Section 5
I shall be glad to hear, in your next, how it is with your younger son, and also the young man you mention. The Lord, I trust, will be gracious. To his mercy, grace, and peace, I recommend you and yours; and beg again, that I, and mine, may be remembered of you, who am.
Sir, Yours, much obliged, to honour, love, and serve you, March 26, 1687. P. H.
For Henry Ashurst, Esq.
At his house in St. John-Street,
London.^]
It was in the latter end of the year 1685, when the stream ran so very strong against the dissenters, that Mr. Henry, being in discourse with a very great man of the church of England,' mentioned King Charles's indulgence in 1672, as that which gave rise to his stated preaching in a separate assembly; and added, if the present King James should, in like manner, gve me leave, I would do the same again. To which that great man replied,—*' Never expect any such thing from him; for, take my word for it, he hates you nonconformists in his heart.''—Truly, said Mr. Henry, I believe it, and I think he doth not c Matthew Henry, then in London. f Orig. MS. fr Most likely Dr. Lloyd. Bishop of St Asaph. See ante, p. 85. k Dr. William Sancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury.
Dr. William Lloyd. Bishop of St Asaph.
Dr. Francis Turner, Bishop of Ely.
Dr. John Lake, Bishop of Chichester.
Dr. Thomas Kenn, Bishop of Bath and Wells. love you of the Church of England neither. It was then little thought that the same right reverend person who said so to him, should have the honour, a& he had soon after, to be one of the seven bishops ^ committed to the Tower by King James ; as it was also far from any one's expectation, that the same King James should so quickly give liberty to the nonconformists. But we live in a world, wherein we are to think nothing strange, nor be surprised at any turn of the wheel of nature, as it is called. James iii. 6.
The measures then taken by King James's court and council were soon laid open, not only to view, but to contempt, being in a short time, by the overruling providence of God, broken and defeated. However, the indulgence granted to dissenters in April, 1687, must needs be a reviving to those, who, for so many years, had lain buried in silence and restraint ; nor can any, who will allow themselves the liberty of supposing the case their own, wonder that they should rejoice in it, though the design of it being manifest, they could not choose but rejoice with trembling, Mr. Henry's sentiments of it were, —Whatever men's ends are in it, I believe God's end in it is to do us good.
There were many that said, surely the dissenters will not embrace the liberty which is intended only for a snare to them. Mr. Henry read and considered the letter of advice' to the dissenters at that juncture ; but concluded,— Duty is ourSy und events are GotTs. He remembered the experience he had had of the like in King Charles's time, and that did good, and no hurt. And why might not this do so too ? All power is for edification, not for destruction.^ Did Jeremiah sit still in the court of the prison, because he had his discharge from the King of Babylon? Nay, did not Paul, when he was persecuted by his countrymen for preaching the gospel, appeal to Caesar; and find more kindness at Rome than he did at Jerusalem ? In short, the principle of his conversation in the world being not fleshly wis-dom or policy, but the grace of God and particularly the grace of simplicity and godly sincerity, he was willing to make the best of that which was, and to hope the best of the design and issue of it. Doubtless it was intended to introduce popery; but it is certain, that nothing could arm people against popery more effectually than the plain and powerful preaching of the gospel; and thus, they who granted that liberty, were out-shot in their own bow, which manifestly appeared in the event and issue.
Dr. Thomas White, Bishop of Peterborough. Sir Jonathan Trelawny, Bishop of Bristol. The Speech, prepared to have been spoken by the Bishop of St. Asaph, on his trial, is preserved in Gutch's Ck>llect. Cur. v. I. p. 369. i Written by the Marquis or Halirax. See Neal, ut supra, v. 5. pp 42-<44. k See2Cor. xiii. 10.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
05 they did good service to the Protestant re-mong scholars, who wrote so many learned gainst popery' at that time, for which we them our best thanks; so they did no less among the common people, who are the 1 and body of the nation, that preached r good sermons to arm their hearers against rong delusioHy which Mr. Henry, as the the nonconformists generally did, took all OS to do. How often would he commend his , as Dr. Holland," Divinity Professor in , was wont to do, to the love of God, and the >f popery." les his preaching professedly to discover the nd corruptions of the church of Rome, (which Id have taken occasion to do more fully, had those he preached to in any immediate dan-he infection,) there could not be a more ef-antidote against popery, than the instructing ifirming of people in the truth, as it u in Je-d advancing the knowledge of, and a value leration for, the Holy Scriptures ; to which, ich Mr. Henry in his place did contribute, knew him will bear record. He used to ob-lat the fall of Babylon followed upon the free :n preaching of the everlasting ffospel, Reve-JUT. 6,7. He apprehended this liberty likely very short continuance, and to end in trou-id, because he could not see how his not f it would help to prevent the trouble, but lee that his vigorous improvement of it would prepare for the trouble, he set himself with ;ence to make the best use he could of this both at home and abroad, on sabbath days, ;k days, to his power; yea, and beyond his as at this juncture that Mr. Henry had the »s of recognizing, in his son, an ordained r of the gospel. The occasion gave rise to )wing letter:— May 14, 1687. 1 Matthew; ice in what you heard, and saw, and felt, of Monday last, and hope it hath left upon you
when be went any journey, calling the fellows ege together, used to say to xhem.^Qmmtndo vo$ dUect odu fopatu* et tmperti Ufonis.** Clarke's Man*. EccL Hist.
9pra.
la We heard of the strengthening of the popish in. ery are to have places for their worship in many great uticularly that which was ray dear father's chamber at trcb, must now, as they say, be a mass-house. Mrs.
)iary. Orig. MS.
At Ludlow, in Shropshire. Ob. mh March. UU-12. h. OxoD. V. 2. p. 111.«/ npra. Brooks's Lives of the Pu-, 2. p. 21X «/ npra.
Common Prayer Book of King Edward the Sixth, the I thus;— ** From the tiranny of the Bishope of Rome, deteitable enormities, good Lord, deliver us! 4to. 1547. a truly indelible character, and such impressions as no time, nor any thing else, shall be able to wear out. Remember; assisted by thy strength, O God, I will! As to the manner and circumstances of your return, we cannot order them here, but must leave it to yourself to do as you shall see cause, beseeching the Lord, in every thing, to make your way plain before you; but, as to the thing itself, we rejoice in hopes it will not be long now ere we shall see you here, (though multa cadunt intery) and, I must not say, be filled with your company, for this is not the world that we must be together in. Your dear mother hath no great joy in the thoughts of your closing with them at Chester upon the terms proposed; her reasons are weighty, and, in other things, have many times swayed with me against my own, and it hath done well. What they are in this matter, you shall hear immediately from herself. As to your Northampton affair we are no little concerned about it, making mention of it in every prayer, to our heavenly Father, who, we have learned, besides a common providence, [hath a special hand in such proposals. Proverbs xix. 14. And we say, if you, of all the other, should miss, it would be a grief of mind. Genesis xxvi. 35.
The clergy in Cheshire and Shropshire are hammering an address of thanks, but divers of them will not strike. They begin to feel now for their oaths' sake.
Our love and blessing is all here is room for. 'Eppburo ! "Epfmao \ twice; within, without Mr. Matthew Henry having, shortly after the preceding letter was written, settled at Chester,? the following was addressed to him by his father, on another, and interesting subject:— July, 1687. Son Matthew; I am very much concerned that two si!ch geat affairs are, at this time, met together upon your hand,—^that of the next sabbath, and that of the week after. You know which of the two should fill you most, and I hope it will accordingly; and, if it do, you may the more comfortably expect a blessing e p. Henry. Orig. BiS.
P Urbs Legionuro, its primeval name.
Where many a Roman toil'd ; where many a brow Has grac'd a mitre; 'twas a kingdom once, And now a County Palatine; all that's rare In army, navy, church, and state, dwells here In miniature. But, most of all revered For that great name, a valiant Philip's son, J^/Mer tAan ht of Maeedon: for grace Jdakes heroes, such as Plutarch never knew. As Homer never sung; to courts unknown. While Matthew Henry in his " Comment" lives, Chester can never die.
See the Select Remains of the late Rev. Ebenezer White of Chester, p. 152. duod. 1812.
THE LIFE OF MR PHILIP HENRY. upon the other; for, ever since I knew any thing in those matters, I have found it tnie, that, when I have been most careful in doing God's work, God hath been most faithful in doing mine.*' I have not sealed, but subscribed, a draught of articles with Mr. Hardware/ We were together yesterday at each place; and, upon Tiew, found every thing, not worse, but rather better, than represented. As to a time and place of sealing, I would meet half way on Monday, but Wednesday being the first day appointed at Hanmer, I must needs attend that. If you would not think it too long to defer till the week after, that is, to the 19th instant, I should hope, by that time, (your next sabbath work, and your Warrington journey, and our engagements here, being all over,) there would be much more of clearness and freeness, without hurry, as to each circumstance ; but I must not move it, however, not insist upon it, lest the heart be made sick ;* therefore do as you see cause, only in every thing take God along with you,' and do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Give my kind respects to , your good friend, whom I hope to call by another name shortly. The Lord bless you both, and first fit you for, and then give you to, each other, in much mercy! Amen.^
To resume the narrative.] The great .subject of debate at this time in the nation, was, concerning the repeal of penal laws and tests. Mr. Henry's thoughts were, as to the penal laws, that, if those against the dissenters were all repealed, he would rejoice in it, and be very thankful both to God and man ; for he would sometimes say, without reflection upon any, he could not but look upon them as a national sin; and, as for those against the papists, if our law-givers see cause to repeal them in a regular way ; I will endeavour, saith he, to make the best of it, and to say,—The will of the Lord be done!
When King James came his progress into that country, in August, 1687,* to court the compliments of the people, Mr. Henry joined with several others, in and about Whitchurch, Nantwich, and Wem, in an address to him, which was presented when he lay q God saith to us, as a king laici to a nobleman who desired to leave the court that be might provide for some that relied upon him: " Do my work," mid the king," and I will do thine." Canaan's Flowings. by Ralph Venning, duod. 1658, p. 351. r Miss Hardware, of Moldsworth, was Mr. Matthew Henry's first wife. See his Life by Tong, v/ iwpra, p. 101, ice.
See Prov. xili, 12. t Mr. Matthew Henry vras married July 19. See Tong's Life of Mr. M. Henry, chap. iii. ut supra. n P. Henry. Orlg. MS. Addressed to Mr. Matthew Henry at Moldsworth.
In the former editions of the Life, the royal visit is stated to have been in September. This no doubt was a mistake. The last visit made to Uie ancient town of Shrewsbury, by its sovereign, was on the 25th of Auput, [1687.] The King, James the at Whitchurch; the purport of which was, not to sacrifice their lives and fortunes to him and to his interest, but only to return him thanks for the liberty , they had, with a promise to demean themselves quietly in the use of it.
Some time after, commissioners were sent abroad ; into the country, to inquire after the trouble the dissenters had sustained by the penal laws; and how the money that was levied upon them was disposed of, little of it being found paid into the Exchequer; they sent to Mr. Henry, to have an account from him of his sufferings; he returned answer, by letter, that he had indeed been fined some years before, for a conventicle, and distrained upon, and his goods carried away; which all the country knew, and to which he referred himself. But, being required to give a particular account of it upon oath, though he said he could be glad to see such instruments of trouble legally removed, yet he declined giving any further information concerning it; having, as he wrote to the commissioners, long since, from his heart, forgiven all the agents, instruments, and occasions of it; and having purposed never to say any thing more of it.
It was on Tuesday, June 14, 1681, that he was disturbed at Weston in Shropshire, when he was preaching on Psalm Ixvi. 18. and on Tuesday, June 14, 1687, that day six years, he preached there again without disturbance, finishing what he was then prevented from delivering, concerning prayer, and going on to verse 19, 20 Buf, verily, God hath heard me, blessed be God, concerning the duty of thanksgiving. This seventh year of their silence and restraint, proved, through God's wonderful good providence, the year of release.
[Some admirable letters to Mr. Ashurst will carry the year to its close, and cannot fail to impress the reader with the writer's accomplishments as a Christian, a divine, and a gentleman.
Sir;
September 2, 1687.
My sabbath subject was. Acts xi. 21.— The hand of the Lord was unth them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord, In this I shall acquaint you, the subject being the same, with the Second, passed a day there, and kept his court at the council house; and, during his stay, the conduits ran with wine. ScMne Account of the Ancient and Present State of Shrewsbury, pp. 53, 515.
In unison with the above statement is the following extract from the Diary of Mrs. Savage :— "1687. Friday, August 26, the king came into Whitchurch. James the Second, in bis progress to Chester; great flocking to see him. Lord, order all consultations and actions for glory to thy name!
" Tuesday. 1 went to Whitchurch to see His Majesty in his return from Chester; saw him only in his coach; desired heartily to pray that be were as good as he is great." Mrs. Savage. Diary. Orig.MS
THE UFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
97
Ikeads of what was then spoken, after my plain, eoantiy manner. The preachers here were such as kid been scattered by persecution after the death of Stephen, Acts viii. which scattering was intended by the devil, and wicked men, for hurt to the church; bat God turned it for good, as he often does, and we ourselyes have had experience of it. It was like flie scattering of seed, or salt, whereby more were seasoned. It seems, then, that the hand of the Lord may be with us, when the hand of man is agnst us. Preachers disowned and persecuted by worldly powers, may be owned and blessed in their labours, by the Crod of Heaven. The place was Antioch, where these converts were, the first that took the honoarable and sweet name of Christians. At Antioch, not at Rome. If Christians should own one ptoce more than another, as the mother church of all churches, inethinks it should be that, rather, where they first had their name. The preaching was Jesus. They preached the Lord Jesus, and then the hand of the Lord was with them. We are then most likely to have the hand of the Lord with us, in our preaching, when we preach Jesus.* Not when we preach ourselves ; but when we preach Jesus, and ourselves yemr servants for Jesus' sake. By the hand of the Lord with them, is meant, the Lord himself, according to his promise, Matthew xxvii. 20. Lo! I am with ffou. He assisted them in their preaching; made way for the word into the hearts of those that heard it; gave it the setting on there: and this is always all in all. If the hand of the Lord be not with the preachers, there will be no believing, no taming, among the people; for faith is the gift of God :-—Unto you it is given to believe ; — Turn thou «e, and I shall be turned, A great number believed. Sometimes God is pleased to enlarge his hand, in the conversion of many, by the ministry of the word; not a fish or two, but whole shoals, caught in the net of the gospel. Oh, that it might be so at this day ! Your love to souls, I know, will say, Amen !
To believe, has three things in it;—1. Assent to vhat is spoken, as true, either from the evidence of the tiling itself, or upon the account of the veracity of him that speaketh it 2. Application of it to my-lelf; I must look upon myself as concerned in it, tod say, '* Thb belongs tome.'' 3. Answerable affections and actions, according as the thing is that is spoken. Without this, my believing is nothing. Noah believed, and feared, Hebrews xi. The devils believe, and trtw Ufle, James ii. If one tell me the house is falling, and I believe it, I shall fear, and run out of it; or, that there is a pot of gold hid in such a place, and I may have it for digging for it, if I believe, I
V See Somon, nuth in Christ inferred, &c. pott. s To believe in Jetut Christ for salvation is to come to him. Matt zi. i8. John vi. 37; v. 40. By unbelief, we depart flromhim. Heb. iii 13. It is to lean upon him. Cant viii. 5. forsaking all other leaoiQf-stocks whitever. It is to look upon liim. JohniiJ.
H shall dig. Now, there are, among many others, four great truths revealed in the word of God, the belief whereof, such a belief as hath in it the three things before mentioned, doth always accompany conversion and salvation.—
1. That a sinful condition is a miserable condition. That it is so, is certainly true; thou art wretched and miserable, under the curse of God, liable to all miseries. But do we believe it; that is, assent to it; and that with application ? I am the man; sinful, and therefore miserable. And are we thereupon afraid, brought under a spirit of bondage? And doth that fear set upon serious inquiries, *' What shall we do to get out of it ?'* If so, so far is well.
2. That Jesus Christ is ordained of God to be Prince and Saviour; that he is able and willing to save, to save even to the uttermost. Do we assent to this, iiAs faithful saying? And do we apply it? " He is able and willing to save me.'' And are we suitably affected thereunto? And do we act accordingly ? Come to him, close with him, accept of him, as he is offered to us in the gospel.* If so, we are believers ; and, if believers, then the sons of God, justified by that faith, at peace with God, and heirs of heaven. And to that also we must assent, with application, and be affected, and act accordingly; rejoicing always with joy unspeakable, and abounding always in the work of the Lord.
3. The absolute necessity of an holy heart, and an holy life. That we must be new creatures, or we cannot enter the New Jerusalem; bo9m again, or we cannot see the kingdom of God, That we must deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this world, if ever we mean to be happy in another world. Do we believe this; that is, assent to it? Is it not plain in the word of God, written there as with a sun-beam, so that he who runs may read? But do we apply it? I must be regenerated; if I be not, I shall not be saved. My civility and moral honesty, my profession and outward form of godliness, will not serve my turn;—I must put off the old man, and put on the new. And doth there follow suitable affection and action ? Do I love the word as a regenerating word ? Do I pray for and receive the Spirit, as a regenerating Spirit ? Do I set myself, in the use of all God's appointed means, to the great work of crucifying the flesh, with all the affections and lusts, — walking in all the commandments of the Lord blameless ? This is believing.
4. The certainty and reality of future rewards and punishments. That there is another life after this, and that it is to be a life of retribution; that, as sure as there is an earth which we tread upon, so 14,15. L«ok unto mi, and ht y# taved. It is to receive, and accept of him, as he is offered in the promise, to be Lord and King, as well as Priest and Saviour; giving ourselves to him unreservedly. 2 Cor. viii. 5. Hos. iiL 3: P. Henry. Orig. MS.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY. sure there is an hell under it, a place of eternal torments ; so sure as there is an outward heaven, which our eyes see, so sure there is another heaven beyond it, a fixed state of everlasting blessedness. Are these things so ? Certainly they are; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. No room is left for doubting. But will one of these be our place shortly ? Certainly it will. I must; I; even I, be, ere long, either in hell miserable, or in heaven happy. Oh, then, how should I be affected ? How should I act ? Should I not fear that place of torment, and fly from it? Make sure that place of happiness, and rejoice always in the hope of it; having my conversation there; ^ laying up treasure there ? This is believing. The same may be said in reference to every other truth of God; precept, promise, threatenings. There are quarter-believers, and half-believers; but the teo/e-believer is he that assents, applies, is affected, and acts according to what he says he believes.
Now the good Lord work this belief in all our hearts, fulfilling in us all the good pleasure of his goodness and this work of faith with power,* Amen,
Sir;
Your continued kind acceptance is still my encouragement to perform this monthly service to you, wishing I could do it better to your soul's advantage and edification. The grace of faith is, indeed, the gce of all graces. 1. The grace that God hath most honoured in making it,—whether the condition or the instrument,—I am sure, the means of our justification, reconciliation, acceptation, salvation. Of all graces, faith doth most abase the creature, and lift up God; it is a self-emptying and a God-advancing grace; and therefore, of all graces, God doth most advance and lift up faith; for so is the word that he hath spoken. Those that honour me, I
7 I find ray heart inclined to things below, and am sensible, in some measure, what a dishonour it is to God, and what a wrong to myseir, and fain I would that it might be otherwise.
Get to know the nature of earthly things, common things, such as a man may abound in, and perish everlastingly. They are empty things, that will not satisfy-, vexing things, vtxatiott of spirit. Labour for a serious, practical knowledge of this. Beg of God to give you a sight of their vanity and emptiness. Look into the word. Prov. xxiii. 5. Isa. Iv. 2. Matt. vi. 24. John vi. 27. I Tim. vi. 0, 10. Ecclesiastes. Observe and improve your own crosses and disappointments, and the crosses and disappointments of others. The voice of these dispensations is,—Cease from the world, the men of the world, the things of the world. Consult with dying men, and see what account they will give you of earthly things.
Actuate this knowledge by meditation, and do it often. There is no duty more profltable.—none more neglected.
Study the nature and necessities of thy soul. Thou hast a soul that is greatly in want, a poor, though precious, soul; it wants pardon of sin, wants peace with God, wants his image, wants his grace, wants his Spirit. And can the world furnish these! No. Mic. vi. 6, 7.
Look beyond this to another world. Will these things avail there! No. Tis not getting more, but making use of what we have, that will then avail. Luke xvi. 9. 2 Cor. iv. 18.
Cast thy care upon the Lord; if thou art a believer, he careth for thee. I Pet. v. 7. will honour. 2. The grace that of all graces we do live by; for the just shall live by faith, Habakkuk ii. 4. than which, I think, there is scarce any one passage in the Old Testament more often quoted in the New; and good reason, for it is the marrow of the gospel. We live by faith, 1. Spiritually, as to justification, sanctification, consolation; in which three stands our spiritual life. We are justified by faith) Romans v. 1. Acts xiii. 39. justified from the guilt of sin, the curse of the law, and the damnation of hell. In the want of which justification, we are but dead men, that is, under a sentence of death; so that in that sense, by faith we live; we live by it as we are made just by it; the just, by faith, shall live. We are sanctified by faith, Acts xxvi. 18. as, by it we receive the spirit of sanctification, who finds us dead in trespasses and sins, as to our spiritual state, and then breathes into us the breath of spiritual life, whereby we become living souls, alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. We are comforted by faith, Romans xv. 13. and that comfort is our life, 1 Thessalonians iii. 8. Now we live, that IS, now we are comforted, if ye stand fast in the Lord: non est vivere sed valere vita. Faith comforts as it applies the promises, which promises are our breasts of consolation, at which the believing soul sucks and is satisfied. And there are two of them, one concerning the things of the life that now is, the other concerning the things of that which is to come; for godliness haih both, and hath need of both, in order to comfort, upon one occasion or other, every day. They are also called well-springs of salvation, and, as such, faith is the bucket by which we draw water from those wells. If the well be deep, as good no well as no bucket; so, as good no promise as no faith. 2. As we live spiritually * by faith in all these three great concernments of our spiritual life, so we
Be acquainted with the reality and excellency of heavenly things. Heb. xi. 1. John iv. 10. Earthly-minded men are like moles, they live in the earth, and so are blind as to spiritual things; they see no beauty in holiness, no comelinesi in Jesus Christ.
Learn to spiritualize earthly things. It is our sin and misery that earthly thoughts mix themselves when we are employed in spiritual duties; it were our profit and advantage if heavenly thoughts might as often mix themselves, and t>e as welcome, when we are employed in worldly affkirs.
Choose as much as may be to be in heavenly company. Company is of a transforming nature. Prov. xxii. 24,35. 1 John i. 2, a Be often discoursing of things above.
Labour to tread in the steps of those who have gone before us in heaven's way. Phil. iii. 17, &c. P. Henry. Orig. MS.
I Evan. Mag. v. 3. p. 376. a Spiritual life is an inward principle in the soul of a believer, arising from his union with Jesus Christ. The following are signs of such a life:—The knowledge of God and Christ, John xvii. 3. —Growth in grace and knowledge, John xv. 2.—Fftith in JesM Christ, John vi. 47.^Heavenly mindedness, CoL iii. 1. 2. Rom. vi. 11.—Spiritual sense; of sin, the first risings of it Rom. vii. 24. the sins of others, 2 Pet. ii. 7,8. of the withdrawings of God's presence, Ps. xxii. 1. of the afflictions of God's people, Jer. ix. I. Neh. i. 4, &c. 1 John iii. 14.—Speech; to God in prayer. Gal. iv.6. Acts ix. II. Zech. xii. 10. for God.—Appetite, 1 Pet. ii. 2.—Care for self-preservation, Job ii. 4. comp. I Pet. ii. 7.—Desires to com-
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
99 live oar life in the flesh by the faith of the Son of God, Galatians ii. 20.^ He means his life of con-rersation in the world; for, that is the life that he liyed then in the flesh. We walk hy faith, not by tight, —not as glorified saints do in heaven by immediate vision,—nor by carnal sight, as the men of the world, who look only at the thinys that are teen with bodily eyes,—^but by faith. So that faith is a principle of living quite different from the one and from the other. It is far short of living by heavenly vision, bat it is infinitely above and beyond the life of carnal reason, which men, as men, live. In the ordinary tetums and off airt of life, I. It is by faith and no otherwise, that we set the Lord alwayt before u$, and •ee him that is invisible. And what influence that hath upon the conversation, to make it what it should be, they can best tell that have tried. 2. It b by fidth, and no otherwise, that we close with the word of €k>d as our rule and square, by which we regulate and order our conversation. The commandments are to be believed. Psalm cxix. 66. as well as the promises. 3. It is by faith that we fetch strength from the Lord Jesus, for the doing of what we have to do every day in every thing, for without him we can do nothing, 4. It is by faith, that we look at the reeomprnce of reward, which makes us lively and cheerful in our obedience, both active and passive; forasmuch at we hnow our labour thall not be in vain ta the Lord. And then for life eternal, as we look at it by faith, so by faith it is that we have title to it; he that believes shall be saved. Whosoever believes ihall not perith, but have evlasting life. We are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Chritt. And if children then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Chritt, of an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away.^ If all this be true of faith, and not the one half hath been told you, then there is good reason why it should be called/TreciotM/aith. It closes with a precious Christ, and to them only that believe is he precious. It embraces precious promises, and it saves precious souls. Is Christ our manicate, 1 John i. h 3, 3.—Art thou alive 1 live at a higher rate tbanothers, I Cor. iii. a—Art thou dead? make haste to Christ, ^ V-14.—He complains. Ye will not come to me that ye might tevelife, John v, 40. For encouragement to come to Christ, he raised three to life In the gospel,-one in the chamber, secret anners,—another in the street, open 8inners,~a third buried, dead four days, aged sinners. P. Henry. Orig. MS. b See a sermon by P. Henry, on these words. Eighteen Ser-motts, 9t smpra. p. 144. c There are evideneet oX saving (kith. Faith, however, is the best evidence of itself, 1 John v. 10. as we know that the sun shines by its own light The following are evidences.—A new nature, Acts xxvL 18.~ Heart parity. Acts xv. 9. at least begun and laboured after.—A low esteem of earthly things, Phil. iii. 8. a high esteem of Christ, 1 Pet. Ii. 7.—Joy in tribula Uon, Acu xYi.25, &c. Rom. v. L 1 I Pet I. 7. Hab. iii. 17,18.-Reliance upon God for things of this life, as well as of heaven.—How came we by our faith! Did it come by hearing! Rom. x. 17.—Did it begin in doubting t What fruit doth it bear! James ii. 14, &c. Oal. v. 6.—Self-denial, Luke Tii. 6, 7,9.—Fear of offending.—A true believer reckons it the hardest thins in the world to believe. P. Henry. Orig. MS.
H 2 all in all? So, in a sense, is faith our all in all. Oh, faith, (but that also must be taken with a grain of salt,) thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory; not thine to rest with thee, but thine to hand to him, whose it is. Amen.
Your son shall be truly welcome here at the time you mention, and I shall think it long till it come. As to the late access made to your estate, much good may it do you, that is, much good may you do with it, which is the true good of an estate. Lady Warwick ^^ would not thank him that would give her £1000 a year, and tie her up from doing good with it. I rejoice in the large heart which God hath given you with your large estate, without which heart, the estate would be your snare. As to your purposed kindness to me, yuu will call me unkind if I refuse it; but as to the quantity, let it be as little as you please, for it cannot be too little where so little is deserved, as is by September 28, 1687.
Your Servant.
My most humble service is to your worthy lady, and to your son and daughter with you, whom God bless.
For Henry Ashurst Esq. At his house in St. John Street, London.*
Sir;
October 28, 1687.
Yet further concerning the grace of faith. Besides that it is that by which we live,—as of Christ it is said, who is our /i/e,—so we may say of faith, in a different sense, it is our life. As Paul says, to me to live is Chritt; so we may say, to us to live is to believe. I say, besides this, there are four great things said in Scripture concerning faith, which deserve a particular consideration. 1. It purifies the heart; ^ purifying their heartt by faith. Faith is a heart-purifying grace, elsewhere called, purging the contcience from dead workt, Hebrews ix. 14. It is done by the blood of Chritt, who, through the d See a sermon at the Tunerall of the Countesse of Warwick. By Anthony Walker, D. D. duod. 1680. Also Memoirs of Emi-nently Pious Women, v. 1. p. 109. oct. 1815. She died A. D. 1678.
P. Henry. Orig. MS. Part of this letter was printed in the Evan. Mag. v. a p. 36& f Means are to be used to get and keep a pure heart. We must l»e sensible of our impurity, Prov. xxx. la.—Pray for a clean heart, Ps. Ii.: it is promised, Ezek. zxxvi. i5. 26.—Be frequent in self-examination.—Beware of other men's sins, i Tim. v. 22.—Abstain from all appearance of evil, 1 Thess. v. 22,231—Act faith. This is a heart-purifying grace, Acts xv. 9. it interests us in the blood of Christ, and that cleanses, 1 John i. 7. Zech. xit. 1. by it we receive the Spirit; by it we apply the promises, 2 Pet. i. 3, 4. Attend upon the ordinances, John xv. 3. xvii. n. Titus, iii. 5.—Improve your baptism, it is a cleansing ordinance.—AflBictions, when sanctified, are means of cleansing.—WatchfVilness, Ps. cxix. |9. We must take heed where we tread. We are in the light, and must walk as children of the light; carefully; cleanly. P. Henry Orig. MS.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
Eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, meritoriously, and, by faith, instrumentally. Christ's blood is the water of purification, the true and only water, and faith is as the bunch of hyssop, dipped in it, and so purging the conscience, that is, pacifying it in reference to the guilt contracted, quieting the mind as to the pardon and forgiveness of it before God, which nothing else can do. AH the legal purifyings prescribed by the law of Moses, availed nothing as to this; it is done by faith only, and, therefore, the Gentiles, which is the scope of that place, ought not to be obliged by circumcision to those ceremonial observances, seeing there was another nearer and better way to that blessed end, and that was, by believing. We may also, by purifying the heart, understand the work of sanctifica-tion, wherein faith is greatly instrumental; but 1 conceive the other the design of the place. 2. It works by lovCy Galatians v. 6. It is a working grace; if it be idle, and work not, it is not genuine faith. And how works it? By love. Love in the full extent and latitude of it; the love of God, and the love of our neighbour, which two are the fulfil-ling of the law; so that to work by love, is to work by universal obedience, which obedience b worth nothing further thdn love hath a hand in it, and love stirs not further than faith acts it. He that believes the love of Christ for poor sinners, in dying for them, with particular application to himself, < cannot but find his heart constrained thereby, more or less, according as the belief is, to love him agn, and out of love to him to keep his conmiandments. Do we find love cold? It is because faith is weak. Do we love little ? Our belief is little. Therefore, when a hard duty was enjoined, which is that of loving and forgiving enemies,— Lord, say the disciples, increase our faith; intimating, without more faith, it would not be possible. The more strongly and stedfastly we believe that Christ loved us when we were enemies to him, the more frequently and freely, readily and cheerfully, we shall forgive our brother, who is become an enemy unto us. 3. It overcomes the world, 1 John v. 4. This is the victory, thai overcometh the world, even our faith ;•* where, by world, is meant, especially, its smiles and frowns; they are both as nothing to us, have no power or pre valency with us, so as to draw or drive us from our Christian course, as long as we keep faith alive and active,—either upon the past great things that our great Redeemer hath done and suffered for us; or upon the future invisible realities of the other world, that crown and kingdom which he hath set before us, and made over to us. 4. It qu Qnches all the fiery darts of the wicked, Epher See Memoirs of the Life of the Rev. James Her?ey, by the Rev. J. Brown, p. 57. kc. 3d ed. 1888.. k See the substance of a sermon by VLtr P. Henry, on these words, in the Evan. Mag. v. xxnl p. 314. sians vi. 16. that is, the devil and all his instru ments; all the temptations o<r which kind soever, wherewith, at any time, they may assault us, they are quenched by faith, lose their hurtful keenness, and wound us not. But then that faith must be not in habit only, but in act and exercise ; as a shield, not hanging up, but in the hand. Oh that to us, then, it might be given always to believe! How much better would it be with us, on this four-fold account, had we more faith !
As to the truth of the matter whereof you desire an account, it was this; what reports are concerning it I know not. When I had read the address, the words which the King spoke' were to this purpose.—Gentlemen, I perceive you have been yourselves sufferers for your consciences, and, therefore, I cannot but look upon you as men of conscience, and take it for granted, you will be ready to do what is fit to be done for the ease both of yourselves and others in that case, when there is a Parliament For my part, I shall be ready to do what lies in me, and I hope, so will you. You desire me to con-tinue your liberty, and I promise you I will as long as I live, and could be well contented, it might be as secure to you by law, as your Magna Charta is.
Q, What persuasion are you of ? Are you for the congregational way ?
A. No, Sir, we are not for the congregational way.
Q. What then are you for?
A. We are for a moderate presbytery.
Q, Are you all so hereabouts ?
A. There are few dissenters, if any, hereabouts, that differ from us in that matter.
This was all that was spoken, as far as I can remember; after which, he gave each of us (in all eight, whereof two were ministers) his hand to kiss, and so went his way.
Sir, I received your extraordinary kind token, and return you my most humble, hearty thanks for it. It hath no fault but that it is too good. Last week, another of your praying widows. went to rest, a very choice flower in our small garden.'^ Most humble service to your whole self, &c.
P. H.' For Henry Ashurst, Esq. At his house in St. John-street, London.
Sir;
The nature, excellency, and usefulness of the grace of faith, is the subject concerning which I do yet owe you a further account of my poor thoughts. And, oh! that I, while I am writing, and you also, i See mitt p. 96. k See Sol. Song. iv. 12; v. 1. Ps. xcii. 13.
1 Orig. MS.
f
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
101 wbile yon are reading, might each of us find, Uuoagh the powerful working of the Spirit in us, an increase of that grace, that precious grace, tLat we may b strong in believing, giving glory to God, and that our consolations may be strong also; for as the faith is weak or strong, so the comfort is. Faith is the eye of the soul, by which we look unto Ckiistv as the poor stung Israelites did to the brazen Bopent, lifted up upon the pole, and thereby receive a cure from him ; but, as Paul saithin another case, 1 Corinthians xii. 14. the body is not one member but many, so faith is not one member but many. If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? Terse 17. So if faith were our eye only, and nothing else, what should wc do for other instruments of spiritual life and motion? Behold, therefore, how faith, besides being our eye, is our FOOT, by which we come to Christ; an expression often used in Scripture, e, g, Matthew xi. 28. Come onto me, that is, believe in me. John vi. 37. Him tUi c&metk vnto me, that is, that beiieveth in me, / will in no wise cast out. By unbelief we depart from the living God, Hebrews iii. 12. By faith we eooie to him by Christ, ib, vii. 25. And without him there is no coming, for he is the way, the true, and liring, and only way ; all that are out of him are oot of the way. It is our hand also, by which we receive him, John i. 12. To as many as received him, tot kern gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name ; where believing is the same with receiving. In the gospel, God offers him to us, freely and gciously, to be our Prince and Saviour, to be the Lard our righteous-issj to redeem us from iniquity, and to purify us to himself. When we do heartily, by faith, close vith that offer, and accept of him to be ours, he becomes ours : we have union with him, relation to him, and benefit by him. But then, there is another act of faith put forth at the same time by another hand, which is the giving act, whereby we give ouselves to him to be his, to love him, and serve him, and live to him. O Lord, saith David, / am Hkff servmnt, truly I am thy servant. Psalm cxvi. 16. Tkey gawe their ownselves unto the Lord, 2 Corinthians viii. 5. Without this our receiving is not Hgfat. There is a faith that is one-handed, receives, bat gives not; this will not save. They that come to Christ for rest, and receive Christ, must take his yoke upon them, and learn of him."" It is the HouTH of the soul, by which we feed upon him, and kre nourished by him. John vi. Except ye eat his fUsk, mnd drinh his blood, that is, believe in him, as it is there explained, ye cannot be saved. And this of aU the rest doth in the most lively manner represent to us what it is to believe. To believe, is ■i Sec the WorU oTBisbop Cowper, foL 1429. p.eoi. • Sec Phil. L sa when a poor soul, being made sensible of its lost and undone condition by sin, doth earnestly desire, as they do that are hungry, and thirsty, after a Saviour. Oh for a righteousness, wherein to appear before God! Oh for a pardon for what is past! Oh for grace and strength to do so no more! And hearing, by the report of the gospel, and believing that report, that all this, and a great deal more, is to be had in Christ; the next request is,—Oh for that Christ! Oh, that that Christ might be mine! Why, he is thine, man, if thou wilt accept of him! Accept of him! Lord, I accept of him. Then feed upon him. His flesh is meat indeed, his blood is drink indeed. Oh, taste and see that he is gracious. How sweet are his promises! What inward refreshment doth the soul find by his suffering and dying to redeem, and save! How is it thereby strengthened, as by bread, and made glad, as by wine! We must and do each of us eat for ourselves, and drink for ourselves. My eating will not refresh another, nor strengthen another; neither will my believing. The just shall live by his faith, his own faith. Other creatures die to make food for our bodies, and to maintain natural life ; but then we must take them, and eat them, and digest them, and having done so, they turn into nourishment to us, and so become ours, that they and we cannot be parted again. It is so in believing. Christ died to make food for our souls ; and not thereby to maintain only, but to give spiritual life, which other food doth not to the body. But then we must take him, and eat him, and digest him, that is, make a particular application of him to ourselves, and, having done so, nothing shall, nothing can, separate us from him. Oh that unto us itmight be more and more given, thus to believe!" Sir, I thank you most heartily, as for your last great kindness, (had it been coarser it would have been fitter for me,) so for your afl Tectionate inquiry after my poor children. I bless God, they are all yet, both married and unmarried, oujr comfort and joy. Bless God with me that it is so, and pray that it may be more and more so, especially that my son may be still owned and blessed in his great work ! My most humble service to your good lady, and dear children, with you. The Mediator's blessing be upon them. Upon the 8th instant, there was a public ordination in the meeting-house at Warrington in your Lancashire; the ordainers six, the ordained six, with solemn fasting and prayer, where much of God was seen.
November 25, 1687.
For Henry Ashurst, Esq. At his house in St. John-street, London.® o p. Henry. Orig. BUS. See the Evan. Blag. ?. 8. y. <iaA.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
Sir; This once more concerning the grace of faith. As it is tliat by which we live, so it is that by which also we must die, if we will die well. There is no dying well without it. Hebrews xi. 13. These all died in faith; meaning Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, spoken of before, who all died well, who all died believing. To die well, is to die safely, comfortably, profitably.
1. Safely. He dies safely, whose spiritual state and condition is good; who is a new creatvre; bom again; reconciled to God; whose sins are forgiven; whose person is justified. Death hath no hurt in it to such an one: it shall be well with him for ever. Now, without believing, there is none of all this. It is faith that justifies ; it is faith that sanctifies. There is no adoption, no reconciliation, no acceptation, and, consequently, no salvation, without it. He that helieveth not, is condemned already; the law condemns him, though the sentence be not yet actually passed upon him.
2. Comfortably. These two may be, and often are, parted. How many die safely who do not die comfortably; whose sun sets under a cloud. And whence is it? They are of little faith, and, therefore, they doubt; and, therefore, they are not comforted; they are not filled with joy and peace, for want of believing. Such kind of dying brings an evil report, like that of the evil spies, upon the good ways of the Lord; causes them to be ill thought of, and ill spoken of. If religion will not bear us out, and bear us up, at the last cast, in a dying hour, what is it good for ? There are degrees of this comfort in dying. All that have it, have it not alike; some have more, some less. There is such a thing as dying triumphantly, which is putting into harbour with full-spread sails ;P when an abundant entrance is administered unto us into the everlasting kingdom. And it is according as the faith is.
There are six things, the firm belief whereof will exceedingly promote our comfort in dying:—
1. That, at what time soever, and in what way soever, death comes, it comes by the will and appointment of our heavenly Father. He cuts no com of his down till it is fully ripe, Job v. 26. Revelations xi. 7.
2. That death hath no sting in it to them that are in Christ Jesus ; and therefore, though it may hiss at us, we need not fear it. -The brazen serpent had the form of a serpent, which is affrighting, but it hurt none; it healed the believing looker on it.
P See " InviBible Realities demonstrated in tbe Holy Life and Triumphant Death of Mr. John Janeway, Fellow of King's College, Cambridge." duod. 16da A new edition was published in 1815, with a Preface by the Rev. R. HalL q Let him be afraid to die that is afraid of going to heaven. Mr. Henry. Palmer's Nonoon. Mem. v. 3. p. 490. r See a Sennon at tbe Funeral of Lady Anne Waller, by Ed-mund Calamy, B. D. 4ta 1662.
How doth Paul exult over death and the grave! 1 Corinthians xv. 56.
3. That, to them that fear the Lord, immediately beyond death is heaven,i Luke xvi. 25. now, now, he is comforted; Philippians i. 23. No sooner dissolved, but presently with Christ. Where this is believed, witli application, there cannot but be comfort.' Were the soul to be no more, or to sleep till the last day, or to go, for nobody knows how long, to a popish purgatory, what comfort could we have in dying? But, if the last moment on earth be the first moment in heaven, how sweet is that!
4. That the body will certainly rise again a glorious body; —it is sown in weakness, and dishonour, and corruption; it shall be raised in power, and glory, incorruptible ;—even this body. Yours, and mine, now crazed and sickly, hereafter shall be like the glorified body of Jesus Christ, or like the tun shining in its brightness,
5. That God will certainly take care of poor disconsolate relations left behind, Psalm xxvii. 10. Jeremiah xlix. 11. *' He that feeds the young ravens will not suffer the young Herons to starve," as godly Mr. Heron said to his wife on his deathbed.* This helped to make Jacob's death comfortable to him, Genesis xlviii. 21. Joseph's, Genesis 1.24.
6. That God will certainly accomplish and fulfil, in due time, all the great things that he hath purposed and promised concerning his church and people in the latter days; as, that Babylon shall fall; the Jews and Gentiles be brought in; the gospel kingdom more and more advanced; divisions healed. Oh! how have some rejoiced, and even triumphed, in a dying hour, in the firm belief of these things! As Abraham rejoiced to see Christ's day, now past, and died in the faith of it, so may we as to another day of his, which is yet to come, before and besides the last day.
3. To die profitably is a step beyond dying comfortably ; I mean, to die so as to do good to those that are about us in dying. To die so as to convince them of sin, and convert them from it; which is to die like Samson, who slew more Philistines at his death, than in all his life before.' We die profitably when our natural death is a means of spiritual life to any. Now this will not, cannot be, but in the way of believing. He that doubts, droops, desponds, calls all in question, and dies so, rather frightens from, than allures to, the love of religion and godliness. What need have we then to pray,
He that, feeds the young ravens will not starve the young Herons." The Morning Exercise at Cripplegate, 4to. 1661. p. 437. Sermon 18. •
See Turner's Remarkable Providences, ch." xxvii. p. 128, fol 1697. where the same fact, differently expressed, is cited from ** Dr. Fuller in his Meditations."
t See Judges xvi. 30.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
103 and pray again,—JLorrf, increase our fait hj —^that we may not only have wherewithal to live, while we live, but wherewithal to die also, when we die!
Thus I have written you. Sir, a funeral letter, God knows whose, perhaps my own. It is certainly good to be always ready, seeing we know neither day nor hour.
Sir, I sent on Friday for your worthy, hopeful son, who came hither safe and well on Saturday. I see him veiy much upon improvement in learning, and rejoice that God hath guided you, both now, and formerly, to put him into circumstances conducent thereunto. His profiting is much beyond his equals in age ; and I hope he doth also, which is the main matter, seriously set his face heavenwards, and means to make religion his business. God keep it always tn the imagination of the thoughts of his heart, und establish his waif before him !
My most affectionate respects and service are to your good lady, son, and daughter. God Almighty spare you to them, and them to you, to your mutual I comfort and joy ! Amen, December 20, 1687.
For Henry Ashurst, Esq.
In St. John-street, London."
To resume the narrative:]—
In May, 1688, a new commission of the peace eame down for the county of Flint, in which, by whose interest or procurement was not known Mr. ' Henry was nominated a justice of peace for that county. It was no small surprise to him to receive a letter from the clerk of the peace, directed to Philip Henry, Esq. acquainting him with it, and appointing him when and whither to come to be sworn. To which he returned answer, that he was very sensible of his unworthiness of the honour, and his unfitness ' for the office which he was nominated to, and, therefore, desired to be excused, and he was so, and did what he could, that it might not be spoken of in the country. There were some, who, upon this occasion, unhappily remembered, that, a few years before, a reverend clergyman in Shropshire told Mr. Henry to his face, that he had done more mischief in the country than any man that ever came into it;'' and that he himself hoped shortly to be in the commission of the peace, and then he would rid the country of him. But, alas, he was quite disappointed! Thus honour is like the shadow, which flies from those that pursue it, and follows those that flee from it.
For two years after this liberty began, Mr. Henry still continued his attendance, as usual, at White-well chapel, whenever there was preaching there ; and he preached at his own house only when there was no supply there, and in the evening of those « P. Henry. Orig. MS.
V The AposUe Paul was called a pestilent rellow, Acts xxiv !» ; days when there was. For doing thus he was greatly clamoured against by some of the rigd separatists, and called a dissembler, and one that halted between two, and the like. Thus, as he notes in his Diary, one side told him, he was the author of all the mischief in the country, in drawing people from the church; and the other side told him, he was the author of all the mischief, in drawing people to the church.—And, which of these, saith he, shall I seek to please ? Lord, neither, but thyself alone, and my own conscience; and, while I can do that, I have enough.
In a sermon at White well chapel, one Lord's day in the afternoon, where he and his family, and many of his congregation, were attending, much was said, with some keen reflections, to prove the dissenters schismatics, and in a damnable state. When he came immediately after to preach at his own house, before he began his sermon, he expressed himself to this purpose;—Perhaps some of you may expect now that I should say something in answer to what we have heard, by which we have been so severely charged ; but truly I have something else to do ;— and so, without any further notice taken of it, went on to preach Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
It was not without some fear and trembling, that Mr. Henry received the tidings of the Prince of Orange's landing, in November, 1688, as being somewhat in the dark concerning the clearness of his call, and dreading what might be the consequence of it. He used to say;—*' Give peace in our time, O Lord,"—was a prayer that he would heartily set his Amen to. But, when secret things were brought to light, and a regular course was taken to fill the vacant throne with such a king, and such a queen, none rejoiced in it more heartily than he did. He celebrated the National Thanksgiving for that great deliverance, with an excellent sermon on that text, Romans viii. 31.— What shall we then say to these things f If God be for t», who can be against us?
[Referring to this change of affairs, as it affected associating for Christian worship, he thus endeavoured to raise the minds of his flock above the consideration of mere second causes.—Christ is, said he, a shield to particular congregations and assemblies, professing faith in, and obedience to, him; especially, walking worthy of their profession, to protect and defend them against the wrath and violence of those who hate them. Are not we ourselves an instance, among many others, in like circumstances ? Had we been here to-day, if the blessed Jesus had not been a Shield to us ? Whose hand but his hath been our covering ? It is true, we have a good law, and a good king and queen,* but had they been for us if the Lord Jesus had been against and see Archbishop Lelghton's Works, v. 2. p. 275, &c. ■/ npra w William and Biary.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY. lis ? No, no;—he hath been for us, therefore they. The shields of the earth belong unto God, He who hath undertaiken the protection of the whole tabernacle, hath undertaken the protection of every apartment in it. He who hath undertaken the care of the whole vineyard, hath undertaken the care of every bed in it. He who hath undertaken to look after the whole flock, hath undertaken to look after every sheep in it He who hath the command of the whole army, hath the command of every troop in it. Therefore, to him let us give the glory. Therefore, on him let us still wait.'']
Soon after that happy settlement, there were overtures made towards a comprehension of the moderate dissenters nith the church of England ; which Mr. Henry most earnestly desired, and wished for, if it could be had upon any terms less than sinning against his conscience; for never was any more averse to that which looked like a separation than he was, if he could possibly have helped it, salva conscientiA, His prayers were constant, and his endeavours, as he had opportunity, that there might be some healing methods found out and agreed upon.^ But it was well known what was the vox cleri at that time, viz, —That, forasmuch as the oaths, subscriptions, and ceremonies, were imposed only to keep out such men, they would never consent to their removal, for the letting them in again. Noln-mus leges Anglia mutariy* was a saying perverted to this purpose. And the fixed principle was,— Better a schism without the church, than a faction within it, &c. This was at that time published and owned, as the sense of the clergy in convocation. Which temper and resolve, so contrary to that which might have been expected upon that happy and glorious revolution, did a little alter his sentiments in that matter; and he saw himself perfectly driven from them. Despairing, therefore, to see an accommodation, he set himself the more vigorously to im-improve the present liberty. In June, 1660, the Act of Indulgence * passed, which not only tolerated, but allowed, the dissenters meetings, and took them under the protection of the government.
[In allusion to the gratifying event, he writes :*'— The condition of many ministers and people among ourselves, of many in France, hath been, in outward appearance, a dead condition. The words of the Act' are, that they shall be as if naturally dead: but, blessed be God, there hath been a resurrection in some measure, a coming out of the grave
X p. Henry. Orig. MS. y Appendix. No. XVlll.
See Letten from a late eminent Prelate to one of his Fneods, p. l^"). 4to.
Usually styled the Toleration Act, and entitled,—'* An Act for exempting their Mesty*8 Protestant Subjects, dissenting from the Church of England, from the Penalties of certain Lairs." 1st William and Mary,st. 1. c. I8: confirmed by loth Anne, c. 2; t9th Geo. lU. c. 44 i and ft2d Geo. IlL c. I5&. See the Hist of Rel. again, of which, whoever was the instrument, the Lord Jesus himself hath been the principal Agent. He is the Resurrection to us. When a company of nonconformists went to court to congratulate the king and queen, and to thank them for the present liberty, being clothed alike in long black cloaks, such as ministers usually wear in London, a scoffer said;—" Whither are all these going ;—to a burial V " No, Sir," said one of them," to a resurrection."*]
Soon after, though he never in the least changed his judgment as to the lawfulness of joining in the Common Prayer, but was still ready to do it occasionally ; yet the ministers that preached at White-well chapel, being often uncertain in their coming, which kept his meeting at Broad Oak at like uncer« tainties, to the frequent disappointment of many of his hearers that came from far ; he was at last prevailed with to preach at public time every Lord's day, which he continued to do while he lived, much to his own satisfaction, and the satisfaction of his friends. An eminent minister in Lancashire, who did in like manner alter his practice about that time, gave this for a reason;—'* That he had been for twenty-seven years striving to please a generation of men, who, after all, would not be pleased; and therefore he would no longer endeavour it as he had done.*'
It may be of use to give some account how he managed his ministerial work in the latter part of his time, wherein he had as signal tokens of the presence of God with him as ever; enabling him still to bring forth fruit in old age j and to renew his youth lihe the eagles. Though what he did, he still did gratis, and would do so, yet he was not willing to have any constant assistant, nor had he any; so much was he in his element, when he was about his Master's work. It was his meat and drink to do it.
1. As to his constant sabbath work, he was uniform and abundant in it. He began his morning family worship, on Lord's days, at eight o'clock, when he read and expounded pretty largely, sung a psalm, and prayed ; and many strove to come time enough to join with him in that service. He began, in public, just at nine o'clock, winter and summer. His meeting-place was an out-building of his own, near adjoining to his house, fitted up very decently and conveniently for the purpose. He began with prayer? then he sung Psalm ex. without reading the line; next, he read and expounded a chapter in the Old Testament in the morning, and in the New
Lib. ▼. 2. pp. 172,213, 394. Also, Lord Mansfield's Speech in the House of Lords. Letters to the Hon. Mr. Justice Blackstone by P. Fumeaux, D. D. p. 257. oct. 1771. b P. Henry. Orig. MS. c The Act of Unifonnity. d A similar anecdote, and. probably, originating in this, is i«lat. ed of the Rev. Thomas Bradbury, in the reign of King George the First. See Wilson's History of Dissenting churches, v. a p. 514. History of Dinenters, v. 3. p. lia
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106
Testament in the afternoon. He looked upon the public reading of the Scriptures in religious assemblies to be an ordinance of God, and that it tended Tery much to the edification of people by that ordinance, to have what is read expounded to them. The bare reading of the word he used to compare to the throwing of a net into the water; but, the expounding of it is like the spreading out of that net, which makes it the more likely to catch fish; * espe-eially as he managed it, with practical, profitable observations. Some that have heard him read a chapter with this thought,—How will he make such I chapter as this useful to us?—have been surprised nrith snch pertinent, useful instructions, as they have owned to be as much for their edification as any sermon. And, commonly, when he had expounded a chapter, he would desire them, when they came home, to read it over, and recollect some of those things that had been spoken to them out of it.
In his expounding of the Old Testament, he industriously sought for something in it concerning Christ, who is the true treasure, hid in the field, the true manna hid in the dew of the Old Testament Take one instance: The last sabbath that ever he spent with his children ai Chester, in the public rooming worship, he read and expounded the last chapter of the Book of Job. After he had gone through the chapter, and observed what he thought fit out of it, he expressed himself to this purpose.— When I have read a chapter in the Old Testament, I used to inquire what there is in it that points at Christ, or is any way applicable to Christ Here is in this chapter a great deal of Job, but is there nothing of Christ here? Yes. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have in him seen the end of the Lord. This in Job is applicable to Christ, that after he had patiently gone through his sufferings, he was appointed an intercessor for his unkind friends. Verse 8. Go to my servant Job, and my servant Job shall pray for you, for him will I accept. If any one hath an errand to God, let him go to Jesus Christ, and put it into his hand, for there is no acceptance to be hoped for with God, but by him, who is his beloved Son; not only with whom he is well pleased, but in whom, viz. with us in him, he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
[On another occasion, having gone through a course of lectures on the real types' (as distinguished from personal') of Christ, he thus concluded the repetition sermon, in which he had briefly recapitulated the twelve topics;—Thus I have endeavoured to break these shells that you may come at the « See Matt iv. 18,19. John xxi. 7. &c. t Haying Mrs Savafre's liIS. copy of these excellent discourses before me, it seems desirable to preserve here the order in which they were delivered, and the texts.
The Lamb, from John i. 30.—Rock, 1 Cor. x. 4.~Ark. 1 Pet iii. 18—31.— Sam, Gen. zxii. 13 —Bfanna/john vi. 48—51.—The brazen serpent, John ili. 14,15.—Jacob's ladder. Gen. xxvlii. 13. kernel. What have we need of, that is not to be hkd in CAmf,—the marrow in all these bones? In him we have an ark against a deluge, a ram to be slain for us, a ladder to get to heaven by, a lamb to take away our sins, manna to feed us, water out of the rock to refresh us, a brazen serpent to heal us, purification-blood to cleanse us, a scape-goat to carry our sins into a land of forgetfulness, a city of refuge to fly to, a temple to pray to, an altar to sanctify all our gifts. Lo, Christ is all this, and infinitely more, therefore we need to look for no other.** , After the exposition of the chapter, he sung a psalm, and commonly chose a psalm suitable to the chapter he had expounded ; and would briefly tell his hearers how they might sing that psalm with understanding, and what affections of soul should be working towards God, in the singing of it; his hints of that kind were of great use, and contributed much to the right performance of that service; he often said,—The more singing of psalms there is in our families and congregations on sabbath days, the more like they are to heaven, and the more there is in them of the everlasting sabbath. He would say sometimes, he loved to sing whole psalms, rather than pieces.
After the sermon in the morning, he sung the 117th psalm, without reading the line.
He intermitted at noon about an hour and a half, and on sacrament days not near so long, in which time he took some little refreshment in his study making no solemn dinner; yet many of his friends did partake of his carnal, as well as of his spiritual, things, as those did that followed Christ, of whom he was careful they should not faint by the way. The morning sermon was repeated, by a ready writer, to those that stayed in the meeting place, as many did ; and when that was done, he begun the afternoon's exerpise; in which he not only read and expounded a chapter, but catechised the children, and expounded the catechism briefly before sermon. Thus did he go from strength to strength, and from duty to duty, on sabbath days; running the way of God's commandments with an enlarged heart. And the variety and vivacity of his public services made them exceeding pleasant to all that joined with him, who never had cause to complain of his being tedious. He used to say,—Every minute of sabbath time is precious, and none of it to be lost; and that he scarce thought the Lord's day well spent, if he were not weary in body at night; wearied with his work, but not weary of it, as he used to distinguish.
—Tlie red heifer, Heb. ix. 13,14.—The scape-goat, Lev. xvi. 8— 10, 21.—Cities of refuge, Josh. xx. I—3.—Temple, John il. 19—2L— An altar, Hebrews xiii. ID. See ante, p. 88. ff The personal types discussed by Mr. Henry, were,—Adam, Melchisedec, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Samson, Joshua, David, Solomon. Jonah, Cjrrus. Mrs. Tybton's MS. b P. Henry. Orig. MS.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
He would say ^metimes to those about him, when he had gone through the duties of a sabbath,—Well, if this be not the way to heaven, I do not know what is. In pressing people to number their days, he would especially exhort them to number their sabbath days, how many they have been, and how ill they have been spent; how few it is like they may be, that they may be spent better; and to help in the account, he would say, that for every twenty years of our lives, we enjoy above a thousand sabbaths, which must all be accounted for in the day of reckoning.
As to his constant preaching, it was very substantial and elaborate, and greatly to edification. He used to say, he could not starch in his preaching; that is, he would not; as knowing where the language and expression is stiff, and forced, and fine, as they call it, it doth not reach the greatest part of the hearers. When he grew old, he would say, sure he might now take a greater liberty to talk, as he called it, in the pulpit, that is, to speak familiarly to people; yet to the last he abated not in his preparations for the pulpit, nor ever delivered any thing raw and undigested ; much less any thing unbecoming the gravity and seriousness of the work. If his preaching was talking, it was talking to the purpose. His sermons were not common-place, but even when his subjects were the most plain and trite, yet his management of them was usually peculiar, and surprising. In those years, as formerly, he kept for the most part in a method for subjects, and was very seldom above one sabbath upon a text And his constant practice was, as it had been before, when he concluded a subject that he had been a good while upon, he spent one sabbath in a brief rehearsal of the marrow and substance of the many sermons he preached upon it; which he called the clenching of the nail, that it might be as a nailin a sure place. So very industrious was he, and no less ingenious, in his endeavours, that his hearers might be able, after his decease, to have these things always in remembrance, 2 Peter i. 15. and it is hoped, that, by the blessing of God, the effect did not altogether disapi Thus in a discourse on Rom. ▼. 12. J7y on* man gin entered into the world; after showing that sin consists in the want of original righteousness, and in the corruption of the whole nature, he re. marked that a natural state is,— An estate of distance from God, Eph. ii. 13. Luke xr. 13. Gen. iii. & Eph. iv. 1&
Desperate enmity against God, Rom. viii. 7. Rom. i. 30.
Universal disorder in the whole man. That which should obey, rules: the will rules the understanding; the afl'ections the Judg. ment; the body the soul: alluding to Eccles. x. 6, 7.
A dark state, Eph. v. 8. Eph. It. 18. Nay, not only void of light, but hating it, resisting it, not receiving niiitoal things, 1 Cor. ii. 14.
A defiled state, Ps. xiv. 3. Eiek. xvi 6. Ps. Ii. 5,7.
A diseased state, Isaiah i. 6.
Dead to every thing that is good, Eph. ii. L No will, desire, or inclination to do the will of God, no more than a dead man hath to any natural action of life. point his expectation. In the latter times of his ministry he would often contrive the heads of his sermons to begin with the same letter, or rather two and two of a letter;' but he did not at ail seem to affect or force it; only if it fell in naturally and easily, he thought it a good help to memory, and of use, especially to the younger sort And he would say, the chief reason why he did it was, because it is frequently observed in the Scripture, particularly the Book of Psalms. And though it be not a fashionable ornament of discourse, if it be a scripture ornament, that is sufficient to recommend it, at least to justify it against the imputation of childishness. Mr. Porter, of Whitchurch, very much used it; so did Mr. Maiden. But the excellency of his sermons lay chiefly in the enlargements, which were always very solid, grave, and judicious ; but in expressing and marshalling his heads, he often condescended below his own judgment, to help his hearers' memories. Some of his subjects, whence had finished them, be made some short memorandums of in verse,*^ a distich or two of each sabbath's work, and gave them out in writing, among the young ones of his congregation, many of whom wrote them, and learned them, and profited by them.'
It might be of use, especially to those who had the happiness of sitting under his ministry, to give some account of the method of his sabbath subjects, during the last eight or nine years of his ministry; and it was designed, till it was found it would swell this narrative into too great a bulk.*"
2. As to the administration of the sacraments, those mysteries of God, which ministers are the stewards of.
As to the sacrament of baptism, he had never, that I know of, baptized any children except his own, from the time he was turned out in 1662, till his last liberty came, though often desired to do it; such was the tender regard he had to the established church; but now he revived the administration of that ordinance. in his congregation. The occasion was this: One of the parish ministers, preaching at White well chapel,—Mr. Henry and his family, Disposed to all manner of evil, Hos. xi. 7. bent, as the bowl to follow the bias.
Disabled for ever to help himself out of this condition, Ezek. xvi. 1,2, 3,kc. Rom. v. 6. without strength; nay,refusing help when offered; alluding to Luke xiii. 11. P. Henry. Orlg. MS. k A godly minister in Wales, perceiving his people to be ignorant, and also much addicted to singing, at last took this course; —he turned the subject of his sabbath sermon into a song, and gave it to his parishioners; and it did good. Much of God's mind is revealed in Scripture by songs. P. Henry. From Matthew Henry's MS.
The allusion is supposed to be to the Rev. Rees Prichard, author of the Welshman's Candle. See a version of part o^* this useful poem, entitled, The Vicar of Llandovery, a Light ft-om the Welshman's Candle, " by John Bulmer." duod. 18*21. Preface, pp. x. xvi. &c. Mr. Prichard died in 1644, et. 60.
1 Appendix, No. XIIC
m Appendix, No. XX.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
107 and many of his friends, being present,—was earnestly cautioning people not to go to conventicles, and used this as an argument against it,—*' That they were baptized into the Church of England." Mr. Henr3r's catholic charity could not well digest this monopolizing of the great ordinance of baptism, and thought it time to bear his testimony against such narrow principles, which he ever expressed his dislike of in all parties and persuasions. Accordingly he took the next opportunity that offered itself, publicly to baptize a child, and desired the congregation to bear witness,—That he did not baptize that child into the church of England, nor into the church of Scotland, nor into the church of the Dissenters, nor into the church at Broad Oak, but into the visible catholic church of Jesus Christ. After this he baptized very many, and always publicly, though, being in the country, they were commonly carried a good way. The public administration of baptism, he not only judged most agreeable to the nature and end of the ordinance, but found to be very pro Otable and edifying to the congregation; for he always took that occasion, not only to explain the nature of the ordinance, but affectionately and pathetically to excite people duly to improve their baptism. He usually received the child immediately oot of the hands of the parent that presented it, and returned it into the same hands again, with this, or the like charge ;—Take this child, and bring it up for God. He used to say, that one advantage of public baptism was, that there were many to join in prayer for the child, in which therefore, and in blessing God for it, he was usually very large and particular. After he had baptized the child, before he gave it back to the parent, he commonly used these words; -.We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's church, having washed it with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, in token, that, hereafter, it shall not be ashamed to confess Christ crucified, and manfully to fight, &c.
He baptized many adult persons, that, through the error of their parents, were not baptized in infancy, and some in public.
The solemn ordinance of the Lord's supper he constantly celebrated in his congregation once a month, and always to a very considerable number of communicants. He did not usually observe public days of preparation for that ordinance, other than as they fell in course in the weekly lectures; nor did he ever appropriate any particular sub-
The peculiar work of deacons, according to the primitive in-ititation, was the serving tables, and making a prudent and Taith-'al distribution of the stock of the society, Acts vi. 2. Dr. Lard-lers Works, vol. ii. p. ix. oct. 1788. Watts's Works, v. 4. p. 146. xrt. isia Some of them, perhaps all, were occasionally preach-trs ; but this was no part of their office astieacons. Mr. Newton. Review of Ecclesiastical History. Works, v. 3. p. fi7 oct. 1808.
1687a Sab. Mar. 11,1 spent still at dear Broad Oak; many I ject of his preaching to.sacrament days, having a great felicity in adapting any profitable subject to such an occasion: and he would say;—^What did the primitive Christians do, when they celebrated the Lord's supper every Lord's day? His administration of this ordinance was very solemn and affecting. He had been wont to go about in the congregation, and to deliver the elements with his own hand; but, in his latter time, he delivered them only to those near him, and so they were handed from one to another, with the assistance of one who supplied the office of a deacon," as having also the custody and disposal of the money gathered for the use of the poor; Mr. Henry taking, and carefully keeping, a particular account of it
Such as desired to be admitted to the Lord's supper, he first discoursed with concerning their spiritual state, and how the case stood between God and their souls; not only to examine them, but to instruct and teach them, and to encourage them, as he saw occasion ; gently leading those whom he discerned to be serious, though weak and timorous. He usually discoursed with them more than once, as finding precept upon precept, and line upon line, necessary ; but he did it with so much mildness, and humility, and tenderness, and endeavour to make the best of every body, as did greatly affect and win upon many. He was herein like our great Master, who can have compassion on the ignorant and doth not despise the day of small things.
But his admission of young people out of the rank of catechumens into that of communicants, had a peculiar solemnity in it Such as he catechised, when they grew up to some years of discretion, if he observed them to be intelligent and serious, and to set their faces heavenwards, he marked them out to be admitted to the Lord's supper, and, when he had a competent number of such, twelve or fifteen, perhaps, or more, he ordered each of them to come to him severally, and discoursed with them of the things belonging to their everlasting peace; put it to their choice, whom they would iAtx\e ; and endeavoured to affect them with those things with which, by their catechisms, they had been made acquainted ; drawing them with the cords of a man, and the bands of love, into the way which is called holy. For several Lord's days he catechised them, particularly in public, touching the Lord's supper,*' and the duty of preparation for it, and their baptismal covenant, which in that ordinance they were to take upon themselves, and to make their own act and sweet lessons taught us. The subject,—that a bold spirit is an excellent spirit; but I was most affected with the catechising, which was not then of the children, but the young persons who are shortly to be admitted to the Lord's supper. After many serious exhortations and questions, all the company, as well as dear father, were much aflfected, when tears would scarce let him say any more than,—God bless you! Mrs. Savage. Diary, Orig. MS.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY. deed. Often telling tbem upon such occasions, that they were not to oblige themselves to any more than what they were already obliged to by their baptism, only to bind themselves faster to it. Then he appointed a day in the week before the ordinance; when, in a solemn assembly on purpose, he prayed for them, and preached a sermon p to them, proper to their age and circumstances; and so the following sabbath they were all received together to the Lord's supper. This he looked upon as the right confirmation, or transition into the state of adult church-membership. The more solemn our covenanting with God is, the more deep and the more durable the impressions are likely to be. He hath recorded it in his Diary, upon one of these occasions, as his heart's desire and prayer for those who were thus admitted ;~^That it might be as the day of their espousals to the Lord Jesus, and that they might each of them have a wedding-garment
3. The discipline he observed in his congregation was, not such as he could have vdshed for, but the best he could get, considering what a scattered flock he had, which was his trouble ; but it could not be helped. He would sometimes apply to the circumstances he was in, that of Moses, Deuteronomy xii. 8,9. However, I see not but the end was effectually attained by the methods he took, though there wanted the formality of officers and church-meetings for the purpose. If he heard of any that walked disorderly, he sent for them, and reproved them gently, or sharply, as he saw the case required. If the sin had scandal in it, he suspended them from the ordinance of the Lord's supper till they gave some tokens of their repentance and reformation. And where the offence was public and gross, his judgment was, that some public satisfaction should be made to the congregation before re-admission. But, whatever offence did happen, or breaches of the Christian peace, Mr. Henry's peculiar excellence lay in restoring with the spirit of meekness i which with his great prudence, and love, and condescension, did so much command the respect of his people, and win upon them, that there was a universal satisfaction in all his management; and it may be truly said of him, as it was of David, 2 Samuel iii. 36, that whatsoever he did pleased all the people. And it is an instance and evidence, p Once he preached on that occasion, on 1 Cor. xiii. U; at another time on 2 Chron. xzx. & another, on 1 Chron. xxix. IL Lire. Orig. MS. ut ntpra.
4 Meekness is a grace of the Spirit, Gal. v. 2*2, 23. and is of general use to us in every thing we do, both towards God and man, James iii. 13. Meelcness in the understanding is seen in receiving the truths of God. James i. 21. Meekness in the will is seen in yielding to his commands. Matt xi. 29. The proper work of meekness is to compose, and cool, and quiet the spirit. It regulates anger in its cause, measure, and continuance, Eph. It. 26. We must answer with meekness, I Pet iii. 15. We roust instruct with meekness, 2 Tim. ii. 25. We must restore with meekness. Gal. vi. L We must bear reproaches with meekness, that those ministers who will rule by love and meekness, need no laws or canons to rule by, other than those of the Holy Scripture.— How forcible are right words! Job vi. 25.
4. He was very strict and very serious in observing the public fasts appointed by authority, and called them a delight He had seldom any one to assist him in carrying on the duties of those days, but performed the service of them himself alone. He began at nine of the clock, or quickly after, and never stirred out of the pulpit till about four in the afternoon, spending all that time in praying, and expounding, and singing, and preaching, to the admiration of all that heard him, who were generally more on such days than usual. And he was sometimes observed to bd more warm and lively towards the latter end of the duties of a fast day than at the beginning; as if the spirit were most willing and enlarged when the flesh was most weak. In all his performances on public fast days, he did, hoc agere, attend to that which was the proper work of the day; every thing is beautiful in its season. His prayers and pleadings with God on those days, were especially for national mercies, and the pardon of national sins. How excellently did he order the cause before God, and fill his mouth with arguments in his large and particular intercessions for the land, for the king, the government, the army, the navy, the church, the French Protestants, &c. He was another Jacob, a wrestler, an Israel, a prince with God.^ Before a fast day, he would be more than ordinarily inquisitive concerning the state of public affairs, as Nehe-miah was, Nehemiah i. 2. that he might know the better how to order his prayers and preaching; for, on such a day, he hath sometimes said,—As good say nothing, as nothing to the purpose. He made it his business on fast-days, to show people their transgressions, especially the house of Jacob their sins. —It is most proper, said he, to preach of Christ on Lord's days, to preach of sin on fast days, and to preach duty on both. He went over the third chapter of the Revelations, in the fast sermons of two years. Another year he preached over the particulars of that charge,* Zephaniah iii. 2. Hypocrisy in hearers, and flattery in preachers, as he would sometimes say, is bad at any time, but it is especially abominable upon a day of humiliation.
Numb. xii. 2, 3. 2 Sam. xvi 7, 8. We must bear reproofs with meekness. Meekness towards God stands opposed to murmuring and repining at his dealings with us. The language will be,—/r it tk* LvrJt Ut kirn do what $eemeth him good. P. Henry. Orig. MS. r 16P7.8 Sab. Sept. 4. I oft think of a petition of dear praying ftther, now with God. thus;—Let O Lord, the blessing of the ordinances reach these whose hearts are with us here to.day, though their persons \x not. God grant I may tread in his steps, and be truly of the seed of this praying Jacob, who was so mighty in tliat duty. Mrs. Savage's Diary. Orig. MS.
See P. Henry's Seipaons, oct t8I9. pp. 226, 242,269. Also, a Sermon on the Fifth of November, by P. Henry. Evan. Mag. vol. xxviii. p. 456.
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5. He preached a greiR many lectures in the country about, some stated, some occasional, in suppljring of which he was very indefatigable. He hath sometimes preached a lecture, ridden eight or nine miles, and preached another, and the next day two more. To quicken himself to diligence he would often say, —Our opportunities arc passing away, and we must work while it is day, for the night cometh. Once, having very wet and foul weather to go through to preach a lecture, he said, he comforted himself with two scriptures; one was, 2 Timothy ii. 3.— Endure Urdness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ ; the other, because he exposed and hazarded his health, for which some blamed him, was, 2 Samuel vi. 21.— It was before the Lord. He took all occasions in his lectures abroad, to possess the minds of people with sober and moderate principles, and to stir them up to the serious regard of those things wherein we are all agreed.—.We are not met here together, said he, once in an exhortation, with which he often began at bis lecture, because we think ourselves better than others, but because we desire to be better than we are.
He was very happy in the choice of his subjects for his week-day lecture. At one, which was stated, he preached against errors ^ in general, from James i. 16.— Do not err, my beloved brethren; —^particularly, from divers other scriptures he showed, that we must not err concerning God, and Christ, and the Spirit; concerning sin and repentance faith and good works; concerning God's ordinances; concerning grace and peace, and afflictions and prosperity, and the things of the life to come."
[At another lecture, he considered what the people of God are compared to in Scripture. They are ike salt of the earth; the light of the world; God's witnesses ; the planting of the Lord ; his husbandry; his building.'''\
At the monthly lectures at his own house, he chose to preach upon the four last things, death and judgment, heaven and hell, in many particulars, but commonly a new text for every sermon. When he had, in many sermons, finished the first of the four, one that used to hear him sometimes, inquiring of his progress in his subjects, asked him if he had done with death, meaning that subject concerning death; to which he pleasantly replied ;—No, I have not done with him yet. I must have another turn with him, and he will give me a fall; but I hope to have the victory at last. He would sometimes ret Appendix, No. XXL
As a preservative against error, get truth of grace, and grow in it, % Pet. ifi. 17,18. Heb. ziii. 0. Matt. xxiv. 34. Be filled with knowledge, especially in fundamentals, Biatt. xiii. 29. Ps. cxix. 104, te. Get an humble heart, Ps. cxxxi. 1, S. Ps. zxy. 9. Receive the truth in the love of it, STheas. ii. le, 11. John vii. 17. Be much in secret prayer; prey for the Spirit, who is given to lead into truth, John xvf . la Maintain communion with the saints; come not near seducers, 2 Cor. vi. 17. Prov. iv. 14, 15. 2 John 10. Jer. move the lectures in the coimtry from one place to another, for the benefit of those that could not travel. Once having adjourned a lecture to a new place, he began it with a sermon on Acts xvii. 6— These men that have turned the woi'ld upside down, are come hither also; in which he showed how false the charge is as they meant it; for religion doth not disturb the peace of families, or societies, doth not cause any disorder or unquietness, &c. And yet, that in another sense there is a great truth in it,—that, when the gospel comes in power to any soul, it turns the world upside down in that soul; such is the change it makes there.
All this he did gratis, and without being burthen-some to any; nay, he was best pleased, when, at the places where he preached, nothing was got for his entertainment, but he came home, though some miles, fasting; as in other places it was a trouble to him to see his friends careful about much serving, though it was out of their respect to him.
Lastly. As he was an excellent preacher himself, so he was an exemplary hearer of the word, when others preached, though every way his inferiors; so reverent, serious, and attentive was he in hearing, and so observant of what was spoken. I have heard him tell, that he knew one, and I suppose it was as Paul knew a man in Christ, who could truly say, to the glory of God, that for forty years he had never slept at a sermon.
[He would sometimes remark;—^Those who are ordinarily drowsy in hearing the word of God, and allow themselves in it, are next door to some great affliction, or great temptation, or on the declining hand.*]
He was diligent also to improve what he heard afterwards by meditation, repetition, prayer, and discourse; and he was a very great encourager of young ministers that were humble and serious, though their abilities and performances were but mean. He hath noted in his Diary, as that which affected him, this sajring of a godly man, a hearer of his;—*< I find it easier to go six miles to hear a sermon, than to spend one quarter of an hour in meditating and praying over it in secret, as I should, when I come home."
As to the circumstances of his family in these last nine years of his life, they were somewhat different from what they had been; but the same candley of God, which had shined upon his tabernacle, continued still to do so. In the years 1687 and 1688, xziii. 16. Keep up due esteem of ministers whom God hath set over you, Heb. xiii. 7,17. 1 Thess. v. 12,18. Jer. vi. W, 17. Eph. iv. II, &c. Mai. ii. 2,7. P. Henry. Orig. MS.
Life. Orig. MS. s/Mpro. w From an authentic MS. believed to be in the hand-writing of his daughter. Mrs. Tylston.
z Appendix, No XXII.
y See Job xxix. 3.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
he married all his five children ; the three eldest in four months' time, in the year 1687; and the other two in a year and a half after; so many swarms, as he used to call them, out of his hive;' and all, not only with his full consent, but to his abundant comfort and satisfaction. He would say, he thought it the duty of parents to study to oblige their children in that affair. And though never could children be more easy and at rest in a father's house than his were, yet he would sometimes say concerning them, as Naomi to Ruth, Ruth iii. 1.— Shall I not seek rest for thee f Two advices he used to give, both to his children and others, in their choice of that relation. One was:—Keep within the bounds of profession, such as one may charitably hope is from a good principle. The other was;—Look at suitableness in age, quality, education, temper, &c. He used to observe, from Genesis ii. 18.— I will make him a help meet for him, —^that where there is not meet-ness, there will not be much help. And he would commonly say to his children, with reference to that choice;—Please God, and please yourselves, and you shall never displease me; and greatly blamed those parents, who conclude matches for their children, and do not ask counsel at their mouth.
[When the proposal made to his youngest daughter was communicated to him, his sentiments were expressed in the following letter:— My dear Daughter; Your present affair we can truly say was no less a surprise to us, than it was to you; but we have learned, both from our fixed belief of God's universal providence in every thing, and his particular special providence towards those that fear him, and also from our last year's experience, once and again, of his doing that for us which we looked not for;— to cease our wonder,* and to apply ourselves, as we ought to do, to our duty. We would have you do so likewise; saying, as Paul, which was the first word that grace spoke in him,—Xoref, what wilt thou have me to do ^ Your way is, in the first place, to acknowledge God, not only in the thing itself, but in all the motions and events of it; and if you do so, he will direct you; that is, guide, and bless, and succeed your steps. You are, next, to admit the person-into your converse, as in another case, 1 Timothy v. 2. with all purity; that is, at no unfitting time, in no unfitting place, manner, or other circumstance; as it will not be desired, so neither t Probably in allusion to Shakspeare :— *' All's well that end's well." - Act I, sc. 2.
I after him, do after him wish too.
Since I nor wax, nor honey, can bring home, 1 quickly were dissolved from «y AiW.
To give some labourer room. • See the Sure Guide to Heaven, by Joseph Alleine, pp. 235, 345. ed. 1704 duod. b See asae, p. 10. c See the Investigator, v. 7. p. 70. Also the works of the Rev. ought it to be granted. Y\>ur end, herein, is to be the same with his; your next end that you may be acquainted with each other's temper and disposition. Especially that you may feel the pulse of each other's soul, how it beats towards God, and his works and ways. As the agreement is in that, accordingly will be much of the sweetness and comfort of the condition.
As to the calling, estate, and other things of that kind, I am glad you know, and am more glad you have espoused, Mr. AUeyn's six principles,* which are the same in practice, and are of as great use and influence, as Mr. Perkins's Six Principles in Doctrine ; and, therefore, hold to them. If height and fulness in the world were the things that would make us happy, those who have them would be the happy people; but it is not so. It shall be my endeavour, as far as I can, to inform myself how things are in those matters, that there may be no mistake on either side, and then to do as there shall be cause. You will remember one thing, which you have often heard from me in others' cases, though never in your own, and that is,—To keep yourself free from all engagements, by promise, till the time come when it shall be thought proper, by mutual consent, that I contract you,^ which will be time enough for you to do that. To how many hath the not observing this rule been a snare! We are truly thoughtful for you, you may well believe, but must not be too thoughtful. Unto God we must, and do, commit our way in it, and so must you yours, — casting all our care upon him, for he careth for us. We have, hitherto, found his contrivances best, not ours. I am glad you have so worthy a friend as Mrs. M. K. to unbosom yourself to, and to help to advise you, and pray for you. I told your brother when I thought it would be convenient you should come home. If he has not opportunity of sending you then, we shall, soon after, God willing, send for you. Our love and blessing is to him, and our daughter, and to your dear self, having confidence in you in all things, (2 Corinthians vii. 16.—but it is through the Lord, as it is limited, Galatians v. 10.) that you will act as I have counselled you.
Committing you to his protection and guidance, I rest. Your loving father, Feb. 17, 1687-8. Philip Henry.«»]
He never aimed at gpreat things* in the world for his children, but sought for them, in the first place, It Greenham, p. 174. fol. 1805. where there is a Treatise of a Contract before Marriage. d Orig. MS.
Having in view, very likely, the pithy couplet of his admired poet, George Herbert :— '* For gold and grace did never yet agree; Religion always sides with povenie.**
The Temple, &c. «/ gvpra 191. Also, Clark's Lives annexed to the Martyrologie, p. 152. «/ iwprs.
THE UFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
Ill the kingdom of God, and the righteousnest thereof. He uaed to mention, sometimes, the saying of a pious gentlewoman, that had many daughters;—" The eare of most people is how to get good husbands for their daughters; but my care is to fit my daughters to be good wives, and then let God provide for them." In this, as in other things, Mr. Henry steered by that principle,—^That a tnan*s life consisteth not in tke ahmndance of the things that he possesseth. And it pleased God so to order it, that all his children were disposed of, into circumstances very agreeable and comfortable, both for life and godliness. He was greatly affected with the goodness of God to him herein, without any forecast or contrivance of his own.—The country, saith he, in his Diary, takes notice of it, and what then shall I render? Surely, this is a token for good.
[Speaking of the arrangements of outvrard comforts, and the eagerness of the affections towards them, he would remark, that,—God hath three hands, wherewith he distributes earthly things: A hand of common providence; with this he feeds the ravens, when they cry. A hand of special love; vnth this be feeds his children, who commit their way to him, and put their trust in him. A hand of anger and wrath; with this he gives to those who are impatient: they must and will be rich ; they must and will have this or that.' In gifts from men we look more at the mind of the giver than the value of the gift. So should we in gifts from God. Have / his love with what I have ? Then I am well enough. If otherwise, it is but a sad portion; as a golden suit with the plague in it.<]
All his four daughters were married at Whitewell chapel, and he preached a wedding-sermon** for each of them in his own family after.'
He would often tell his friends, that those who desire, in the married condition, to live in the favour of God, must enter upon that condition in the fear of God. For it is an ill omen to stumble at the threshold; and an error in the first concoction is seldom amended in the second.
While he lived he had much comfort in all his children, and their yoke-fellows, and somewhat the more, that, by the Divine Providence, four of the ^we families which branched out of his, were settled in Chester.
His youngest daughter*^ was married April 26, 1688, the same day of the year, as he observes in his Diary, and the same day of the week, and in the f UpoD those men who escape the curse of Adam, Genesis iii. 10.—/a tJkt twtat of dijf fact ikait thorn eat brtad,'--God commonly lo Sicts the serpent's curse; verse 14.— Upo» thy holly thalt tkom go, imat ohalt tkoa oat. Those usually that have most dote most upon vrhat they have, Krovclling in the earth, &c. We must use riches Bs thorns; make a hedge, and stop gaps with them; but by no means make a bed oT them, as that fool, Luke xii. 19. P. Henry. Com. PI. Book,Orig. MS. ff P. Heury. Orig. MS. same place, that he was married to his dear wife, twenty-eight years before; upon which, this is his remark;—I cannot desire for them, that they should receive more from God than we have received, in that relation and condition; but I would desire, and do desire, that they may do more for God in it than we have done.
His usual compliment to his new-married friends, was;—Others wish you all happiness, I wish you all holiness, and then there is no doubt but you will have all happiness.
When the marriage of the last of his daughters was about to be concluded on, he thus writes;—But f« Joseph gone, and Simeon gone, and must Benjamin go also ? We will not say, that all these things are against us, but for us. If we must be thus, in this merciful way, bereaved of our children, let us be bereaved; and God turn it for good to them, as we know he ^ill, if they love and fear his name. And when, some time after she was married, he parted with her to the house of her husband, he thus writes; —We have sent her away, not as Laban said he would have sent his daughters away, with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp, but Mith prayers, and tears, and hearty good wishes.—And now, saith he, in his Diary, we are alone again, as we were in our beginning. God bo better to us than twenty children. Upon the same occasion he thus writes to a dear relation;—We are now left as we were, one and one, and yet but one one; the Lord, I trust, that has brought us thus far, will enable us to finish well;' and then all will be well, and not till then.
That which he often mentioned, as the matter of his great comfort that it was so, and his desire that it might continue so, was the love and unity that was among his children; and that, as he vmtes, the transplanting of them into new relations, had not lessened that love, but rather increased it; for this he often gave thanks to the God of love; noting, from Job i. 4;—That the children's love to one another is the parents' comfort and joy. In his last will and testament, this is the prayer which he puts up for his children,—That the Lord would build them up in holiness, and continue them still in brotherly lovC; as a bundle of arrows which cannot be broken.
When his children were removed from him, he was a daily intercessor at the throne of grace for them, and their families. Still the bumt-offerh For a singular Collection of Wedding Sermons, see the Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books, by the Rev. W. Beloe, v. 3. pp. 100—109, oct. 1%08;—•• Every one of which, IVom some cause or other, the whin»sicality of the title, the phraseology, or the matter, is an object of curiosity." lb. p. 100.
i Appendix, No. XXIII.
k See mtto.
1 Sec Acts XX. 24.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
ings were offered according to the number of them all. He used to say;—Surely, the children of so many prayers will not miscarry. Their particular circumstances of affliction and danger were sure to be mentioned by him with suitable petitions. The greatest affliction he saw in his family, was the death of his dear daughter-in-law, Catharine,*" the only daughter of Samuel Hardware, Esq.; who, about a year and a half after she was transplanted into his family, to which she was the greatest comfort and ornament imaginable, died of the small-pox in child-bed, upon the Thanksgiving-day for King William's coming in. She died but a few weeks after Mr. Henry had married the last of his daughters ; upon which marriage she had said;—" Now we have a full lease, God only knows which life will drop first.'' She comforted herself in the extremity of her illness with this word;—'^ Well, when I come to heaven, I shall see that I could not have been without this affliction." She had been for some time before under some fears as to her spiritual state, but the clouds were, through grace, dispelled, and she finished her course with joy, and a cheerful expectation of the glory to be revealed. When she lay ill, Mr. Henry, being in fear not only for her that was ill, but for the rest of his children in Chester, who had none of them past the pikes ° of that perilous distemper, wrote thus to his son, on the evening of the Lord's day.—I have just done the public work of this day, wherein, before many scores of witnesses, many of whom, I dare say, are no little concerned for you, I have absolutely, freely, and unreservedly, given you all up to the good-will and pleasure of our heavenly Father, waiting what he will do with us, for good I am sure we have received, and shall we not receive evil also ? He preached at Chester, upon occasion of that sad breach in his family, on Job X. 3.— Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. , When two of his children lay ill, and in perilous circumstances, after he had been wrestling with God in prayer for them, he wrote thus in his 0f ary; —If the Lord will be pleased to grant me my request this time concerning my children, I will not say as the beggars at our door used to do;-—I'll never ask any thing of him again; but, on the contrary, he shall hear oftener from me than ever; and I will m See Tong*s Lire of the Rev. Matthew Henry, 105. &c. utswpra. Her epitaph U preserved in the History of Chere, «/ tvpra, vol. 1. p. S6S; and a pedigree of the Hardware family, A. vol. 3. p. tsi.
Mr. Matthew Henry bewailed his loss in some pathetic lines which were first printed in the Evan. Mag. v. 3. p. 351; and, a little altered, v. 29. p. 163.
B Mr. Paul Bayne, in his Christian Letters,«/ npra, p. 346. urges for consolation, that it is,—*' promised we shall paue the pik*», and bring forth, though with sorrowes.** In another of his works he says;—" We see that who will keepe life and power in his course, endeavouring a good conscience in all things, they must fouttht pikn of evill tongues which are shaken against them.** The Triall of a Christian's Estate, p. 37. duod. 1637. See also Bishop Saun. love God the better, and love prayer the better, as long as I live. He uted to say,—^Tradesmen take it ill if those that are in their books go to another shop. While we are so much indebted to God for past mercies, we are bound to attend him for further mercies.
As he was an intercessor for his children at the throne of grace, so he was upon all occasions a remembrancer to them, both by word and letter, to quicken them to that which is good. How often did he inculcate this upon them ? Love one another, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Do all you can, while you are together, to help one another to heaven, that you may be together there, for ever, and with the Lord. When the families of his children were in health and peace, the candle of God shining upon their tabernacles, he wrote thus to them;—It was one of Job's comforts in his prosperity, that his children loved one another, and feasted together. The same is ours in you, which, God continue. But you will not be offended, if we pray that you may none of you curse God in your hearts. Kemember the wheel is always in motion, and the spoke that is uppermost will be under,** and therefore mix tremblings always with your joy.
He much rejoiced in the visits of his children, and made that, as other things, which were the matter of his rejoicing, the matter of his thanksgiving. His usual saying, at parting, was;—This is not the world we are to be together in, and it is well it is not; but there is such a world before us. And his usual prayer was,—That our next meeting might be either in heaven, or further on in our way towards it
He had, in eight years' time, twenty-four grandchildren bom ; some by each of his children; concerning whom he would often bless God, that they were all the sealed ones of the God of heaven, and enrolled among his lambs. On the birth of his second grand-child, at a troublesome time as to public affairs, he thus writes ;—I have now seen my cAt7-dren*s children; let me also see peace upon Israel; and then I will say,—Xorcf, now lettest thou thy servant depart. Some were much affected with it, when he baptized two of his gprand-children together at Chester, publicly, and preached on Genesis xzziii. 5.— Tltey are the children which God hath graciously given thy servant. He observed in what a savoury, pious, gracious manner Jacob speaks. He had der Bon*s Thirty-four Sermons, p. 34. fol. 16741 and an Expositioa of the Ten Commandments, by John Dod and Robert Cleaver, p. 16. 4to. 1632.
An Old Biographer says ;~There are no preachers so experimental, spiritual, powerf\il, courageous, awakening, convincing, converting,compassionate, comforting, as those who have passed tknmgh tkt pikn. Life of lilr. John Murcot, p. 5. prefixed to his Works, ut nipra. o Heavenly honour and glory, like a pole, or axle-tree, is fixed and immoveable; but earthly is like a wheel that turns over and over, and runs round; that part which is now above, or aloft, will by and by be below, and at bottom. Precepts for Christian Practice, by Edward Reyner. p. 184. duod. 1668. edit. 13th. tHE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
113 spoken good sense if he had only said ; they are my children; bat then he had not spoken like Jacob, like one that had so lately seen the face of God. Though onr speech be not always of grace, yet it most be always with grace; grace poured into the fips. There is a kind of language, the air of which speaks it the lanv Age of Canaan, Christians should speak like Christians.
It was not long after his children were married from him, but his house was filled again with the children of several of his friends, whom he was, by much importunity, persuaded to take to table with him.' All that knew him, thought it a thousand pities that such a master of a family should have but a small family, and should not have many to sit down under his shadow.^ He was first almost necessitated to it, by the death of his dear friend and kinsman, Mr. Benyon, of Ash, who left his children to his care. Some he took gratis, or for small consideration ; and when, by reason of the advances of age, he could not go about so much as he had done, doing good, he laid out himself to do the more at home. He kept a teacher to attend their school-learning ; and they had the benefit not only of his inspection in that, but, which was much more, his family worship, sabbath instructions, catechising, and daily converse, in which his tongue was as choice silver and his lips fed many. Nothing but the hopes of doing some good to the rising generation could have prevailed virith him, to take this trouble upon him. He would often say ;—We have a busy house, but there is a rest remaining. We must be doing something in the world while we are in it; but this fashion will not last long, methinks I see it passing away.
Sometimes he had such with him as had gone through their course of university-learning, at private academies, and desired to spend some time in his family, before their entrance upon the ministry, Aat they might have the benefit, not only of his public and family instructions, but of his learned and pious converse,' in which, as he was thoroughly furnished for every good word and work, so he was very free and communicative. The great thing which he used to press upon those who intended the ministry, was to study the Scriptures, and make them familiar. Bonus textuarius est bontis theologusj was a maxim he often minded them of. For this purpose he recommended to them the study of the Hebrew, that they might be able to search the Scriptures in F It would be interesting to see a list of his "Tablera," as his papos desiirnate them, but an effort to furnish one has proved in-elfectuaL Dr. Latbanu in a " Sermon preached at Uttoxeter, Biay a6w 1745, on occasion of the Death of the Rev. Mr. Daniel BSadock," says;—*«His first years were spent in old Mr. Philip Henry's fiu mily. vbere be was early formed to piety as well as instructed in good literatiire.** p. 27. oct 1745.
See SoL Song. cb. ii. v. a r Mr. WUaoB, of Warwick. an eminent young minister, (See Tong's life of Matthew Henry, pp. 48. 271) before he undertook a public chaige doifed to spend some time in the family of the excellent the original. He also advised tlicm to the use of an interleaved Bible, wherein to iusertsuch expositions and observations as occur occasionally in sermons or other books: which he would say, are more happy and considerable sometimes, than those that are found in the professed conunentators. When some young men desired the happiness of coming into his family, he would tell them;—You come to roe, as Naaman did to Elisha, expecting that I should do this and the other for you, and, alas, I can but say as he did. Go, wash in Jordan, Go, study the Scriptures. I profess to teach no other learning but scripture-learning.
[Sometimes he would say;—Prefer having eyes to read the Scriptures, and be blind to every thing else, rather than to read every thing else, and neglect the Bible.* Christ is the lesson there taught, and it is a lesson which it will do us abundant good to learn. It is unspeakably satisfying to the understanding. It is both sweet and comfortable, refreshing and joyous. It is strangely renewing and changing within, as to the inner man, by making the tree good, bowing the will, and raising the affections ; and as strangely reforming and mending without, in the life and conversation.^]
It was but a little before he died, that, in reading Isaiah 1. he observed, from verse 4.— The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned, ^'c. —That the true learning of a gospel minister consists,-,.not in being able to talk Latin fluently, and to dispute in philosophy, —but in being able to speah a word in season to weary souls. He that knows how to do that well, is a learned minister.
[He still employed his edifying talent in letter-writing, to the no small gratification of his friends. In these communications he usually wrote with the warmth of holy affection and zeal; occasionally indulging in a playfulness of expression, which served to show how far he was from being gloomy, or morose. The following may be taken as examples:— July 5,1(J92. Dear Sir; The change of your hand for so much the better, made me altogether uncertain to whom I owed the kindness of the printed paper, till your father informed my ignorance, which is now quite removed by your second letter. The tidings whereof, though it be not like that of the former, as to the account it
Philip Henry; and said to a near relation of his,—He desired to learn Mr. Henry's way of preaching, and praying, and living; and, says he. " If God will give me his Spirit, I shall be a happy person." This desire or his was pleasing to God; he had tlie opportunity, and most disceniible advantage by it. A Funeral Sermon for the Rev. Mr. Samuel Slater, p. 26. 4to. 1704. By the Rev. W. Tong. t See Hildersam's Lecture upon the 4th of John, fol. IU29. Address, " To the godly reader, whether minister or private Christian."
• P. Henry. Orig. MS.
THE UFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY. gives of public affairs, yet as to this were very acceptable, that it assures me of the continuance of your personal respect to, and remembrance of, unworthy me; and also gives me good ground of hope, that you are confirmed more and more in your choice of tlie good ways of the Lord, the good old ways of religion and godliness, as the ways you resolve to walk in, though but few of your rank and circumstances, yea, very few, do so. And what then? Is it not better to go to heaven with a remnant, than to hell with a multitude ? Are diamonds and rubies ever the less precious, because they are short in number of tlie pebble stones ? I am glad to think there is one the more for you; and I hope. He that hath begun the good work, the same will perform it unto the dag of Jesus Christ, What you write of the paralyzing atheism of the town, I am afraid is too true; but what do you think of such a thing as a-christism ^ I am sure Ephesians ii. 12. mentions both. How many are there that own a God, and worship him, that have no regard to Christ Jesus in doing so,—as if we could come to him, and have to do with him, and receive from him, without a Mediator ! How is he then the wag ? Hath he not said, — No man cometh to the Father hut hg me f Is he the way to those that do not walk in him, or an Advocate to those that do not employ him ? The blessed Paul could say. To me to live it Christ; and if we cannot, in some measure, say so too, to us to die will not be gain. Dear Sir, give me leave, with all the affectionate earnestness I can use, to recommend him to your study and acquaintance; and to entreat you to abound therein more and more; learn him, and love him, and live him, and, my soul for yours, all will be well. Learn him, for he is a good Lesson ; love him, for he is a good Friend ; and live him, for he is a good Pattern. Count upon it you can have no sin pardoned without him: no strength to do your duty without him; no acceptation, when it is done, without him; no communion with God here, without him ; and no heaven hereafter, without him. And is there not good reason, then, why you should make him your All in all, and use him accordingly?
I have been for some weeks, of late, a poor prisoner, under pain in an ill-affected limb, which still continues; but, I thank God, with less violence. I am in hopes of creeping to the pulpit again, from which, for three sabbaths, I have been excluded; if so, it shall be to preach Christ Jesus the Lord, the Prince of our peace, and the Captain of our salvation ; to whose acquaintance I again recommend yOQ; and rest,
Dear Sir,
Your truly loving friend, to serve you, My wife is, with all due re- \ Philip Henry. spects, remembered to you. f a Origr. MS. Mr.HuntwasorBoreaUon, in Shropshire, and after, wards a magistrate for the county. See antt, p. 52.
For Thomas Hunt, Esq. In White Hart Yard, In Fleet-street, London."
Dear Sir, Cousin, and Brother;
You have authorized me more than ever to call you so, since yon have superscribed your letter to Mr. Philip Tallents, at Broad Oke. It was no mistake ; for my name is Philip, and I am Talients's ; obliged his, adopted his. As to Mr. Hal, I have not yet a conveniency for him, there having been no vacancy made as yet, as I expected. If he will please to come guestvrise for a night or two, he shall be welcome. It may be, the sight of our mean circumstances, when he sees them, will give him enough to prevent inquiring further; for they are really poor and mean.
We do both of us most affectionately salute you both in our dear Lord. He that told us you talked of letting us see you here together, when the days and ways would permit, did make us really glad. Many thanks to you for your kind entertainment of my last Mercury. The Lord Almighty be your Sun and Shield! Amen, This from.
Dear Cousin and Brother, Yours to serve you, Jan. 12,1602-3. Philip Henry.
For tlie Rev. Mr. Tallents, At Salop.
These,'
I send you these few lines to be your remembrancer when you do not see me. You are now come out of the age of childhood; and, though when you were a child, you thought and spake as a child, and understood as a child, it will be time for you now to put awag childish things. You must begin to bethink yourself for what you are come into this world; not to eat, and drink, and play, but to glorify God, and save your soul. You are, bg nature, a child of wratky even as other's ; your understanding dark ; your mind carnal, and that carnal mind no better than downright enmitg against God, —prone to all manner of evil, and backward to all manner of good. Do not you find it so, every day, in every thing ? Must there not, then, be a change ? Must you not be renewed in the spirit of your mind, bom again, passed from death to life ? You must, if you will be saved, for none but new creatures are fit for the New Jerusalem.
And is the good work wrought in you ? When ? Where? How was it? How long is it since you closed with Christ upon gospel terms, taking him to be yours,—giving yourself to him to be his. I do not mean in word and tongue only ;—I have often heard you so do it, but tn deed and truth; in secret,
' T Orif. MS.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
115
and yoar own soul, where no eye hath no ear hath heard; from a due sight and four lost condition without him; as one ry of the heavy yoke of sin and Satan,— bed no longer to draw in it, laying your er Christ's sweet and easy yoke. If you done this, do it before you sleep; do it u proceed any further. Once well done, done fw ever. Can you give any good the contrary, why you should not? either iiing itself, or as to the speedy doing of it? begin too soon to be Christ's ? Is any time the present time ? Until this be done, you i of the devil, and heir of the curse and ition. The guilt of all your past sins is r score. God is your enemy. But assure as soon as it is done aright, and as it ought e, in the very moment in which you repent ve the gospel, and receive Christ Jesus the >e your Prince and Saviour, you arc immc-ade a child of God, and an heir of heaven; last sins are forgiven; your peace is made; omises in the Bible are yours, both con-tiis life and the other. No evil thing shall 1; no good thing shall be wanting to you. lot that a blessed dondition? Will it not e for ever, that you might so easily have rd, and would not? And why would you hecauMe you would not? They t&at hate cath, says wisdom. Do you love death,-— ^th ? I hope you do not. ame-sake, Mary, made a wise choice, and t be yours. When she had an opportunity all other matters aside, and sat down at eet, and heard his word. So do you love e, take your alone meals out of it every ides what you have in common with the Be sure you read and hear with applica-t the word of Christ dwell richly in you, »usiness of prajring; though you cannot do would,' do it as you can ;— to him that hath iven. Remember, it is to a Father, and let it name of Christ, and it shall not be in vain, r 'place and calling be diligent, humble, y. Take heed of vain companions, either omen, lest you be insnarcd by them. Let s be modest, and according to your place, ng every fine thing that you see others have, ing to be like them. Learn Peter's good be clothed with humility; and, to put on ny knawledge, and do speik my conscience, that sa s wtit and drink is to the presenratioun of lyfe cor-\o neceflarie as the helt and brjrghtnes of the sone is oyng of the hcrbisand to expell darknes; sa necesto lyfe everlasting, and to the illuminaution and nule, the perpetuall meditation, exercis, and use of word. Let na day slip over without sum comfort le mouth oi God ^ open your earis. and he will speik g thiDl* ^o y^^ ^^^'^' Knox's Letter of Instructions itants of ScoUand. Life, by Dr M'Crie, vol L p. 416. f 2 the ornament of a meeh and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God, of great price.
I have not room to enlarge; if you receive it, and heed it, it is enough; if not, it is too much.
The grace of our Lord Jesus he with you. Amen, P. H.
August 1, leoa.y
Bear Brother;
I received yours by Mr. Travers ;• and, though I am so near you, and though it be so much in my desires to see you both, yet, being at present not in a capacity to do it, through my great indisposedncss to travel, further than needs must, (especially winter travel, unless about my Master's immediate work,) yet, having so fair an opportunity, a line is better than nothing, if it be only to wish you both a holy, ^^^PPy* ^^^ ycr* &Dd to present you with a new-year's gift,—which is, a half-moon, the body of the sun, and the fourth part of a star; which, when you have put together, you will find me as always.
Dear sir,
Tour co Rdial brother, . Friend, Cousin, Servant,
Jan. 1,1693-4. P. H.
the laoth day of
my dying year.'
For the Rev. Mr. Fran. Tallents, at Salop : This, with my hearty love and respects.**
Mar. 20, 1603-4. DD SS.;«
It is as long since we heard from you, as it is since you heard from us; and we thought it long. As yours to us brings no evil tidings from the wood,° so neither doth this to you from the oak. Your mother continues to mend, through God's goodness, and bids me tell you she is better,—God be praised, —to day, than she was yesterday, and yesterday than the day before. She is come down stairs, and that is, to her, like launching into a sea again; for we have at present a troublesome house of it. Oh, that you and we may be better after late corrections! For, though no affliction, for the present, seemeth to be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless, afterwards,-^ afterwards, it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness, z See a Sermon by P. Henry, on GaL v. 17.—So that jr# cmmtt do the things that ye w<ndd,—\ik the Cong. Mag. y. 7. p. 230.
7 The above letter was *' written by my honoured fother, Bfr. Henry, to a young woman newly gone fVom her parents to senrice in Chester; Mary Web, now Mrs. Frail" Mn. Savage. Orig. MS-
I See Tong's Life of Matthew Henry, p. S&O,«/ supra.
e Dear Daughter, Sarah Savage.
d Wrenbury Wood, Mrs Savage's residence.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
This is the 210th day of my commonly dying year. Lord, teach me to number aright. Amen !
Our love and blessing are to you both, and to all yours. The God of love and peace be with you, This, from Your loving Father, For Mrs. Savage. P. H.«
Bor. May 14.
264, d. I(i04. Dear and Honoured Brother; I should have answered your last sooner, but wanted opportunity of sending it. I rejoice in the continuance of your mercies, that your bow doth yet abide in ttrengthy and that my dear sister also is spared to you in her usefulness. The Lord's most holy name be blessed and praised for it! It seems you have your mixtures for exercise. God will have you yet to shine brighter; the dish-clouts that he makes use of, must help to do it; theirs the shame, yours the honour. Qui volens detrahit famas fucr, nolens volens addit mercedi husJ It is a sign we gallop in our way,' when the dogs follow us barking. Slack not your pace, though they do so. There will as certainly be a resurrection of names,** as of bodies, and both with advantage. Both as the sun at noon day. I know not when I shall be so happy as to see you at Salop, though I much desire it I am like a traveller's horse that knows its stages, which, if he exceed, he tires, and is the worse for it. Hither, once a quarter, is my non plus ultra, I have not been at Chester, though I have many loadstones there, above these thirteen months.
Once a week, and sometimes twice, I keep my circuit of two miles, or four miles, each Wednesday, by which time I am recovered from my sabbath weariness; and, by the time I am recovered from that, the sabbath work returns again; so that I am never not weary. But why do I tell you this?— That I may boast what a labourer I am ? I am a loiterer, a trifler, a slug. Magnis conatibtis nihil ago. It is that you may know wherein to help me with your prayers. Beg for me, that I may be found faithful, and that, while I preach to others, I myself may not be a cast-away, I have some hope, through grace, that I shall not; but the heart is deceitful, the devil is busy, and God is just and holy. Only this I trust to, ^Christ hath died, yeA, rather, is risen again. e Orig. MS. f Augustine: with mtm altered to tua. g Mr. .William Fenner, of Essex* that eminent servant of Jesus Christ, was so taken with the active spirit of Mr. Wilson, that he said.—" I am even ashamed of myself to see bow Bilr. Wilson gallopeth towards heaven, and I do but creep on at a snail's pace." Clark's Live p. 34. fol. 1683. h " There shall be a resurrection, not only of bodies, but of credits." The Bruised Reed and Smoaking Flax, by Dr. Sibbs, p. 113. duod. 1808.9th ed.
Dear love, and service to you both. The Lord himself be your everlasting portion. Amen. This, from Your affectionate obliged Brother, Friend, Servant in our dear Lord,
For Mr. Francis Tallents, P. fl.'
At Salop.
These.
Aug. 13, 355 d. 1694. Dear Cousin and Brother; I came from home on Saturday, not without some hopeful thoughts of seeing you two, and dear Mr. Bryan,'' in his present illness, this day; but the weather and ways are grown suddenly such, that really. Sir, I dare not venture, for my strength will not bear it; and I dare not tempt God. I am therefore hastening back to my nest, where the young ones are at present such, and so many, that the poor hen, though she can do as much as another, yet, alone, cannot manage them without me. *If we do any good, it is well; the Lord accept of it in Christ; but, I am sure, it is not without a great deal of care and cumber to ourselves in our declining age. It was a special providence to gratify dear Cos. Benyon, that at first brought us into it; and I wait upon the same providence, in what way the Lord pleases, for there are many ways, to let us fairly out again, that we may not break prison. I pray this, once more, accept of this true excuse ; and give my dear love and respects to good Mr. Bryan, and tell him, my heart is with him, and my daily prayers are to God for him. If there be more work to be done, well; he shall recover to do it; if not, better, (for him better, whatever for others,) there is a rest remaining. We serve a good Master.
Dearest love to you both. The Eternal God be your refuge; and underneath you be his everlasting arms, living, dying. Amen!
For the worthy Mr. Tallents, At Salop.
These.']
CHAPTER IX.
MIS SICKNB88, DXATH, AND BURIAL.
In the time of his health, he made death very familiar to himself, by frequent and pleasing thoughts
1 Orig. MS. k Tlie Rev. John Bryan, M. A. He was Minister of St Chad's Church, in Shretrsbury, till Aug. 24. 1662. He died Aug. 31. 1689.
" 1609, Sept. 2. I heard of the death of good Mr. Bryan, of Salop: an aged nonconfonnittt, and a bold, zealous preacher of the truth; gone to receive his fTell done." Mrs. Savage's Diary. Oiig. MS. A portrait, in oil, of Mr. Bryan, is in the editor's possession. See Palmer's Noncon. Mem. v. 13. p. 15.
» P Henry. Orig. MS.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
117 and meditations of it; and endeavoured to make it so to his friends, by speaking often of it. His letters and discoarses had still something or other which spoke his constant expectations of death. Thus did be learn to die daily. And it is hard to say whether it was more easy to him to speak, or uneasy to his friends to hear him speak, of leaving the world. This minds me of a passage I was told by a worthy Scotch minister, Mr. Patrick Adair, that, visiting the famous Mr. Durham,* of Glasgow, in his last sickness, which was long and lingering, he said to him. Sir, I hope you have so set all in «»rder, that you have nothing else to do but to die.^ ** I bless God,'' said Mr. Durham, " I have not had that to do neither these many years.'' Such is the comfort of dying daily, when we come to die indeed.
[Mr. Henry, some time before his last illness, had a severe attack of disease, which greatly excited the alarm of his friends. His excellent wife was then on a visit to Mrs. Savage, at Wrenbury Wood. How his own mind was affected by the apparent approach of the last enemy will be seen by the following letter :—
Dear Daughter;
This is to yon because of yours to me. I am glad to see you so well so quickly, as to be able to write, —^that your rip hi hand hath not forgot its cunning ; neither hath mine yet. I had an ill day yesterday, and an ill night after, but ease came in the morning. I have been preaching Christ, the door to God, and letting a little one in to him by the door of baptism, and hope for strength for the afternoon work, though in some pain, yet less than deserved. Your mother hath sometimes told me, she could not endure to see me die, and for that reason I was glad she was away, for I thought, all night, there was in/ a step. Here are many people, and they are come to hear of Christ; and willing, I am, they should, and that they should learn what I have learned of him. I can cheerfully say,— Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace !^ God increase your strength, and especially your thankfulness, and write the name of the child in the booh of the living.
My dear love to my wife, and to yourself and husband, and all the rest. I am glad that she is
He died 25th June, 165a »t. 36. Biogrephia Scoticana, p. »S 1796. b When Dr. Googe was visited by his (Viends in his sickness, he often said,-" I am willin; to die; having, I bless God, nothing to do bat to die." Clark's Lives annexed to the Martyrologie, p. 246. wt nfra.
IflGP, Nov. 17. Ill of the cold, which provoked other distem. perSk insomuch that, for a time, I despaired even uf lire. Apt to fcint; and what is death, but a very little more? Lord. I bless thee, that I can look death in the face with comfort, knowing that my redempli»m draweth nigk. P. Henry. Diary, Orig. MS.
• P. Henry. Orig. MS.
He was, all bis days, a pattern of temperance in eating and drinking, at>oTe any that 1 have known, as to time, quantity, aod quality. U£t. Orig. MS. mi npra. acceptable to you, and am willing she should be so, while she and you please. The Lord everlasting be your portion!
For Mrs. Sarah Savage, At Wrenbury Wood.]
Mr. Henry's constitution was but tender, and yet, by the blessing of God upon his great temperance,* and care of his diet, and moderate exercise by walking in the air, he did for many years enjoy a good measure of health, which he used to call,— The sugar that sweetens all temporal mercies; for which, therefore, we ought to be very thankful, and of which we. ought to be very careful.
He had sometimes violent fits of the colic, which would be very afilictive for the time. Towards the latter end he was distressed sometimes with a pain, which his doctor thought might arise from a stone in his kidneys. Being once upon the recovery from an ill fit of that pain, he said to one of his friends, that asked him how he did,—he hoped, by the grace of God, he should now be able to give one blow more to the devil's kingdom; and often professed, he did not desire to live a day longer than he might do God some service. He said to another, when he perceived himself rccovering,^-Well, I thought I had been putting into the harbour, but I find I must to sea again.'
He was sometimes suddenly taken with fainting fits, which, when he recovered from, he would say,— Dying is but a little more.
When he was in the sixty-third year of his age, which is commonly called the grand climacteric, and hath been to many the dying year, and was so to his father, he numbered the days of it, from August 24,1G93, to August 24,1694, when he finished it. And when he concluded it he thus wrote in his Diary ;—This day finisheth my commonly dying year, which I have numbered the days of; and should now apply my heart, more than ever, to heavenly wisdom.
He was much pleased with that expression of our English Liturgy in the office of burial, and frequently used it;—** In the midst of life we are in death."
The infirmities of age, when they grew upon him, did very little abate his vigour and liveliness in He never took tobacco, ir asked concerning it. he would say, he was not come to it yet; but he did not know what he might do; having known some who had vigorously resolved against it, but atlerwards were persuaded to it. Ibid.
It is said or the learned Dr. Barrow, that he was very free in the use of tobacco, believing it did help to regulate his thinking. Life, prefixed to his Works, vol. d. fol. 1683. f Sir Henry Wotton, being visited in his latter days by his learned friend, the celebrated Mr. Hales, of Eton, said to hiio,— •' I now see that I draw near my harbour of death; that Aarbovr that will secure me from all the future ttorwu and wavet of this restless world; and, I praise God, I am willing to leave it, and expect a better." Walton's Lives, by Dr. Zouch, v. I. p. 284. See, also Clarke's Lives annexed to the Martyrologie,«/ tnpro, p. 171.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY. preaching, but he seemed even to renew his youth as the eagles; as those that are planted in the house of the Lord, who still bring forth fi'uit in old age; not so much to show that they are upright, as to show that the Lord is upright. Psalm xcii. 14, 15. But, in his latter years, travelling was very troublesome to him; and he would say, as Mr. Dod used to do, that, when he thought to shahe himself as at other times, he found his hair was cut ;> his sense of this led him to preach an occasional sermon not long before he died, on John xxi. IS,—When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, ifc. Another occasional sermon he preached when he was old,** for his own comfort, and the comfort of his aged friends, on Psalm Ixxi. 17,18.— O God, thou hast taught me from my youth, Sfc. He observed there,—That it is a blessed thing to be taught of God from our youth ; and those that have been taught of God from their youth, ought to declare his wondrous works all their days after. And those that have been taught of God from their youth, and have all their days declared his wondrous works, may comfortably expect, that when they are old he will not forsake them. Christ is a Master that doth not use to oast off his old servants.^
[On another occasion, he writes ;—It was David's prayer;— O God, thou hast taught me from my youth, and hitherto have I declared all thy wondrous works. Now, also, when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not! And we should thus pray. For, when God forsakes, it is like as when the soul forsakes the body. There is nothing left but a carcass. It is as when the sun forsakes the earth, which causes night and winter. It is as when the fountain forsakes the cistern, for God alone is the Fountain. It is as when the father forsakes the children. It is as when the pilot forsakes the ship; then she is in great danger of rocks and quicksands. It is as when the physician forsakes the patient, which is not till the case is desperate. It is as when the guide forsakes the traveller, and then he is exposed to many dangers.*']
For some years before ho died, he used to complain of an habitual weariness, contr&cted, he thought, by his standing to preach, sometimes very uneasily, and in inconvenient places, immediately after riding. He would say, every minister was not cut out for an itinerant; and sometimes the manifest attention and affection of people in hearing, enlarged him both in length and fervency, somewhat more than his strength could well bear. It was r See Judges xvi. 19, 30. and the Account of the Rev. John Dod. in Fuller's Church History, ni mtfn, B. xi. p. 2S0.
h April 28,1692.
1 Appendix, No. XXIV.
\ P. Henry. From Mrs. Sarages MSS.
1 The body of him who hath, in truth, given his name to Clirist and his gainfull service, shall goe into the grave, as into a chamber or rest, and bed of downe, sweetly perfumed unto it by the sacred ^od of the Sonne of God lying in the grave. Directions for a not many months before he died, that he wrote thus to a dear relation, who inquired solicitously concerning his health ;—I am always habitually weary, and expect no other till I lie down in the bed of spices. And, blessed be God, so the gve is to all the saints,' since he lay in it, who is the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valleys. When some of his friends persuaded him to spare himself, he would say;—It is time enough to rest when I am in the grave. What were candles made for, but to bum ? *" [One of the last letters he wrote to Mrs. Savage is thus expressed; and it manifests the enlightened and calm anticipation he indulged as to his final change;— May 28, 1605. Dear Daughter; You arc loath to part with your lister, but you know this is not the world we are to be together in; and, besides, it is to a father and mother, that are to be but a while, either for her or you to come to. These short partings should mind us of the long one, which will be shortly, but then the meeting again, to be together/or ever, and with the Lord, is very comfortable in the hope ; and much more will it be so in the fruition. Two that awhile ago were of ust Ann D. and Susan, are gone before; and, as sure as they are gone, we are also going, in the time and order appointed.
Our dear love and blessing are to all and each. Farewell.
Your loving father,
It doth not appear that he had any particular presages of his death; but many instances there were of his actual gracious expectation of it, somewhat more than ordinary, for some time before. The last visit he made to his children in Chester, was in July, 1695, almost a year before he died, when he spent a Lord's day there, and preached on the last verse of the Epistle to Philemon ;-*TAe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. By grace, he understood not so much the good will of God towards us, as the good work of God in us ; called the grace of Christ, both because he is the Author and Finisher of it, and because he is the Iittem and Sam-plar of it. Now the choicest gift we can ask of God for our friends, is, that this grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may be with their spirit. This is the one thing comfortable Walking with God, by Robert Bolton, B.D. 4to. 1638. Ep. Ded. n ** You are as a candle, the better part burnt out."
Shakspeare. Second Part of Henry IV. Act 1. Scene i. See Matt v. \5. Mark, iv. 21, 22. Luke, viii 16,17. zi. 33.
We are wasted as candles. What matter, so we may liglit our people to heaven! Mr. Steele, at an Ordination, Nov. 15,1659. Philip Henry's MS.
> Ong. MS.
THE LIFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
119 needful J the better party the root of the matter, the wkole man, the principal thingy the more excellent vcy, a blessing indeed, and the thing that accompanies ialvaiian. The grace of Christ in the spirit enlightens and enlivens the spirit, softens and suhdues the spirit, purifies and preserves the spirit, greatens and guides the. spirit, sweetens and strengthens the spirit; and therefore, what can be more desirable ? A spirit 9dthout the grace of Christ, is a field with-oat a fence, a fool without understanding; it is a horse without a bridle, and a house without furniture ; it is a ship without tackle, and a soldier with->ut armour; it is a cloud without rain, and a carcass irithout a soul; it is a tree without fruit, and a traveller without a guide. How earnest, therefore, Uiould we be in praying to God for grace both for ourselves and for our relations. He had intended to preach upon that text when he was at Chester the year before, but was then prevented by a particular sad occasion, which obliged him to a funeral ser- ■ mon, Di?inc Providence reserving that benediction, which his heart was much upon, for his valediction. The Thursday following, being kept as a fast in his son's congregation at Chester, he preached on Luke xix. 41.— He beheld the city, and wept over it; —which proved his farewell to the town, as the former was his farewell to his friends and relations in it.
It was not many weeks before he died, that he wrote thus to one of his children:—We are well here, thanks be to God, and are glad to hear that you and yours are well also; God, in mercy, continue it! But why should we be well always ? Do we deserve it ? Are there no mixtures in our obedience ? Are there any persons or families, at whose door sickness and death never knocked ? Must the tvrth beforsahen for us, or the rock removed out of its place f Is it not enough that we be dealt with ac-eording to the manner of men ? And that we have a promise, that it shall end well, everlastingly well.
To another of his children, about the same time, he writes : We are sensible that we decline apace, hat the best of it is, that as time goes, eternity comes; and we are in good hope, through grace, that it will be a comfortable eternity.
It was in April, 1696, a few weeks before he died, that his son's father-in-law, Robert Warburton, Esq." was gathered to his grave in peace, in a good old age* Upon the tidings of whose death, Mr. Henry wrote thas to his son :— Your fathers, where are they ? Your father-in-law gone, and your own father going;
Of HctTerston Grange in Cheshire. See Tong's Lire of Blatthew Henry, v/no, p. 108. Nicbors Lit. Anecd. v. 5. pp. 529,530. Mr. Matthew Henry married his daughter, Mrs. Mary Warburton, July 8,1690. See also Blr. Tong's Sermon on the Death of Matthew Henry, 4to. 1714. Dedication. f Nat. Nov. 1619 i ob. April 11, 170& See his Life in this volame.
He was an in Umate acquaintance of the Hon. Robert Boyle.
Bitig. Brit Y. a p. 496. n. F. but you have a God-Father that lives for ever. He was wont, sometimes, to subscribe his letters,—Your ever-loving, but not ever-living, father.
It was not a month before he died, that, in a letter to his very dear and worthy friend and brother, Mr. Tallents,P of Shrewsbury, he had this passage :— Methinks it is strange, that it should be your lot and mine, to abide so long on earth by the stuff,'^ when so many of our friends are dividing the spoil above, but God will have it so ; and to be willing to live in obedience to his holy will, is as true an act of grace, as to be willing to die When he calls, especially when life is labour and sorrow. But when it is labour and joy, service to his name, and some measure of success and comfort in serving him ; when it is to stop a gap, and stem a tide, it is to be rejoiced in ; it is heaven upon earth; nay, one would think, by the psalmist's oft repeated plea Psalms vi. xxx. Ixxxviii. cxv. cxviii. that it were better than to be in heaven itself. And can that be ?
[In a manuscript, showing wherein the happiris of heaven consists, he has thus expressed his views. We shall see God, Matthew v. 8. Job xix. 26. This ^ill be a clear sight, 1 Corinthians xiii. 12. 1 John iii. 2. transforming, Psalm xvii. 15. and satisfying, John xiv. 8. We shall enjoy the presence of Jesus Christ, John xvii. 24. Phiiippians i. 23.'—and have society with glorified saints, Matthew viii. 11. There will be freedom from sin and sorrow, Revelations vii. 17. It will be a heavenly sabbath, Hebrews iv. 9. which will dll Ter from sabbaths now,—in the exercises to be performed: there will be all praise; no mourning for sin.—In the frame of our hearts for the performance: our affections will be raised.— In the place: it will be our Father's house.—In the continuance: there will be no intermissions, no parting, no night Now, while we are sanctifying the sabbath, others are piofaning it; but then all shall join.']
A little before his sickness and death, being summer time, he had several of his children and his children's children about him, at Broad Oak, with whom he was much refreshed, and very cheerful; but ever and anon spoke of the fashion he was in, as passing away; and often told them, he should be there but a while to bid them welcome. And he was observed frequently in prayer, to beg of God, that he would make us ready for that which would come certainly, and might come suddenly. One asking him how he did, he answered,—I find the chips fly off apace, the tree vnll be down shortly.' q 1 Sam. xxx. 24. r The happiness of heaven consists in being with Christ; That they may be with me. Thoughts of this are reviving, and should be improved, as a cordial, to keep from fainting under any trouble; as a spur, to put us forward in duty; as a bridle, to restrain from sin; and as a loadstone, to draw our aflectionsupward. P. Henry. Mem. of Mrs. Savage, p. 2ia nt npra.
P. Henry. Orig MS. t When King James the First was informed of the death of his THE UFE OF MR. PHILIP HENRY.
The last time he administered the Lord's sapper, a fortnight before he died, he closed the administration with that scripture, 1 John iii. 2. It dotk not yet appear what we shall he; not yet, but it will shortly.
The sabbath but one before he died, being, in the course of his exposition, come to that difficult part of Scripture, the 40th of Ezekiel, and the following chapters, he said he would endeavour to explain those prophecies to them; and added,—If I do not do it now, I never shall. And he observed, that the only prophetical sermon which our Lord Jesus preached, was but a few days before he died. This many of his hearers not only reflected upon afterwards, but took notice of at that time with a concern, as having something in it more than ordinary.
On the Lord's day, June 21,1696, he went through the work of the day with his usual vigour and liveliness. He was then preaching over the first chapter of St. Peter's Second Epistle, and was that day on those words. Add to your faith virtue^^ vcxse 5. Ho* took virtue for Christian courage and resolution in the exercise of faith; and the last thing he mentioned, in which Christians have need of courage, is in dying; for, as he was often used to say, it is a serious thing to die, and to die is a work by itself."^