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

Mr. Henry, at the next Assizes after he was Distrained upon, was presented by one of the High Constables; 1. For keeping a Conventicle at his House; and 2. for saying, That the Law for suppressing Conventicles ought not to be obeyed, and that there was never a tittle of the Word of God in it. As to this latter Presentment, 'twas altogether false. He had indeed, in Discourse with the High Constable, when he insisted so much upon the Law, which required him to be so rigorous in the Prosecution; objected, That all Humane Laws were not to be obeyed, merely because they were Laws. But as to any such Reflections upon the Law he suffered by, he was far from it, and had Prudence enough to keep Silence at that time; for it was an Evil time, when so many were made Offenders for a word. But these Presentments met with so little Countenance from Judge Jeffreys, that Mr. Henry only entered his Appearance in the Prothonotaries Office, and they were no more heard of; wherein he acknowledged the hand of God, who turneth the Hearts of the Children of Men, as the rivulet of water.

Mr. Henry, at the next Assizes after he was Distrain'd upon, was presented by one of the High Constables; 1. For keeping a Conventicle at his House; and 2. for saying, That the Law for suppressing Conventicles ought not to be obey'd, and that there was never a tittle of the Word of God in it. As to this latter Presentment, 'twas altogether false. He had indeed, in Discourse with the High Constable, when he insisted so much upon the Law, which requir'd him to be so rigorous in the Prosecution; objected, That all Humane Laws were not to be obey'd, meerly because they were Laws. But as to any such Reflections upon the Law he suffered by, he was far from it, and had Prudence enough to keep Silence at that time; for it was an Evil time, when so many were made Offenders for a word. But these Presentments met with so little Countenance from Judge Ieffries, that Mr. Henry only entred his Appearance in the Prothonotaries Office, and they were no more heard of; wherein he acknowledged the hand of God, who turneth the Hearts of the Children of Men, as the rivulet of water.

As to what was taken from him by the Distress, they who took it made what Markets they pleased of it, paid those they employed, and what the remainder was, is not known for certain; but it was said, that the following Summer about 27 l. was paid to Sir T. V. of which (and the rest that was levied in other places, which amounted to a considerable Sum) it was credibly reported, (and I have not heard it contradicted) that neither the King nor the Poor had their Share, (which by the Act is to be two thirds) nor the Informers theirs neither; but People said, the Gentleman had occasion for it all. But as they that had it were never the Richer for it, so he that lost it, would often say, that he found that God did so abundantly bless the remainder to him, that he was never the Poorer; which he would mention for the encouragement of his Friends, not to balk Duty, (as he used to express it) for fear of Suffering.