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

There were present divers of the Clergy and Gentry of the Country, with the Magistrates of the Town, and a great number of People, which if it could have been avoided, was not easy to Mr. Henry, who never loved any thing that made a noise; herein like his Master, who did not strive nor cry. The Discourse began about two a Clock in the Afternoon, and continued till between seven and eight at Night; much was said pro and con, touching the identity of Bishops and Presbyters, the Bishopping and Unbishopping of Timothy and Titus, the Validity of Presbyterian Ordination, &c. 'Twas managed with a great deal of Liberty, and not under the strict Laws of Disputation, which made it hard to give any tolerable ⟨p. 158⟩account of the Particulars of it. The Arguments on both sides, may better be fetched from the Books written on the Subject, than from such a Discourse. The Bishop managed his part of the Conference with a great deal of Gravity, Calmness and Evenness of Spirit, and therein gave an excellent Pattern to all that are in such Stations. Mr. Henry's Remark upon this Business in his Diary is this; That whereas many Reports went abroad far and near concerning it, every one passing their Judgment upon the result of it as they stood affected; for my own part, (saith he) upon Reflection, I find I have great reason to be ashamed of my manifold infirmities and imperfections; and yet do bless God, that seeing I could manage it no better, to do the Truth more Service, there was not more said and done to its disservice; to God be Glory. But there were others, who said that Mr. Henry was an Instrument of glorifying God, and serving the Church in that affair, almost as much as in any thing that ever he did, except the Preaching of the Gospel. And some who were Adversaries to the Cause, he pleaded, though they were not Convinced by his Arguments, yet by his great Meekness and Humility, and that truly Christian Spirit, which appeared so evidently in the whole Management, were brought to have a better Opinion of him, and the way in which he walked.

There were present divers of the Clergy and Gentry of the Country, with the Magistrates of the Town, and a great number of People, which if it could have been avoided, was not easie to Mr. Henry, who never lov'd any thing that made a noise; herein like his Master, who did not strive nor cry. The Discourse began about two a Clock in the Afternoon, and continued till between seven and eight at Night; much was said pro and con, touching the identity of Bishops and Presbyters, the Bishopping and Unbishopping of Timothy and Titus, the Validity of Presbyterian Ordination, &c. 'Twas managed with a great deal of Liberty, and not under the strict Laws of Disputation, which made it hard to give any tolerable