Section 2
Here he duly performed the college-exercises, disi Mr. Cornish, Mr. Langley, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Button, and Dr. Mills. Also great alterations among the students, and the like, in other colleges. P. Henry. Orig MS. k See Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, Part II. p. 110.
1 Life. Orig. MS. «/ $wpra. m What must needes bee done in colledge-exercise, for dispu-tations every day, in Tcrm>time, for theames and verses once a week, and for declamations, when it came to my turn, I did as putations every day, in Term-time; thenies and verses once a week, and declamations when it came to his turn; in which performances he frequently came off with very great applause. And many of his manuscripts which remain, show how well he improved his time there, [though most of his philosophy collections were casually lost together in a trunk in some remove, which he oft lamented.']
And yet, in some reflections I find under his band, written long after, wherein he looks back upon his early days, he chargeth it upon himself, that for a good while after he came to the University, though he was known not to be inferior to any of his standing in public exercises,'" yet he was too much a stranger to that hard study which afterwards he became acquainted with, and that he lost a deal of time which might have been better improved. Thus he is pleased to accuse himself of that, which, for ought I ever heard, no one else did, or could, accuse him of. But the truth is, in all the secret accounts he kept of himself, he appears to have had a very quick and deep sense of his own failings and infirmities, in the most minute instances; the loss of time, weakness and distractions in holy duties, not improving opportunities of doing good to others, and the like; lamentably bewailing these imperfections, and charging them upon himself, with as great expressions of shame, and sorrow, and self-abhorrence, and crying out as earnestly for pardon and forgiveness in the blood of Jesus, as if he had been the greatest of sinners. [" I was," he writes, " too much in love with recreation; a bowling-green, I remember, out of town, and a methcglin-house, which I often went to in winter for my morning draught, and it was such a draught as disfitted me for study after, though I cannot say I was ever drunk. These things are now bitter to me, and have been formerly, many a time, in the reflection, and here I record them against myself.'' *] For, though he was a man that walked very closely, yet withal he walked very humbly, with God, and lived a life of repentance and self-denial. This minds me of a sermon of his, which one might discern came from the heart, on that scripture, Rom. vii. 24. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death ! A strange complaint, saith he, to come from the mouth of one who had learned in every state to be content. Had I been to have gven my thoughts, said he, concerning Paul, I should have said, O blessed man that thou art, that hast been in the third heaven, a great apostle, a spiritual father to thonothers of my standing, and sometimes had prayse for it But as for that which wee call hard study, giving myself to reading, late and early, and digesting what I read by daily serious review, I was too much a stranger to it P. Henry. Orig. MS. See some Remarkable Passages in the Lire of the Rev. Mr. Edmund Trendi, p. !iO. duod. 1693. n P. Henry. Orig. MS.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
17 gi Dds, &c. and yet a wretched man all this while, in his own accoant and esteem. He never complains thus of the bonds and afflictions that did abide him, the prisons that were frequent, the stripes above measure; but the body of death ; that is, the body of sin, that was it he groaned under. How feelingly did he observe from thence,—That the remainders of indwelling corroption are a very grievous burthen to a gracious soul.®
But to return. It may not be amiss to set down the causes to which he ascribes his loss of time when he came first to the University. One was, that he was younf, too young, and understood not the day of lib opportunities, which made him afterwards advise his friends not to thrust their children forth too 90on from school to the university, though they may seem ripe, in respect of learning, till they have discretion to manage themselves. While they are children, what can be expected but that they should mind childish things? Another was, that, coming from Westminster School, his attainments in school-learning were beyond what generally others had that came from other schools; so that he was tempted to think there was no need for him to study much, because it was so easy to him to keep pace with others; which, be said, was the thing Dr. Caldecott, Chaplain to the Earl of Pembroke, and his great friend, warned him of at his coming to Oxford. Another was, that there were two sorts of persons, his contemporaries ; some of the new stamp, that came in by tiie visitation, and were divers of them serious, pious young men, but of small ability, comparatively, for learning, and those for that reason he desired not to have much fellowship with. But there were others that were of the old spirit and way, enemies to the Parliament, and the reformation they made; and these were the better scholars, but generally not the better men. With them, for a while, he struck in because of their learning, and conversed most with them; but he soon found it a snare to him, and that it took him off from the life of religion and communion with God. Elanguescere mox eepit, saith he, in a Latin narrative of his younger years, fristuuB pietutu order, 9fc, But, *' for ever praised be the riches of God's free grace," saith he, in another account, ** that he was pleased still to keep his hold of me; and not to let me alone when I was running from him, but set his hand again the second o See the Works of Bishop Reynolds, fol. 1056. p. 6S4. and Dr. John Owen's Treatise on In-dwelling Sin, 1608. oct p A sfanilar phrase occurs in the writings of Mr. Paul Rayne ;— " He Vbmi stamhles, and comes not down, gets ground: the trip-piop of God*s children, in which they recover themselves, bring them on with greater advantage." Christian Letters, p. na daod. 1631. Jfir. Bayne died in 1AI7. See Chuk's Lives, annexed to the KMyrologie, p. «. foL 1077. Mr. Baxter thought him '* one of the ho Ucst eboiecst men, that ever England bred." Saints' Everlasting Rest, p. 4IS. -Ito. IMZ. q FstaMrsNoDCon. Mem. ▼. 3. p.480; said to be printed fhmi
c time, as the expression is, Isa. xi. 11. to snatch me at a brand out of the fire," His recovery from this snare he would call a kind of second conversion; so much was he affected with the preventing grace of God in it, and sensible of a double bond to be for ever thankful, as well as of an engagement to be watchful and humble. It was a saying of his,— He that stumbleth and doth not fall, gets ground by his stumble.P
[Hence he writes, " Forasmuch as I have by often experience found the treachery and deceitful-ness of my own heart, and being taught that it is my duty to engage my heart to approach unto God, and that one way of doing it is by subscribing with my hand unto the Lord; therefore let this paper be witness, that I do deliberately, of choice, and unreservedly, take God in Christ to be mine ; and give myself to him, to be his, to love him, to fear him, to serve and obey him; and, renouncing all my sins with hearty sorrow and detestation, I do cast myself only upon free grace, through the merits of Christ, for pardon and forgiveness; and do propose, God enabling me, from this day forward, more than ever, to exercise myself unto godliness, and to walk in all the ways of religion as much as ever I can with delight and cheerfulness, as knowing that my labour shall not be in vain in the Lord/* i]
At the latter end of the year 1648, he had leave given' him to make a visit to his father at Whitehall, with whom he staid some time; there he was, January 30, when the King was beheaded,,and with a very sad heart saw that tragical blow given. Two things he used to speak of, that he took notice of himself that day, which I know not whether any of the historians mention. One was, tliat at the instant when the blow was given, there was such a dismal universal groan among the thousands of people that were within sight of it, as it were with one consent, as he never heard before, and desired he might never hear the like again, nor see such a cause for it. *The other was, that inmiediately after the stroke was struck, there was, according to order, one troop marching from Charing-cross towards King-street, and another from King-street towards Charing-cross, purposely to disperse and scatter the people, and to divert the dismal thoughts which they could not but be filled with, by driving them to shift every one for his own safety. He did upon all occasions testify r At the latter end of the year I64SI had leave given me to goe to London to see my rather; and during my stay there, at that time, at Whitehall, it was. that I saw the beheading of King Charles the ^rst Hee went by water to Westminster, for bee took baie at Garden-stayres, where wee lived, and once he spake to my father, andsayd,—Art thou alive yetl
On the day of his execution, which was Tuesday, Jan. 30, I stood amongst the crowd in the street, before Whitehall gate, where the sca Obld was erected, and saw what was done, but was not so near as to hear any thing. The blow I saw given, and can tndy say, with a sad heart. P. Henry. Orig. BIS.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY. hia abhorrence of this unparalleled action, which he always said was a thing that could not be justified, and yet he said he saw not how it could be called a national sin; for, as the King urged upon hL« trial, it was certain that not one man of ten in the kingdom
Sfe the Bishop ^'^ ^^^^^^^^^ *^ ^^' * "«' <^°"'^ ^* ^^ of Chichester's Ser. called the sin of the long ParliamoD before the King, ^^rrL xT-^*
Jan. 30th. I6OT, page ment, for far the greatest part of could be called a na- thing was in agitation, imprisoned and kept under a force, and scarce twenty-seven of the forty that were left to carry the name of a Parliament, did give their vote for it; which the Commissioners for the trying of the King's Judges, in the year 1660, (some of whom had been themselves members of the Long Parliament,) urged again and again, in answer to that plea which the prisoners stood so much upon, that what they did was by authority of the Parliament. But it is manifest it was done by a prevailing party in the army, who, as he used to express it, having beaten their plowshares into swords, could not so easily beat their swords into plowshares again, as having fought more for victory and dominion than for peace and truth; but how far these men were acted and influenced by another sort of people behind the curtain, the world is not altogether ignorant. * For some years after King Charles II. came in, he observed the yearly day of humiliation for this sin, desiring that God would not lay the guilt of blood to the charge of the nation. 9ut, afterwards, finding to what purposes it was generally observed, and improved even to the reproach and condemning not only the innocent, but of some of the excellent ones of the land, and noting that there is no precedent in Scripture of keeping annual days of humiliation for particular sins; especially after the immediate judgment is at an end, Zech. viii. 19. Heb. x. 2, 3. he took no further notice of it. But in his diary he adds this tender remark, according to the spirit he was of, '< Yet good men, no doubt, may observe it to the Lord." Rom. xiv. 6. Thus he judged not, and why then should he be judged ?
In the year 1650-1 he took his Bachelor of Arts degree, and he hath recorded the goodness of God in raising him up friends, who helped him out in the expenses. Such kindnesses have a peculiar sweetness in them to a good man, who sees and receives them as the kindness of God, and the tokens of his love.
He would often mention it with thankfulness to s See Dr. Pair's Life of Archbishop Usher, nt $upra. Letters at the end, No. 293; and the Alnr. of Baxter's Life and Times, ▼. I. p. 57, &c. oct 1713.
11671. Jan. 30. Brings to remembrance the horrid murder of the late King. Deliver the nation from ))lood.guiltinea8,0 God! P. Henry. Diary, Orig. MS.
1073. Jan. 30. We remembered this day the death of Charles L
God, what great helps and advantages he had then in the University, not only for learning, but for religion and piety. Serious godliness was in reputation, and besides the public opportunities they had, there were many of the scholars that used to meet together for prayer, and Christian conference, to the-great confirming of one another's hearts in the fear and love of God, and the preparing of them for the service of the church in their generation. I have heard him speak of the prudent method they took then about the University sermons on the Lord's day in the afternoon; which used to be preached by the fellows of colleges in their course; but, that being found not so much for edification. Dr. Owen" and Dr. Goodwin* performed that service alternately, and the young masters that were wont to preach it, had a lecture on Tuesday appointed them. The sermons he heard at Oxford he commonly wrote, not in the time of hearing, but afterwards, when he came home, in his reflection upon them, which he found a good help to his memory.
In December, 1002, he proceeded Master of Arts, and in January following preached his first sermon at South Hinksey in Oxfordshire, on John viii. 34. Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. On this occasion he writes in his diary what was the breathing of his heart towards God,—The Lord make use of me as an instrument of his glory, and his church's good, in this high and holy calling.
His great parts and improvement, notwithstanding his extraordinary modesty and humility, had made him so well known in the University, that in the following act, in July, 1653, he was chosen out of all the masters of that year, to be junior of the act, that is, to answer the philosophy questions in Vesperiis, which he did with very geat applause; especially for the very witty and ingenious orations which he made to the University upon that occasion. His questions were,—1. An licitum sit eamibiu vesdt Aff. 2. An institutio academiarum sit Htilis in repub' licA? Aff. 3, An inpenium pendeat ab kumoribus corporis ? Aff. At the act in 1654, he was chosen Magiiter Replicans, and answered the philosophy questions tit comitiis, with a like applause. His questions then were,—1. An melius sit sperare quam fruif Neg. 2. An maxima animi delectatio sit a sen-sibus? Neg. S. An utile sit peregrinari? Aff.
Dr. Owen, who was then Vice-Chancellor, hath spoken with geat commendation of these performances of Mr. Henry's to some in the University afterwards, who never knew him otherwise than by with grief, and prayer,~that God would please to foigive it,— Exod. XX. &.—vwt Viii the iniquity. P. Henry. Diary, Orig. MS.
See the life of the Rev. Thomas Cawton, p. 25. duod. 16G3; and Clark'a Lives of Eminent Persons, p. 19. foL 1683.
Nat iei6. Ob. Aug. 34,1683. .See his Life by Mr. Onne, ntnpn. r Nat Oct. 5. 1600. Ob. Feb. 23,1679. Life prefixed to his woiks, vol. V. fol. 1704.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHIUP HENRY.
19 repent; and I have heard a worthy divine who was MMCiwliat hill junior in the University, and there a perfect stranger to him, say, how much he admired diese exercises of his, and loved him for them; and yet how mach more he admired, when he afterwards became acquainted with him in the country, that so curious and polite an orator should hccome so profitable and powerful a preacher, and so readily lay aside the enticing words of man's wisdom, which were so easy to him.
There is a copy of Latin verses of his in print, among the poems which the University of Oxford published upon the peace concluded with Holland," ia the year 1654, which show him to be no less a poef than an orator.
He hath noted it of some pious young men, that before they removed from the University into the eoontry, they kept a day of fasting and humiliation for the sins they had been guilty of in that place and state. And in the visits he made afterwards to the Univernty, he inserts into his book, as no doubt God did into His,—a tear dropt over my Univcrsity-un%.* [He would sometimes say, *' When we mourn for sin becaosc God is oflended by it, and abstain from sin becanseof his honour, that we may not wrong him, or grieve him, this is more pleasing to him than bnmt-oQcrings and sacrifices. ']
CHAPTER III. m IXMOVAL TO WOKTHENBURT, IN FUNTBHIRB, HIS ORDINA-noV TO THS MUffUTST, AND HIS KXIBCME OF TV THIRB.
Worth EMBURY * is a little town by Dee side, in that Hundred of Flintshire which is separated some ■lies from the rest of the county, and known by the name of English Mailors,^ because though it is reputed in Wales, as pertaining to Flintshire, yet in language and customs it is wholly English, and lies mostly between Cheshire and Shropshire. Worth-cnbory was of old a parochial chapel, belonging to the rectory of Bangor,' but was separated from it in the year 1666, by the trustees for uniting and dividing of parishes, and was made a parish of itself. But what was then done being vacated by the King's coming in, it then came to be in statu quo, and continued an appurtenant to Bangor, till, in the second w Appendix, So. UL s Umj not Sterne tiave htd in view this sentence when he pen. Md die well-known p Mss ge,—'* The accusing spirit which flew op to heaven's chancery with the oath, blushed as he gave it in; —and the Rceording Angel, as he wrote it down, drcfped a ttar apoa the wont, and blotted it out for erer." Works, vol. vi. p. Oidood. ma
7 P. Bcary. Orig. MS.
Beacth Bangor, stil on the sonth side of Dee ryver, is a pa-roebe eaallid Wortbembre: in Walch, Ouothambre; having a fiure diicii, tat at a membre to Bangor. Leland's Itinerary vol. ▼. p. m oct 1744.
V Sec Leiaad, wtmprM, v. 5. p. SO. c 2 year of the reign of King William and Queen Mary, it was again by act of Parliament separated, and made independent upon Bangor. That was the only act that passed the royal assent with the act of recognition, at the beginning of the second parliament of this reign.* The principal family in Worthen-bury parish, is that of the Pulestons of Emeral. The head of the family was tfien John Pulcston, Serjeant at Law, one of the Judges of the Common Pleas.
This was the family to which Mr. Henry came from Christ-church, presently after he had completed his Master's degree, in 1653. Ordered into that remote, and unto him unknown, comer of the country, by that overruling Providence which deter-mincth the times before appointed, and the bounds of our habitation.
The Judge's lady was a person of more than ordinary parts and wisdom, in piety inferior to few, but in learning superior to most of her sex, which I could give instances of from what I find among Mr. Henry's papers,« particularly an elegy she made upon the death of the famous Mr. John Selden,' who was her great friend.
This was the lady whose agency first brought Mr. Henry into this country. She wrote to a friend of hers, Mr. Francis Palmer,« student of Christ-church, to desire him to recommend to her a young man to be in her family, and to take the oversight of her sons, some of whom were now ready for the University, and to preach at Worthenbury on the Lord's days, for which a very honourable encouragement •* was promised. Mr. Palmer proposed it to his friend Mr. Henry, who was willing for one half-year to undertake it, provided it might be required of him to preach but once on the Lord's day, and that some other supply might be got for the other part of the day, he being now but twenty-two years of age, and newly entered upon that great work. Provided also, that he should be engaged but for half a year, as little intending to break off so soon from an academical life, which he delighted in so much. But preferring usefulness before his own private satisfaction, he was willing to make trial for a while in the country, as one that sought not his own things, but the things of Jesus Christ, to whose service in the work of the ministry he had entirely devoted himself, bending his studies wholly that way. [One e See Leiand,«/ nprot v. 5. p. 30. d Sir John Trevor, the Speaker, being Tather-in-law to Sir Roger PulestoD, the Patron. Life. Orig. MS. wttwpra.
See Mr. Orme's Life or Dr. Owen. App. p. 511. t John Selden, Esq. was bom Dec. 16. 1584. He died Nbv. 30, 1654. Mr. Chalmer's Biog. Diet. v. 27, p. 317. ff Probably the same person who contributed a copy of veraet when the poems of William Cartwright, " the most.noted poet, orator, and philosopher, of his time," were " uxher'd into the world," A- D. Ifl5i. oct. See Wood's Ath. Oxon. ▼. a p. 70. «/ ntpra. h My diet, and sixty pounds per annum salary. P. Henry. Orig. MS.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY. of the letters which passed on the occasion just referred to, has been prescr^'ed. It is introduced from the hand-writing of Lady Puleston, and the ortho-gphy correctly transcribed. It illustrates in some measure the nature of Mr. Henry's inquiries, and furnishes a pleasing corroboration of the character already given of its excellent writer.
19th Sept. 1663. Cosin Palmer,
Messeng' w*^*" brought mee a lett' fro y" brought y* judg one also fro his Nephew, Mr. Hamlet Puleston. But no motio of a Schoolm\ However I rely so much on y' choice of y* gent'" pposed, y* thers' no need to trouble Mr. H. Puleston. I am content to abate one of y* sermons, hoping hee will pray in y* family, insteed thereof, w^** is so easy to a Christia y* bee's rather lead then drawn therto, and if y* expositions of chapters or Psalmes bee easyer to him then preaching, I shal like it (as ever I have done) bett' then y* other. Im* confident wee shall not differ heerin ffor I shall eyther wait ffor y* guifts and calling of God in him (w^** are w'^out repentance) or wholly indulg him ffro y* fformalities of preaching, praying, &c as some use y" please to send him away ffor y* half yeer ffro y« time hee comes till 26 weekes be complcat: his allowance shall be half y* revenue pposd, and other accomodations mentiond formerly. This time of probatio will conclude us eyther on a ffarther time, or repayr-ing to Oxford at Spring.
Please to keeep y* letter as an evidence of our bargain. I have delivered y* Bearer 6/. ffor y* Gentleman in part of y* first quar-teridg. what y« charge of y* journey takes out of it I will supply at y« quarters end when I pay y* rest to make out 15/. I have sent a horse and a ffootman to wait on him hither. Mr. Roberts is grown a worthy Christian and I greatly value him. if y" have a mind to see what works God hath done in him, y" shall finde him at one Mr. Courtneys Lodging in Milbanck neer Tuttle-Ficlds. God can doo as much ffor Mr. Henry y" know< I pray y" hasten him hyther.
If pleas God to give success to y** endeavours I shal bee glad. I wish y* Gentlem" to take his journey on Fryday, and rest at my sister Grayes on Lord's day so hee nmy bee at Emral on Munday night. I desire a good-journey, ffrancis Palmer (Juni.) & Tremcli.*) notes upon y* Bible I desire y" to seA'd mee. & y« Bible in Greek, w*^** y*" learned ffriends, Septuagint,, translated ffor Ptolomy.
1 Intending, by this playful compliment, the version of Francis JunitM and Immanuel Tremcllius, flrat published in 1575. '^Orfg'.MS. ^
On Jemrtng Brougbton I took the road towards Bingor. On I v. \. p. 297. Sec Lelaud, tt/nrp'w, v. 5. pp. 32,83.
I thank y** ffor y' respect and shal ever rest
Y' welwishing Cosin
Elizabeth Puleston. If y" will come see how wee thrive y" shal bee welcome. My Roger Puleston love to y" & so y« rest
To my much-respected Kinsman Mr. Francis Palmer a Master of Arts at Christ's Church in Oxford, or in his absence to one Mr. Henry Master of Art & of y« same
House.']
In the latter part of his time at Oxford, as one grown weary of that which he used to say he found little to his purpose ; he employed his time mostly in searching the Scriptures, and collecting useful Scripture observations, which he made very familiar to him, and with which he was thoroughly furnished for this good work. He got a Bible interleaved, in which he wrote short notes upon texts of Scripture as they occurred. He would often say,—I read other books, that I may be the better able to understand the Scripture.
It was a stock of Scripture knowledge that he set up with, and with that he traded to good advantage. Though he was so great a master in the eloquence of Cicero, yet he preferred far before it that of Apollos, who was an eloquent man and mighty in the Scrips tures. Acts xviii. 24.
He bid very fair at that time for University-preferment, such was the reputation he had got at the late act, and such his interest in Dr. Owen ; but the salvation of souls was that which his heart was upon, to whiph he postponed all his other interests.
In September, 1653, ho came down to Emeral,' from whence a messenger was sent on purpose to Oxford to conduct him thither. Long after, when it had pleased God to settle him in that country, and to build him up into a family, he would often reflect upon his coming into it first; what a stranger he then was, and how far it was from his thoughts ever to have made his home in those parts; and, passing over the brook that parts between Flintshire and Shropshire, would sometimes very affectionately use that word of Jacob's— With my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands.
At Emeral he prayed in the family, was tutor to the young gentlemen, and preached once a day at Worthenbury, other help being procured for the other part of the day, according to his request, out of a fear, being so young, to take the whole work the right lies Emral Hall, the seat of the Pulestons; a family settled here in the time of Edward L but which took its name from Pulesdon, a township in Shropshire. Pennant's Tours in Wales, THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
21 ipon him. Bat it soon happened, that one Lord's dty the supply that was expected failed ; and so he was necessitated, rather than there should be a facancy, to preach twice, in which he found the promise so well fulfilled, A$ thy day is, so shall thy strength he; and. To him that hath (i. e. that hath, and uscth what he hath) shall be yiven, and he shall have ahund&nee ; that, to tlic great satisfaction of his friends there, from thenceforward he waved looking out for other help than what came from above, and would sometimes speak of this as an instance, that we do not know what we can do, till we have tried. Here he applied himself to a plain *" and practical way of preaching, as one truly concerned for the iCNils of those he spoke to. He would say sometimes, —We study how to speak that you may understand ■•; and, I never think I can speak plain enough when I am speaking about souls and their salvation. I hare heard him say, he thought it did him good, that for the first half year of his being at Worthen-buiy, he had few or no books with him, which en-figed him in studying sermons to a closer search of tke Scripture and his own heart. What success his labours had in that parish, which, before he came to h, I have been told, was accounted one of the most hMMe and profane places in all the country, may be gathered from a letter of the lady Puleston's to him, at the end of the first half year after his coming to Emeral, when he was uncertain of his continuance there, and inclinable to return to settle at Christ-church. Take the letter at large.
Dear Mr. Henry;
The indisposition that my sadness hath brrd, and the stay of Mrs. V. here yesterday, hindered my answering your last expressions. As to ordering the conversation, and persevering to the practice of those good intents, taken up while one is in pur-nit of a mercy, you and I will confer, as God gvcs oppor tu nity, who also must gve the will and the deed, by his Spirit, and by the rule of his word. As to begging ^at one thing for you, God forbid, as Samuel said, that / should cease to pray &c. Tliis I am sure, that having wanted hitherto a good ■Jnister of the word among us, I have oft by prayer, and some tears, above five years besought God for such a one as yourself; which, having obtained, I cannot yet despair, seeing he hath given us the good SMans, but he may also give us the good end. And this I find, that your audience is increased three for
Let yovr pmctiing l»e plain. Painted glnss is most curious; pfaioglas MiiKMtpenpicuoiiSL Be a good crucifix to your people. Preftck a cracifled Saviour In a crucified style. Paul taught so plainly, ttait the Coriothians fbougtit him a dunce. Let your mstter be sobolaotia]; whoksome food; God and Christ, and the tPNpel. fuMk, repentance, regeneration. Aim purely at God's glory and tbe sahntioa of souls. Study, as if there were no Christ; pleach, as ittken had been no study. Preach phiinly, yet with Mwelty t preacb pMnerfoUy, as Wcah^—at Pisnf. In iatenshn of / one in the parish, though in winter more than formerly in summer; and five for one out of other places. And I have neither heard of tlieir being in the ale-house on our Lord's day, nor ball-playing that day, which, before you came, was frequent, except that day that young Ch. preached. I think I can name four or five in the parish, that of formal Christians are becoming or become real. But you know all are not wrought on at first, by tlic word. Some come in no misfortune like other men, and this is the cause they be so holdcn with pride, &c. Hypocrites also have converted conversion itself. Yet God may have reserved those that have not bowed the hnee to Baal, &c. and may call them at the latter part of the day, though not in this half year. It is a good sign, most arc loth to part with you ; and you have done more good in this half year, than I have discerned these eighteen years. But, however, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, you have delivered your own soul. I have prayed, and do pray, seeing God hath sent you, that you may be for his glory, and not for our condemnation.
It is easy to imagine what an encouragement this was to him, thus at his first setting out to see of the travail of his soul, and what an inducement it was to him not to leave those among whom God had thus owned him. However, that spring he returned to Oxford. The Lady Puleston soon after came to him thither, with her five sous, of whom she placed the two eldest under his charge in the college. In the following vacation he went to London to visit his relations there; and there, in October he received a letter from Judge Puleston, with a very solemn and afiectionate request, subscribed by the parishioners of Worthenbury, earnestly desiring his settlement among them, as their minister, which he was persuaded to comply with, having fixed to himself that good rule,-~In the turns of his life, to follow Providence, and not to force it. So, in the winter following he came down again, and settled with them. He continued in his student's place in Christ-church for two or three years, attending the service of it once a year ; but disposing of most of the profit of it for the use of poor scholars there.
The tithe of Worthenbury belonged to [the] Emeral family, paying some rent to the Rector of Bangor. This tithe Judge Puleston was willing to give, clear of that charge, to the minister of Worthenbury for spirit, not extension of voice. To this end get your sermon into* your own souls. It is best, from the heart, to the heart Preadi prudentially,—as stewards, to give each their portion. Get your sermons memoriter. How can you expect your people should remember, and repeat, if you read! Yet use caution. Our me. mories are not of brass,—they are cracked, in all, by the ftdl. Beware of giving occasion to say,—I tna a\«y %,X.\vou\it\Ti>2R!t %k^«-Jioon; I shall hear only the same song. ^t. Vox\eT ax v&Qit^'Oi&-tlon. Prom a MS. in the hand-wn Unti o«?. Htws.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY
ever. But such was the peculiar and extraordinary kindness he had for Mr. Henry, upon the experience of his inerits, that he chose rather by deed of indenture, bearing date October 6, 1655, between himself and Mr. Henry,—''In consideration of his being pleased to undertake the cure of souls, and to preach and teach, and perform other duties of divine service in the parish church of Worthenbury, (so the deed runs,) to give, grant, and confirm for himself and his heirs, unto the said Philip Henry, the yearly rent of one hundred pounds, charged upon all his messuages, lands, and tenements in the several counties of Flint, Denbigh, and Chester, to be paid quarterly, until such times as the said Philip Henry shall be promoted or preferred to some other spiritual or ecclesiastical living or preferment, with power of distress in case of non-payment.'' A hundred a year was more than Worthenbury tithes were worth at that time; and the manner of the gift freed the maintenance from much of that loss and incumbrance which commonly attends the gathering of tithe. [About this period, judging from the hand-writing of the following letter, addressed to a friend at Oxford, (no doubt Dr. Owen, who was then Dean of Christ-church, and Vice-Chancellor,") he received a summons to that city, which led him to add the postscript. But as the letter furnishes an illustration of Mr. Henry's character as a young minister, the whole may be here fitly introduced.
Most honoured Sir;
Being importuned to improve my interest for the supply of a vacant curacy in these parts, I make bold to acquaint you with the state of it, that, if you know of any, either in your own college or elsewhere, that is willing to accept of it, you would please to be instrumental in sending him hither.
The place is called Holt; it is in Denbighshire, but I think a man may throw a stone out of it into Cheshire; it is distant from Wrexham about three miles, and from Chester five; the situation of it for convenience is beyond exception ; there are but few such hereabouts, only the salary, I fear, may appear somewhat too small to come so far for. It is as yet, upon certainty, but £45 per annum, but it is probable may be made, ere long, £65, paid in money, and no deductions out of it for taxes; for the place of his abode, if he be a single man, the Major of the town, a very godly person, hath promised it in his own house, till such time care be taken to provide for him otherwise. For his qualifications. Sir, he must, in a judgment of charity, be one that fears God, in regard he comes, not to a place that never heard of Christ, (as many such there be in B Le Neve, pp. 231,4ri6. fol. 1716. *» P. Henry. Orig. MS.
P Use catechising. Heretofore, catechising justled out preach-/i7^/ a0§r, preaching juMtJea out catecbiaing. Let the ship be Wales,) but to a knot of eminent, discerning Chris* tians, scarce the like anywhere hereabouts, among whom there are divers able, indeed, to be themselves teachers of others; so that if he himself be one that hath no savour of the things of God, he will be no way acceptable or useful there. He must, moreover, be either fitted already for the administration of the ordinances, or in a capacity of being suddenly fitted; if he make haste hither, he may have an opportunity shortly of being ordained here in Shropshire.
Sir, if God, the Lord of the harvest, shall make use of you in his providence, as an instrument of thrusting forth a faithful labourer into this comer of his vineyard, I no way doubt but you will be often mentioned by some of them with rejoicing at the throne of grace, and that you, yourself, when you shall have reaped the fruit of their prayers, will bless God for putting such a prize into your hands.
Sir, craving your pardon for my boldness in troubling you, I leave the matter with your care» and yourself, and all your relations and concernments, with our ever good God.
Your Servant very much obliged,
Sir, since my purpose of writing to you about the business above mentioned, I have received information from Christ-church of a summons to appear personally there, before Michaelmas Term: whereupon my request to you is, that by a line or two you would please to acquaint me, whether I may not obtain to be dispensed with. 1. In regard I was so lately there. 2. In regard of the great distance I am now at from thence; above fourscore miles. 3. Of the unusual unseasonableness of the ways and weather; and 4. Which is most of all, my very great indisposedness in point of health. If I may be excused, I would entreat you. Sir, to endeavour it for me; if not, that you would please to send me word, —1. Whether it will not ser\'e if I come sooner: and 2. How long it will be required that I make my stay there. Sir, I have more reason to beg your pardon for this latter trouble than the former.**]
He still continued for some years in the Emeral family, where he laid out himself very much for the spiritual good of the family, even of the meanest of the servants, by catechising, p repeating the sermons, and personal instruction, and he had very much comfort in the countenance and conversation of the judge and his lady. Yet he complains sometimes in his diary of the snares and temptations that he found in his way there, especially because some of the branches of the family, who did not patrizare, ballasted with Tundamental truths. Hearers win then not be so easily whirled about with every wind. Luther was ca Jled—^w-eipuliu eattekitmi. Mr. Porter, 1659. From a MS. in -P. Henry's hand-writing.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
03 were uneasy at his being there, which made him willing to remove to a house of his own; which, when Jndge Pnleston perceived, in the year 1657, out of his abundant and continued kindness to him, lie did, at bis own proper cost and charges, build kim a very handsome house in Worthenbury, and settled it upon him by a lease, bearing date March 6,1657, for threescore years, if he should so long continue minister at Worthenbury, and not accept of better preferment
He hath noted in his diary, that the very day that tlie workmen began the building of that house, Mr. Mainwaring, of Malpas, i preached the lecture at Bangor, from Psalm cxxvii. 1. Except the Lord hdld ike k4nue/ they labour in vain that build it. — There never was truth, saith he, more seasonable to any than this was to me. It was a word upon the wheels.* He hath recorded it as his great care, that his affections might be kept loose from it, and that it might not encroach upon God's interest in his heaaU When it was finished, he thus writes:—I do from my heart bless God, that no hurt or harm befell any of the workmen in the building of it.
Thus was his maintenance settled at Worthenbury. In the year 1659, he was, by a writing of Judge Poleston's, collated, nominated, and presented, to the church of Worthenbury; and, the powers that then were having so appointed, he had an approbation thereof from the commissioners for approbation of public preachers.
Some little opposition was made to his settlement St Worthenbury by Mr. Fogg, * then Rector of Bangor, because he conceived it an intrenchmcnt upon bis right to Worthenbury, and thought it might prejudice his recovering of it by course of law. I only mention this for the sake of the note he hath upon it in his diary, which is this:—I do earnestly desire that the Judge may give Mr. Fogg all reasonable satisfaction, that there may be no appearance of wrong to him, or any other, in this thing. And when Mr. Fogg insisted upon it, that he would have Mr. Henry gve it under his hand, that he desired the consent of the said Mr. Fogg to be minister of Worthenbury, he yielded to do it for peace sake; and horn thenceforward there was an intimate and entire friendup between Mr. Fogg and him.
Being thus settled at Worthenburj', his next care
See Dr. Towu»on*8 Works, v. 1. p. xis. tit njn-at and Ormerod's HiiL or Cbcahire, v. ii. p. 328, kc. w Mr. Henry bas the ro Uowing DOtes on this passage :— The imut: that ia» the fiunily. BrnUd; that is, constitute, main. tstii, presenre, aogment. ir we would have God to build our hottsea, we nrast be carefal to build Ood*s house by caring for his wontaip. ofdtnaoces, ioteresta Hag. i. 9. ii. 18. 2 Sam. vii.—; to ahn at hit glory in oar buildings, not at self, as Nebuchadnezzar, Dao. !▼. 30:—^ boild In faith, relying upon the promises, Heb. sis, lOr-iB the fear of God, Exod. i. 21; in righteousness and koocMy. Prov. x. SS. Hab.ii. IS.—We tnust fetch in God by prayer, aadkeepfaiaithcrehyfimilydaties, Josh.xxiy. 15. Ps.ci. Grig. was touching ordination to the work of the ministry, to which he would see his call very clear, before he solemnly devoted himself to it. And though afterwards in the reflection, especially when he was silenced, it was some trouble to him, that he had so long deferred to be ordained, (and he would often, from the consideration of that, press those who intended the ministry, not to put it off,) yet, as the times then were, there was something of a reason for it.
The nearest acting class of presbytery, was in the Hundred of Bradford North, in Shropshire, wherein Mr. Porter, of Whitchurch, was the leading man, of whom Mr. Baxter " gives so high a character in his Life, part 3, page 94, and who was one of those whom he recommended to the Lord Chancellor, as fit to be made a Bishop, part 2, page 283. This class was constituted by ordinance of parliament, in April, 1647; the members of it then, were the aforesaid Mr. Porter, Mr. Boughy, of Hodnet, Mr. Houghton, of Prees, Mr. Parsons,' of Wcm, and Mr. John Bisby ;» and afterwards Mr. Maiden,« of Newport, Mr. Binney, of Ightfield, and Mr. Steel, of Hanmery though in Flintshire, were taken in to them, and acted with them. This class in twelve years' time publicly ordained sixty-three ministers. Mr. Henry was very desirous to have been ordained at Worthenbury, plebe prasente which he thought most agreeable to the intention, but the ministers were not willing to set such a precedent. However, that was one thing which occasioned the delay, so that he was not ordained till September 16, 1G57.
The way and manner of his ordination was according to the known directory of the Assembly of Divines, and the common usage of the Presbyterians; and yet, he having left among his papers a pr.rticular account of that solemnity, and some of the workings of his soul towards God in it; I hope it may be of some use both for instruction and quickening to ministers, and for the information of such as are perhaps wholly strangers to such a thing, to give some account of the whole transaction.
He made addresses to the presbyter>', in order to his ordination, July 6, tit Precs, when he submitted to trial, and inquiry was made, in the first place, concerning hLs experience of the work of grace in his heart; in answer tp which he gave a reason of
" A word, fitly spoken, is lilce apples of gold in pictures of silver i" Prov. XXV. IL or. as the Hebrew hath it,—" A word spoken upon Mt whteU:" that is, rightly ordered, placed, and circumstanced. Brooks's Arke for all God's Noahs, £p. Ded. p. 1. duod. 1662. See, also, Jer. xviii. 3. c See the Noncon. Mero. v. iii. p. 480, &c. v See Reliquia Baxterians, or, Mr. R. Baxter's Narrative of the most Memorable Passages of his Life and Times. Fol. 1696.
V See the Noncon. Mem. v. iii. p. 163.
V Minister of Edstaston, in Shropshire. Wood's Ath. Oxon. v. 4. p. 640. «/ npra. Walker mentions him as a Prebend. oC ?\^ Minor, aliai Prees. Suff.
X See the Noncon.
d4
THE LIFE OF MR. PHIUP HENRY.
the hope that was in him, with meehness and fear; that the Spirit of grace had been dealing with him when he was young; and, he hoped, had discovered to him his need of Christ, and had bowed his will in some measure to close with him upon his own terms, &c. His skill in the original languages of the Scripture was then tried ; and he read and construed two verses in the Hebrew Bible, and two in the Greek Testament. He was then examined in Logc and Natural Philosophy; next in Divinity, what authors he had read, and what knowledge he had, touching the mediation of Christ, &c. And his skill in the Scripture was tried, by propounding to him a difficult text to give his sense of; a case of conscience was also put to him to be resolved, an inquiry made into his acquaintance with church-history. Lastly, a question was given him to provide a thesis upon against next meeting, which was this; Anproviden-tia Divina extendat se ad omnia ? Aff, On this question he exhibited his thesis, August 3, and defended it. Sevcraf of the ministers opposed, and Mr. Porter moderated. He then produced two certificates, which he left with the register of the class, one from Oxford, subscribed by Dr. Wilkinson,^' Dr. Langley,' &c. the other from the neighbouring ministers, Mr. Steel, Mr. Fogg, &c. both testifying of his conversation, &c. *' The Lord forgive me,'' saith he, in his diary, upon this, '' that it hath not been more exemplary, as it ought, for piety and industry. Amen, Lord in Christ." The day for ordination was appointed to be September 16, at Prees,* of which notice was given at Worthenbury by a paper, read in the church, and afterwards affixed to the church door the Lord's day before, signifying also, " That, if any one could produce any just exceptions against the doctrine or life of the said Mr. Henry, or any sufficient reason why he might not be ordained, they should certify the same to the classis, or the scribe, and it should be heard and considered." ^
On the day of ordination there was a very gat assembly gadiered together. Mr. Porter began the public work of the day with prayer, then Mr. Parsons preached on 1 Timothy i. 12. / thanh Christ Jesusf who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. Putting men into the ministry is the work of Jesus Christ. After sermon, Mr. Parsons, according to the usual method, required of him a confession of his faith, which he made as follows: The ground and rule of my faith s Pet i. 21. towards God, is the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament I believe they were written by holy men, inunediately inspired by the Holy Ghost; 7 Nat 1602; Ob. June, 1675. Wood's Ath. Oxon. W tupra, ▼. 3. p. 1038. ■ Ob. Sept. 1679. Wood's Fasti, nl mtfra, ▼. 4. pp. 113.147.
2 Tim. iii. 1& Heb. XL 6.
1 John V. 7.
John i. I&
John iv. % John Y. 26.
John i. 3.
having found the efficacy of them, in some measure, upon my own heart, I believe they are further able to make me wise to salvation.
Concerning God, I believe that he is, and that he is the Rewarder of those that diligently seek him.
The Trinity of Persons in the Unity of the Godhead, I receive and own as a truth, I admire and adore as a mystery; though no man hath seen God at any time, yet the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him; and what he hath declared concerning him, that I believe. I believe that God is a Spirit, for the Son hath said, '' God is a Spirit" I believe that he hath life in himself, and that he hath given to the Son to have life in himself. I believe all things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. I believe by his providence he preserves, guides, and governs, all the creatures, according to the purpose of his own will, to his own glory; for the Father worketh hitherto, and the Son also worketh.
I believe he made man upright, after his own image and likeness,which image consisted in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness; but man, by sin, lost it.
I believe we were all in the loins of our first parents, and that they stood and fell as public persons, and upon that account justly, without any colour of wrong, we bear our share, both in the guilt of their disobedience, and also the corruption of nature following thereupon; so that we came into the world children of wrath, and heirs of the curse, one, as well as another; enemies to God, hating him, and hated of him: averse to what is good, and prone to all manner of evil. Though all arc bom in this condition, yet there are some that do not die in it.
I believe there is a Mediator, and there is but one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. Those whom the Father hath from everlasting pitched his love upon, and gven to Christ, not because of works or faith foreseen, but mereljir of his free gce;
A small village in the Hundred of North Bradford, Salop, five miles from Whitchurch, and about four from Wem. b Appendix, No. IV.
John V. 17.
Eccles. vii 29. Gen. i. 26. Ck>los5. iii. 10. Ephet. iv. 24
Psalm n. 5.
Ephes. ii a Zech. xi. a
Rom. vii. U).
Gen. vi. 5.
1 Tim. il. 5.
Ephea. i. 4,5.
THE LIFE OF MK. PHILIP HENRY.
26
▼. IL for those I believe Christ was sent forth
QU. It. 4. into the world, made of a woman, made
JoboxviLW. under the law; for their sakes he sanendi. it 8. tified himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross; wherefore God also highly exalted
EpiL L 90» 2L him; and having raised him from the dead on the third day, set him at his Btb. vii. *s. own right hand, where he ever lives to Mm rviL 9. make intercession for those for whom he shed his blood. All these elect re-
BoBLTiiLao. deemed ones, I believe, are, in due
1 Cor. vL iL time, sooner or later, in their lives, effectnally called, washed, sanctified, justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Bon. V. L I believe the righteousness of Christ alone, apprehended by faith, is the matter of our justification before God; Pi cxliiL 9. and that no flesh can stand in his sight
Jcr. zziiLe. upon any other terms, for he is the ihtt. iiL n. Lord our Righteousness, and in him only the Father is well pleased. Root XV. 1& I believe the work of sanctification, managed by the Spirit, who dwellcth in us, though, in respect of parts, it be Colo*. hL II. complete, for the whole man is renewed ; yet, in respect of degrees, it is not 1 Cor xilL 9.10. fully perfected till we come to glory; and I believe all that are justified shall be glorified; for we are kept by the 1 Pet i. &. power of God, through faith, unto salvation. EpM- >^- iL I believe the gathering in, and building up, of saints, is the special end why pastors and teachers are appointed Halt xxviii. 90. in the church; and that Jesus Christ, according to his promise, will be with them, in that work, to the end of the world. Saa.iv.lL The two Sacraments of the New
Testament, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, I receive and own as signs ibtL xxviii 19. and seals of the covenant of gace; the toa. Tt 7. former instituted by our Lord Jesus, Acts u. m as a sign and seal of our ingrafting Um. xxvi. 10. into him, due of right, to all the infants of believing parents, and but once to be administered; the other instituted by our Lord Jesus in the night c Tkit cooemon Mr. Orion recommends as a " good model.'* liis Lettcn to Dissenting Ministers, v. 2. p. 37. • Tlie History of Mr. Henry*s Ordination can scarcely be dismissed vitlwat adv«tiiif to an edition of his Life, of recent date, and, proieasedly, ''corrected and improved," by Samuel Taylor: printed by T. Cordcux, 1818; in which performance a considerable psrt of Ms confcssioii of flutb is omitted, or misstated. The fbllow-ing fip JaiMti o n of the liboty thus taken is indeed given; *' It is Joitiec to acknowledge that Mr. Heory wbs. wherein he was betrayed, to show forth * Cof **• 26. his death, and to seal the benefits purchased thereby to his church and people, and to be often repeated.
When the body returns to the dust, Eccles. xii. 7. I believe the soul returns to God that gave it; and that immediately it re- Matt. xxy. 34, ceives from him the sentence, accord 41. ing to what hath been done in the flesh, either, " Come, inherit the kingdom ; " or, " Depart, accursed, into everlasting fire."
I believe, besides this, a day of AcUxvii. 3L general judgment in the end of the world, wherein we must all appear before the tribunal of Jesus Christ; and that our bodies being raised, by an * Cor. v. lo. almighty power, from the dust, shall be united to the same souls again, and shall partake with them, in the same condition, either of happiness i Cor. xv. 42. or misery, to all eternity. Those that have done good, shall come forth unto the resurrection of life, and those that Jobn v. 90. have done evil to the resurrection of damnation. This is the sum and substance of my faith, into which I was baptized, and in which, by the grace of God,
I will live and die.'
Mr. Parsons then proposed certain questions to him, according to the instructions in the Directory, to which he returned answer, as followeth: Question 1. What are your ends in vndei'takxng the work and calling of a minister f
Answer. As far as upon search and inquiry I can hitherto find, though there be that within mc that would seek great things for myself, (if indeed they were to be found in this calling,) yet with my mind I seek them not. But the improvement of the talent which I have received in the service of the gospel, for the glory of God, and the salvation of souls, I hope, is in my eye; if there be any thing else, I own it not, I allow it not. While so many seek their own, it is my desire, and shall be my endeavour, to seek the things of Jesus Christ.
Question 2. What are your purposes, as to cft'/t-yence and industry, in this calling y
Answer. I do purpose and resolve, by the help of in theory, a Calvinist. and that he subscribed the doctrine of election, &c. in the Calvinistic sense. The editor, however, has left out that part of the confession, believing the omission will prove no injury to the cause of vital Christianity." p. 3B.
How the concluding sentence of the confession could still ob-tain a place, is submitted to the reader's judgment — ThU it thttwm and tubttanet of ny faitk.
In attempts of this de8cripl\oti, Wvtie \^ Vo «s.:) v\k« \«u9L,^TciaKc\-fesC want of candour, %nd ed Uom\tlt\\l.
THE UFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
God, to gYO myself '* wholly" to these things; to prayer, reading, meditation, instant preaching, in season and out of season, wherein I shall very gladly spend and be spent, if by any means I may both save myself and them that hear me. And when at any time I fail herein, I desire God, by his Spirit, and my Christian friends, neighbours, and brethren, by seasonable reproof and admonition, to put me in mind of this engagement now made, in the presence of this great congregation.
Question 3. Do you mean to be zealous and faithful in the defence of truth and unity, againtt error and schism ?
Answer. I believe what the Spirit hath foretold, that, in the last days, perilous times shall come, wherein men will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall heap unto themselves teachers. It is my resolution, by the grace of Christ, to watch in all things; to contend earnestly for the faith, to hold fast the form of sound and wholesome words, even '' the words of our Lord Jesus, and the doctrine which is according to godliness;" in meekness, as I am able, instructing those that oppose themselves. And for peace and unity, if my heart deceive me not, I shall rather choose to hazard the loss of any thing that is most dear to me, than be any way knowingly accessary to the disturbance of these in the churches of Christ.
Question 4. What is your persuasion of the truth of the Reformed Religion ?
Answer. My persuasion is, that the Bishop of Rome is that man of sin, and son of perdition, whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the spirit of his mouth, and whom he will destroy by the brightness of his coming.*^ And the separation which our first Reformers made, I do heartily rejoice in, and bless God for; for had we still continued to partake with him in his sins, we should, in the end, have partaken with him also in his plagues.
Question 6. What do you intend to do when the Lord shall alter your condition, and bring a family under your charge ?
Answer. When the Lord shall please, in his Providence, to bring me into new relations, I hope he will give me grace to fill them up with duty; it is my purpose to wait upon him, and to keep his way, to endeavour, in the use of means, that all that are mine, may be the Lord's.
Question 6. Will you, in humility and meehness, submit to admonition and discipline ?
Answer. I believe it to be a duty incumbent upon all that profess the name of Christ, to watch over one another, and that when any is '' overtaken in a d 1686. Nov. 28. I was indisposed, yet refiresbed with the ex. position or Rev. xi. concerning the slaying and reviving of the two witnesses; nay, more than that, my father told us in discourse, at dinner, he believed some of us young ones might live to see the antichrist fJEai; for he thinks it is not far off If I may fault," those IHat are spiritual are to set him in joint* again ** with the spirit of meekness.'^ It shall be my endeavour, in the strength of Jesus Christ, to walk without rebuke, and when, at any time, I step aside, (for who is there that lives and sins not,) I shall account the smitings of my brethren kindness, and their wounds faithful.
Question 7. What, if troubles, persecutions, and discouragements, arise, will you hold out to the end notwithstanding ?
Answer. Concerning this I am very jealous over my own heart; and there is cause; I find a great want of that zeal and courage for God, which I know is required in a minister of the gospel; nevertheless, I persuade myself, that '* no temptation shall befall me, but such as is common to man; and that God, who is faithful, will not suffer me to be tempted above that which I am able, but that with the temptation he will also make a way to escape, that I may be able to bear it." I promise faithfulness to the death, but I rest not at all in my promise to God, but in his to me; *^ When thou goest through the fire, and through the water, I will be with thee."
Wlien this was done, Mr. Parsons prayed; and in prayer he and the rest of the Presbyters, Mr. Porter, Mr. Houghton, Mr. Maiden, and Mr. Steel, laid their hands upon him, with words to this purpose, " Whom we do thus in thy name set apart to the work and office of the ministry." After him, there were five more,' after the like previous examinations and trials, professions and promises, at the same time, in like manner, set apart to the ministry.
Then Mr. Maiden, of Newport, closed with an exhortation, directed to the newly ordained ministers, in which, saith Mr. Henry in his diary, this word went near my heart—As the nurse puts the meat first into her own mouth, and chews it, and then feeds the child with it, so should ministers do by the word, preach it over beforehand to their own hearts; it loses none of the vi Hue thereby, but rather, probably, gains. As that milk nourishcth most which comes warm from the breast, so that sermon which comes warm from a warm heart. Lord, quicken me to do thy will in this thing.
The classis gave him, and the rest, instruments in parchment, certifying this, which it may satisfy the curiosity of some to read the form of.
" Whereas, Mr. Philip Henry of Worthenbury, in the Copty of Flint, Master of Arts, hath addressed himself unto us, authorized by an ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, of the 29th of August, not see that happy day, however, X believe it shall be. Mrs. Savage. Diary. Orig. MS.
Gal. vi. 1. Vid. Pol. Synop. in loe. t Mr. Jones, of Llanarmon; Mr. Dickins, of Morton Say; Mr. Bradley, of Ness; Mr. Hall, of Newcastle; Mr. Hanmer, of White-
THE UFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
27
1648, for the ordination of ministers, tlesiring to be ordained a Presbyter, for that he is chosen and ap-potntod for the work of the ministry at Worthenbury, in the county of Flinty as by a certificate now remaining with US, touching that his election and appointment, appeareth. And he having likewise exhibited a sufficient testimonial of his diligence and proficiency in his studies, and unblamableness of his life ind conversation, he hath been examined according to the rales for examination in the said ordinance expressed; and thereupon approved, there being no just exception made, nor put in, against his ordination and admission. These may therefore testify to all
[ whom it may concern, that upon the 16th day of Sep- ' tember, 1657, we have proceeded solemnly to set him apart for the office of a Presbyter, and work of the ministry of the gospel, by laying on of our hands with fasting and prayer. By virtue whereof we do declare kim to be a lawful and sufficiently authorized minister of Jesos Christ And having good evidence of his lawful and fair calling, not only to the work of the ministry, but to the exercise thereof at the chapel of Worthenbury, in the county of Flint, we do hereby lend him thither, and actually admit him to the said charge to perform all the offices and duties of a faithfai pastor there; exhorting the people, in the name of Jesus Christ, willingly to receive and acknowledge him as the minister of Christ, and to maintain and encourage him in the execution of his I office, that he may be able to give up such an account to Christ of their obedience to his ministry, j as may be to his joy, and their everlasting comfort In witness whereof, we the Presbyters of the Fourth Class, in the County of Salop, commonly called Bradford-North Class, have hereunto set our hands, I this 16th day of September, in the year of our Lord
Thomas Porter, Moderator for the time, Andrew Parsons, Minister of Wem. Aylmar Haughton, Minister of Frees, John Maiden, Minister of Newport, Richard Steel, Minister of Hanmer,*' '
I hare heard it said, by those who were present at this solemnity, that Mr. Henry did in his countenance, carriage, and expression, discover such an extraordinary seriousness and gravity, and such deep impressions made upon his spirit, as greatly aiected the auditory, and even struck an awe upon them. well QapeL P. Henry. Diary. Orig. MS. At to Mr. Hall, see the Ncneoo. Mem. v. 1 p. 32a ff Mr. Orton,in hit edition of the Life, p. 5L has here introduced the fo Uowtof note.
It la icflBBilcaMe. that Mr. Steel should be likewise engaged in the ordiaadon of hia son. Mr. Matthew Henry, almost thirty years sftcr Ifais; vis. May 9, 1697. It was the honour of his younger I daya to be a|>potat<d by the elaaris of MiDisteis one oftboee who '
Read his reflection upon it in his diary.—" Me-thoughts I saw much of God in carrying on of the work of this day. Oh, how good is the Lord ! he is good, and doth good ; the remembrance of it I shall never lose; to him be glory. I made many promises of diligence, faithfulness, &c. but I lay no stress at all on them, but on God's promise to me, that he will be with his ministers always to the end of the world. Amen, Lord, so be it. Make good thy word unto thy servant, wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust" And in another place,—" I did this day receive as much honour and work, as ever I shall be able to know what to do with; Lord Jesus, proportion supplies according." Two Scriptures he desired might be written in his heart, 2 Corinthians vi. 4, 5, &c. and 2 Chronicles xxix. 11.
Two years after, upon occasion of his being present at an ordination at Whitchurch, he thus writes :— " This day my ordination covenants were in a special manner renewed, as to diligence in reading, prayer, meditation, faithfulness in preaching, admonition, catechizing, sacraments, zeal against error and pro-faneness, care to preserve and promote the unity and purity of the church, notwithstanding opposition and persecution, though to death. Lord, thou hast filled my hands with work, fill my heart with wisdom and grace, that I may discharge my duty to thy glory, and my own salvation, and the salvation of those that hear me." Amen.
Let us now see how he applied himself to his work at Worthenbury. The sphere was narrow, too narrow for such a burning and shining light. There were but forty-one communicants in that parish, when he first set up the ordinance of the Lord's Supper; and they were never doubled. Yet he had such low thoughts of himself, that he not only never sought for a larger sphere, but would never hearken to any overtures of that kind made to him. And withal, he had such high thoughts of his work, and the worth of souls, that he laid out himself with as much diligence and vigour here, as if he had the oversight of the greatest and most considerable parish in the country.
The greatest part of the parish were poor tenants and labouring husbandmen ; but the souls of such, he used to say, are as precious as the souls of the rich, and to be looked after accordingly. His prayer for them was,—" Lord, despise not the day of small things in this place, where there is some willingness, but much weakness.'' And thus he writes upon the Judge's settling a handsome maintenance upon him, should lay hands on Mr. Philip Henry; and it must be the comfort of his advanced years, that he had the opportunity of doing the same office for the son. This circumstance must be very pleasing both to father and son; and it could not be less pleasing to Mr. Steel, that he should be employed, under Christ, in sending out two such ministers into the ehurch; sucha (a.V.\itT,«xi<&«a^%.v»^. See Jong's Life of Matlb. Henry, p.«. at nxa.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
Lord, thou knowest I seek not theirs but them.''
Give me the souls."'
[An edifying instance is preserved in the following letter. It has no date.
My dear Friend; I am glad to hear by your father, that God hath been, of late, at work with your soul; and, I hope, it will prove the good work, which, where he once begins, he will be sure to perform, until the day of Jesus Christ Now I send these few lines to you from my affectionate love, and from the true desire which I have of your spiritual and everlasting welfare, to be your remembrancer, that you be sure, by all means, to lay a good foundation, for want of which multitudes miscarry and come to nothing. Now that foundation must be laid in sound convictions of, and hearty contrition for, sin; ^ you must bethink yourself of the error of your way, in how many things you have offended; and who can tell, in how many ? You must lay before you the pure, and holy, and spiritual law of God; and if the conunandment came to you by the Spirit of God working with it, as it came to Paul, Romans vii. 9. it will make sin to revive; and the reviving of sin, in that manner, will be the death of all your vain hopes and carnal confidences; you will then change your note, and from the Pharisee's, God, I thank thee, I am not as other men are; you will cry out with the poor Publican, God, be merciful to me a nnner ! Oh, the numberless numbers of vain thoughts, idle words, unprofitable communications, that have past you in any one day, the best of your days! the multitudes of omissions of duty to God, to man in general, in particular relations! the multitudes of conmiissions, whereby from time to time you have transgressed and turned aside, in the several ages and stages of your life, through which you have passed! Though you are but young, and, therefore, free from much of that guilt which others lie under, yet conclude, I say conclude, you have enough and enough again, if God should enter into judgment with you, to sink you into the bottomless pit of hell; and, therefore, you must enter into judgment with yourself, and condemn yourself, and if you do it aright, you shall not be judged of the Lord, nor condemned with the world. Be free and full in your confessions, and after all you must close with David's, &c. Psalm xix. 12. '* Who can understand his errors ? Cleanse thou me from secret faults." Let the streams lead you to the Fountain ; see a root, a root of bitterness in your nature, bearing gall and wormwood in your life and actions; and be sure lay h See2Cor.xii. 14.
The welfore or his people was very dear to him, and lay near his heart; h$ nmght not thtirs, but them; nor was his care so much to gather in tithes as soules. The Life of Dr. Thomas Taylor, who died A. D. 1632, prefixed to bis Works, foL UU3. the axe to th and bewail that, and see an absolute necessity of a change; for except you be bom again and become a new creature, that is, except a contrary principle of grace be wrought in you to work out that naughty principle of corruption by degrees, you cannot enter into the kingdom of God. And here all the creatures in heaven and earth cannot help you ; they must each of them say, it is not hi me, it is not in me; they have neither a righteousness for you wherein to stand before God for justification, nor the power to give you for the mortifying of one vicious habit, or for the performing of any one act of acceptable obedience; but, blessed be God, help is laid for us upon one that is mighty, able to save to the uttermost those that come unto God by him, the only Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus;' and, therefore, by him you must go to God. I say must, or you are undone, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we can be saved; you must in the sight and sense of your own lost and undone condition in yourself, by reason of the guilt which lies upon you, resolve to cast yourself upon the free grace of the gospel; making this your only plea at the bar of his offended justice, I have sinned, but Christ Jesus hath died, yea, rather is risen again, and in him mercy is promised to the penitent, and therefore to me. Do not suffer the tempter, nor your own belief, to beat you from this plea. These will tell you, you are a great sinner, it may be a backslider after convictions, and that often, and, therefore, it is to no purpose; bat do not hearken to them; say, faithful is he that hath promised, and hold fast there; say, the worse I am, the more need I have of a Saviour, the more his mercy will be magnified in saving me; remember David's argument. Psalm xxv. 11. And when you have in this manner by faith applied Christ crucified to your soul, you are bound to believe that God doth accept of you, that your sins are pardoned, and that you shall not come into condemnation. And then your next work must be to study what you shall render, to love him that hath loved you first, and out of love to him to forsake all sin, and to buckle to all duty; to read, hear, and meditate, in the word of God, that you may know what the will of God is concerning you, and what you ought to do; and when you know it, resolve to do it. You will say, I cannot. I know you cannot, but in this also help is laid up for you in Jesus Christ; if you come to him daily, as you have occasion, in the sense of your own impotency, he will strengthen you with all might by his Spirit in the inner man; he will plant gce, and water his own planting, and make it to grow i See Gen. xiv.2i. k See P. Henry's Eighteen Sermons, ut npra p. 200. where sin is considered as an abomination; and also, it. 277. where the poor in spirit are proved to be blessed.
1 Appendix, No. V.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHIUP HENRY.
29 and bring forth fruit I can do all tilings, saith Paul, tkrough Christ strengthening me, and without him we can do nothing. The terms of that blessed co Tenant that we are under, are, that we endeavour to do as well as we can, aimiug at perfection; and wherein we come short, that we may be humbled for it, but not discouraged, as if there were no hope for we are mt under the law, but under grace. "*
I am glad to hear you have those servants of the Lord with yon, who are better able than I to be the directors of your way in this main matter, and that God hath given you acquaintance with them, and an iaterest in their love and prayers, which I hope yon do prize at a very high rate, and be sure you.do apoo all occasions make use of them, and be guided by them. If you have not joined in the fellowship of the holy supper, I would you should not by any neuis delay to do it. It is not privilege only, but duty, commanded duty, and if you love the Lord Jesus, how can you answer for your neglect so long of such a gracious appointment of his, when you have opportunity for it ? Behold, he calls you. It is one tUng to he unworthy to come, and another thing to eome unworthily. He that is not fit to-day, will be less fit to-morrow. I know those that can witness, tboogh there were treaties before between their souls and the Ijord Jesus, in order to that blessed match, yet the matter was never consummated, nor the knot fally tied," till they came to that ordinance: it is a sealing ordinance; God is there sealing to us, and we sealing to him in a precious Mediator. You cannot imagine the benefits of it, and, therefore, put not off. So, conmiending you to God, and to the word of his ipuce, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, I rest, Tour truly affectionate and well-wishing friend,
Philip Henry.**]
Sam. vi. 4. My loul bath oft been refreshed with that sweet word,—^ We are not under the law, but under grace ;**—and, I ■ay mj concerning it,—It is *' all my salvation, and all my desire, •hliougli be tboold not make my house to grow.** P. Henry. Grig. MS.
A believer, nys Mr. Mead, is under the law for conduct, but not for judgment; it is the guide of his path, but not the judge or hb state The good oT early obedience, p. 907. duod. 1683.
Sec ante, p. 14. • Grig. MS.
F Appendix:, Na VI.
For a fall account of the conduct of such intenriews, and a smi Mry of their advantages, see Clark's lives of Eminent Divines, ■/ sMprm. PreC pp. 4, 5. t On one occasion the question being proposed. What means sre we to one that we may get knowledge, particularly that which is divine! Mr. Henry gave the following answer, which runiishes a corroboiation of many statements in the volume, and will be a directory to others who are seeking instruction: Be eooviaced tiMU knowledge is not a matter of indl Olfrence. See Jdm avit 3; % Tbess. i. 7, & Hos. iv. o. Isa. xxvi. 11. With, oat knowledge there is no fhith; ignorant believing is but pre-tvmptioo, Isa. liii. li Labour to see thy want of knowledge, hov. xxvi. It, 1 Car. rHi. S. Isa. xxviii. o. It is certain you can He was in laboars more abundant to win souls; besides preaching he expounded the Scriptures in order ;P catechised, and explained the catechism. At first he took into the number of his catechumens some that were adult, who, he found, wanted instruction ; and when he had taken what pains he thought needful with them, he dismissed them from further attendance, with commendation of their proficiency, and counsel, '* to hold fast the form of sound words;" to be watchful against the sins of their age, and to apply themselves to the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, and make ready for it; afterwards he catechised none above seventeen or eighteen years of age.
He set up a monthly lecture there of two sermons, one he himself preached, and the other his friend Mr. Ambrose Lewis, of Wrexham, for some years. He also kept up a monthly conference,** in private, from house to house, in which he met with the more knowing and judicious of the parish; and they discoursed familiarly together of the things of God, to their mutual edification, according to the example of the apostles, who, though they had the liberty of public places, yet taught also from house to honse Acts v. 42; xx. 20. That which induced him to set and keep up this exercise as long as he durst, which was till August, 1600, was, that by this means he came better to understand the state of his flock, and so knew the better how to preach to them, and pray for them, and they to pray one for another. If they were in doubt about any thing relating to their souls, that was an opportunity of getting satisfaction. It was likewise a means of increasing knowledge,' and love, and other graces; and thus it abounded to a good account.*
He was very industrious in visiting the sick, instructing them, and praying with them; and in this he would say, he aimed at the good, not only of those that were sick, but also of their friends and relations that were about them. never know too much.—Be diligent and constant in the use of ordinances. Public;— Hcbt the word preached. In hearing, be sure observe the doctrine, which, for the most part, is very short; and. for the help of such whose memories are weak, given usually in the very words of Scripture, which is taken for the text. If you can carry away nothing else, fail not to carry away that. But should I be speaking to you an hour about any worldly business, you would remember a great deal more than one sentence. Turn to proof afterwarda /^-iva/*;—Read the scriptures, or get others to read them to you, in your Tamiliea Read those that are most for edification. Regard not so much how many chapters you read, as how many truths you can make up to yourselves firom what you read. Unless where continuance of story requires, let, ordinarily, one or two chapters at a time suffice; and let them be read once and again. Also, get some good books, catechisms, kc. that contain the principles of religion. If thou canst not buy, borrow.—Keepknowing company; and, when you are with such, be inquiring,—What means thisf-^not out of curiosity, but for edification. You, who have knowlcflge, be willing to communicate. You will lose nothing by it. Pray much; especially before hearing, reading, kc. See James i. 5. Prov. li. 3, &c. Use some short ejaculation. Psalm cxix. is full of such. P. Henry. Orig. MS. • Appendix, Na VIL
THE UFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
He preached funeral sermons for all that were buried there, rich and poor, old or young, or little children; for he looked upon it as an opportunity of doing good. He called it,--setting in the plow of the word, when the Providence had softened and prepared the ground. He never took any money for that or any other ministerial performance, besides his stated salary, for which he thought himself obliged to do his whole duty to them as a minister.
When he first set up the ordinance of the Lord's Supper there, he did it with very great solemnity. After he had endeavoured to instruct them in his public preaching, touching the nature of that ordinance, he discoursed personally with all that gave up their names to the Lord in it, touching their knowledge, experience, and conversation, obliged them to observe the law of Christ, touching brotherly admonition in case of scandal; and gave notice to the congregation who they were that were admitted; adding this: ''Concerning these, and myself, I have two things to say. 1. As to what is past, wc have sinned. If we should say, we have not, we should deceive ourselves, and the truth were not in us ; and yet this withal we can say, and have said it, some of us with tears,—^We are grieved that we have sinned. 2. For time to come we are sesolved by God's grace to walk in new obedience; and yet seeing we are not angels, but men and women, compassed about with infirmities and temptations, it is possible we may fall; but if we do, it is our declared resolution to submit to admonition and censure, according to the rule of the gospel." And all along he took care so to manage his admissions to that ordinance, as that the weak might not be discouraged, and yet the ordinance might not be profaned.^ He would tell those whom he was necessitated to debar from the ordinance for ignorance, that he would undertake, if they were but truly willing, they might in a week's time, by the blessing of God upon their diligent use of means, reading, prayer, and conference, get such a competent measure of knowledge, as to be able to discern the Lord's body. And those that had been scandalous, if they would but come in and declare their repentance, and resolutions of new obedience, they should no longer be excluded.
To give a specimen of his lively administrations of that ordinance, let me transcribe the notes of his exhortation at the first sacrament that ever he administered, November 27, ISSO.*" I suppose they are but the hints of what he enlarged more upon, for he had always a great fluency upon such occasions.
Dearly beloved in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we are met together this day about the most
Some important observations on this subject, in connexion rr}th tht Test Act, occur in the Hist, of Dissenters, v. 4. p. 181— solemn, weighty service under heaven; we are come to a feast, where the feast-maker is God the Father, the provision, God the' Son, whose flesh is meat indeed, and whose blood is drink indeed; the guests, a company of poor sinners, unworthy such an honour; the crumbs under the table were too good for us, and yet we are admitted to taste of the provision upon the table; and that which makes the feast is hearty welcome. God the Father bids you welcome; and ten tliousand welcomes this day, to the flesh and blood of his Son. Think you hear him saying it to you, O believing souls. Cant. v. 1.— JKotf, O friendM, drink, yea, drink abundantly, O ie-loved. The end of this feast is to keep in remembrance the death of Christ, and our deliverance by it, and thereby to convey spiritual nourishment and refreshment to our souls. But withal, give mc leave to ask you one question,—What appetite have yon to this feast? Are you come hungering and thirsting ? Such as have the promise, they shall be filled. He filleth the hungry with good things, hut the rich are sent empty away ; a honey-comb to a full soul is no honey-comb. Canst thou say as Christ said,— With desire I have desired to eat this ? In this ordinance here is Christ and all his benefits exhibited to thee. Art thou weak ? here is bread to strengthen thee. Art thou sad ? here is wine to comfort thee. What is it thou standest in need of ? a pardon? here it is, sealed in blood, take it by faith, as I offer it to you in the name of the Lord Jesus ; though thy sins have been as scarlet, they shall be as wool, if thou be willing and obedient. It may be, here are some that have been drunkards, swearers, scoffers at godliness, sabbath-breakers, and what not;—and God hath put it into your hearts to humble yourselves, to mourn for and turn from all your abominations. Oh, come hither, here is forgiveness for thee. What else is it thou wantest? Oh, saith the poor soul, I would have more of the spirit of grace, more power against sin, especially my own iniquity. Why, here it is for thee: ' from the fulness that is in Jesus Christ, we receive, and grace for grace.* John i. 16. We may say as David did. Psalm cviii. 7, 8. Ood hath spoken in his holiness, and then Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine. So God hath spoken in his word sealed in his sacrament, and then Christ is mine, pardon is mine, grace is mine, comfort mine, glory mine; here I have his bond to show for it. This is to those among you, that have engaged their hearts to approach unto God this day.
But if there be any come hither with a false, unbelieving, filthy, hard heart, I do warn you seriously, and with authority, in the name of Jesus Christ, presume not to come any nearer to this sacred ordinance.* You that live in tlie practice of any sin, « b it not probable, this was 1657! Mr. Henry's ordination was September IS, in that year. T The one gnreat cause of the great flourishing of religion in the THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
31 or the omisjiion of any daty against your knowledge and conscience; yon that haye any malice or grudge to any of your neighbours, leave your gift and go yoor ways; be reconciled to God, be reconciled to yoor brother, and then come ! Better shame thyself for coming so near, than damn thyself by coming nearer. I testify to those, who say they shall IttTC peace, thongh they go on still in their tres-ptsses, that there is poison in the bread ; take it and eat it at your own peril; there is poison in the cup too, you drink your own damnation. I wash my kinds from the guilt of your blood. Look you to it, on the other hand, you poor penitent souls that are lost in yourse Wes, here is a Christ to save you. Come, O cotne, ye that are weary and heavy laden/^Sac, It may not be amiss to transcribe also some hints of preparation for the administering of the ordinance of baptism,* which I find under his hand, at his first letting out in the ministry, as follows: "^ It is a real manifestation of the goodness and lone of God to belieyers, that he hath not only taken them into corenant with himself, but their seed also; njing, / will be thy God, and the God of thy seed. Though to be bom of such, does not necessarily entitle infants to the spiritual mercies of the cove-Bant, for grace doth not run in the blood. We see the oontrary many times, even godly parents have wicked children; Abraham had his Ishmael, and Isaac his Esau; yet, questionless, it doth entitle them to the external privileges of the covenant. The lihe fywre muto Noah's arh, even baptism doth also now MM MM. Noah, and all that were his, entered into the arfc« thongh we have cause to doubt whether they all entered into heaven. While our Lord Jesus was here upon the earth, they brought little children to him, and he laid his hands on them and blessed them ; and said, moreover, Suffer little children to come umio tma, and forbid them not, (there are many at this day, that forbid little children to come to Christ,) he adds the reason,*-for of such is the hingdom of heaven. Whether it be meant of the visible church, often so called in the gospel, or of the state of glory IB another world; either way it affords an argument ior proof of infant baptism. When either parent is ia eovenant with God, their children also are in covenant vrith him; and being in covenant, they have an nndoabted right and title to this ordinance of fcapt Sfi which is the seal of the covenant. So that in the administration of this ordinance, this day, ac-coiding to the institution of Jesus Christ, we look wfoa yon who are the father of this child, as a per-in eorenantwith God. How far you have dealt.certainly, thestrictnefls used by them in their of memben into church societies, which is fully de-seribcd by Origen, against Celsos; who tells us, they did inquire isto their lives and carriages, to discern their seriousness in the of Ctsrifltiaafty duriog their being catechumens; who tfter tellB aa, tbay didieqnlre true repentance and reformation of life, thai we admit them to the pertieipatioo of our mysteries unfaithfully in the covenant, is known to God and your own conscience; but this we know, the vows of God are upon you ; and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But before we baptize your child, I am to acquaint you, in a few words what we expect from you.
'' Q. (1.) Do you avouch God in Jesus Christ this day to be your God ? See to it that this be done in truth, and with a perfect heart. You may tell us you do so, and you may deceive us, but God is not mocked. Q. (2.) And is it your desire, that your children also may be received into covenant with the Lord, and that the Lord's broad-seal of baptism may be set to it ? Q. (3.) And do you promise in the presence of God, and of this congregation, that you will do your endeavour towards the training of it up in the way of godliness, that as it is by you, through mercy, that it lives the life of nature, so it may by you also, through the same mercy, live the life of grace ? Else I must tell you, if you be wanting herein, there will be a sad appearance one day, when you shall meet together before the judgment-seat of Christ, and this solemn engagement of yours will be brought in to witness against you."
These were but the first instances of his skilfulness in dispensing the mysteries of the kingdom of God. He declined the private administration of the Lord's Supper to sick persons, as judging it not consonant to the rule and intention of the ordinance. He very rarely, if ever, baptized in private; but would have children brought to the solemn assembly upon the Lord's day, that the parent*s engagement might have the more witnesses to it, and the child the more prayers put up for it, and that the congregation might be edified. And yet he would say, there was some inconvenience in it too, unless people would agree to put off the feasting part of the Solemnity to some other time, which he very much persuaded his friends to; and observed, that Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned, (Genesis xxi. 8.) not the same day that he was circumcised.
His carriage towards the people of his parish was very exemplary; condescending to the meanest, and conversing familiarly with them : bearing with the infirmities of the weak, and becoming all things to all men.
[Weak Christians, he remarks, have infirmities : but infirmity supposes life, and all who are alive to God have an inward sense of sin, and their own lost condition, by reason of it,—they heartily close with Christ upon gospel terms for pardon and peace,— Irenlcum, by Edward Stillingflect, afterwards Bishop of Worcester. 4to. 1661. pp. 134, 135. w Mr. Matthew Henry left in manuscript a Treatise on Baptism. It was abridged and published by the Rev. Thomas Robins in 1783. The reader will ftnd many extracts from \1 \tv " kTvWv»AsJV^^«^ Examined," by the late Dt. EdwaTd NWWania. ^o\. V\. t^- ^. *^ 1789. See also Orton'i Letters lo D\aaft TvlVi!k%»xvNA«v • >i!v.^. «i
THE LIFE OF MR. PHIUP HENRY. and have unfeigned desires and endeavours to walk in the way of God's commandments. But such are, oftentimes, very dull of apprehension in spiritual things, Matthew xv. 16. Hebrews v. 11, 12. They are often peevish and froward, inexpert, unskilful in duty, and apt to envy, and judge, and censure, being unacquainted with the extent of Christian liberty in indifferent things. They arc often fainting in adversity, much taken with earthly things, easily disquieted and cast down, and frequently questioning the love of God. We must not, however, despise them, Romans xiv. 3. Zechariah iv. 10.—not in heart, word, or carriage. We must rather deny ourselves than offend them. Romans xiv. 21. Romans xv. 1, 2. 1 Corinthians viii. 9, 13. We must support them,—bear them as pillars,—bear the house as the shoulders a burthen, as the wall the vine, as parents their children, as the oak the ivy. And this, because they are brethren. Are they not of tlie same body ? Shall the hand cut off the little finger because it is not as large as the thumb ? Do men throw away their com, because it comes into the bam with chaff? They are weak. Bear with them out of pity. In a family, if one of the little ones be sick, all the larger children are ready to attend it, which they need not do if it were well. It should be done, likewise, because Jesus Christ does so. Bear ye one another's burthens, and so fulfil the law of Christ, the law of his conmiand, and the law of his example. He takes special care of his Iambs, will not quench the smoking flax, and is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, Hebrews iv. 16. *
To retum,] he was exceeding tender of giving offence, or occasion of grief, to any body, minding himself in his diary upon such occasions; that the wisdom that is from above, is pure, and peaceable, and gentle, &c. Yet be plainly and faitlifully reproved what he saw amiss in any, and would not suffer sin upon them; mourning also for that which he could not mend. There were some untractable people in the parish, who sometimes caused grief to him, and exercised his boldness and zeal in reproving. Once hearing of a merry meeting at an alehouse, on a Saturday night, he went himself and broke it up, and scattered them. At another time, he publicly witnessed against a frolic of some vain people, that on a Saturday night came to the church with a fiddler before them, and dressed it up with flowers and garlands, making it, as he told them, « P. Henry. Orig. MS. y This statement is now inapplicable to congregational assem. blies. Considering the aspect of the times, educational predilections, and ofl Bcial custom, it cannot be surprising that such a man as Mr. Henry should have felt sensibly on the subject The sen. tJment was, indeed, common, and for similar reasons, to the body of Presbyterian Ministers. The experience, however, which resulted from the Act of Uniformity in 1062, and other subsequent statutes, evidently lessened their objections, and showed that the difficulties were rather imanary than real. more like a play-house; and was this their preparation for the Lord's day, and the duties of it? &c. He minded them of Ecclesiastes xi. 9. Rejoice, 0 young man, in thy youth, but know thou .
Many out of the neighbouring parishes attended upon his ministry, and some came from far, though sometimes he signified his dislike of their so doing, so far was he from glorying in it. But they who had spiritual senses exercised to discern things that differ, would attend upon that ministry which they found to be most edifying.
He was about eight years, from first to last, labouring in the word and doctrine at Worthenbury, and his labour was not altogether in vain. He saw in many of the travail of his own soul to the rejoicing of his heart, but with this particular dispensation, which I have heard him sometimes speak of, that most or all of those in that parish, whom he was, through grace, instrumental of good to, died before he left the parish, or quickly after; so that within a few years after his removal thence, thero were very few of the visible fruits of his ministry there; and a new generation sprang up there, who knew not Joseph. Yet the opportunity he found there was of doing the more good, by having those that were his charge near about him, made him all his days bear his testimony to parish order, where it may be had upon good terms, as much more eligible, and more likely to answer the end, than the congregational way of gathering churches from places far distant, which could not ordinarily meet to worship God together.^ From this experience here, though he would say, we must do what we can, when we cannot do what we would,' he often wished and prayed for the opening of a door, by which to retum to that order again.
He had not been long at Worthenbury, but he began to be taken notice of by the neighbouring ministers, as likely to be a considerable man. Though his extraordinary modesty and humility, which even in his youth he was remarkable for, made him to sit down with silence in the lowest room, and to say, as Elihu, Days shall speah; yet his eminent gifts and graces could not long be hid; the ointment of the right hand will betray itself, and a person of his merits could not but meet with those quickly, who said. Friend, go up higher; and so that Scripture was fulfilled, Luke xiv. 10. He was often called upon to preach the week-day lectures, I Ut qnimus, aiunt-; quando, tit volumus. non licet Terence. Audria, Act. IV. Sc. VI.
In a valuable little Treatise, *' Of the Power of Godlinesse,** by Thomas White, duod. 1658. The author states, that one great impediment " whereby wee are hindered in the wayes of God,*'— " not to do what wee can. because we cannot do what wee would, or should." ib. p. 139.
So. Mr. Bereman,—" If you cannot do the good you would, then do the good you can." Farewell Sermons, p. 3M. 4to. 1663.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
33 f which were set up plentifully, and diligently attended apon in those parts, and his labours were generally Teiy acceptable and successful. , The vox pop Mli fastened upon him the epithet of Heavenly Henry,* by which title he was commonly known all the country over; and his advice was sought for by many neighbouring ministers and Christians, for he was one of those that found favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. He was noted at his first setting out, (as I have been told by one who was then intimately acquainted with him, and with his character and conversation,) for three thlogs: 1. Great piety and devotion, and a mighty si Tour of gCMlliness in all his converse. 2. Great indastry in the pursuit of useful knowledge; he was particularly observed to be very inquisitive when he was among the aged and intelligent, hearing them, and asking them questions; a good example to young men, especially youHg ministers. 3. Great self-denial, self-diffidence, and sclf-abase-iient; this eminent humility put a lustre upon all his other graces. This character of him reminds me of a passagpe I have sometimes heard him tell, as a check to the forwardness and confidence of young men, that once at a meeting of ministers, a question of moment was started, to be debated among thepi; upon the first proposal of it, a confident young man shoots his bolf* presently, '^ Truly," nith he,'' I hold it so ;" *' You hold. Sir," saith a grave minister, '* it becomes you to hold your peace/*
Besides his frequent preaching of the lectures about him, he was a constant and diligent attendant wpon those within his reach, as a bearer; and not only wrote the sermons he heard, but afterwards recorded in his diary, what, in each sermon, reached his heart, affected him, and did him good; adding tome proper, pious ejaculations, which were the breathings of his heart, when he meditated upon and prayed over the sermons.
[lie following instances will illustrate the foregoing statement, and preserve, at the same time, some pleasing specimens of the pulpit excellences of various of Mr. Henry's friends and fellow-labourers.
1657, January 7. I heard two sermons at Bangor; the one from Acts xvii. 31. He hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world. My heart was very dead in hearing; the Lord in mercy forgive it; but the truth made up to myself is this,—I would fain be certified,—Am I ready for that day ? It will be terrible to sinners; it will be comfortable to the godly; it is not long to it. Where shall I then appear ? O Lord, let me be found in Christ!—At his right, not at his left, hand ;—among the sheep, not among the
The SQtIion of the Biographie Univenelle Ancienne et Mo-<lcnie. Took Vingtieme, oct ISI7. tit. Henry Bifathieu, say,—that ItepnblabcdaLife "de M. Philippe Henry, (pire de Tauteur,) I'un <te pveinicn nonoonfonniites. en I60C, et appelft par ses admire-
D goats! I have been a wandering sheep, if yet a sheep. Oh, save me for thy mercies' sake!
The other from Acts xxiv. 25. Felix trembled. Much was spoken that reached my heart and present condition, as if the Lord had sent the minister to preach purposely to me. Blessed be God! It is a dreadful thing to sin against conviction ; and that I have done many a time. Father, forgive me ! A convinced person finds a great deal less pleasure in sin than others do. I can set my seal to that truth, and acknowledge myself, therefore, so much the more a fool to transgress without a cause. Sure, ray sin is the greater. Sins against conviction border upon the sin against the Holy Ghost. Oh, how near then have I been to ruin! There hath been but a step between me and death; but God hath had mercy.
Saving convictions melt the heart, set the soul a pra3ring, subdue the will to live according to them. Mine, this day, produced the two former efiects, with hearty unfeigned resolutions touching the latter. Lord, undertake for rac!
I was told that I must not stay till some remarkable time from which to date my conversion to God, as many do, but I must make this day remarkable by doing it now. After dangerous backsliding, lo, I come to Thee, for thou art the Lord my God!—My God in Christ!
April 1. I heard two sermons at Bangor. The one from Psalm cxix. 37. Quicken thou me in thy way. In the prayer before sermon, this confession was put up, which my heart closed with ; Lord we want wisdom to carry ourselves as we ought in the worlds by reason whereof the work of the gospel in our hands is much hindered ! Oh, my God, bestow upon me a wise and an understanding heart. The doctrine was,—that God's people often want quickening in God's way. I am sure I do. Oh, when had I cause to complain, my heart is dead to the world, creatures, pleasures, sin? But to duty, praying, preaching, when, almost, is it otherwise? Lord, tliou gavest life at first; give more life!
May 6. At Thistleworth. From Matt. vi. 10. Thy will be done. In this petition we pray that the secret will of God, which is always wise, may be done upon us, and that the revealed will of God, which is always righteous, may be done by us; the will of his purpose, and the will of his command. In earth as in heaven —A true Christian hath perfection in his eye, though he cannot reach it; (Phil, iii.) that, if possible, he might attain the resurrection of the dead. O Lord, when shall I be perfect; when shall that that is in part be done away ? b An allusion, probably, to the old proverb, A rath man'$ boll h toon sAot. "The hypocrite will rashly and suddenly thoot the Mt of his censure against any that comes in his way." Divine Cha. racters, by Samuel Crook, B. D. p. 120. fol. 1658. See Clark's Lives annexed to the Martyrologie, p. 214. «/ tvpra.
THE UFE OF MR. PHIUP HENRY.
May 10. At Thistleworth. From Matt xii. 96. The doctrine was,—Idle words must be accounted for. Words that are unprofitable bring no glory to God, no real good to ourselves or others, are very sinful,—because they are an abuse of our best member, our tongue, which is our gloiy. We are guilty of very many, every day, in every company. From hence was inferred what need there is for us to reckon with ourselves every night for the idle words and other failings of the day before. It is no wisdom to defer. If we reflect not quickly, we shall forget My heart accuses me of much guilt in this respect. I have formerly been very talkative, and in multitude of words there wants not sin. Lord, cleanse my soul in the blood of Christ, and mortify that corruption for me, by thy Spirit, every day, more and more!
From 1 Pet. iv. 18. it was urged that it is no easy matter to be saved. It was difficult work to Jesus Christ to work redemption for us. It is difficult work to the Spirit to work grace in us, and to carry it on against corruptions, temptations, distractions. I was exhorted to inquire, 1. Can I choose to undergo the greatest suffering rather than commit the least sin ? 2. Can I embrace Christ with his cross ? 3. Can I work for God though there were no wages ? 4. Can I swim against the stream; be good in bad times, and places ?. 5. Can I pull out right eyes for Christ, and cut off right hands, &c. ? I can do all this, and much more, through Christ's strengthening me.
June 3. At Bangor, from Phil. i. 27. The doctrine was,—It is the great duty of Christians to have their conversation as becomes the gospel; that is, clothed with the graces of the gospel, faith, love» humility, meekness, self-denial, patience; and in these to abound, and grow. It is an uncomely sight to see an old professor a young saint. We discredit our keeping. ' Lord, water me every moment; keep me night and day, that I may tluive to thy praise, having my conversation, not only as becomes the gospel, but, which is more, as becomes a minister of the gospel.
June 10. At Ellesmere. * From Matt. v. 6. The doctrine was,—Hungry, thirsty souls shall be filled, partly here, perfectly hereafter, with grace, comfort, glory. Such put a great value upon Christ Men will part with any thing for food; they will go far for it; take pains to get it. Lord, evermore fill my soul with thyself! Creatures will not satisfy.
July 1. At Bangor. From Matt xiii. 44. The observation was,—Those who have found Christ ought to hide him;—not from others, but within themselves in the safest, inmost room of their hearts. This is done by faith, love, humility, obedience, entertainment. e Ml. Pomfiret '* would exhort people Arom the pulpit, that, next to the blood of Christ, they would prize Um and thoughts.'* Life, by Thomas Reynolds, p. 79i oct 17S2.
There is all the reason in the world for it; he is treasure worth hiding; there are great endeavours to rob us of him; if once lost, he is not easily found again; till he can be found again, there can be no true peace. Some lodge Christ, as they do beggars, in their out-houses, by making a visible profession, but sin dwells in the heart The Lord grant that I be not one of those!
From Eccles. i. 2. it was stated,—^That there is nothing under the sun but what is full of the vainest vanity ..—unsatisfying, unprofitable, unsuitable, uncertain, not worthy our affections when we have them, nor our afflicting ourselves when we want them. The saints have always thought so; dying men will not fail to tell us so. Oh, what cause have we to bless God, who hath revealed this unto us, to take us from things here below, which otherwise we might have ventured our souls for, and so have perished for evr! I bless God, it is as if a friend had stopt me from giving all I have for a counterfeit pearl,—Oh, do.not venture ; it is but counterfeit!
From James v. 9. the solemn truth was enforced. Behold, the Judge standeth before the door ; that is, very near. There is but a hair's breadth of time between us and our account This we ought to behold with an eye of faith, thereby to bring it near to us, and make it as present. We must not think, in the mean time, that forbearance is payment Patience doth not take away sin; only the pardoning grace of God doth that. The time to come will be as swift as that which hath been, and concerning which we usually say. It was but the other day, &c. though it may be it was thirty or forty years ago. This should quicken us to ply time.^ The Lord write this truth in my heart, and help me to see the Judge,—not sitting, but standing, before the door, in a moving posture, that I may study, and preach, and pray, and live, accordingly. Amen, for Christ's sake!
Oct. 5. At Welsh-Hampton,** from Col. iii. 8. The doctrine was,—It is the great duty of all Christians to put off anger. It unfits for duty. A little jogging puts a clock or watch out of frame, so a little passion the heart. A man cannot wrestle with God and virangle with his neighbour at the same time. Short sins often cost us long and sad sorrows. An angry man is like one in a crowd who hath a sore boil, every one thrusts him, and troubles him. With the froward thou wilt show thyselffroward; —a dreadful Scripture to a peevish, froward man. Those who arc too merry when pleased, are commonly too angry when crossed. Blessed Lord, subdue this lust in my heart! I am very weak there. Turn the stream of my anger against self, and sin! *]
What a wonderful degree of piety and humility
A A parish in Salop, about three miles firom Ellesmere. • P. Henry. Diary, Orig. MS.
THE UFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
36 doth it eridence, for one of so great acquaintance with tfac things of God to write,—^Tbis I learnt out of fuch a sermon, and This was the truth I made up to mjself oat of such a sermon! And, indeed, something oat of eyery sermon. His diligent improvement of the word preached contributed, more than any one thing, as a means to his great attainments in knowledge and gprace. He would say sometimes, that one great use of week-day lectures was, that it gate ministers an opportunity of hearing one another preach, by which they are likely to profit, when they hear not as masters, but as scholars; not as censors, bat as learners.
His great friend and companion, and fellow-labourer in the work of the Lord, was the worthy Mr. Richard Steel,' Minister of Hanmer,' one of the next parishes to Worthenbury, whose praise is in the churches of Christ, for his excellent and useful treatises, "The Husbandman's Calling,'"* "An Antidote aipdnst Distractions,'^' and several others. Ho was Mr. Henry's alter idem the man of his counsel; with him he joined frequently at Hanmer and elsewhere in Christian conference, and in days of humiliation and prayer: besides their meetings with other ministers at public lectures; after which it was usual for them to spend some time among themselves in set disputations in Latin. This was the work that in those days was carried on among ministers, who made it ^eir business, as iron sharpens iron, to provoke one another to love and good works. What was done of this kind in Worcestershire, Mr. Baxter tells us in his Life.^
In the beginning of his days he often laboured under bodily distempers; it was feared that he was io a consumption; and some blamed him for taking so much pains in his ministerial work, suggesting to him. Master, spare thyself. One of his friends told idm, he lighted up all his pound of candles together; * and that he could not hold out long at that rate; and wished him to be a better husband of his strength. But he often reflected upon it with comfort afterwards, that he was not influenced by such suggestions.—The more we do, the more we may do, so he would sometimes say, in the service of God. When his work was sometimes more than ordinary, and bore hard upon him, he thus appealed to God;— Thoa knowest. Lord, how well contented I am to spoid and to be spent in thy service; and if the outward man decay, O let the inward man be renewr Nat MXh Miy, ie39: Ob. I6tb Nov. 1003. See Wilson's Hist, of Dtaentinf Cborcbes v. 2. p. 448.
g See Leiand, wt tmptm, r. 5. pp. 30,31.
kSmlSSBL
i Svo. 1073.
k Beliq. Baxter. Ub. L Part L p. 90.«/M}»ra.
I fai Sderfki's Beports, the phrase is thas used; " Et si terme
KM devteal mn par vie nemaioderal aater par trie remainder al tune par vie, te. Bt iaiot al 90 Tun apres Tauter que ces est btme devise al ceuz touts nicnt obstant les otgections de possibio 2 ed! Upon the returns of his indisposition he ex-presseth a great concern how to get spiritual good by it,—to come out of the furnace, and leave some dross behind; for it is a great loss to lose an affliction. He mentions it as that which he hoped did him good, that he was ready to look upon every return of distemper as a summons to the grave; thus he learned to die daily.—I find, saith he, my earthly tabernacle tottering, and when it is taken down I shall have a building in heaven, that shall never fail. Blessed be God the Father, and my Lord Jesus Christ, and the good Spirit of grace. Even so, Amen. This was both his strength and his song, under his bodily infirmities.
While he was at Worthenbury he constantly laid by the tenth of his income for the poor, which he carefully and faithfully disposed of, in the liberal things which he devised, especially the teaching of poor children. And he would recommend it as a good rule to lay by for charity in some proportion, according as the circumstances are, and then it will be the easier to lay out in charity. We shall be the more apt to seek for opportunities of doing good, when we have money lying by us, of which we have said,—This is not our own, but the poor's. To encourage himself and others to works of charity, he would say,—He is no fool who parts with that which be cannot keep, when be is sure to be recompensed with that which he cannot lose. And yet to prove alms to be righteousness, and to exclude all boasting of them, he often expressed himself in those words of David,— Of thine ovmy Lord, have we given thee,"^
In the year 1658, the ministers of that neighbourhood began to enlarge their correspondence with the ministers of North Wales; and several meetings they had at Ruthin and other places that year, for the settling of a correspondence, and the promoting of unity and love, and good understanding among themselves, by entering into an Association, like those some years before of Worcestershire" and Cumberland,** to which, as their pattern, those two having been published, they did refer themselves. They appointed particular Associations; and, notwithstanding the diflerences of apprehension that were among them, (some being in their judgments episcopal, others congregational, and others classical,) they agreed to lay aside the thoughts of matters in variance, and to give to each other the right hand of fellowship; that with one shoulder, and with one llties sur possibilities si touts les psons fuer m esse al temps del devise quia touts le» eandfU art HghUd atone*:" p. 451. fol. 1683. m 1 Chron. xxix. 14. Mr. Falrclough would often say,—that we read not or any good man in all the history of Scripture, or of the primitive tiroes, that was covetous. Clark's Lives or Eminent Persons, p. 18*2. «/ tuftra.
B See Christian Concord; or, The Agreement of the Associated Pastors and Churches of Worcestershire, with its Explication and Defence, by R. Baxter, 4to. 1663
Q See the Agreement of the Associated BAinisters and Churches
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY. consent, they might study, each in their places, to promote the common interests of Christ's kingdom, and common salvation of precioos souls. He observed that this year, after the death of Oliver Cromwelljp there was generally, throughout the nation, a great change in the temper of God's people, and a mighty tendency towards peace and unity, as if they were, by consent, weary of their long clashings; which, in his diary, he expresseth his great rejoicing in, and his hopes that the time was at hand, when Judah should no longer vex Ephraim, nor Ephraim envy Judah, neither should they learn war any more,' And though these hopes were soon disappointed by the change of the scene, yet he would often speak of the experience of that and the following year in those parts, as a specimen of what may yet be expected, and, therefore, in faith prayed for, when the Spirit shall be poured out upon us from on high. But, alas! Who shall live when God doth this? From this experience he likewise gathered this observation,—that it is not so much our difference of opinion that doth us the mischief; (for we may as soon expect all the clocks in the town to strike together, as to see all good people of a mind in every thing on this side heaven;) but the mismanagement of that difference.
In the Association of the Ministers it was referred to Mr. Henry to draw up that part of their agreement which concerned the worship of God, which task he performed to their satisfaction. His preface to what he drew up begins thus:—" Though the main of our desires and endeavours be after unity in the greater things of God ; yet we judge uniformity in the circumstances of worship, a thing not to be altogether neglected by us, not only in regard of that influence, which external visible order hath upon the beauty and comeliness of the churches of Christ; but also as it hath a direct tendency to the strengthening of our hands in ministerial services, and withal to the removing of those prejudices which many people have conceived, even against religion and worship itself. We bless God, from our very souls, for that whereunto we have already attained; and yet we hope some further thing may be done, in reference to our closer walking by the same rule, and minding the same things. The word of God is the rule which we desire and resolve to walk by in the administration of ordinances; and for those things wherein the word is silent, we think we may, and ought to, have recourse to Christian prudence, and the practice of the reformed churches, agreeing with the general rules of the word: and, therefore, we oT the Counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland, with some-thing Tor Explication and Exhortation annexed, 4to. I65A.
P Sept 3.1658.
Rellq. Baxter. Lib. Part I. p. 100, kc. «/ npra. r Isa. xi. 13. transposed; and Isa. ii. 4.
One of the doctors who visited Huss, nid to him,^'* U the have had, as we think we ought, in our present agreement, a special eye to the Directory," &c.
These agreements of theirs were the more likely to be for good, for that here, as in Worcestershire, when they were in agitation, the ministers set apart a day of fasting and prayer among themselves, to bewail ministerial neglects, and to seek to God for direction and success in their ministerial work. They met sometimes for this purpose at Mr. Henry's house at Worthenbury.
One passage may not improperly be inserted here, that once at a meeting of the ministers, being desired to subscribe a certificate concerning one whom he had not sufficient acquaintance with; he refused, giving this reason,—that he preferred the peace of his conscience before the friendship of all the men in the world. *
Sept. 29,1668, the Lady Pulcston died.—She was, saith he, the best friend I had on earth, but my Friend in heaven is still where he was, and he will never leave me nor forsake me. He preached her funeral sermon from Isaiah iii. last verse; Cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils. He hath noted this expression of hers not long before she died: *' My soul leans to Jesus Christ; lean to me, sweet Saviour." About this time he writes,—A dark cloud is over my concernments in this family, but my desire is, that, whatever becomes of me and my interest, the interest of Christ may still be kept on foot in this place. Amen, so be it. But he adds soon after, that saying of Athanasius, which he was used often to quote and take comfort from; Nnbecnla est et cito pertransibit. It is a little cloud, and will soon blow over.
About a year after, Sept. 5,1650, Judge Puleston died, and all Mr. Henry's interest in the Emeral family was buried in his grave. He preached the Judge's funeral sermon, from Nehemiah xiii. 14. Wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof The design of which sermon was not to applaud his deceased friend. I find not a word in the sermon to that purpose. But he took occasion from the instance of so great a benefactor to the ministry as the Judge was, to show that deeds done for the house of God, and the offices thereof, are good deeds: and to press people, according as their ability and opportunity was, to do such deeds.
[Thus he enlarged,—They arc acts of piety. Such acts as have immediate relation to God. That which is gven to the poor members of Jesus Christ to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, is charity.— Council (of Constance, A. D. 1414) should tell you, that you have but one eye, though you have really two, you would be obliged to agree with the Council." " While God keeps me in my senses, replied Hitss, ** I would not say such a thing against my consci. ence, on the entreaty or command or the whole world." BSilner's Church Hist. v. 4. p. S44.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
37
That which is given to, or done for, the house of oar God, is piety.
They are acts of justice. Alms in Hebrew are called justice. When bestowed upon the house of God, they are as a rent-penny for what we enjoy.
They have a tendency to the good of souls. The minister's success will further the patron's account. To be an instrument to bring and keep the means of grace among a people, is indeed a good deed.
They tend very much to the credit of religion. It is often cast in our teeth by the Papists, What good deeds are done among you for the house of the Lord since the Reformation ? Pater nosier built churches, and our Father pulls them down; whereas, probably, most of their good deeds were mulcts improved for penance.
Wipe them not ont. This implies that God notes them as in a table-book; as every sin, so every good deed. Allusion to Esther vi. 1. And it is in order to a requital, Malachi i. 10.
Indeed the work itself is its own wages. Church-work is honourable work: it is an honour to be permitted to do any good deed for the house of God.
Let US be ashamed of our barrenness in good deeds for the house of our God. Especially those tiiat have wherewithal; estates, opportunities. How much of oar rent are we behind with God! Wc can be liberal and bountiful upon other occasions, in housekeeping, but what is done for the Lord's house? Are we not as an almanack, on one side full of red and black letters and figures, on the other side blank? God takes it very unkindly, Haggi i. 4.
Let the subject stir us up to do what good we can for the house of our God: where much is given, moch will be required. It is not building of churches that I am persuading you to, but to do something to pfomote religion. Sit down and consider,—Can I do nothing for the house of my God ?
And what you do, do quickly, Eccles. ix. 10. Do self-denyingly, 1 Chron. xxix. 14. Do belicvingly, Heb. xi. 6. Sprinkle it with faith.'
Another] passage I find in that sermon which ought to be recorded; that it had been for several years the practice of a worthy gentleman in the neighbouring county, in renewing his leases, instead of making it a condition that his tenants should keep a hawk or a dog for him, to oblige them that they should keep a Bible in their houses for themselves, and should bring up their children to learn to read, and to be catechized. This, saith he, would be no charge to you, and it might oblige them to that which otherwise they would neglect.—Some vided, saith he, in his diary, that I had chosen t P. Henry. Orig. MS.
In Uie gift of the Bishop of St. Aaapb. Ecton's Thesaur. by Dr. WiDii. p, 49L That See was then vacant. Le Neve, p. 22.
See ProT. ntv. St. Gal i. lo. Jer. ilv. 5. some other subject for that sermon, but I approved myself to God, and if I please men, I am not the servant of Christ."
What personal affronts he received from some of the branches of that family at that time, need not be mentioned, but with what exemplary patience he bore them, ought not to be forgotten.
In March, 1658-9, he was very much solicited to leave Worthenbury, and to accept of the Vicarage of Wrexham,* which was a place that he had both a great interest in, and a great kindness for, but he could not see his call clear from Worthenbury, so he declined it. The same year he had an offer made him of a considerable living near London; but he was not of them that are given to change, nor did he consult with flesh and blood, nor seek great things to himself.*
That year he had some disturbance from the Quakers,' who were set on by some others who wished ill to his ministry. They challenged him to dispute with them; and that which he was to prove against them, was, that the God he worshipped was not an idol; that John Baddely (a blacksmith in Malpas, and the ringleader of the Quakers in that country) was not infallible, nor without sin; that baptism with water and the Lord's supper are gospel-ordinances ; that the Scriptures are the word of God; and that Jesus Christ will come to judge the world at the last day. But he never had any public disputes with them, nor so much disturbance from them in public worship, as some other ministers had elsewhere about that time. He had some apprehensions at that time, that God would make the Quakers a scourge to this nation; but had comfort in this assurance, that God would in due time vindicate his own honour, and the honour of his ordinances, and those of them who will not repent to give him glory, will be cast into the fire.
One passage I cannot omit, because it discovers what kind of spirit the Quakers were of. A debauched gentleman being in his revels at Malpas, drinking and swearing, was, after a sort, reproved for it by Baddely the Quaker, who was in his ccm-pany. " Why," saith the gentleman, " I'll ask Ihec one question, Whether is it better for me to follow drinking and swearing, or to go and hear Henry?" He answered, " Of the two, rather follow thy drinking and swearing."
The Cheshire rising this year, in opposition to the irregular powers that then were uppermost, under Sir George Booth, afterwards Lord Delamere, and that of North Wales under Sir Thomas Mid-dleton,^ could not affect Worthenbury, and tho
X See Reliq. Baxter. Lib. I. Part I. p. 77. nt tvpra, and Mather's Hist, of New England, Book VII. p. 21, &c. fol. I70i. It would be manirestly unjust to class with their Torerathers the socie Ues now so designated. r See the Declaration of Sir Thomas Middleton, Seijeant-Miur-
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY. country tliereabouts. Mr Henrjr's prayer for them in his Diary, the day of their first appearing, is,— Lord, own them, if they truly own thee! He notes, that Lambert's' forces which came down to suppress them, did in that neighbourhood espouse the Quakers' cause, and offer injury to some ministers; and, therefore, saith he, unless God intend the ruin of the nation by them, they cannot prosper. Nor did they long, though in that expedition they had success. In their return, some of Lambert's soldiers were at Worthenbuiy Church, hearing Mr. Henry, upon a Lord's day; and one of them sat with his hat on, while they were singing psalms, for which he publicly admonished him: and there being many Anabaptists among them, he hath recorded it as a good providence, that those questions in the catechism, which are concerning baptism, came in course to be expounded that day. The first rising of the Cheshire forces was August 1, 1659, and the 19th following they were worsted and scattered by Lambert's forces, near Northwich; a strange spirit of fear being upon them, which quite took ofi* their chariot-wheels.* The country called it not the Cheshire Rising, but the Cheshire Race. Some blamed him that he did not give God thanks publicly for the defeat of Sir George Booth; to whom he answered, with his usual mildness, that his apprehensions concerning that aflfair were not the same with theirs. We are now, saith he, much in the dark, never more. He preached the lecture at Chester soon after, just at the time when Mr. Cook, an eminent minister in Chester, and several others, were carried prisoners to London, for their agency in the late attempt; and the city was threatened to have their charter taken away, &c. The text in course that day, (for they preached over the latter part of that epistle, if not the whole, at that lecture,) happened to be Hebrews xiii. 14. We have here no continuing city, which he thought a word upon the wheels at that time. He notes in his Diary, that when, after that, the army ruled, disturbed the Parliament, and carried all before them with a high band, there were great grounds to fear sad times approaching; and his prayer is,—Lord, fit thy people for the fiery trial.
He was a hearty well-wisher** to the return of the King, the spring following, April, 1660, and was much affected with the mercy of it.—While others rejoice carnally, saith he. Lord, help thy people to rejoice spiritually, in our public national mercies.
General and Vice-Admiral for the Six Counties of North Wales, 1645. 4to.
I John Lambert, one of the Parliamentarian Generals. See Aikin's General Biography, v. 6. p. 100. There are several curious lettera concerning him in Lord Clarendon's State Papera, ▼. a pp. 329. &c.
See Exod. xiv. 25. b " The King himself told the Ministera of London, on the day of his happy return, when the Rev. Mr. A. Jackson presented him
It was upon that occasion that Mr. Baxter preached his sermon of right rejoicing,' on Luke x. 20. B<it be and others soon saw cause to rejoice with trembling, and to sing both of mercy and judgment; for about that time he hath this melancholy remark,-* Religion loses ground exceedingly, and profaneness gets it. Help, Lord! However, he was very industrious to quiet the minds of some who were uneasy at that great revolution; and that scripture yielded him much satisfaction, John iii. 35. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into hi* hands. If Christ be not only the Head of the church, but Head over all things to the church, we may be assured, that all things shall be made to work together for good to it.' The text also which the Lord put into his heart to preach upon on the day of public thanksgiving for the King's restoration, was very comfortable to him, Proverbs xxi. 1. The King's heart is in the hand of the Lord.^ His sense of that great mercy of God to the nation, in the unbloody, peaceable, and legal settlement of King Charles II. upon the throne, was the same with that of multitudes besides, both ministers and others, that were of the quiet in the land, who yet, not long after, suffered very hard things under him. Soon after the return of the King, he notes how industrious some were to remove him from Worthenbury,on which he writes this as the breathing of his soul towards God; Lord, if it please thee, fasten me here as a nail in a sure place; if otherwise, I will take nothing ill which thou dost with me. And when pressed by his friends more earnestly than before, to accept of some other place,—Lord, saith he, mine eye is up unto thee ; I am wholly at thy disposal; make my way plain before my face, because of mine enemies ; my resolution is, to deny myself if thou callest me. Here, or any where, it is no great matter where, I am. Many years after the King's return, he dated a letter, May 29. T 4/«W ^^ ^ yXvKvmKpgi.
There are two things further which I think it may be of use to give some account of in the close of this chapter. 1. Of the course of his ministry at Worthenbury; and, 2. of the state of his soul, and the communion he had with God, in those years.
As to the subjects he preached upon, he did not use to dwell long upon a text.—Better one sermon, upon many texts, viz. many scriptures opened and applied, than many sermons upon one text. To that purpose he would sometimes speak.' with a Bible in their behalf, as he passed through St Paul's Church'yard, to this effect;—7Xa/ AemustaitribuU Am restawratwi, mnder God, to their praytrs and endtawmrg.'* The Coufonnists' Fourth Plea for the Nonconformists, 4to. 1683. p. 69. e Quarto, 1660. d See Eph. v. 23. Col. i. 18. Ephes. i. 22. Rom. viii. 28.
See the plan of the Sermon in the Evan. Mag. v. xxvii. p. 399. f The Synod of St Poy.in France, A. D. 1578, witnesseth against ministers dwelling long upon a text, and would Jiave them expound
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
30
He used to preach in a fixed method, and linked iussabjeclB in a sort of chain.« He adapted his mediod and style to the capacity of his hearers, fetching his similitudes for illustration from those things whicb were familiar to them. He did not shoot the arrow of the word over their heads in high notions, or the flourishes of affected rhetoric, nor under their feet, by blunt and homely expressions, as many do*^ under pretence of plainness, but to their hearts, in close and lively applications. His delivery was very graceful and agreeable, far from being either noisy and precipitate on the one hand, or doll and slow on the other. His doctrine did drop as the dew, and distil as the soaking rain, and came with a charming, pleasing power, such as many will bear witness to, that have wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.*
He wrote the notes of his sermons pretty large for the most part, and always very legible. But even when he had put his last hand to them, he conmionly left many imperfect hints, which gave room for en-laigement in preaching, wherein he had a great felicity. And he would often advise ministers not to tie themselves too strictly to their notes, but, having well digested the matter before, to allow themsel Tes a liberty of expression, such as a man's affections, if they be well raised, will be apt to furnish him with. But for this no certain rule can be ^ven, tiiero are diversities of gifts, and each to profit withal.
He kept his sermon-notes in very neat and exact order; sermons in course, according to the order of the subject; and occasional sermons according to the scripture-order of the texts ; so that he could readily torn to any of them. And yet, though afterwards he was removed to a place far enough distant from any of that auditory, yet, though some have desired it. he seldom preached any of those hundreds of sermons which he had preached at Worthenbury; no not when he preached never so privately, but to the hut he studied new sermons, and wrote them as elaborately as ever; for he thought a sermon best preached when it was newly meditated. Nay, if sometimes he had occasion to preach upon the same text, yet he would make and write the sermon anew; and he never offered that to God which cost him nothing.*^ and treat of as many in their ministry as tliey can, fleeing all OHtentation and long digressions. Quick's Synodic. ▼. 1. p. 117. Life of P. Henry by Ifotthew Henry. Orlg. MS. r Appendix, No. VIIL
% A like testimony is borne of another contemporary.—'* He did not soar aloft In high expressions, shooting over his hearers, but did condescend to the capacities of the meanest, which is an excellence in any." Works of Mr. John Murcot, 4to. 1657. Ep. Ded. by Dr. Samuel Winter, p. 3. See also Clark's Lives annexed to the Martyrologie, p. 176. «/ nrpro.
1 See Dent xzziL 3. Luke iv.32. k Seethe Lives of Dr. Stannton.p. 3& daod. 1073. and Dr. Rob. Hsnis, pu 86L «/ mprm. Also the Life of Demosthenes, Plutarch, V. &. p. imaf Mfpm.
When he went to Oxford, and preached there before the University in Christ-church, as he did several times, his labours were not only very acceptable, but successful too; particularly one sermon which he preached there, on Proverbs xiv. 9. FooU make a mock at nn; for which sermon a young Master of Arts came to his chamber afterwards to return him thanks, and to acknowledge the good impressions which divine grace, by that sermon, had made upon his soul, which he hoped ho should never forget.
In his Diary he frequently records the frame of his spirit in studying and preaching. Sometimes blessing God for signal help vouchsafed, and owning him the Lord God of all his enlargements; at other times, complaining of great deadncss and straitncss. —It is a wonder, saith he, that I can speak of eternal things with so little sense of the reality of them. Lord, strengthen that which remains, which is ready to die! And he once writes thus, upon a studying day,—I forgot explicitly, and expressly, when I began, to crave help from God,' and the chariot-wheels drove"* accordingly. Lord, forgive my omissions, and keep me in the way of duty.
[In June, 1657, he writeSf^-This month I had the remembrance of much f;\x\\X set home upon my conscience in reference to the sabbath day. vl used to lie longer in bed than I ought, which hath been occasioned by sitting up over late the night before, and that by neglecting to make preparations for preaching sooner in the week." I am often put to it to hurry over truths. So that two sermons were provided, I have not cared how poorly. Lord, I confess it to thee with shame, and beg thy grace that it may be so no more. °]
As to the state of his soul in these years, it should seem by his Diary, that he was exercised with some doubts and fears respecting it.—I think, saith he, never did any poor creature pass through such a mixture of hope and fear, joy and sadness, assurance and doubting, down and up, as I have done these years past —. The notice of this may be of use to poor drooping Christians, that they may know their case is not singular; and that, if God for a small moment hide his face from them, he deals with them no otherwise than as he uscth sometimes to deal with the dearest of his servants. It would 1 He that prays most will preach best Spiritual beggars are special preachers. Mr. Porter; from a BfS. in P. Henry's hand, writing. m See Exod. xiv. 25.
B Mr. Shephard, of New England, usually had his sermons finished upon Friday iiigbt. '* He hath sometimes exprest himself thus in pubhcke: -Ood will curse that man's labours that lumbers up and down in the world all the week, and then upon Saturday, in the altemoon, goes to bis study, when, as God knows, that time were little enough to pray and weep in, and to get his heart in frame." Address to the Reader, signed William Greenhill and Samuel Mather, and prefixed to Mr. Shephard's Subjection to Christ in all his Ordinances and Appointments, duod. 1652. o P. Henry. Diary, Orig. MS.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY. affect one, to hear one that lived a life of communion with God, complaining of great straitness in prayer.—No life at all in the duty, many wanderings ; if my prayers were written down, and my Tain thoughts interlined, what incoherent nonsense would there be! I am ashamed, Lord, I am ashamed! Oh, pity, and pardon!
[I find in nothing more of the deceitfulness of my heart than in secret worship. Oh, how hardly am I brought to it, and how little sweetness and delight do I for the most part find in it! I blush, and am ashamed. Lord, pity, and pardon, and help; for, with my mindf I serve the law of God, though, with my flesh, the law of sin.
I have a froward peevish spirit unto this day, impatient of contradiction. Oh, that it were mortified, that the grace of meekness might abound in me more and more.p]
To hear him suspecting the workings of pride of heart, when he gave an account to a friend, who inquired of him, touching the success of his ministry, and that he should record this concerning himself, with this ejaculation annexed,—The Lord pardon and subdue! It was a sign that he kept a very watchful eye upon the motions of his own heart.
[At another time he writes ;—^Thcse following sins were set home with power upon my conscience:
1. Omissions innumerable. I fall short of duty in every relation.
2. Much frowardness upon every occasion, which fills my way with thorns and snares.
3. Pride; a vein of it runs through all my conversation.
4. Self-seeking. Corrupt ends in all I do. Applause of men oftentimes regarded more than the glory of God.
5. My own iniquity. Many bubblings up of heart-corruption, and breakings forth too. O Lord, shame lath covered my face. Pardon, and purge for Jesu's sake! <)]
To hear him charging it upon himself, that he was present at such a duty in the midst of many distractions, not tasting sweetness in it, &c. When a fire is first kindled, saith he, there is a deal of smoke and smother, that afterwards wear away; so, in young converts, much peevishness, frowardness, darkness; so it hath been with my soul, and so it is yet in a great measure. Lord, pity, and do not quench the smoking flax; though as yet it doth but smoke, let these sparks be blown up into a flame!
Great mercies, but poor returns; signal opportunities, but small improvements; such are his complaints frequently concerning himself. And though few or none excelled him in profitable discourse.
P P. Henry. Diary, Orig. MS. q Palmer's Noncon. Mem. v. 3. Henry'8 Diary, r P. Henry. Diary, Orij MS. p. 480. itated to be from Mr. yet in that he often bewails his barrenness and unprofitableness.—Little good done or gotten such a day, for want of a heart; it is my sin and shame. O that I had wings lihe a dove! [Lord, cleanse me from my omissions. The world Uiinks better of me than I do of myself, God knows. At another time he writes,—Nothing troubles me so much as that I am so unprofitable in my generation. Lord, give me wisdom, that I may preach in all my discourses! ^]
Yet when he wanted a faith of assurance, he liv by a faith of adherence.—Such a day, saith he, a full resignation was made of all my concernments into the hands of my Heavenly Father; let him deal with me as seemeth good in his eyes. I am learning and labouring to live by faith. Lord, help my unbelief !• Another time he notes that many perplexing fears being upon his spirit, they were all silenced with that sweet word, which was seasonably brought to his remembrance,—JVar none of those things which thou shalt suffer, [There is no living by a dead faith, he observes; no, nor by a living faith, unless lively. Help, Lord, thy poor servant, that my faith fail not! I do not know that I ever saw my way clearer. Then, Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
At the commencement of a new year he thus writes, and it is only a specimen of his usual devotion at such seasons :— 1671. January 1. Covenants of new obedience solemnly renewed with God, and sealed, this new year's day, in the blood of Jesus Christ Amen! Lord, be Surety for thy servant for good ! I yield myself, and all my concerns, to be at thy disposal; and I am heartily glad that my times are in thy hand, and not my own. Do with me, and mine, this year, as seemeth good in thine eyes ! So be it!"
Again, he says,—I met with a friendly, seasonable admonition. Blessed be God! My heart was then somewhat in a better frame than ordinary for the receiving of it, and I hope it hath done me good. The Lord is very gracious, in that he follows me thus from time to time.
The eyes of many are upon me; some for one end, some for another; some for good, some for evil. I had need to be watchful. Lord, hold up my goings in thy path, that my footsteps slip not! Thou tellest all my wanderings. For Jesu's sake, let them be forgotten!']
He very frequently kept days of fasting and humiliation in secret, which he calls his days of atonement. Sometimes he observed these monthly, and sometimes only upon special occasions; but the memorandums in his Diary, not only while he was at Worthenbury, but often after, show what sweet
• Appendix, No. IX.
t P. Henry. Diary, Orig. MS
V Ibid.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
41 union he had with God in those solemn duties, no eye was witness to, but his who seeth in and will reward openly. Remember, O my mch a day, as a day of more than ordinary ;ments entered into, and strong resolutions up of closer walking, and more watchfulness! Gody undertake for me! And upon another ;e days of secret prayer and humiliation, he —If sowing in tears be so sweet, what then e harvest be, when I shall reap in joy. Bless rd, O my soul, who forgiveth all thine iniqui-ad will, in due time, heal all thy diseases. s good for me to draw near to God. The r and the nearer the better. How sweet is I indeed, if heaven upon earth has so much less in it! *]
CHAPTER IV.
RIAGB. FABflLT,FAMILY RELIGION, AND THB EDUCATION OF BIS CHILDREN. moved from Emeral, to the house in Worthen-vhich the Judge had built for him, in Febru-S58-9; and then had one of his sisters with him ;p his house. No sooner had he a tent, but lad an altar in it, and that a smoking altar. he set up repetition on sabbath evenings, and med his neighbours to it.
Christian friends often, and sometimes his len in the ministry, kept days of fasting and r at his house. He used to tell people when ad boilt new houses, they must dedicate them, ring to Deuteronomy xx. 5. and Psalm xxx. that is, they must invite God to their houses, evote them to his service, nridence having thus brought him into a house own, soon after provided him a help-meet for After long agitation, and some discouragement pposition from the father, he married Kathe-iie only daughter and heir of Mr. Daniel Mat-, of Broad Oak, in the township of Iscoyd,* ntshire, but in the parish of Malpas, which is eshire, and about two miles distant from Whit-h, a considerable market-town in Shropshire, [atthews ^ was a gentleman of a very competent ; such an one as King James the First used 'was the happiest lot of all others, which set a lelow the office of a Justice of Peace, and above f a petty Constable. This was his only child: fair and honourable overtures had been made R- disposal; but it pleased God so to order s, and to overrule the spirits of those concerned, lie was reserved to be a blessing to this good
Henry. Otary. Orig. MS. s Oimefod'! HiBt. of Cheshire, v. 2. p. 347.
Kended, at iattae tradition of the family, from Matthew, (froD whOD came the name of Matthew ir5,; a noted Comman, in things pertaining both to life and godliness.
[The following anecdote is traditionary. After Mr. Philip Henry, who came to Worthenbury a stranger, had been in the country for some time, his attachment to Miss Matthews, afterwards his wife, became manifest; and it was mutual. Among the other objections urged by her friends against the connexion was this,—that, although Mr. Henry was a gentleman, and a scholar, and an excellent preacher, he was quite a stranger, and they did not even know where he came from. " True," replied Miss Matthews, '' but I know where he is going, and I should like to go with him."
The opposition of Mr. Matthews to the marriage, and the imposition of inequitable terms, with a view to breaking off the acquaintance, was, for a considerable time, a severe trial, to the faith and patience of Mr. Henry. In this affair the influence of the holy religion he professed was exceedingly conspicuous. Nor will the reader disapprove of a momentary interruption of the narrative by the introduction of the following letters.
To Mr. Matthews.
Sir,
I have received, by my friend, your answer to what I proposed in my last, concerning your lands at Brunnington, with which I am satisfied. I understand from him, also, that for your other lands, which are at Broad-Oke, your demand is £800. which sum being, as I am informed, according to the present rate of lands, near their full value, makes it, in effect, no portion, but a purchase. I do therefore hope. Sir, it is but your demand, and that room is left for some abatement, so far, at least, that there may be equality, and, withal, that provision may be made for my just security in case your daughter should die without issue. Concerning both which I shall desire the interposure of no other arbitrator than your own self, to whom I would refer it. I have had many occasions for laying out of monies this last year in furnishing my house and other ways; nevertheless I have £200, or thereabouts, which I am willing to disburse to you for the present, and shall give you sufficient bond for more to be paid within reasonable time, on the considerations before mentioned. Or, if you please to give your consent that I may match with your daughter, I shall be as willing to dispose of those monies elsewhere to her use, and you may do with your own as you think good. I assure you, Sir, though you will not believe me, the Lord knows, I eye it not, having learned, mander in the wars of Prance, under Henry V. and killed upon London bridge, in Henry the Sixth's time, iu lV\e %MVVi^«»a:^<^ ^V> Wat Tyler's RebeUion. Lite ot P. Httirj \>^ ^^»>veaftv >\t?osi Orig. MS.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY. in that estate whereiii I am, to be content. Sir, I beseech you, have some respect in this matter to honest, innocent affections; though not to mine, who am but a stranger; yet, however, to hers who is your own flesh; and be pleased to consider, the same God, who bids your child obey you, bids you also, in the same breath, not to provoke her, lest she be discouraged. I should much rejoice if I might hear that you are inclined, yet, at last, to entertain more charitable, favourable thoughts concerning me, who do really desire to approve myself.
Sir, Your servant in the Lord, Worthenbury, 16, 1659. Philip Henry. ^
To Mr. Matthews.
Sir,
It hath been all along my desire and care, as far as I have known myself, to walk in the highway in this affair concerning your daughter. I can truly say your dislike of it, hitherto, hath been one of the greatest afflictions that hath befallen me; as, on the other hand, your approbation would be one of my greatest outward mercies. And I do bless the Lord, who hath been pleased thus far to incline your heart towards me, hoping he will finish what he hath begun. It falls out. Sir, that I am engaged upon the service of my calling to-morrow in the work of the Lord ; but, upon Wednesday morning, at nine o'clock, God willing, I shall not fail to be at your tenant's house, if your occasions will permit your presence there, at that time, or when else you shall appoint. This, with my service to yourself, and love unfeigned to your daughter, is all at present from him who is, and desires to be thought to be.
Sir, Worthenbury, Yours, to serve you, Feb. 27,1660. Philip Henry.*
The Articles* preliminary to the marriage bear date March 20, 1650, and stipulate for the solemnization '* at or before the first day of May next ensuing.'^ Circumstances, however, arose which seemed to render procrastination expedient,' and a fresh difficulty having presented itself to the mind of Mr. Matthews, it is, in a letter dated Worthenbury, June 13,1650, thus amiably referred to. '^ Far be it from me to blame your due paternal care; but truly, Sir, my condition being such as, blessed be God, it is, and my desires and expectations being proportioned accordingly, and no way exceeding, I e Orig. MS. d Ibid.
0 Original, in Mr. Henry's hand.wiiting. Penes me. f P. Henry. Orig. MS.
R Orig. MS. h See Gibson's Codex, v. 1. p. 424. fol. 1761. am apt to think it might be an easy matter to remove that obstruction. For my own part I am willing tt refer it to yourself. You may deal in it as you see cause, and I shall acquiesce in your pleasure,—only favour me in her towards whom my affections are, which is the geat request and sole ambition, in this present address, of. Sir, your friend and servant in the Lord, Philip Henry.''']
His purpose of marriage was published ** in the church three Lord's days before; a laudable practice, which he greatly approved, and persuaded others to.