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

As to the Sacrament of Baptism, he had never (that I know of) Baptized any Children (except his own) from the time he was turned out in 1662. till this last Liberty came, though often desired to do it; such was the tender regard he had to the Established Church; but now he revived the Administration of that Ordinance in his Congregation. The occasion was this; One of the Parish-Ministers Preaching at Whitewe• Chapel, Mr. Henry and his Family, and many of his Friends being present, was earnestly cautioning People not to go to Conventicles, and used this as an Argument against it, That they were Baptized into the Church of England: Mr. Henry's Catholic Charity could not well digest this Monopolizing of the great Ordinance of Baptism, and thought it time to bear his Testimony against such narrow Principles, which he ever expressed his dislike of in all Parties and Persuasions. Accordingly he took the next opportunity that offered it self, publicly to Baptize a Child, and desired the Congregation to bear witness, That he did not Baptize that Child into the Church of England, nor into the Church of Scotland, nor into the Church of the Dissenters, nor into the Church at Broad-Oak, but into the visible Catholic Church of Jesus Christ. After this he Baptized very many, and always publicly, though being in the Country they were commonly carried a good way. The public Administration of Baptism, he not only judged most agreeable to the Nature and End of the Ordinance, but found to be very profitable and edifying to the Congregation; for ⟨p. 178⟩be always took that occasion, not only to explain the nature of the Ordinance, but affectionately and pathetically to excite People duly to improve their Baptism. He usually received the Child immediately out of the hands of the Parent that presented it, and returned it into the same hands again, with this or the like charge, Take this Child, and bring it up for God. He used to say, that one advantage of public Baptism was, that there were many to join in Prayer for the Child, in which therefore, and in Blessing God for it, he was usually very large and particular. After he had Baptized the Child, before he gave it back to the Parent he commonly used these words;

As to the Sacrament of Baptism, he had never (that I know of) Baptized any Children (except his own) from the time he was turn'd out in 1662. till this last Liberty came, though often desir'd to do it; such was the tender regard he had to the Established Church; but now he reviv'd the Administration of that Ordinance in his Congregation. The occasion was this; One of the Parish-Ministers Preaching at Whitewe Chappel, Mr. Henry and his Family, and many of his Friends being present, was earnestly cautioning People not to go to Conventicles, and us'd this as an Argument against it, That they were Baptized into the Church of England: Mr. Henry's Catholick Charity could not well digest this Monopolizing of the great Ordinance of Baptism, and thought it time to bear his Testimony against such narrow Principles, which he ever expressed his dislike of in all Parties and Perswasions. Accordingly he took the next opportunity that offer'd it self, publickly to Baptize a Child, and desir'd the Congregation to bear witness, That he did not Baptize that Child into the Church of England, nor into the Church of Scotland, nor into the Church of the Dissenters, nor into the Church at Broad-Oak, but into the visible Catholick Church of Iesus Christ. After this he Baptized very many, and always publickly, though being in the Country they were commonly carried a good way. The publick Administration of Baptism, he not only judged most agreeable to the Nature and End of the Ordinance, but found to be very profitable and edifying to the Congregation; for