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

Soon after that happy Settlement, there were Overtures made, towards a Comprehension of the Moderate Dissenters, with the Church of England, which Mr. Henry most earnestly desired, and wished for, if it could be had upon any Terms less than sinning against his Conscience; for never was any more averse to that which looked like a Separation than he was, if he could possibly have helped it, salvâ Conscientiâ. His Prayers were constant, and his endeavours as he had opportunity, that there might be some healing Methods found out and agreed upon. But it is well known, what was the Vox Cleri at that time, viz. That forasmuch as the Oaths, Subscriptions, and Ceremonies were imposed only to keep out such Men, they would never consent to their Removal, for the ⟨p. 171⟩letting them in again. Nolumus Leges Angliae mutari, was a saying perverted to this purpose: And the fixed Principle was, Better a Schism without the Church, than a Faction within it, &c. This was at that time Published and Owned, as the Sense of the Clergy in Convocation. Which Temper and Resolve, so contrary to that which might have been expected, upon that Happy and Glorious Revolution, did a little alter his Sentiments in that matter; and he saw himself perfectly driven from them. Despairing therefore to see an Accommodation, he set himself the more vigorously to improve the present Liberty. In June 1689. the Act of Indulgence passed, which not only Tolerated, but allowed the Dissenters Meetings, and took them under the Protection of the Government.

Soon after that happy Settlement, there were Overtures made, towards a Comprehension of the Moderate Dissenters, with the Church of England, which Mr. Henry most earnestly desired, and wished for, if it could be had upon any Terms less than sinning against his Conscience; for never was any more averse to that which looked like a Separation than he was, if he could possibly have helped it, salvâ Conscientiâ. His Prayers were constant, and his endeavours as he had opportunity, that there might be some healing Methods found out and agreed upon. But it is well known, what was the Vox Cleri at that time, viz. That forasmuch as the Oaths, Subscriptions, and Ceremonies were impos'd only to keep out such Men, they would never consent to their Removal, for the ⟨p. 171⟩letting them in again. Nolumus Leges Angliae mutari, was a saying perverted to this purpose: And the fixed Principle was, Better a Schism without the Church, than a Faction within it, &c. This was at that time Publish'd and Own'd, as the Sense of the Clergy in Convocation. Which Temper and Resolve, so contrary to that which might have been expected, upon that Happy and Glorious Revolution, did a little alter his Sentiments in that matter; and he saw himself perfectly driven from them. Despairing therefore to see an Accommodation, he set himself the more vigorously to improve the present Liberty. In Iune 1689. the Act of Indulgence pass'd, which not only Tolerated, but allowed the Dissenters Meetings, and took them under the Protection of the Government.