, and they would not.

On this Mr. Henry writes, It is a thing diversly resented, as Mens Interests lead them; the Conformists displeased, the Presbyterians glad, the Independents very glad, the Papists triumph. The danger is (saith he) lest the allowing of separate places help to over-throw our Parish-Order, which God hath own'd, and to beget Divisions and Animosities among us, which no honest Heart but would rather should be healed. We are put hereby (saith he) into a Trilemma, either to turn Independents in Practise, or to strike in with the Conformists, or to sit down in former Silence and Sufferings (and Silence he accounted one of the greatest Sufferings) till the Lord shall open a more effectual door. That which (he saith) he then heartily wished for, was, That those who were in place, would admit the sober Nonconformists, to Preach sometimes occasionally in their Pulpits; by which means he thought Prejudices would in time wear off on both sides, and they might mutually strengthen each others Hands against the common Enemy the Papists; who (he foresaw) would fish best in troubled Waters. This he would chuse much rather than to keep a separate Meeting: But it could not be had; no, not so much as leave to Preach at Whitewel Chapel when it was vacant, as it often was, though 'twere three long Miles from the Parish-Church. He found that some People, the more they are courted, the more coy they are; however, the Overtures he made to this purpose; and the slow steps he took towards the setting up of a distinct Congregation yielded him satisfaction afterwards in the Reflection, when he could say, we would have been united, and they would not.