An account of the life and death of Mr. Philip Henry, minister of the gospel near Whitechurch in Shropshire, who dy'd June 24, 1696, in the sixty fifth year of his age

CHAP. VII.

The Rebukes he lay under at Broad. Oal•…•…, betwixt the Years 1680. and 1687.

IN the beginning of the Year 1681. in April and May, the Country was greatly afflicted and threat∣ned by an extream Drought; there was no Rain for several Weeks, the Grass fail'd; Corn that was Sown languished, and much that was intended to be Sown could not; the like had not been known for many Years; 'twas generally apprehended that a Dearth would en∣sue, especially in that Country, which is for the most

part dry. And now it was time to seek the Lord; and (according to his own appointment) to ask of him Rain in the Season thereof: Several serious thinking People being together at the Funeral of that worthy Minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Malden; It was there said how requisite it was that there should be some time set apart on purpose for Fasting and Prayer, in a solemn Assem∣bly upon this occasion. Thomas Millington of Weston in Hodnet Parish in Shropshire, desired it might be at his House; and Tuesday Iune 14. was the Day pi•…•…ch'd upon. The Connivance of Authority was presumed upon, because no disturbance of Meetings was heard of at London, or any where else. Mr. Henry was de∣sired to come and give his assistance at that Days work. He ask'd upon what terms they stood with their Neigh∣bouring Justices, and 'twas answered well enough. The Drought continuing in extremity, some that had not us'd to come to such Meetings, yet came thither, up∣on the apprehension they had of the threatning Judg∣ment, which the Country was under. Mr. Edward Bury of Bolas (well known by several useful Books he hath Published) Pray'd, Mr. Henry Prayed and Preach∣ed on Psal. 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in my Heart, the Lord will not hear me; whence his Doctrine was, that Iniquity regarded in the Heart, will certainly spoil the success of Prayer. When he was in the midst of his Sermon, closely applying this Truth, Sir T. V. of Hodnet, and Mr. M. of Ightfield, two Justices of the Peace for Shropshire, with several others of then Re∣tinue, came suddenly upon them; disturb'd them, set Guards upon the House door, and came in themselves, severely ralli'd all they knew, reflected upon the late Honourable House of Commons, and the Vote they pass'd, concerning the present Unreasonableness. of putting the Laws in Execution against Protestant Dis∣senters,

as if in so Voting, they had acted beyond their Sphere, as they did who took away the Life of King Charles I. They diverted themselves with very abusive and unbecoming talk; Swearing and Cursing, and Reviling bitterly; being told, the occasion of the Meeting was to seek to turn away the anger of God from us in the present Drought: 'twas answered, Such Meetings as these were the cause of God's anger. While they were thus entertaining themselves, their Clerks took the Names of those that were present, in all, a∣bout One hundred and fifty, and so dismiss'd them for the present. Mr. Henry hath noted, in the Account he kept of this event, that the Justices came to this good Work, from the Ale-house upon Prees-Heath, about two Miles off; to which, and the Bowling-Green ad∣joining, they with other Justices, Gentlemen and Cler∣gy-men of the Neighbourhood, had long befor obli∣ged themselves to come every Tuesday, during the Sum∣mer time, under the Penalty of Twelve Pence a time if they were absent; and there to spend the day in Drinking and Bowling; which is thought to be as direct a violation of the Law of the Land, viz. the Statute of 33. Henry VIII. cap. 9. for debarring, unlaw∣ful Games, which was never yet Repealed, as the Meet∣ing was, of the Stat. of 22 Car. II. and as much more to the Dishonour of God, and the Scandal of the Chri∣stian Profession; as Cursing and Swearing, and Drun∣kenness, is worse than Praying and singing Psalms, and hearing the Word of God. It is supposed that the Justices knew of the Meeting before, and might have prevented it by the least intimation; but they were willing to take the opportunity of making sport to themselves, and trouble to their Neighbours. After the Feat done, they returned back to the Ale-house, and made themselves and their Companions merry,

with calling over the Names they had taken, making their Reflections as they saw cause; and recounting the particulars of the Exploit. There was one of the Company, whose Wife happened to be present at the Meeting, and her Name taken among the rest; with which upbraiding him, he answered, that she had been better employed than he was, and if Mr. Henry might be admitted to Preach in a Church, he would go a great many Miles to hear him. For which words he was forthwith Expelled their Company, and never more to shew his Face again at that Bowling-Green; to which he replied, if they had so order'd long ago, it had been a great deal the better for him and his Fa∣mily. Two days after they met again at Hodnet, where, upon the Oath of two Witnesses, wh•…•… (as was sup∣posed) were sent on purpose to inform, they Sign'd and Seal'd two Records of Conviction. By one Record they Convicted the Master of the House, and •…•…in'd him 20 l. and 5 l. more as Constable of the Town that Year, and with him all the Persons present whose Names they had taken, and Fined them 5 l. apiece, and issued out Warrants accordingly. By another Record they Convicted the two Ministers, Mr. Bury and Mr. Henry. The Act makes it only punishable to Preach or Teach in any such Conventicle; and yet they Fined Mr. Bury 20 l. though he only Prayed, and did not speak one word in the way, either of Preach∣ing or Teaching, not so much as Let us Pray; howe∣ver they said, Praying was Teaching, and right or wrong he must be Fined; though his great Piety, Peace∣ableness, and Usefulness, besides his deep Poverty, one would think, might have Pleaded for him, against so palpable a piece of Injustice. They took 7 l. off from him, and laid it upon others, as they saw cause; and for the remaining 13 l. he being utterly unable to

pay it, they took from him by Distress, the Bed which he lay upon, with Blanket and Rug; also a∣nother Feather-Bed, Nineteen pair of Sheets, most of them new; of which he could not prevail to have so much as one pair return'd, for him to lye in; also Books, to the value of 5 l. besides Brass and Pewter. And though he was at this time perfect∣ly innocent of that heinous Crime of Preaching and Teaching, with which he was charged (for so the Record runs again and again, concerning Mr. Henry and Mr. Bury, Quòd ad tun•…•… & ibidem precaverunt, praedi∣•…•…averunt & docuerunt.) Yet he had no way to right himself, but by appealing to the Justices themselves in Quarter Sessions, who would be sure to affirm their own Decree (as the Justices in Montgomery-shire had done not long before in a like Case) especially when 'twas to Recover to themselves treble Costs. So the good Man sat down with his Loss, and took joyfully the spoiling of his Goods; knowing in himself, that he had in Heaven a better, and a more enduring Sub∣stance.

But Mr. Henry being the greatest Criminal, and ha∣ving done the most Mischief, must needs be animad∣verted upon accordingly, and therefore he was fined 40 l. the pretence of which was this: In the Year 1679. Oct. 15. Mr. Kynaston of Oatly, a Justice of Peace in S•…•…shire, meeting him and some others com∣ing as he supposed, from a Conventicle, he was pleas'd to Record their Conviction, upon the notorious Evidence and Circumstance of the Fact: The Record was Fil'd at Salop the next Sessions after; but no Notice was ever sent of it, either to Mr. Henry, or the Justices of Flintshire; nor any Prosecution upon it, against any of the Parties charged (the reason of which Mr. Henry

in a Narrative he wrote of this affair, supposeth to be not only the then favourable posture of Publick Af∣fairs towards Dissenters, but also the particular Pru∣dence and Lenity of Mr. Kynaston) so that having never smarted for this, he could not be supposed to be deterred from the like offence; nor if he were wrong∣ed in that first Conviction, had he ever any opportu∣nity of making his Appeal. However, the Justices being resolv'd he should have summum jus, thought that first Record sufficient to give denomination to a second Offence, and so he came to be Fined double. This Conviction (according to the direction of the Act) they certifi'd to the next adjoining Justices of Flintshire, who had all along carried themselves with great Temper and Moderation towards Mr. Hen∣ry, and had never given him any disturbance; tho' if they had been so minded, they had not wanted op∣portunities; but they were now necessitated to Exe∣cute the Sentence of the Shropshire Justices. 'Twas much press'd upon him to pay the Fine, which might prevent his own Loss, and the Justices Trouble. But he was not willing to do it, partly because he would give no Encouragement to such Prosecutions, nor vo∣luntarily Reward the Informers, for that which he thought they should rather be punished for; and part∣ly because he thought himself wronged in the doubling of the Fine. Whereupon his Goods were Distrain'd upon, and carried away; in the doing of which many passages occurred, which might be worth the Noting, but that the Repetition of them would perhaps grate and give offence to some. Let it therefore suffice (waving the Circumstances) to remember only that their Warrant not giving them Authority to break open doors, nor their Watchfulness getting them an opportu∣nity to enter the House; They carryed away about

Thirty three Cart Load of Goods without doors, Corn cut upon the Ground, Hay, Coles, &c. This made a great noise in the Country, and rais'd the indignation of many, against the Decrees which prescribed this grie∣vousness; while Mr. Henry bore it with his usual even∣ness and serenity of mind, not at all mov'd or disturb'd by it. He did not boast of his Sufferings, or make any great matter of them; but would often say, alas, this is nothing to what others suffer, nor to what we our selves may suffer before we dye: And yet he rejoyced and blessed God that it was not for Debt, or for evil doing, that his Goods were carried away. And (saith he) while it is for well-doing that we suffer, they cannot harm us. He frequently expressed the assurance he had, that whatever da∣mage he sustain'd, God is able to make it up again: And (as he us'd to say) Though we may be losers for Christ, yet we shall not be losers by him in the end. He had often said, that his Preaching was likely to do the most good when it was Seal'd to by Suffering; and if this be the time (saith he) welcome the Will of God; even this also shall turn to the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ: Benè agere & male pati verè Christianum est.

Soon after this was the Assizes for Flint-shire held at Mold, where Sir George Ieffries, afterwards Lord Chancellor, then Chief Justice of Chester sate Judge. He did not in private Conversation seem to applaud what was done in this matter, so as was expected; whether out of a private pique against some that had been active in it, or for what other reason is not known; but it was said, that he pleasantly ask'd some of the Gen∣tlmen, by what new Law they pressed Carts, as they

passed upon their occasions along the Road, to carry away Goods distreyn'd for a Conventicle. It was al∣so said, that he spoke with some respect of Mr. Hen∣ry; saying, he knew him and his Character well, and that he was a great Friend of his Mothers, (Mrs. Ief∣fries of Acton near Wrexham, a very pious good Wo∣man) and that sometimes at his Mothers Request, Mr. Henry had Examin'd him in his Learning, when he was a School-Boy, and had commended his Profi∣ciency. And it was much wonder'd at by many, that of all the times Sir George Ieffries went that Circuit, (though 'tis well enough known what was his temper, and what the temper of that time) yet he never sought any occasion against Mr. Henry, nor took the occasi∣ons that were offered, nor countenanced any Trouble intended him, though he was the only Nonconformist in Flintshire. One passage I remember, not improper to be mentioned; there had been an Agreement among some Ministers (I think it began in the West of England, where Mr. Allen was) to spend some time, either in Secret or in their Families, or both, between six and eight a Clock every Monday Morning, in Prayer for the Church of God, and for the Land and Nation more fully and particularly than at other times, and to make that their special Errand at the Throne of Grace; and to engage as many of their praying Friends, as ever they could, to the obser∣vance of it. This had been Communicated to Mr. Hen∣ry, by some of his Friends at London, and he punctu∣ally observ'd it in his own Practise; I believe for ma∣ny Years. He also mentioned it to some of his Acquain∣tance, who did in like manner observe it. It happen∣ed that one in Denbighshire, to whom he had Commu∣nicated it, was so well pleas'd with it, that he wrote a Letter of it to a Friend of his at a distance; which

Letter happen'd into Hands that perverted it: and made Information upon it, against the Writer and Receiver of the Letter, who were bound over to the Assizes, and great Suspicions Sir George Ieffries had, that it was a Branch of the Presbyterian Plot, and rally'd the Parties accus'd severely. It appear'd, either by the Letter, or by the Confession of the Parties, that they received the Project from Mr. Henry, which (it was greatly fear'd) would bring him into trouble; but Sir George, to the admiration of many, let it fall, and never enquir'd further into it. It seems there are some Men, whose ways so please the Lord, that he makes even their Enemies to be at peace with them; and there is nothing lost by trusting in God.

Mr. Henry, at the next Assizes after he was Distrain'd upon, was presented by one of the High Consta∣bles; 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 Present∣ment, 'twas altogether false. He had indeed, in Dis∣course with the High Constable, when he insisted so much upon the Law, which requir'd him to be so ri∣gorous 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 Chil∣dren 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 pleas'd of it, pay'd those they employ'd, and what the remainder was, is not known for certain; but it was said, that the follow∣ing Summer about 27 l. was paid to Sir T. V. of which (and the rest that was levy'd in other places, which a∣mounted to a considerable Sum) it was c•…•…edibly report∣ed, (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 us'd to express it) for fear of Suffe∣ring.

In the same Year 1681. happen'd a publick Discourse at Oswestry, betwixt the then Bishop of St. Asaph (Dr. William Lloyd, now Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield) and some Nonconformist Ministers, of which Mr. Hen∣ry was one. The Story in short this. That Learned Bishop, at his first coming to the Diocess of St. Asaph, in his Zeal for the Establish'd Church, set himself with vigor to reduce Dissenters to it; and that he might do it with the Cords of a Man, he resolved, before he took any other Methods, to reafon the matter with them, and to endeavour their Conviction by Discourse, in which he had a very great Felicity, both by his Learn∣ing and Temper. If there were any that declin'd Discoursing with him, he improv'd that against them very much; urging (as he wrote afterwards to Mr. Henry) That no Man can pretend Conscience for not com∣ing when he is requir'd, to give an account of his Reli∣gion,

to them that have Authority to demand it, by the Laws under which he Lives, and to hear from their Mouths what can be said for the Established Religion. These are things from which Conscience is so far from exempting, that the great Rule of Conscience requires it, as an indispensable Duty; that we should be always ready to give an Account of the Hope that is in us; and that we should hear them that are in Moses's Chair, &c. and therefore those who refused this, he would consi∣der as Men Governed, not by Conscience, but Ob∣stinacy.

He publickly Discoursed with the Quakers at Lan∣villin in Montgomery-shire; their Champion was Dr. Lloyd a Physician; one of the most considerable Non∣conformist Ministers in his Diocess, was Mr. Iames Owen of Oswestry, then very young, but well known since by his Learned Book, which he calls, A Plea for Scripture Ordination; proving Ordination by Presby∣ters without Diocesan Bishops, to be valid, (Published in the Year 1694) a point of Controversie, which he was then obliged in his own Defence to search into. Several Discourses the Bishop had with him in Private; at last his Lordship was pleas'd to appoint him, to give him the Meeting in the Town-Hall of Oswestry, on Tuesday Sept. 27. 1681. there to give Account by what Right he Exercis'd the Ministry, not having Episcopal Ordination. He directed him also to procure what o∣ther Ministers he could to assist him, for he would be glad to hear what any of them had to say for them∣selves. The Notice was very short, not above four or five Days: Some whose assistance was desired, ap∣prehended it might do more hurt than good, and might be prejudicial to their own Liberty, and therefore de∣clin'd it. It was not agreeable to Mr. Henry's mild and modest Temper, to appear in such Circumstances;

but he was loath to desert his Friend Mr. Owen, and so with much importunity, he was prevail'd with to come to Oswestry, at the time appointed; and there came no other but he and Mr. Ionathan Roberts of Denbighshire, in the Diocess of Bangor, a plain Man, of great Integrity, and a very good Scholar. The Bishop came according to appointment, and brought with him for his Assistant, the Famous Mr. Henry Dod∣well: Mr. Henry, who was utterly a Stranger to the Bishop, press'd hard to have had the Discourse in pri∣vate, before a Select Number, but it would not be granted. He also desir'd his Lordship, that it might not be expected from him, being of another Diocess, to concern himself in the Discourse, but only as a Hea∣rer: Nay Mr. Henry (said the Bishop) it is not the con∣cern of my Diocess alone, but it is the common Cause of Religion, and therefore I expect you should interest your self in it, more than as a Hearer. His Lordship was pleas'd to promise, that nothing that should be said by way of Argument, should be any way turn'd to the pre∣judice of the Disputants, nor advantage taken of it to give them trouble. There were present divers of the Clergy and Gentry of the Country, with the Ma∣gistrates 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 i∣dentity 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 tolera∣ble

account of the Particulars of it. The Arguments on both sides, may better be fetch'd 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 Busi∣ness in his Diary is this; That whereas many Reports went abroad far and near concerning it, every one passing their Iudgment 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 im∣perfections; and yet do bless God, that seeing I could ma∣nage 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, thô they were not Convinced by his Arguments, yet by his great Meekness and Humility, and that truly Christi∣an Spirit, which appear'd so evidently in the whole Management, were brought to have a better Opi∣nion of him, and the way in which he walk∣ed.

The Conference broke off a little abruptly; the Bi∣shop and Mr. Henry being somewhat close at an Argu∣ment, in the Recapitulation of what had been Dis∣coursed of; Mr. Ionathan Roberts whisper'd to Mr. Henry, Pray let my Lord have the last word; which a Justice of Peace upon the Bench over-hearing, pre∣sently replied, You say my Lord shall have the last word, but he shall not, for I will; we thank God we have the Sword of Power in our hands, and by the Grace of God

we will keep it, and it shall not rust, and I hope every lawful Magistrate will do as I do: and look to your selves Gentlemen, by the Grace of God I'll root you out of the Country. To which a forward Man in the Crowd said Amen, throw them down Stairs. This the Bishop heard with Silence, but the Mayor of the Town took order for their safety.

Two Days after this Discourse, the Bishop wrote a very obliging Letter to Mr. Henry, to signify to him, how very much he was pleased with the good Tem∣per and Spirit that he found in him at Oswestry, and that he looked upon him, as one that intended well, but laboured under Prejudices; and to desire further Acquaintance and Conversation with him; particu∣larly that he would come to him straitway to Wrex∣ham, and about three Months after, sent for him again to Chester; in both which interviews a great deal of Discourse, with much Freedom, pass'd between them in private, in which they seem'd to vye nothing more than Candor and Obligingness, shewing to each other all Meekness. I remember the Bishop was pleas'd to shew him his Plan for the Government of his Diocess, and the Method he intended to take in Church-Cen∣sures, which Mr. Henry very well approv'd of; but pleasantly told his Lord-ship, he hoped he would take care that Iuvenal's Verse should not be again veri∣fied, (Sat. 2.)

Dat veniam Corvis, vexat Censura Columbas.

which the Bishop smil'd at, and told him he would take care it should not. His Lordship observing his true Catholick Charity and Moderation, told him he did not look upon him as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but only as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and that if he were in his Diocess, he did not question, but he should find out some way to make him useful. But all his Reasonings could not satisfie

Mr. Henry's Conscience of the Lawfulness of being Re∣ordain'd and Conforming. The Bishop for some Years after, when he came that way, towards London, ei∣ther call'd on Mr. Henry at his House, or sent for him to him, to Whitchurch, and still with all outward expressions of Friendship.

The Trouble which Mr. Henry was in, about the Meeting at Weston, obliged him for a while, to keep his Sabbaths at home, somewhat private; but in the Year 1682. he took a greater Liberty, and many flock∣ed to him on Lord's Dayes, through the kind Conni∣vance of the Neighbouring Magistrates; but in the Year 1683. when the Meetings were generally sup∣press'd throughout the Kingdom, he was again neces∣sitated to contract his Sails, and confine his Labours more to his own Family, and his Friends that visited him. He continued his Attendance at Whitewell Chap∣pel, as usual; and when he was abridged of his Li∣berty, he often blessed God for his Quietness. Once when one of the Curates Preached a bitter Sermon against the Dissenters, on a Lord's Day Morning, some won∣der'd that Mr. Henry would go again in the Afternoon, for the second part. But (saith he) if he do not know his Duty, I know mine; and I bless God I can find Honey in a Carcass.

In this time of treading down, and of perplexity, he stirred little abroad, being forced (as he us'd to express it) to throw the Plough under the Hedge; but he preach∣ed constantly at home, without disturbance; and of∣ten comforted himself with this, When we cannot do what we would, if we do what we can, God will accept of us; when we cannot keep open Shop, we must drive a secret Trade. And he would say, There is a mean, if we could hit it, between Fool-hardiness, and Faint∣heartedness. While he had some opportunity of being

useful at home; he was afraid lest he should prejudice that by venturing abroad. One of his Friends in London, earnestly solliciting him to make a visit thi∣ther in this time of restraint in the Country; he thus wrote to him; I should be glad once more to kiss my Na∣tive Soil, though it were but with a kiss of Valediction; but my indisposedness to Travel, and the small prospect there is of doing good to countervail the Pains, are my prevailing Arguments against it. I am here ('tis true) buried alive, but I am quiet in my Grave, and have no mind to be a walking Ghost. We rejoyce, and desire to be thankful, that God hath given us a Home, and conti∣nued it to us, when so many better then we, have not where to lay their Head, having no certain dwelling place; ('twas at the time of the dispersion of the French Pro∣testants) Why, they Exiles, and not we? they stran∣gers in a strange Land, and not we? We must not say we will dye in our Nests, lest God say nay; nor we will multiply our Days as that Bird, the Phaenix, (referring to Iob 29. 18.) lest God say, this Night, &c. Our times and all our ways are at his dispose, absolutely and univer∣sally, and it is very well they are so.

At the time of the Duke of Monmouths Descent, and the Insurrection in the West, in the Year 1685. Mr. Henry, as many others, (pursuant to a general Or∣der of the Lord Lieutenant, for securing all suspected Persons, and particularly all Nonconformist Ministers) was taken up by a Warrant from the Deputy Lieu∣tenants, and sent under a Guard to Chester Castle, where he was about three Weeks a close Prisoner: He was lodg'd with some Gentlemen and Ministers that were fetched thither out of Lancashire; who were all Strangers to him; but he had great comfort in the Acquaintance and Society of many of them.

He often spake of this Imprisonment, not as matter of Complaint, but of Thanksgiving, and blessed God he was in nothing uneasie all the while. In a Sermon to his Family, the day after he came home, he largely and affectionately recounted the Mercies of that Pro∣vidence: As for Instance,

That his Imprisonment was for no Cause: 'tis Guilt that makes a Prison. That it was his Security in a dangerous time. That he had good Company in his Sufferings, who Pray'd together, and read the Scriptures together, and Dis∣coursed to their mutual Edification. That he had Health there, not Sick, and in Prison. That he was visited and Prayed for, by his Friends. That he was very chearful and easie in his Spirit, many a time a sleep and quiet when his Adversaries were disturb'd and unquiet. That his Enlargement was speedy and un∣sought for, and that it gave occasion to the Magistrates who committed him, to give it under their Hands, that they had nothing in particular to lay to his Charge; and especially that it was without a Snare, which was the thing he fear'd more than any thing else.

It was a surprize to some that visited him in his Im∣prisonment, and were big with the Expectations of the Duke of Monmouth's Success, to hear him say, I would not have you to flatter your selves with such hopes, for God will not do his work for us in these Nations, by that Man; but our Deliverance and Salvation will arise some other way.

It must not be forgotten how ready he was, nay, how-studious and industrious to serve and oblige such as had been any way instruments of trouble to him, as far as it lay in his Power, and he had any oppor∣tunity to do it; so well had he learn'd that great Les∣son of Forgiving and Loving Enemies; of this it were easie to give Instances.

When a Gentleman who had sometimes been an In∣strument of Trouble to him, had occasion to make use of his help to give him some light into a Cause he had to be tryed, Mr. Henry was very ready to serve him in it; and though he might have declin'd it, and it was somewhat against his own Interest too, yet he appea∣red a Witness for him, which so won upon the Gen∣tleman, that he was afterwards more Friendly to him. Mentioning in his Diary the Death of another Gentle∣man in Shropshire; He Notes, that he was one that had been his professed Enemy; but (saith he) God knows I have often prayed for him.

Some have wonder'd to see how courteously and friendlyly he would speak to such as had been any way injurious to him, when he met with them, being as industrious to discover his forgiving of wrongs, as some are to discover their Resentments of them. It was said of Arch-Bishop Cranmer, that the way to have him ones Friend, was to do him a diskindness; and I am sure it might be said of Mr. Henry, that do∣ing him a diskindness would not make him ones Ene∣my. This minds me of an exemplary passage, con∣cerning his worthy Friend Mr. Edward Lawrence, once going with some of his Sons, by the House of a Gen∣tleman that had been injurious to him; he gave a charge to his Sons to this purpose, That they should never think or speak amiss of that Gentleman, for the sake of any thing he had done against him; but whenever they went by his House, should lift up their Hearts in Prayer to God for him and his Family. And who is he that will harm those, who are thus followers of him that is good, in his Goodness. It is almost the on∣ly temporal promise in the New Testament, which is made to the Meek, Matt. 5. 5. That they shall inhe∣rit the Earth; the meaning whereof, Dr. Hammond

in his Practical Catechism takes to be especially this, That in the ordinary Dispensations of God's Provi∣dence, the most mild and quiet People are most free from disturbance. Those only have every Man's Hand against them, that have theirs against every Man.

Notes

• Thus he writes in his Diary up∣on it, How oft have we said that Changes are at the door, but blessed be God there is no Sting in this.