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

In May, 1688. a new Commission of the Peace came down for the County of Flint, in which (by whose Interest or procurement was not known) Mr. Henry was nominated a Justice of Peace for that County. It was no small surprise to him, to receive a Letter from the Clerk of the Peace, Directed to Philip Henry, Esquire, acquainting him with it, and appointing him when and whither to come to be Sworn. To which he returned answer, that he was very sensible of his Unworthiness of the Honour, and his unfitness for the Office, which he was nominated to, and therefore desired to be excused, and he was so, and did what he ⟨p. 169⟩could, that it might not be spoken of in the Country. There were some, who upon this occasion unhappily remembered, that a few Years before, a Reverend Clergy-man in Shropshire told Mr. Henry to his Face, that he had done more mischief in the Country, than any man that ever came into it; and that he himself hoped shortly to be in the Commission of Peace, and then he would rid the Country of him. But alas, he •as quite disappointed. Thus Honour is like the shadow, which flies from those that pursue it, and follows those that flee from it.

In May, 1688. a new Commission of the Peace came down for the County of Flint, in which (by whose Interest or procurement was not known) Mr. Henry was nominated a Justice of Peace for that County. It was no small surprize to him, to receive a Letter from the Clerk of the Peace, Directed to Philip Henry, Esquire, acquainting him with it, and appointing him when and whither to come to be Sworn. To which he return'd answer, that he was very sensible of his Unworthiness of the Honour, and his unfitness for the Office, which he was nominated to, and therefore desired to be excus'd, and he was so, and did what he ⟨p. 169⟩could, that it might not be spoken of in the Country. There were some, who upon this occasion unhappily remembred, that a few Years before, a Reverend Clergy-man in Shropshire told Mr. Henry to his Face, that he had done more mischief in the Country, than any man that ever came into it; and that he himself hoped shortly to be in the Commission of Peace, and then he would rid the Country of him. But alas, he •as quite disappointed. Thus Honour is like the shadow, which flies from those that pursue it, and follows those that flee from it.