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 ^ From the PUBLISHER. ^ 
 
 BX 5207 .H38 H3 U 
 Henry, Matthew, 1662-1714. 
 The life of the Rev. Philip 
 Henry 
 
.V 
 
i 
 
THE LIFE 
 
 Rev. PHILIP HENRY, 
 
 BY HIS SON, THE 
 
 Rev. MATTHEW HENRY. 
 
 ABRIDGED FOR THE BOARD. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION. 
 
 James russell, poblishing agent. 
 1840. 
 
Entered according to the act of Congress, in the year 1840, by A. W. 
 Mitchell, in the office of the Clerk of the District Court for the 
 Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA. 
 WILLIAM S. MARTIEN, PRINTER. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Page 
 
 Mr. Henry's birth and early religion, - 9 
 
 CHAPTER H. 
 His Education, 20 
 
 CHAPTER m. 
 
 His settlement at Worthenbury — his ordi- 
 nation to the ministry, and the exercise 
 of it, 28 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 His marriage — family— family religion, and 
 
 the education of his children, - - 74 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 His ejectment from Worthenbury — his non- 
 conformity — his removal to Broad Oak, 
 and other occurrences up to 1672, - 108 
 
4 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Page 
 
 Occurrences from 1672 to 1680, - - 143 
 
 CHAPTER VH. 
 
 The trials and persecutions which he en- 
 dured between the years 1680 and 1687, 153 
 
 CHAPTER Vm. 
 The last nine years of his life, when he 
 enjoyed liberty and enlargement at Broad 
 Oak, from the year 1687, - - - 170 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 His sickness, death, and burial, - - 205 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A miscellaneous collection of some of his 
 sayings, observations, counsels and com- 
 forts, out of his sermons, letters, and dis- 
 courses, 228 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 That which we aim at in this undertaking, 
 and which we would set before us at our 
 entrance upon it, is, not so much to embahii 
 the memory of this good man, (though that 
 also is blessed,) as to exhibit to the world a 
 pattern of that primitive Christianity, which 
 all that knew him well, observed to be exem- 
 plified in him while he lived; and when they 
 saw the end of his conversation, as it were 
 with one consent, desired a public and lasting 
 account of, or rather demanded it, as a just 
 debt owing to the world, by those into whose 
 hands his papers came, as judging such an 
 account likely to conduce much to the glory 
 of God's grace, and to the edification of many, 
 especially of those that were acquainted with 
 him. He was one whom the Divine Provi- 
 dence did not call out (as neither did his own 
 inclination lead him) to any very public scene 
 of action; he was none of the forward men of 
 the age, that make themselves talked of: the 
 world scarce knew that there was such a man 
 
6 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 in it. But in his low and narrow sphere he 
 was a burning and shining Ught, and there- 
 fore we think his pious example is the more 
 adapted to general use, especially consisting 
 not in the extacies and raptures of zeal and 
 devotion, which are looked upon rather as 
 admirable than imitable; but in the long se- 
 ries of an even, regular, prudent, and well- 
 ordered conversation, which he had in the 
 world, and in the ordinary business of it, 
 with simplicity and godly sincerity; not with 
 fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God. 
 
 It has been said, that quiet and peaceable 
 reigns, though they are the best to live in, 
 yet they are the worst to write of, as yielding 
 least variety of matter for the historian's pen 
 to work upon: but a quiet and peaceable life, 
 in all godliness and honesty, being the sum 
 and substance of practical Christianity, the 
 recommending of the example of such a life, 
 in the common and famxiliar instances of it; 
 together with the kind and gracious provi- 
 dences of God attending it, may be, if not as 
 diverting to the curious, yet every whit as 
 useful and instructive to the pious readers. 
 
 According to the excellent and royal laws 
 of this holy religion, his life was led with a 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 7 
 
 Strict and conscientious adherence to truth 
 and equity; a great tenderness and inotfen- 
 siveness to all mankind; and a strong tinc- 
 ture of sincere piety and devotedness to God: 
 and according to those sacred rules we shall 
 endeavour, in justice to him, as well as to 
 our reader, to represent him in the following 
 account; and if any thing should drop from 
 our pen, which might justly give offence to 
 any, (which we promise industriously to 
 avoid,) we desire it may be looked upon as 
 a false stroke; and so far not truly represent- 
 ing him, who was so blameless and harmless, 
 and without rebuke. 
 
 Much of our materials for this structure 
 we have out of his own papers, (especially 
 his diary,) for by them his picture may be 
 drawn nearest to the life, and from thence 
 we may take the truest idea of him, and of 
 the spirit he was of. Those notes being in- 
 tended for his own private use in the review, 
 and never communicated to any person what- 
 soever, and appearing here (as they ought to 
 do) in their own native dress, the candid rea- 
 der will excuse it, if sometimes the expres- 
 sions should seem abrupt; they are the genu- 
 ine, unforced and unstudied breathings of a 
 
8 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 gracious soul : and we hope will Ids rather 
 the more acceptable to those, who, through 
 grace, are conscious to themselves of the 
 same devout and pious motions; for as in 
 water face answers to face, so does one sanc- 
 tified and renewed soul to another; and (as 
 Mr. Baxter observes in his Preface to Mr. 
 Clark's Lives) God's graces are much the 
 same in all his holy ones; and therefore we 
 must not think that such instances as these 
 are extraordinary rarities; but God has in 
 wonderful mercy raised up many, by whose 
 graces even this earth is perfumed and en- 
 hghtened. But if one star be allowed to 
 differ from another star in glory, perhaps our 
 reader will say, when he has gone through 
 the following account, that Mr. Henry may 
 be ranked among those of the first magni- 
 tude. 
 
LIFE OF REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 The subject of this memoir was born at 
 Whitehall, in Westminster, on the 24th of 
 August, 1631. 
 
 His father's name was John Henry, the 
 son of Henry Williams, in Glamorganshire, 
 Wales. According to an old custom in 
 Wales, now nearly laid aside, the father's 
 Christian name became the surname of the 
 son. His mother was Mrs. Magdalen Roch- 
 dale of the parish of St. Martin's,-in-the- 
 Fields. She was a v/oman of piety and dis- 
 cretion, and feared God above many. Though 
 her husband had his employment about the 
 court, being first one of the Earl of Pem- 
 broke's gentlemen, and afterwards page to 
 the duke of York ; yet she was altogether 
 dead to the pleasures of the court, though 
 2 
 
10 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 she lived in the midst of them. She looked 
 well to the ways of her household, prayed 
 with them daily, catechized her children, and 
 taught them the good knowledge of the 
 Lord, betimes. Mr. Henry has been heard 
 to say, that he learned Mr. Perkin's " Six 
 Principles," when he was very young; and 
 he often mentioned with great thankfulness 
 to God, his great happiness in having such 
 a mother, who was to him as Lois and Eu- 
 nice to Timothy, acquainting him with the 
 Scriptures from his childhood. And there ap- 
 pearing in himearly inclinations both tolearn- 
 ing and piety, she devoted him, in his tender 
 years, to the service of God in the work of the 
 ministry. This excellent woman died of a 
 consumption, the 6th of March, 1645; leav- 
 ing behind her, an only son, and five daugh- 
 ters. A little before she died, she said, "My 
 head is in heaven and my heart is in hea- 
 ven; and it is but one step more, and I 
 shall be there also." 
 
 While a child, he was often the companion 
 and playmate of the young princes, and they 
 were often with him at his father's house; 
 and they would frequently speak to him of 
 the great preferment which they intended for 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 him, when he was fit for it. And he kept a 
 book to his dying day, which was given to 
 him by the Duke of York. Archbishop Laud 
 also, took a particular Uking to the boy, be- 
 cause he was very officious to attend at the 
 water-gate, and let him through, when he 
 returned late from council j for this was a 
 part of his father's charge. But all his early 
 prospects of court preferment, were blasted, 
 by the breaking up of the court, in 1641 ; and 
 when he was led at any time to speak of 
 these matters, he was wont to bless God for 
 his deliverance from the snares of the court, 
 in the midst of which it is so very hard to 
 maintain a good conscience, and the power 
 of religion. And though' it was not like 
 Moses, a choice of his own, when come to 
 years to quit the court, yet, when he was 
 come to years, he always expressed a great 
 satisfaction in a removal from it, and blessed 
 God who chose his inheritance so much bet- 
 ter for him, than he would have been likely 
 to do for himself. It seems, however, that 
 he derived some exterior advantages, from 
 his early intercourse with the court; for it 
 was observable to all who conversed with 
 him, that he had a most sweet and obliging 
 
12 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 air of courtesy ; his raein and carriage were 
 always so very decent and respectful, that it 
 could not but win the hearts of all who were 
 conversant with him. Never was any man 
 further from that rudeness and moroseness, 
 which some scholars, and too many that pro- 
 fess religion, either affect, or carelessly fall 
 into, to the reproach of their profession. It 
 was one of his rules to " honour all men." 
 Sanctified civility is a great ornament to 
 Christianity. It was with him a proverbial 
 saying, " religion does not destroy good man- 
 ners." Yet he was far from any thing of 
 vanity in his apparel, or formality of compli- 
 ment in his address. His conversation was 
 all natural and easy to himself, and others, 
 and nothing appeared in him, which ever a 
 sincere critic could justly call affected. This 
 temper of his, tended very much to the 
 adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour; • 
 and the general imitation of such an example 
 would do much towards the healing of those 
 wounds which religion has received in the 
 house of her friends, by a contrary conduct. 
 
 His first Latin teacher was, a Mr. Bonner, 
 at St. Martin's church. Afterwards, he was 
 removed to Battersea, where he had for his 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 13 
 
 instructor, a Mr. Wells. In his papers, fre- 
 quent mention is found of his grateful recol- 
 lections of the benefits derived from his 
 teachers, which may suggest to us that weigh- 
 ty French proverb, " To father, teacher, and 
 God all-sufficient, none can render equiva- 
 lent." 
 
 In the year 1643, he was admitted into 
 Westminster school, and was under the tui- 
 tion of Mr. Thomas Vincent, then usher, of 
 whom he always spoke in the highest terms 
 of commendation, as a most able, diligent 
 school-master. After a while, he was taken 
 into the upper school, and was there under 
 the instruction of the celebrated Richard Bus- 
 by, afterwards Dr. Busby; and in 1645, he 
 was admitted King's scholar, partly in conse- 
 quence of merit, and partly through the fa- 
 vour of the Earl of Pembroke. Here his 
 progress in classical learning was great, for 
 which he retained his taste even to the latest 
 period of his life. 
 
 When the civil war commenced, he attend- 
 ed frequently, a lecture set up in the Abbey 
 church, between six and eight in the morn- 
 ing. The preachers were seven of the most 
 distinguished members of the assembly of 
 
14 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 Divines, then in session, and were Mr. Mar- 
 shall, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Herle, Dr. Staunton, 
 Mr. Nye, Mr. Whitaker, and Mr. Hill. His 
 mother requested of Dr. Busby to give her son 
 permission to attend that lecture, daily, not 
 abating, however, of his school exercise, in 
 which he kept pace with the rest; but only 
 dispensing with his absence for that hour. 
 And the Lord was pleased to make good 
 impressions on his soul by the sermons he 
 heard there. His mother also took him, 
 every Thursday, to INIr. Case's lecture, at St. 
 Martin's. On the Lord's day, he sat under 
 the powerful ministry of Mr. Stephen Mar- 
 shall. This ministry he spake of to the last 
 with great respect and gratitude to God, as 
 that by which he was, through grace, begot- 
 ten again to a lively hope. He has often 
 been heard to remark, that it was the saying 
 of some judicious men, at that time, that if 
 all the Presbyterians had been like Stephen 
 Marshall, all the Independents like Jeremiah 
 Burroughs, and all the Episcopalians like 
 Archbishop Usher, the breaches of the church 
 would soon have been healed. 
 
 Mr. Henry also attended punctually on 
 the monthly fasts at St. Margaret's chapel, 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 15 
 
 where the ablest and best ministers of Eng- 
 land preached before the House of Commons. 
 On these days the solemn services of the 
 church were continued from eight in the 
 morning, to ifour in the afternoon. It was 
 his constant practice to write all the sermons 
 which he heard from the time that he had 
 reached his eleventh or twelfth year. At 
 these public meetings, he experienced often, 
 sweet meltings of soul in prayer ; and once, 
 in particular, when Mr. Bridge prayed, many 
 warm and lively truths came home to his 
 heart. Under such means he daily increased 
 in that wisdom and knowledge, which is 
 unto salvation. His own reflections on the 
 benefits and privileges now enjoyed, made 
 long afterwards, are worthy of being perused. 
 " If ever any child," says he, " such as I then 
 was, between the tenth and fifteenth years 
 of my age, enjoyed hne upon line, and pre- 
 cept upon precept, I did. And was it in vain ? 
 I trust not altogether in vain. My soul re- 
 joiceth and is glad at the remembrance of it. 
 The word distilled as the dew and dropped 
 as the rain. I loved it, and loved the messen- 
 gers of it; their very feet were beautiful to 
 me. And, Lord, what a mercy was it, that at 
 
16 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 a time when the poor country was laid waste, 
 when the noise of trumpets and drums, and 
 the clattering of arms was heard there ; and 
 the ways to Zion mourned, that then my 
 lot should be, where there was peace and 
 quietness; where the voice of the turtle was 
 heard, and where there was great plenty of 
 gospel opportunities. Bless the Lord, 0 my 
 soul ! As long as I live, I will bless the Lord, 
 I will praise my God, while I have my being. 
 Had it been only the restraint that was laid 
 upon me, whereby I was kept from the sins 
 of other children and youths; such as cursing, 
 swearing. Sabbath breaking, and the like, 
 I were bound to be very thankful ; but that 
 it prevailed through grace effectually to bring 
 me to God, how much am I indebted, and 
 what shall I render ?" 
 
 From his own early experience he drew 
 several important practical inferences, as 
 I. That they were to be blamed who laid too 
 ^ much stress on knowing the precise time of 
 conversion. 2. That early piety should be 
 recommended to all young people, as being 
 attended with many benefits and much com- 
 fort. He was wont often to say to the young, 
 " You cannot begin too soon to be religious, 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 17 
 
 but you may put it off too long." When 
 discoursing one day, on ^Matthew xi. 30, in 
 the conclusion, he appealed to the experience 
 of all who had drawn in that yoke. ^' Turn," 
 said he, " to which of the saints you will, and 
 they will all agree, that they have found 
 * wisdom's ways pleasantness,' and Christ's 
 commandments not grievous. And I will 
 here witness for one, who through grace 
 has in some poor measure, been drawing 
 in this yoke, now above thirty years, and 
 has found it an easy yoke, and likes the 
 choice too well to change." 
 
 3. He also recommended it to parents to 
 bring their children betimes to public ordi- 
 nances. He would say, they are capable 
 sooner than we are aware of receiving good 
 by them. 
 
 4. He also recommended to young per- 
 sons, the practice of writing sermons. He 
 not only followed this practice while young, 
 but continued it until near the close of life. 
 He never wrote short hand, but had the art 
 of taking the substance of a sermon in a very 
 plain and legible hand, and with a great deal 
 of ease. 
 
 But to return to the thread of our history. 
 
18 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 At Westminster school, Mr, Henry had the 
 happiness to gain the favour of that eminent 
 teacher, Dr. Busby, who took up a particular 
 kindness for the lad, and called him, his 
 child. It is known to all, that Dr. Busby 
 was famed for the rigour of his discipline, 
 and severity of his punishments. But Mr. 
 Henry well observes, that in so large a 
 school, there was need of a strict discipline: 
 and as to himself, in the four years that he 
 was under him, he never felt the weight of 
 his hand but once, and then he richly de- 
 served all that he got ; for being sent in pur- 
 suit of one who had played truant — he found 
 him out where he had hid himself; but, at 
 his earnest request, promised that he would 
 say that he could not find him. Next morn- 
 ing, the truant coming under examination 
 was asked, whether he had seen the monitor, 
 and acknowledged that he had; at which ^ 
 Dr. Busby was much surprised, and turned 
 his eyes on the monitor, with these words, 
 "What thou, my son!" and corrected him 
 on the spot, and appointed him to make 
 some penitential verses in Latin; which 
 when he brought, he gave him sixpence, 
 and received him into his favour again. 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 19 
 
 The custom, at Westminster school, was, 
 that all the king's scholars who stood candi- 
 dates for an election to the university, were 
 to receive the Lord's supper, the Easter 
 before, which he did with the rest, in St. 
 Margaret's church, in 1647. And he would 
 often speak of the great pains which Dr. 
 Busby took to prepare his scholars for that 
 ordinance ; and with what skill and serious- 
 ness of application, and manifest concern for 
 their souls, he opened to them the nature of 
 the duty. The reflexions of young Henry, 
 on this occasion, show, that these pains were 
 not lost upon him. The following we have 
 from his own hand: There had been treaties 
 before between my soul and Jesus Christ, 
 with some weak overtures towards him; but 
 then, then, I think it was that the match was 
 made, the knot tied. Then, I set myself in 
 the strength of Divine grace, about the great 
 work of self-examination, in order to repent- 
 ance. And then I repented, that is solemnly 
 and seriously, with some meltings of soul, I 
 confessed my sins before God, original and 
 actual, judging and condemning myself for 
 them, and casting away from me all my 
 transgressions, receiving Christ Jesus the 
 
20 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 Lord, as the Lord my righteousness, and 
 devoting and dedicating my whole self abso- 
 lutely and unreservedly to his fear and ser- 
 vice. After which coming to the ordinance, 
 there, there^ I received Him, indeed, and he 
 became mine — I say, mine. Bless the Lord, 
 0 my soul !" 
 
 Of Dr. Busby's agency in this blessed 
 work, he makes frequent mention, in divers 
 of his papers: "The Lord recompense it," 
 says he, " a thousand fold into his bosom." 
 Encouraged by the good effects of it in his 
 own experience, he was himself accustomed 
 when he became a minister to take like pains 
 with others, at their first admission to the 
 Lord's table; and, through grace, saw the 
 comfortable fruits of it, both in his own 
 children, and others. 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 
 Mr. Henry was admitted student of Christ 
 Church, March 24th, 1647-8. Soon after 
 this, the university, which had now fallen 
 into the hands of the Parliament, was visit- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 21 
 
 ed by their commissionrers. Almost the sole 
 question proposed to the students was, " Will 
 you submit to the power of the Parliament, 
 in this present visitation ?" to which all 
 were to give their answer in writing; accord- 
 ing to which they were displaced, or con- 
 tinued. Some, cheerfully complied, while 
 others, absolutely refused. Others plead 
 ignorance. Mr. Henry's answer was, " I 
 submit to the power of the Parliament in the 
 present visitation, as far as I may with a safe 
 conscience, and without perjury." The rea- 
 son of the last clause was, that he had shortly 
 before taken the oaths of allegiance and su- 
 premacy, at his admission into the univer- 
 sity. It is a characteristic of a conscientious 
 man, that he fears an oath, and Mr. Henry 
 possessed in a high degree, this reverence for 
 the name of God, which he would by no 
 means take in vain. 
 
 His first tutor was Mr. Underwood, w^ho 
 was a good scholar, and one that attended 
 to the improvement of his pupils: but in the 
 changes which now took place in the uni- 
 versity, he was removed, which INIr. Henry 
 greatly regretted. For although Mr. Fin- 
 more, who succeded him, was able enough; 
 
22 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 yet he was not willing to exercise his talents 
 for the interest of those committed to his 
 charge, towards whom he had little more 
 than the name of a tutor. This he lamented 
 as an unhappiness in his first setting out; 
 but it pleased God to give him an interest in 
 the affections of a young man, an under 
 graduate, but two or three years his senior, 
 from Westminster, a Mr. Richard Bryan, 
 who took him to be his chamber-fellow, 
 while he continued at Oxford. He read to 
 him, looked over his studies, and directed 
 him in them. Similar acts of kind conde- 
 scension he received from some others, in 
 the university. 
 
 He duly performed the prescribed college 
 exercises. He disputed, every day, in term 
 time, wrote themes and verses, once a week^ 
 and declaimed when it came to his turn. 
 But, in his private papers, he bewails his ♦ 
 want of diligence, and often accuses himself 
 of a neglect of opportunities of getting, and 
 doing good. He appears to have had a very 
 quick and deep sense of his own failings and 
 infirmities; and expresses much shame, sor- 
 row, and self-abhorrence, for the evils which 
 he observed in himself; and cries out ear- 
 
KEV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 23 
 
 nestly for pardon and forgiveness, in the 
 blood of Jesns, as if he had been the greatest 
 of sinners. For though he was a man who 
 walked very closely with God; yet withal 
 he walked very humbly with him, and lived 
 a life of repentance and self-denial. One 
 thing to which he ascribes the loss of much 
 time at the university, was his being sent 
 thither so young. And he accordingly ad- 
 vised his friends, however their sons might 
 be prepared, as to scholarship, not to send 
 them too early from the school to the uni- 
 versity; till they have discretion to govern 
 themselves, "for," says he, " while they are 
 children, what can be expected, but that they 
 mind childish things?" 
 
 Another thing which rendered him less in- 
 dustrious than he ought to have been was, 
 that coming from Westminster school, his 
 attainments in classical learning were far 
 superior to those of most of the students, and 
 he did not feel himself pressed by the neces- 
 sity of keeping pace with his class. Among 
 the students, he tells us, there were, at that 
 time, two classes; such as had lately come 
 and were friends to the Parliament, who 
 were commonly serious, but of poor scholar- 
 
24 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 ship; the others were of the old spirit and 
 and way, enemies to the ParUament, and the 
 reformation promoted by them. On account 
 of their superior learning, young Henry, at 
 first, associated principally with these, and 
 had little or no fellowship with those of the 
 first-mentioned class. But he soon found, 
 that his companions were a snare to him, 
 and took him off from the hfe of religion and 
 communion with God. And he offers the 
 most fervent thanksgiving to God for not 
 giving him up. " For ever praised be the 
 riches of God's free grace," says he, " that 
 he was pleased still to keep his hold of me, 
 and not to let me alone, when I was running 
 from him, but set his hand again the second 
 time, (as Isaiah has it xi. 11,) to snatch me 
 as a brand out of the fire.^' 
 
 He considered his recovery from this de- 
 clension in the light of a second conversion, 
 and was always much affected with the pre- 
 venting grace of God in it, and was sensible 
 of a double bond to be for ever thankful, as 
 well as watchful, and humble. 
 
 In the end of the year 1648, he had per- 
 mission to visit his father at Whitehall, and 
 was there the 30th of the following January, 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 25 
 
 when the king was beheaded, which awful 
 execution he witnessed. Two things he 
 remarked, not noticed by historians. The 
 first, that when the blow was given, there 
 was among the thousands who were near 
 enough to see the tragical scene, such a dis- 
 mal, universal groan, as he never heard be- 
 fore. The other was, that during the time 
 of the execution, bodies of troops were 
 marching from Charing Cross to King street; 
 and others from King street to Charing Cross, 
 purposely to disperse and scatter the people. 
 Upon all occasions he testified his abhorrence 
 of this unparalleled action; and said, that it 
 could not be justified; and yet he did not 
 see how it could be called a national sin; for 
 as the king said, on the trial, not one man 
 in ten, in the kingdom was consenting to it. 
 Nor could it be called the sin of the Long 
 Parliament, for at the very time when this 
 thing was in agitation, most of them were in 
 prison; and of those that were left only 
 twenty-seven out of forty voted for it. But 
 the atrocious deed was perpetrated by the 
 dominant party in the army. 
 
 In the year 1650, Mr. Henry took his 
 3 
 
26 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 bachelor's degree, and has recorded the 
 goodness of God in procuring him friends, 
 who aided him to defray the expenses, inci- 
 dent to the occasion. 
 
 He would often mention with thankful- 
 ness to God, what great helps he had then 
 in the university, not only for learning, but 
 for religion and piety. Serious godliness 
 was in reputation; and besides the public 
 opportunities they had, many of the scholars 
 were used to meet together for prayer and 
 Christian conference, to the great confirming 
 of one another's hearts in the fear and love 
 of God, and in preparing them for the ser- 
 vice of the church in their generation. The 
 university sermons which had been accus- 
 tomed to be preached in the afternoon of the 
 Lord's day, by the fellows, were now under- 
 taken by Dr. Owen and Dr. Goodwin, who 
 performed the service alternately. 
 
 In December 1652, he proceeded Master 
 of Arts, and in January following preached 
 his first sermon, at Hinckley, in Oxfordshire, 
 on John viii. 34: " Whosoever committeth 
 sin is the servant of sin." On this occasion, 
 he writes, in his diary, " The Lord make use 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 27 
 
 of me as an instrument for his glory, and of 
 his church's good, in this high and holy call- 
 ing!" 
 
 Notwithstanding his deep humility and 
 great modesty, his vigorous talents and high 
 attainments could not be concealed; so that 
 in 1653, he was chosen out of all the masters, 
 to answer the questions in philosophy; and 
 the following year, a similar honour was con- 
 ferred on him. The public exercises which 
 he was required to perform, on these occa- 
 sions, gained for him a high reputation; and 
 particularly attracted the attention of Dr. 
 Owen, who was then the Vice-chancellor. 
 He was heard afterwards to speak very re- 
 spectfully of the performances of Mr. Henry, 
 with whom he had then no acquaintance. 
 A worthy divine, who was somewhat his 
 junior in the university, informed his biogra- 
 pher, how much he admired these exercises 
 of JNIr. Henry, and loved him for them; and 
 yet how much more he admired, when he 
 became acquainted with him in the country, 
 that so curious and polite an orator should 
 become so profitable and powerful a preach- 
 er; and so readily lay aside the enticing 
 
28 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 words of man's wisdom, which were so easy 
 to him. 
 
 There is extant, a copy of some Latin 
 verses of his in print, among the poems 
 which the University of Oxford published, 
 on the peace conckided with Holland, in the 
 year 1654, which show him to have been no 
 less a poet, than an orator. 
 
 He mentions, that some pious young men, 
 upon leaving the university to go into the 
 country kept a day of fasting and humilia- 
 tion, on account of the sins committed by 
 them in that place. And in the notice which 
 he has recorded of his visits to the university, 
 after he left it, we find this laconic but em- 
 phatic entry, " A tear dropt over my univer- 
 sity sins." 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 His settlement at Worthenbury — His ordination to the 
 ministry, and his exercise of it. 
 
 Worthenbury was a small town on the 
 Dee, on the borders of Wales. Mr. Henry's 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 29 
 
 coming to this place was directed by the fol- 
 lowing providential indications. Mrs. Piiles- 
 ton,the lady of Judge Puleston, had written to 
 a Mr. Palmer, at Oxford, to obtain for her a 
 tutor for her sons, then preparing for college; 
 who should also preach on the Lord's days, in 
 the church at Worthenbury. Mr. Palmer re- 
 commended his friend, Mr. Henry, who con- 
 sented to make trial of the place, for one half 
 year, on condition that he should not be re- 
 quired to preach more than one sermon, on 
 the Sabbath. Before leaving the university 
 he had applied himself almost entirely to the 
 study of the Holy Scriptures, and found great 
 dehght, as well as profit, in this course of 
 study. He used often to say, " I read other , 
 books that I may be the better able to under- 
 stand the Scriptures." It was a stock of 
 Scripture knowledge with which he set up, 
 and with that he traded to good advantage. 
 Though he was so great a master in the elo- 
 quence of Cicero, yet he greatly preferred 
 that of Apollos, " who was an eloquent man 
 and mighty in the Scriptures." (Acts xviii. 
 24.) He had, indeed, a fair prospect of 
 university preferment, but the salvation of^ 
 souls was that on which his heart wa 
 
30 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 set, to which he postponed all other inte- 
 rests. 
 
 In September 1653, he came to Emeral, 
 the seat of Judge Puleston, where he was cor- 
 dially received. When he passed the brook 
 which separated Flintshire from Shropshire, 
 nothing was further from his thoughts than 
 a permanent residence in that strange coun- 
 try. Often, afterwards, when God had pros- 
 pered him and built him up a house there, 
 he would adopt the language of Jacob, and 
 say, " With my staff, I passed over this Jor- 
 dan, and now I am become two bands.^' 
 
 At Emeral, he prayed in the family, was 
 tutor to the young gentlemen, and preached 
 once a day at Worthenbury. On one occa- 
 sion the person expected to supply the pulpit 
 the other part of the day did not come, on 
 Avhich occasion, he was called upon to preach 
 unexpectedly, which service he performed 
 so much to the satisfaction of all, that he 
 was led to apply to himself that promise, 
 "As thy day is, so shall thy strength be;'' 
 and made this remark, " We do not know 
 what we can do until we have tried." 
 
 In his preaching to the people here, he 
 studied a plain, practical style of speaking. 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 31 
 
 and would sometimes say in the pulpit, " We 
 study so to speak, that you may understand 
 us; and I never think I can speak plain 
 enough, when I am speaking about souls 
 and their salvation." 
 
 When his half year was ended, he return- 
 ed to the university; not expecting to return 
 again; but the people were very unwilling 
 to part with him; and he received a very 
 pious and affecting letter from lady Puleston, 
 who was not only a person of eminent piety, 
 but of uncommon learning. A few extracts 
 from this letter will show her spirit, and also 
 in what estimation the labours of Mr. Henry 
 were held in Worthenbury. 
 
 Dear Mr. Henry:**** This I am sure, that 
 having wanted a good minister of the word 
 among us, I have oft by prayer and some 
 tears, above five years, besought the Lord 
 for such an one as yourself; which having 
 obtained, I cannot yet despair, seeing he 
 hath given us the good means, but he may 
 give us also the good end. And this I find, 
 that your audience is increased three for one, 
 in the parish, and five for one, out of other 
 places. And I have not heard of their being 
 in the ale-house, on the Lord's day, nor 
 
32 I'IFE OF THE 
 
 playing ball, that day, which before you 
 came was frequent. I think I can name four 
 or five in the parish that of formal professors, 
 are becoming, or become real Christians. 
 But you know all are not wrought upon at 
 first, by the word; yet God may have re- 
 served those that have not bowed the knee 
 to Baal, and may call them at the latter part 
 of the day, though not in this half year. 
 It is a good sign, most are loth to part with 
 you; and you have done more good in this 
 half year than I have discerned these eight- 
 een years. But, however, whether they 
 will hear or forbear you have delivered your 
 own soul. I have prayed and do pray, see- 
 ing God hath sent you, that you may be for 
 his glory, and not for our condemnation." 
 
 After he had again settled himself at Ox- 
 ford, the lady Puleston came with her five 
 sons, the two oldest of whom, she placed un- 
 der his care in the college. 
 
 In the following vacation he visited his 
 friends in London, and while there, received 
 a very solemn and affectionate letter from 
 Judge Puleston, inviting him to return, and 
 resume his ministerial labours among them. 
 He still retained his student's place in the 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 33 
 
 university, visiting it, once a year, to comply 
 with the statutes; but on receiving the ear- 
 nest call, just mentioned, he returned to 
 Worthenbury, and settled there. 
 
 The living of Worthenbury was poor, and 
 laboured under some embarrassment, on ac- 
 count of its connexion with the parish of 
 Bangor, from which it had never been en- 
 tirely separated. ludge Puleston, therefore, 
 generously made a settlement on Mr. Henry, 
 of one hundred pounds sterling, until such 
 time as he should be promoted to some other 
 ecclesiastical living. This sum was more 
 than all the tithes of Worthenbury produced, 
 and saved him from the uncertainty and per- 
 plexity of collecting the tithes. 
 
 Mr. Henry continued for some time, to re- 
 side in the Emeral family. Here he was 
 attentive to the spiritual welfare of every 
 member, even the meanest of the servants. 
 He was diligent in instructing them by cate- 
 chizing, by repeating sermons, and personal 
 conversation; and he had the happiness of 
 being countenanced by the Judge and his 
 lady, in all his efforts to do good ; yet from 
 his private diary it appears, that even here 
 he had his trials ; for all the members of the 
 4 
 
34 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 family were not so well aflfected towards him, 
 but felt his presence to be a disagreeable re- 
 straint upon them, therefore he thought it 
 expedient to look out for a home of his own. 
 Which as soon as Judge Puleston perceived, 
 he added to his former kindness and gener- 
 osity, by having a convenient and handsome 
 house built for his accommodation, in Wor- 
 thenbury ; and settled it on him by a lease 
 bearing date March 6th, 1657, for threescore 
 years, if he should continue so long minister 
 at Worthenbury, and did not receive better 
 preferment. 
 
 The Judge having thus generously made 
 provision for his comfortable settlement, in the 
 year 1659, by a writing under his own hand, 
 collated and presented Mr. Henry to the 
 church at Worthenbury, in which act he re- 
 ceived the approbation of the Parliament's 
 commissioners for the approbation of public 
 preachers. Mr. Fogg, the rector of Bangor, 
 at first made some opposition to his settle- 
 ment, on account of the claim which Bangor 
 had to Worthenbury, as being a part of the 
 parish, of which he was rector; but this mat- 
 ter was readily settled, by his agreeing to 
 task Mr. Fogg's leave, to occupy that station. 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 35 
 
 Before it was settled, he wrote in his diary, 
 " I do earnestly desire that the Judge may 
 give J\[r. Fogg, all reasonable satisfaction, 
 that there be no appearance of wrong to 
 him." During the whole time of his resi- 
 dence at Worthenbury, there existed an inti- 
 mate friendship between him and Mr. Fogg. 
 
 The subject of ordination now claimed his 
 attention. The nearest class, or Presbytery, 
 was in Bradford, Shropshire, which had 
 been constituted by ordinance of parliament, 
 in April, 1647. It was his desire to be or- 
 dained at Worthenbury, in the presence of 
 the people, but the ministers were not wil- 
 ling to set such a precedent; and on this and 
 other accounts, the ordination was delayed 
 until the 16th of September, 1657. In this 
 solemnity, every thing was conducted accord- 
 ing to the Directory of the Assembly of Di- 
 vines, and the common usage of the Presby- 
 terians. But as his papers contain a full ac- 
 count of the whole proceeding, it will doubt- 
 less be gratifying to many, to have the de- 
 tails exhibited. 
 
 The first step taken by the Presbytery 
 was to inquire respecting the work of grace 
 in his heart. In answer to which he gave 
 
36 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 a reason of the hope that was in him with 
 meekness and fear. He said, he hoped that 
 the spirit of grace had been dealing with 
 him when he was young, and he hoped had 
 discovered to him his need of Christ, and had 
 bowed his will, in some measure, to close 
 with him on his own terms, &:c. His skill in 
 the original languages was then tried, and he 
 read and construed two verses in the He- 
 brew, and two in the Greek Testament. He 
 was then examined in logic and natural phi- 
 losophy; next in divinity, and what authors 
 he had read, and what knowledge he had of 
 the mediation of Jesiis Christ. A trial was 
 also made of his skill in exegesis, by pro- 
 pounding to him some difficult texts for his 
 solution. His ability to resolve cases of 
 conscience was also put to the test; and final- 
 ly he was examined as to his acquaintance 
 with church history. The examinations and 
 trials were not concluded at this meeting of 
 the presbytery; and they gave him as a 
 question for a Latin thesis, " An Providentia 
 Divinaextendat se ad omnia ?" On this ques- 
 tion he exhibited his thesis, August 3d, and 
 defended it against the objections of the 
 members. Mr. Porter acted as moderator. 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 37 
 
 He then produced two certificates of good 
 character, &c., the one from the university, 
 signed by Dr. Wilkinson and Dr. Langley ; 
 the other from the ministers in his vicinity, 
 Mr. Steel, Mr. Fogg, &c. September 16th was 
 appointed as the day for his ordination. On 
 the preceding Lord's day, a paper was pub- 
 licly read in the church, at Worthenbury, 
 and afterwards affixed to the church door, 
 giving notice of the intended ordination, and 
 signifying, "that if any person could produce 
 any just exceptions against the life or doc- 
 trines of the said Mr. Henry, or any suffi- 
 cient reason why he might not be ordained, 
 they should certify the same to the classis, or 
 the scribe, and it should be heard and consi- 
 dered.^' 
 
 On the day of ordination, a very great as- 
 sembly was gathered together. Mr. Porter 
 introduced the service with prayer. Mr. 
 Parsons preached the sermon on 1 Tim. i. 
 12, "I thank Christ Jesus who hath enabled 
 me, for that he counted me faithful, putting 
 me into the ministry." After sermon he was 
 called upon to give a confession of his faith, 
 which he did in the following words; 
 
 " The ground and rule of my faith towards 
 
38 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 God, is the Scriptures of the Old and New 
 Testament. I believe they were written by 
 holy men, immediately inspired by the Holy 
 Ghost. Having found the efficacy of them, 
 in some measure, in my own heart, I believe 
 they are further able to make me wise unto 
 salvation. 
 
 " Concerning God, I believe, that he is, 
 and that he is the rewarder of those that dili- 
 gently seek him. The Trinity of the God- 
 head I receive and own, as a truth. I ad- 
 mire and adore the mystery: though no man 
 hath seen God at any time, yet the only be- 
 gotten Son, who is in the bosom of the 
 Father, he hath revealed him, and what he 
 hath declared concerning him, that I believe. 
 I believe that God is a Spirit, for the Son 
 hath said, ^God is a Spirit.' I believe, that 
 he hath life hi himself, and hath given to the 
 Son to have hfe in himself. I believe, that 
 all things were made by him, and without 
 him was not any thing made which was 
 made. I believe, by his providence, he pre- 
 serves, guides, and governs all the creatures, 
 according to the purpose of his own will, to 
 his own glory; for 'the Father worketh 
 hitherto, and the Son also worketh.' I be- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 39 
 
 lieve he made man upright after his own 
 image and likeness, which image consisted 
 Mn knowledge, righteousness, and true holi- 
 ness,' but man, by sin, lost it. 
 
 " I believe that we were all in the loins of 
 our first parents, and that they stood and 
 fell as public persons, and upon that account 
 justly, without any colour of wrong, we bear 
 our share, both in the guilt of their disobe- 
 dience, and also in the corruption of nature 
 following thereupon, so that we come into 
 the world, children of wrath, and heirs of the 
 curse, one as well as another; enemies to 
 God, hating him, and hated of him; averse 
 to all that is good, and prone to all manner of 
 evil. Though all are born in this condition, 
 there are some that do not die in it. 
 
 " J believe, that there is a Mediator, and 
 but one Mediator, between God and men, 
 the man Christ Jesus. Those whom the 
 Father hath from everlasting pitched his love 
 upon, and given to Christ; not because of 
 works or faith foreseen, but merely of his 
 free grace; for those I believe, Christ was 
 sent into the world, made of a woman, made 
 under the law. For their sakes he sanctified 
 himself, and became obedient to death, even 
 
40 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 the death of the cross; wherefore God also 
 hath highly exalted him, and having raised 
 him from the dead on the third day, set him 
 at his own right hand, where he ever lives to 
 make intercession for those for whom he 
 shed his blood. All these elect, redeemed 
 ones, I believe are in due time, sooner or 
 later in their lives, effectually called, washed, 
 sanctified, justified, in the name of the Lord 
 Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 
 
 " I believe, the righteousness of Christ 
 alone, apprehended by faith, is the matter of 
 our justification, before God; and that no 
 flesh can stand in his sight, upon any other 
 terms; for he is the lord our righteous- 
 ness, and in him only is the Father well 
 pleased. 
 
 " I believe, the work of sanctification, 
 managed by the Spirit who dwelleth in us, 
 though in respect of parts it is complete; for 
 the whole man is renewed; yet in respect of 
 degrees is not fully perfected, till we come to 
 glory; and I believe, that all that are justi- 
 fied,, shall be glorified; for we are kept by 
 the power of God, through faith unto salva- 
 tion. 
 
 " I believe, the gathering in and building 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 41 
 
 up the saints, is the special end why pastors 
 and teachers are appointed in the church; 
 and that Jesus Christ, according to his pro- 
 mise, will be with them, in that work unto 
 the end of the world. 
 
 " The two sacraments of the New Testa- 
 ment, baptism and the Lord's supper, I re- 
 ceive and own as signs and seals of the 
 covenant of grace: the former, instituted by 
 our Lord Jesus as a sign and seal of our in- 
 grafting into Christ, due of right, to all the 
 infants of believing parents, and but once to 
 be administered: the other instituted by our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, in the night wherein he 
 was betrayed, to show forth his death, and 
 to seal the benefits purchased thereby, to 
 his church and people, and to be often re- 
 peated. 
 
 " When the body returns to the dust, I 
 believe, the soul returns to God that gave 
 it; and that immediately, it receives from 
 him the sentence, according to what hath 
 been done in the flesh ; either, ^ Come, inherit 
 the kingdom; — or. Depart, accursed into ever- 
 lasting fire.' 
 
 " I believe, beside this, a day of general 
 judgment in the end of the world, wherein, 
 
42 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 we must all appear before the judgment seat 
 of Christ — and that our bodies being raised 
 by an Almighty power from the dust, shall 
 be united to the same souls again, and shall 
 partake with them in the same condition, 
 either of happiness or misery, to all eternity. 
 Those that have done good, shall come forth 
 unto the resurrection of life, and those that 
 have done evil, to the resurrection of damna- 
 tion. 
 
 " This," said he, " is the sum and sub- 
 stance of my faith, into which I was bap- 
 tized, and in which, by the grace of God, I 
 will live and die." Mr. Parsons, in the 
 name and by the appointment of the presby- 
 tery, proposed certain questions to him, 
 which with the answers, are here subjoined. 
 
 Q. 1. "What are your ends in under- 
 taking the work and calling of a minister ? 
 
 A. " As far as upon search and inquiry, 
 I can hitherto find, though there be that 
 within me, that would seek great things for 
 myself— if indeed they were to be found in 
 this calling — yet with my mind, I seek them 
 not. But the improvement of the talent 
 which I have received in the service of the 
 gospel, for the glory of God, and the salva- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 43 
 
 tion of souls, I hope, is in my eye. If there 
 be any thing else, I own it not. While so 
 many seek their own, it is my desire, and 
 shall be my endeavour, to seek the things of 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 Q. 2. '^What are your purposes, as to 
 diligence and industry in this calling ? 
 
 A. " I do purpose and resolve, by the help 
 of God, to give myself wholly to these things; 
 to prayer, reading, meditation, instant preach- 
 ing in season and out of season, wherein ^ I 
 shall very gladly spend and be spent, if by 
 any means, I may both save myself and 
 them that hear me.' And when at any time 
 I fail herein, I desire God by his Spirit, and 
 my Christian friends, neighbours, and breth- 
 ren, by seasonable reproof and admonition, 
 to put me in mind of this engagement now 
 made in the presence of this great congrega- 
 tion. 
 
 Q. 3. " Do you mean to be zealous and 
 faithful in defence of truth and unity against 
 error and schism ? 
 
 A. " I believe what the Spirit hath fore- 
 told, that in the last days, perilous times 
 shall come, wherein men will not endure 
 sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall 
 
44 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 heap to themselves teachers. 'Tis my reso- 
 lution, by the grace of Christ, to watch in 
 all things; to contend earnestly for the faith, 
 to hold fast the form of sound and whole- 
 some words, even the words of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, and the doctrine which is ac- 
 cording to godliness, in meekness, as I am 
 able, instructing those that oppose them- 
 selves. And for peace and unity, if my 
 heart deceive me not, I shall rather choose 
 to hazard the loss of any thing that is most 
 dear to me, than be any way knowingly ac- 
 cessory to the disturbance of these, in the 
 churches of Christ. 
 
 Q. 4. " What is your persuasion of the 
 truth of the reformed religion? 
 
 A. "My persuasion is, that the Bishop 
 of Rome is that man of sin, and son of per- 
 dition, whom the Lord Jesus will consume 
 with the spirit of his mouth, and whom he 
 will destroy with the brightness of his 
 coming. And the separation which our first 
 reformers made, I do heartily rejoice in, and 
 bless God for; for had we still continued to 
 partake with him in his sins, we should in 
 the end have been partakers in his plagues. 
 
 Q. 5. " What do you intend to do when 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 45 
 
 the Lord shall alter your condition, and 
 bring a family under your charge ? 
 
 A. " When the Lord, in his providence, 
 shall bring me into new relations, I hope he 
 will give me grace to fill them up with duty. 
 It is my purpose, to wait upon him and 
 keep his way; to endeavour, in the use of 
 means, that all that are mine may be the 
 Lord's. 
 
 Q. 6. " Will you in humility and meek- 
 ness submit to admonition and discipline ? 
 
 A. " I believe it to be a duty incumbent on 
 all that profess the name of Christ, to watch 
 over one another, and that when any one is 
 overtaken in a fault, those that are spiritual 
 are to set him in joint again, with the spirit 
 of meekness. It shall be my endeavour, in 
 the strength of Jesus Christ, to walk without 
 rebuke, and when at any time I step aside 
 (for who is there that lives and sins not?) I 
 shall count the smitings of my brethren 
 kindness, and their wounds faithful. 
 
 Q. 7. " What if troubles, persecutions, and 
 discouragements arise, will you hold out to 
 the end, notwithstanding ? 
 
 A. " Concerning this I am very jealous 
 over my own heart, and there is cause. I 
 
46 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 have a great want of that zeal and courage 
 for God, which I know is required in a 
 minister of the gospel; nevertheless, I per- 
 suade myself that no temptation shall befall 
 me but such as is common to man, and that 
 God who is faithful, will not suffer me to be 
 tempted above that which I am able, but that 
 with the temptation he will make a way also 
 to escape, that I may be able to bear it. I 
 promise faithfulness to the death, but I trust 
 not at all in my promises to God, but in his 
 to m^e. ^When thou goest through the fire 
 and through the water, I will be with thee.'^' 
 
 When these questions were propounded 
 and answered, as above stated, Mr. Parsons 
 prayed, and in prayer, he and the rest of the 
 presbytery, viz. Messrs. Porter, Houghton, 
 Maiden, and Steel, laid their hands upon 
 him, with words to this purpose: "Whom 
 we do thus, in thy name, set apart to the 
 work and office of the ministry.^' Five 
 others, after a similar examination, were or- 
 dained at the same time. 
 
 The solemn service was closed by an ex- 
 hortation or charge to the newly ordained 
 ministers, by Mr. Maiden, of Newport. One 
 sentence of this charge Mr. Henry, in his 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 47 
 
 diary, says, went to his heart, "As the nurse 
 puts the meat first into her own mouth and 
 chews it, and then feeds the child with it, so 
 should ministers do by the word; preach it 
 over before hand to their own hearts; it loses 
 none of its virtue thereby, but rather, proba- 
 bly, gains; as that milk nourisheth most 
 which comes warm from the warm breast, 
 so that sermon which comes warm from a 
 warm heart.' Lord quicken me to do thy 
 will in this thing!" 
 
 The classis now gave to each of the newly 
 ordained ministers a certificate, on parch- 
 ment, as a testimony unto all that they were 
 regular ministers of the gospel, and author- 
 ized to administer the sacraments, as well as 
 to preach the word: to which writing each 
 of the ordaining ministers subscribed his 
 name. Mr. Henry's appearance and man- 
 ner, on that day, were so peculiarly solemn 
 and devout, that a deep impression was 
 made on those who were witnesses of the 
 solemn scene. 
 
 In his diary he has the following remarks: 
 " Methought I saw much of God in the car- 
 rying on the work of this day. 0, how good 
 is the Lord. He is good, and doth good. 
 
48 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 The remembrance of it I shall never lose. 
 To him be glory. I made many promises of 
 diligence, faithfulness, &.c. but I lay no stress 
 at all on them, but on God's promise to me, 
 that he will be with his ministers always to 
 the end of the world, Amen, Lord, so be it. 
 Make good thy word unto thy servant, 
 wherein thou hast caused me to put my 
 trust." And in another place, he says, "I 
 did, this day, receive as much honour and 
 work as ever I shall be able to know what 
 to do with. Lord Jesus, proportion supplies 
 accordingly." Two scriptures he desired 
 might be written on his heart, " But in all 
 things approving ourselves as the ministers 
 of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in 
 necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in impri- 
 sonments, in tumults, in labours, in watch- 
 ings, in fastings." 2 Cor. vi. 4, 5. " My sons, 
 be not now negligent: for the Lord hath 
 chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, 
 and that ye should minister unto him, and 
 burn incense." 2 Chron. xxix. IL 
 
 Two years afterwards, on occasion of an 
 ordination at Whitechurch, he thus writes: 
 "This day my ordination covenants were in 
 a special manner renewed, as to diligence in 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 49 
 
 reading, prayer, meditation, faithfulness in 
 preaching, admonition, catechizing, sacra- 
 ments, zeal against error and profaneness, 
 care to preserve and promote the unity and 
 purity of the church, notwithstanding oppo- 
 sition and persecution, though to death. 
 Lord, thou hast filled my hands with work, 
 fill my heart with wisdom and grace, that I 
 may discharge my duty to thy glory, and my 
 own salvation, and that of those that hear 
 me. Amen.^' 
 
 Having given an account of Mr. Henry's 
 solemn consecration to the ministry, it will 
 be proper to relate how he fulfilled the re- 
 sponsible engagements into which he now 
 entered. And before we proceed to particu- 
 lar details, it may be proper to say something 
 about the charge of Worthenbury, of which 
 he had taken the pastoral oversight. The 
 sphere was too narrow for such a burning 
 and shining light. There were but forty-one 
 communicants, in that parish, when he first 
 administered the Lord's supper, and this 
 number was never doubled while he labour- 
 ed there. No more convincing evidence 
 could be desired of his unfeigned humility 
 and low estimation of himself than the fact 
 5 
 
50 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 that he never aspired to a larger sphere, and 
 would never listen to any overtures of that 
 kind, which were made to him. And his 
 contentment with this obscure and small 
 parish, did not arise from any desire to spare 
 himself, or any reluctance to labour; for such 
 was his concern for immortal souls, that he 
 laid out himself with as much diligence and 
 vigour here, as if he had had the oversight of 
 the greatest and most considerable parish in 
 the country. The greatest part of the parish 
 were poor tenants and labouring husband- 
 men; "but," as he used to say, " the souls 
 of such are as precious as the souls of the 
 rich, and to be looked after accordingly." 
 His labours to win souls were most abun- 
 dant. Besides preaching, he expounded the 
 Scriptures in order, catechized, and explained 
 the catechism. He took some adults at first 
 into the list of catechumens, and when he had 
 taken what pains he thought needful with 
 them, he dismissed them from further atten- 
 dance, with commendation of their proficien- 
 cy, and counsel to hold fast the form of sound 
 words; to be watchful against the sins of 
 their age, and to prepare themselves for the 
 ordinance of the Lord's supper; and, after- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 51 
 
 wards, he catechized none above seventeen 
 or eighteen years of age. 
 
 He set up a monthly lecture there, of two 
 sermons, one of which he preached himseh'", 
 and the other, Mr. Ambrose Lewis of Wrex- 
 ham, for some years. He also instituted and 
 kept up a monthly conference from house to 
 house, in which he met with the more intel- 
 hgent and judicious of the parish. Here he 
 discoursed freely with his people, respecting 
 the things of God ; which was found to contri- 
 bute to their mutual edification. One object 
 which he had in view was, to become better 
 acquainted with his parishioners, so that he 
 might know better how to preach to them, 
 and pray for them, and that they might be 
 made able and willing to pray for one an- 
 other. It was also a means of increasing 
 knowledge, love, and other graces. 
 
 He was very industrious in visiting the 
 sick; instructing them and praying with them, 
 and in this he would say, that he aimed not 
 only at the good of the sick, but also of their 
 friends and relations that were aboat them. 
 He preached funeral sermons for all that 
 were buried there, rich or poor, old or young; 
 and even for little children; for he looked 
 
52 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 upon it, as an opportunity of doing good. He 
 called it the setting in the plough of the 
 word, when Providence had softened and 
 prepared the ground. He never would ac- 
 cept money for that or any other ministerial 
 performance besides his stated salary; for 
 which he felt himself obliged to do his duty 
 to them, as a minister. 
 
 When he first administered the Lord's 
 supper, he conversed freely with all who 
 proposed to commune, and explained to them 
 the nature of the ordinance, and the qualifi- 
 cations required of communicants: and gave 
 notice to the congregation, who they were 
 that were admitted. To which he added the 
 following: Concerning these and myself, I 
 have two things to say, 1. As to what is past, 
 we have sinned. If we should say we have 
 not, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is 
 not in us, and yet withal we can say, and 
 some of us have said, with tears, we are 
 grieved that we have sinned. 
 
 2. " We are resolved, for time to come, by 
 God's grace, to walk in new obedience; and 
 yet, seeing we are not angels, but men and 
 women, compassed about with infirmities 
 and temptations, it is possible we may fall ; 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 53 
 
 but if we do, it is our declared resolution to 
 submit to admonition and censure, according 
 to the rule of the gospel." 
 
 And, all along he took pains that while the 
 weak believer should not be discouraged, 
 the ordinance might not be profaned. He 
 would tell those that he was necessit^.ted to 
 debar from the ordinance, on account of ig- 
 norance, that if they were truly willing, they 
 might in a week's time, by the blessing of 
 God upon a diligent use of means, reading, 
 prayer, and conference, get such a competent 
 measure of knowledge, as to be able to dis- 
 cern the Lord's body; and to those whose 
 lives had been scandalous, that if they would 
 come in and declare their repentance and re- 
 solutions of new obedience, they should no 
 longer be excluded. 
 
 It will furnish the best idea of the solem- 
 nity and tenderness of his manner in admin- 
 istering this ordinance, to transcribe his ex- 
 hortation to the communicants at his first 
 administration, November 27th, 1659. 
 
 " Dearly beloved, in our Lord and Saviour 
 Jesus Christ, we are met together, this day, 
 about the most solemn, weighty service under 
 heaven. We are come to a feast, where the 
 
54 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 feast-maker is God the Father, the provision 
 God the Son, whose flesh is meat indeed, 
 and whose blood is drink indeed. The guests, 
 a company of poor sinners, unworthy such 
 an honour. The orumbs under the table are 
 too good for us; and yet we are permitted to 
 taste of the provision on the table ; and that 
 which makes the feast is hearty welcome. 
 God the Father bids you welcome, and ten 
 thousand welcomes, this day, to the flesh and 
 blood of his Son. Think you hear him say- 
 ilig to you, 0 believing soul, 'Eat, 0 friends, 
 drink, yea drink abundantly, 0 beloved.' 
 The end of this feast is to keep in remem- 
 brance, the death of Christ, and our deliver- 
 ance by it, and thereby to convey spiritual 
 nourishment and refreshment to our souls. 
 But withal, give me leave to ask you one 
 question, ' What appetite have you to this 
 feast ? Are you come hungering and thirst- 
 ing?' Such have the promise they shall be 
 filled. He filleth the hungry with good 
 things, and the rich are sent empty away. 
 A honey comb to a full soul is no honey 
 comb. Canst thou say as Christ said, ' with 
 desire I have desired to eat this passover?' 
 In this ordinance here is Christ and all his 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 55 
 
 \ benefits exhibited to you. Are you weak? 
 here is bread to strengthen thee. Art thou 
 sad? here is wine to comfort thee. What is 
 It thou standest in need of.- A pardon ? here 
 it is, sealed in blood — take it by faith as I 
 offer it to you in the name of the Lord Jesus. 
 Though thy sins have been as scarlet, they 
 shall be as wool, if thou be willing and obe- 
 dient. It may be here are some that have 
 been drunkards, swearers, scoffers at godli- 
 ness, Sabbath breakers, and what not ? And 
 God hath put it into your hearts to humble 
 
 -ourselves, to mourn for and turn from all 
 /our abominations. 0 come hither, here is 
 forgiveness for you. What else is it thou 
 wantest ? 0, saith the poor soul, I would 
 have plenty of grace, more power against 
 
 n, especially my own iniquity. Why here 
 It is for thee; from the fulness that is in Je- 
 sus Christ we receive, and grace for grace. 
 We may say as David did • God hath spoken 
 in his holiness, and then Gilead is mine and 
 
 Manasseh mine; so God hath spoken in his 
 
 • ord sealed in the sacrament, and then 
 Christ is mine, pardon is mine, grace is mine, 
 
 omfort mine, glory mine. Here I have his 
 
56 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 bond to show for it. This is to him among 
 you that hath engaged his heart to approach 
 unto God this day. But if there be any come 
 hither with a false, filthy, unbelieving, and 
 hard heart, I do warn you seriously, and 
 with authority, in the name of Jesus Christ, 
 presume not to come any nearer to this sa- 
 cred ordinance. You that live in the prac- 
 tice of any sin, or the omission of any duty 
 against your knowledge and conscience ; you 
 that have any malice or grudge to any of 
 your neighbours — leave your gift and go 
 your ways — be reconciled to your brother, 
 and then come. Better shame thyself for 
 coming so near, than damn thyself by com- 
 ing nearer. I testify to those who say they 
 shall have peace, though they go on still in 
 their trespasses, that there is poison in the 
 bread. Take it, and eat it at your own peril. 
 There is poison in the cup too — you drink 
 your own damnation. I wash my hands 
 from the guilt of your blood — look you to it. 
 On the other hand, you poor penitent souls 
 that are lost in yourselves, here is a Christ 
 to save you. Come, 0 come, ye that are 
 weary and heavy laden, &.c.'' 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 57 
 
 The following hints, taken from his papers, 
 will show also his method of administering 
 the ordinance of baptism. 
 
 " It is a real manifestation of the goodness 
 and love of God to believers, that he hath 
 not only taken them into covenant with him- 
 self, but their seed also; saying,*! will be 
 thy God and the God of thy seed.' Though 
 to be born of such doth not necessarily entitle 
 infants to the spiritual mercies of the cove- 
 nant; for grace doth not run in the blood. 
 We see the contrary, many times; even 
 godly parents have wicked children. Abra- 
 ham had his Ishmael and Isaac his Esau; 
 yet it doth doubtless, entitle them to the ex- 
 ternal privileges of the covenant. The like 
 figure unto Noah's ark, even doth baptism 
 also now save us. Noah and all that were his, 
 entered into the ark, though we have cause 
 to doubt, whether they all entered into hea- 
 ven. While our Lord Jesus was here upon 
 earth, they brought little children to him, 
 and he laid his hands on them and blessed 
 them; and said, * Suffer little children to 
 come unto me, and forbid them not, for of 
 such is the kingdom of heaven.' Whether 
 6 
 
58 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 it be meant of the visible church, often so 
 called in the gospel, or of the state of glory 
 in another world, either way it affords an 
 argument for proof of infant baptism. When 
 either parent is in covenant with God, the 
 children also are in covenant with him, they 
 have an undoubted right and title to this 
 ordinance of baptism, which is the seal of 
 the covenant. So that in the administration 
 of this ordinance, this day, according to the 
 institution of Jesus Christ, we look upon you, 
 the father of this child, as a person in cove- 
 nant with God. Therefore if you have dealt 
 unfaithfully in the covenant, it is known to 
 God, and your own conscience; but this we 
 know, the vows of God are upon you, and, 
 Met every one that nameth the name of 
 Christ, depart from iniquity.' But before I 
 baptize your child, I am to acquaint you, 
 in few words, what we require of you. 
 
 Quest. Do you avouch God, in Jesus 
 Christ, this day, to be your God ? — See to it, 
 that this be done, in truth, and with a per- 
 fect heart. You may tell us you do so, and 
 you may deceive us, but God is not mocked. 
 " Quest. 2. And is it your desire, that 
 
REV. PHILIP HEXRY. 
 
 59 
 
 your children also maybe received into cove- 
 nant with the Lord, and that the Lord's 
 broad seal of baptism, may be set to it? 
 
 Quest. 3. And do you promise, in the 
 presence of God, and of this congregation, 
 that you will do your endeavours towards 
 training it up in the way of godliness, that 
 as it is by you, through mercy, that it lives 
 the life of nature, so it may be by you also, 
 through the same mercy, that it lives the life 
 of grace: else, I must tell you, if you be want- 
 ing herein, there will be a sad appearance, 
 one day, when you shall meet together, be- 
 fore the judgment seat of Christ, and the so- 
 lemn engagement of yours will be brought 
 to witness against you.*' 
 
 He declined the private administration of 
 the Lord's supper to sick persons, as judging 
 it not consonant to the rule and intention of 
 the ordinance. He very rarely, if ever, bap- 
 tized in private: but would have children 
 brought to the solemn assembly on the 
 Lord's day, that the parents' engagement 
 might have the more witnesses to it, and the 
 child the more prayers put up for it; and 
 that the congregation might be edified. 
 
 His behaviour towards the people of his 
 
 I 
 
60 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 parish was very exemplary, condescending 
 to the nneanest, and conversing famiUarly 
 with thenri; bearing with the infirmities of 
 the weak, and becoming " all things to all 
 men.'^ He was exceedingly tender of giving 
 offence, or occasion of grief to any body, 
 [ remembering that the wisdom that is from 
 above is, ^' pure, peaceable, and gentle." 
 Yet he plainly and faithfully reproved what 
 he saw amiss in any, and would not suffer 
 sin upon them; mourning also for that which 
 he could not mend. 
 
 Many out of the neighbouring parishes 
 attended his ministry, and some came from 
 far, though sometimes he signified his dis- 
 like of it; so far was he from glorying in it. 
 But they who had spiritual senses exercised 
 to discern things that differ, would attend on 
 that ministry which they found most edify- 
 ing. 
 
 His continuance at Worthenbury, was 
 about eight years, and his labour was not in 
 vain in the Lord. He remarked, however, 
 the providence, that most of those who had 
 been savingly benefitted by his ministry, 
 were taken out of the world, before he was 
 removed from the place; and the new gene- 
 
EIF. PHILIP HEyRT. 
 
 61 
 
 ration who succeeded them were of another 
 spirit, and knew not Joseph. 
 
 From the experience which he had at 
 Worthenbury, he was convinced of the supe- 
 rior opportunities of usefulness, from having 
 his people settled contiguously around him, 
 in the parish order, rather than the congre- 
 gational way of gathering churches from 
 places, far distant. 
 
 Though his extraordinary modesty always 
 led him to take the lowest room, and to 
 avoid pushing himself forward into conspi- 
 cuous services; yet his eminent talents could 
 not be hid; the ointment of the right hand 
 will betray itself He was often called upon 
 by the ministers, in the vicinity, to preach 
 the week-day lectures, which were set up 
 plentifully, and were well attended upon in 
 those parts; and his labours were, on these 
 occasions, generally acceptable and success- 
 ful. Indeed, the estimation in which he was 
 held by the people, was manifest from their 
 speaking of him commonly as, the heavenly 
 Henry." A person intimately acquainted 
 with him has characterized him by the three 
 following particulars. 1. Great piety and 
 devotion, and a mighty savour of godliness 
 
62 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 in all his conversation. 2. Great industry in 
 the pursuit of useful knowledge: he was par- 
 ticularly observed to be inquisitive, when in 
 company with the aged and intelhgent; 
 hearing them, and asking them questions — 
 a good example to young men, especially 
 young ministers. 3. Great self-denial, self- 
 diffidence, and self-abasement. This emi- 
 nent quality put a lustre upon all his other 
 graces. 
 
 He was wont to tell a story of a forward 
 young man, who at a meeting of ministers, 
 with much self-confidence said, when some 
 point was under debate, " I ho/d it so and 
 so'' — a grave and aged minister repressed 
 his forwardness by saying, " It becomes you 
 to hold your peace." 
 
 He was not only a preacher of lectures, 
 but a frequent hearer of the lectures of 
 others; and he made it a practice to write 
 down the discourses which he heard, and in 
 his diary to record the effect which they pro- 
 duced on his heart. 
 
 The brother in whom he most delighted, 
 and with whom he often took sweet counsel, 
 was Mr. Richard Steel, minister of Flanmers, 
 a parish adjacent to Worthenbury, whose 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 63 
 
 praise is in the churches, for his excellent 
 treatises, "The Husbandman's CalUng" — 
 " An Antidote against Distractions" — and 
 several others. He was Mr. Henry's other- 
 self^ the man of his counsel, and with whom 
 he was frequently joined in conference, and 
 in the observance of days of humiliation and 
 prayer. 
 
 It was customary for the ministers in that 
 part of the country, after the pubUc exercises 
 of the lecture were over, to spend some time 
 in set disputations, in Latin. As iron sharp- 
 ens iron, so these ministers made it their 
 business to provoke one another to love and 
 good works. 
 
 In the early part of his ministry, Mr. 
 Henry's health was so feeble, that it Avas 
 feared that he would go into a decline, and 
 some blamed him for taking so much pains 
 in his ministerial work; suggesting to him, 
 " Master spare thyself" One of them told 
 him, that he lighted up his whole pound of 
 candles at once, and that he could not hold 
 out long, at that rate, and wished him to 
 husband his strength better. But he often 
 reflected upon it with comfort, afterwards, 
 that he was not influenced by such sugges- 
 
64 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 tions. He would sometimes say, " the more 
 we do in the service of God, the more we 
 may do." When his work bore more than 
 usually hard upon him, instead of complain- 
 ing, he would say, " Thou knowest. Lord, 
 how well contented I am * to spend and be 
 spent,' in thy service; and if the outward 
 man decay, 0 let the inward man be renew- 
 ed." When his bodily indisposition in- 
 creased, his greatest solicitude, was, to make 
 a proper improvement of the dispensation; 
 for he said, " it is a great loss to lose an af- 
 fliction." And he considered every return 
 of disease, as a summons to the grave. " I 
 find," said he, " my earthly tabernacle tot- 
 tering, and when it is taken down, I shall 
 have a building in heaven, that shall never 
 fail. Blessed be God the Father, and my 
 Lord Jesus Christ, and the good Spirit of 
 grace." Amen. 
 
 While he resided at Worthenbury, he con- 
 stantly laid up one tenth of his means for the 
 poor, which he carefully and faithfully dis- 
 posed of in the liberal things which he de- 
 vised; especially, in the teaching of poor 
 children. And he recommended it as a good 
 rule, to lay by for charity, in some propor- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 65 
 
 tion as our circumstances are, and then it 
 will be the easier to lay out in charity. We 
 shall be more likely to seek for opportunities 
 of doing good, when we have money lying 
 by us, for which we have said, " This is not 
 our own, but the poor's." To encourage 
 himself and others to works of charity, he 
 would say, " He is no fool, who parts with 
 that which he cannot keep, when he is sure 
 to be recompensed by that which he cannot 
 lose." But to exclude all boasting, he would 
 often use the words of David, " Of thine 
 own hand, have we given thee." 
 ' In the year 1658, the ministers in Mr. 
 Henry's vicinity began to enlarge their cor- 
 respondence with those of North Wales. 
 Several meetings were held for the promo- 
 tion of unity, love, and good understanding 
 among themselves, by entering into an asso- 
 ciation, similar to what had some years be- 
 fore existed in Cumberland and Worcester. 
 And though they differed considerably re- 
 specting matters of church government, some 
 being Episcopal, some Presbyterian, and 
 some Congregational in their views; yet they 
 agreed to lay aside the thoughts of matters 
 in variance, and to give each other the right 
 
66 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 hand of fellowship ; that with one shoulder 
 and one consent, they might study in their 
 respective places, to promote the common 
 interests of Christ's kingdom, and the com- 
 mon salvation of precious souls. 
 
 He remarked that the year after the death 
 of Oliver Cromwell, there was generally a 
 great change throughout the nation, in the 
 temper of God's people, and a mighty ten- 
 dency towards peace and unity; as if by 
 consent, they were weary of their long clash- 
 ings. With this prospect, he was much de- 
 lighted, and entertained the pleasing hopes, 
 that the time was at hand, "when Judah 
 should no longer vex Ephraim, nor Ephraim 
 envy Judah ; neither should they learn war 
 any more." And although the bright pros- 
 pect was soon obscured ; yet he often spoke 
 of the experience of that and the following 
 year, as a specimen of what may yet be ex- 
 pected, when the Spirit shall be poured out 
 upon us from on high. From this experience 
 also, he gathered this observation: "That it 
 is not so much our difference of opinion that 
 doth the mischief — for we may as soon ex- 
 pect all the clocks in the town to strike to- 
 gether, as to see all good people of a mind in 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 67 
 
 every thing, on this side heaven — but the 
 mismanagement of that difference.'^ 
 
 In the association of ministers, now form- 
 ed, he was appointed to draw up that part of 
 their agreement which related to the worship 
 of Gcd, which task he performed to their satis- 
 faction. In his introduction to this paper, he 
 says, " Though the main of our desires and en- 
 deavours be after unity, in the greater things 
 of God; yet we judge uniformity in the cir- 
 cumstances of worship, a thing not to be alto- 
 gether neglected by us: not only in respect to 
 that influence, which external, visible order 
 hath upon the beauty and comeliness of the 
 churches of Christ, but also as it hath a direct 
 tendency to the strengthening of our hands 
 in ministerial services, and withal to the re- 
 moving of those prejudices which many peo- 
 have conceiyed even against religion and 
 worship itself. We bless God from our very 
 souls, for that whereunto we have already 
 attained; and yet we hope something further 
 may be done, in reference to our walking 
 more closely by the same rule, and minding 
 the same things. The word of God is the 
 rule which we desire and resolve to walk by 
 in the administration of ordinances; and for 
 
€8 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 those things wherein the word is silent, we 
 think we may and ought to have recourse to 
 Christian prudence, and the practice of the 
 reformed churches, agreeing with the gene- 
 ral rules of the word; and therefore we have 
 had — as we think we ought — a special eye 
 to the DIRECTORY, in our present agreement/* 
 
 There was the more reason to hope for 
 good fruit from these associations, because 
 they were set up with prayer and days of 
 fasting and humiliation, to implore the Divine 
 blessing, to seek God for direction in their 
 ministerial w^ork, and to bewail their minis- 
 terial failings, 
 
 September 29, 1658, the lady Puleston 
 died. " She was," says he, " the best friend 
 I ever had upon earth, but my best friend in 
 heaven, is still where he was, and he will 
 never leave me nor forsake me." He preach- 
 ed her funeral sermon, from Isa. iii. " Cease 
 from man whose breath is in his nostrils." 
 Among her last words he mentions these, 
 " My soul leans to Jesus Christ, lean to me, 
 sweet Saviour." 
 
 After a year. Judge Puleston died, and all 
 Mr. Henry's interest in the Emeral family 
 was buried in the grave. He preached the 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 69 
 
 Judge's funeral sermon from Nehemiah xiii. 
 4. " Wipe not out the good deeds that I have 
 done for the house of my God, and the offices 
 thereof" This sermon was not intended as 
 a eulogy on the Judge, there is not a word 
 in the sermon to that purpose; but the object 
 was to show, that deeds done for the house 
 of God, are good deeds and to press upon 
 the people according to their opportunity, to 
 do such deeds. There is one fact mentioned 
 in that discourse, which deserves to be pre- 
 served. That it had been for several years 
 the practice of a worthy gentleman, in a 
 neighbouring county, in renewing his leases, 
 instead of making it a condition that his 
 tenants should keep a hawk or a dog for him, 
 to require them to keep a Bible in their 
 houses, and to bring up their children to 
 learn to read, and be catechized. 
 
 The personal affronts which he received 
 from some members of that family, at that 
 time need not be mentioned ; but with what 
 exemplary meekness he bore them, ought 
 not to be forgotten. 
 
 He was very much solicited in 1659, to 
 leave Worthenbury and accept the vicarage 
 of Wrexham, a place where the people were 
 
70 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 greatly attached to him, and for whom he 
 felt a special kindness; but he could not see 
 his way clear to leave Worthenbury; and so 
 he declined the invitation. 
 
 As to his method of preaching, it was not 
 his practice to dwell long on a single text; a 
 thing common in his tim.e and before. " Bet- 
 ter,-' said he, one sermon on many texts, 
 than many sermons on one text.'^ He used 
 to preach systematically, that is, he pursued 
 a regular method, and linked his subjects in 
 a sort of chain. He adapted his method and 
 style to the capacity of his hearers, fetching 
 his similitudes or illustrations, from those 
 things which were familiar to them. He did 
 not shoot the arrow of the word over their 
 heads, in hi^h notions, or the flourishes of 
 affected rhetoric; nor under their feet, by 
 blunt and homely expressions, as many do, 
 under pretence of plainness, but to their 
 hearts, in close and lively applications. His 
 delivery was very graceful and agreeable, 
 far from being noisy and precipitate, on the 
 one hand, or dull and slow on the other. His 
 doctrine did drop as the dew and distill as 
 the rain, and came with a charming pleasing 
 power, such as many bore witness to, who 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 71 
 
 wondered at the gracious words which pro- 
 ceeded out of his mouth. He wrote the 
 notes of his sermons pretty large, for the most 
 part, and always very legible ; but even when 
 he had put his last hand to them, he left 
 many imperfect hints, which gave room for 
 enlargement in preaching, in which he had 
 great felicity. And he would often advise 
 ministers, not to confine themselves too close- 
 ly to their notes, but having Avell digested 
 the matter before, to allow themselves a lib- 
 erty of expression, such as a man's feelings, 
 if they be excited, will be apt to furnish him 
 with. But for this no certain rule can be 
 given, there are diversities of gifts, and each 
 to profit withal. 
 
 He kept his sermon notes in very neat and 
 exact order; so that he could readily turn to 
 any of them; yet he seldom preached again 
 any of his old sermons, but to the last studied 
 new sermons, and wrote them as elaborately 
 as ever, for he thought a sermon best preach- 
 ed, when it was newly meditated. Even 
 when he preached again on the same text, he 
 was accustomed to write a new sermon. He ^ 
 never offered to God that which cost him ' 
 nothing. 
 
72 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 When he went to Oxford, and preached 
 before the university in Christ's-church, as 
 he did several times, his labours were not 
 only very acceptable, but successful, too; 
 particularly, a sermon on Proverbs xiv. 9. 
 " Fools make a mock at sin," which made 
 such an impression on a young master of 
 arts, that he afterwards came to his chamber 
 to return him his thanks, for the good re- 
 ceived from his preaching. 
 
 In his diary, daring this period, he notes 
 carefully the frame of his mind while com- 
 posing as well as preaching his sermons. 
 And he appears to have had, at times, not 
 only humbling views of his own imperfec- 
 tions, but some doubts respecting the good- 
 ness of his state. In one entry, he says, " I 
 think, never did any poor creature pass 
 through such a mixture of hope and fear, 
 joy and sadness, assurance and doubting — 
 down and up, as I have, these years past." 
 It may be encouraging to drooping Chris- 
 tians to hear from such an eminent saint, 
 such complaints as the following: "No life 
 at all in the duty — many wanderings. If 
 my prayers were written down and my 
 vain thoughts interlined, what incoherent 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 73 
 
 nonsense would there be! I am ashamed, 
 Lord, I am ashamed, 0 pity and pardon me." 
 "When a fire is first kindled/' saith he, 
 "there is a deal of smoke and smother, that 
 afterwards wears away; so in young con- 
 verts, much peevishness, forwardness, and 
 darkness; so it hath been with my soul, and 
 so it is yet in a great measure. Lord, pity, 
 and do not quench the smoking flax ; though 
 as yet it do but smoke, let these sparks be 
 blown up into a flame." And though few ex- 
 celled him in profitable conversation; yet he 
 often bewails his barrenness, and unprofita- 
 bleness. " Little good done, or gotten, such 
 a day, for want of a heart. 'Tis my sin and 
 shame. 0 that I had wings like a dove." 
 Yet he often expresses in his diary, a firm 
 reliance on God. "Such a day," saith he, a 
 full resignation was made of all my concern- 
 ments, into the hands of my heavenly Fa- 
 ther, let him deal with me as seemeth good 
 in his eyes. I am learning and labouring to 
 live by faith. Lord, help my unbelief." At 
 a time when perplexed and almost over- 
 whelmed with fears, he found complete de- 
 liverance, by the suggestions of a precious 
 7 
 
74 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 text of Scripture Fear none of those things 
 which thoushalt suffer." 
 
 He very frequently kept days of fasting 
 and humiliation in secret, which he calls his 
 days of atonement. Sometimes he observed 
 these monthly, and sometimes only on par- 
 ticular occasions; but his diary, while at 
 Worthenbury, shows what sweet commu- 
 nion he had with God, in these solemn duties. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 His Marriage — Family — Family Religion, and the Edu- 
 cation of his Children. 
 
 He removed from Emeral to the house in 
 Worthenbury which the Judge had built for 
 him in February 1658-9, and then had one 
 of his sisters with him to keep his house. No 
 sooner had he a tent, but God had an altar 
 in it, and that a smoking altar. There he 
 set up repetition on Sabbath evenings, and 
 welcomed his neighbours to it. 
 
 His Christian friends often, and sometimes 
 his brethren in the ministry, kept days of 
 fasting and prayer at his house. He used to 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 75 
 
 tell people when they had built new houses, 
 they must dedicate them, (referring to Deut. 
 XX. 5, and Psal. xxx. ult.) that is, they must 
 invite God to their houses, and devote them 
 to his service. 
 
 Providence having thus brought him into 
 a house of his own, soon after provided him 
 a help-meet for him. After long agitation, 
 and some discouragement and opposition 
 from the father, April 26th, 1660, he married 
 Katharine, the only daughter and heir of 
 Mr. Daniel Matthews, of Broad Oak, in the 
 township of Iscoyd, in Flintshire, (but in the 
 parish of Malpas, which is in Cheshire, and 
 about two miles distant from Whitchurch, 
 a considerable market town in Shropshire.) 
 Mr. Matthews was a gentleman of a very 
 competent estate; such a one as king James 
 the First used to say was the happiest lot 
 of all others, which set a man below the 
 office of a justice of peace, and above that 
 of a petty constable. This was his only 
 child: very fair and honourable overtures 
 had been made for her disposal; but it pleased 
 God so to order eyents, and to over-rule the 
 spirits of those concerned, that she was re- 
 served to be a blessing to this good man, 
 
76 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 in things pertaining ^'both to life and godli- 
 ness." 
 
 His purpose of marriage was published in 
 the church three Lord's days before; a laud- 
 able practice, which he greatly approved, 
 and persuaded others to. 
 
 The day before his marriage, he kept as a 
 day of secret prayer and fasting. 
 
 He used to say, those who would have 
 comfort in that change of their condition, 
 must see to it, that they bring none of the 
 guilt of the sin of their single state with them 
 into the married state. And the presence 
 • of Christ at a " wedding will turn the water 
 into wine;" and he will come, if he be in- 
 vited by prayer. 
 
 He took all occasions, while he lived, to 
 express his thankfulness to God for the great 
 comfort he had in this relation. A day of 
 mercy (so he writes on his marriage day) 
 never to be forgotten. God had given him 
 one (as he writes afterwards) every way his 
 helper, in whom he had much comfort, and 
 for whom he thanked God with all his heart. 
 He writes in his diary, April 26th, 1680, 
 "This day we have been married twenty 
 years, in which time we have received of the 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 77 
 
 Lord more than twenty thousand naercies; to 
 God be glory.*' Sometimes he writes, " We 
 have been so long married, and never recon- 
 ciled;" that is, there never was any occasion 
 for it. His usual prayer for his friends in 
 the married state was according to his own 
 practice in that state; that they might be 
 mutually serviceable to each other's faith 
 and lioliness, and jointly serviceable to God's 
 honour and glory. 
 
 Her father, though he put some hardships 
 upon him in the terms, and had been some- 
 what averse to the match, yet by Mr. Hen- 
 ry's great prudence, and God's good provi- 
 dence, he was influenced to give a free con- 
 sent to it; and he himself, with his own hand, 
 gave her in marriage. From this, as from 
 other experiences, Mr. Henry had learned to 
 say with assurance: "It is not in vain to 
 wait upon God, and to keep his way." Mr. 
 Matthews settled part of his estate before 
 marriage upon them and theirs ; he lived 
 about seven years after; and when he died, 
 the remainder of it came to them. This 
 competent estate, which the divine provi- 
 dence brought into his hand, was not only a 
 comtortable support to him when he was 
 
78 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 turned out of his living, and when many faith- 
 ful ministers of Christ were reduced to great 
 poverty and straits; but it enabled him like- 
 wise, as he had opportunity, to preach the 
 gospel freely, which he did to his dying day; 
 and not only vso, but to give for the relief of 
 others that were in want, in which he sowed 
 plentifully, to a very large proportion of his 
 income; and often blessed God that he had 
 wherewithal, remembering the words of the 
 Lord, how he said, " It is more blessed to 
 give than to receive." 
 
 Such was his house, and such the vine 
 which God graciously planted by the side of 
 his house. By her God gave him six chil- 
 dren, all born within less than eight years; 
 the two eldest sons, John and Matthew: the 
 other four, daughters, Sarah, Katharine, Elea- 
 nor, and Ann. His eldest son John died of 
 the measles in the sixth year of his age, and 
 the rest were in mercy continued to him. 
 
 The Lord having built him up into a fami- 
 ly, he was careful and faithful in making 
 good his solemn vow at his ordination, that 
 " he and his house would serve the Lord.'' 
 He would often say. That we are really 
 which we are relatively. It is not so much 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 79 
 
 what we are at church, as what we are in 
 our families. ReUgion in the power of it 
 will be family religion. In this his practice 
 was very exemplary; he was one that walked 
 before his house in a perfect way, with a per- 
 fect heart, and therein behaved himself wise- 
 ly. His constant care and prudent endeavour 
 was not only to put away iniquity far from 
 his tabernacle, but that where he dwelt, the 
 word of Christ might dwell richly. If he 
 might have no other church, yet he had a 
 church in his house. 
 
 He made conscience of closet- worship, and 
 did abound in it, not making his family wor- 
 ship to excuse for that. He hath this affect- 
 ing note in his diary, upon the removing of 
 his closet but from one room in the house to 
 another: this day (saith he) my new closet 
 was consecrated, if I may so say, with this 
 prayer, "That all the prayers that ever should 
 be made in it, according to the will of God, 
 morning, evening, and at noon-day, ordinary 
 or extraordinary, might be accepted of God, 
 and obtain a gracious answer. Amen and 
 amen." It was the caution and advice which 
 he frequently gave to his children and friends, 
 Be sure you look to your secret duty, keep 
 
80 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 that up whatever you do; the soul cannot 
 prosper iu the neglect of it. He observed, 
 that apostasy generally begins at the closet 
 door. Secret prayer is first neglected, and 
 carelessly performed, then frequently omitted, 
 and after a while wholly cast off; and then 
 farewell God, and Christ, and all religion. 
 
 He also advised that secret duty be per- 
 formed secretly, which was the admonition 
 he gave sometimes to those who caused their 
 voice to be heard on high in that duty. 
 
 Besides this, he and his wife constantly 
 prayed together morning and evening; and 
 never if they were together at home or 
 abroad was it intermitted; and from his own 
 experience of the benefit of this practice, he 
 would take all opportunities to recommend 
 it to those in that relation, as conducing very 
 much to the comfort of it, and to their fur- 
 therance in that, which he would often say 
 is the great duty of yoke-fellows; and that is, 
 to do all they can to help one another to hea- 
 ven. He would say, that this duty of hus- 
 bands and wives praying together, is inti- 
 mated in that of the apostle, 1 Pet. iii. 7. 
 where they are exhorted to "live as heirs to- 
 gether of the grace of life, that their prayers. 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 81 
 
 (especially their prayers together) be not 
 hindered;" and that nothing may be done to 
 hinder them from praying together, nor to 
 hinder them in it, nor to spoil the success of 
 those prayers. This sanctifies the relation, 
 and fetcheth in a blessing upon it, makes the 
 comforts of it the more sweet, and the cares 
 and crosses of it the more easy, and is an ex- 
 cellent means of preserving and increasing 
 love in the relation. Many to whom he 
 hath recommended the practice of this duty, 
 have blessed God for him, and for his advice 
 concerning it. When he was abroad and lay 
 with any of his friends he would remind 
 them of this rule. That they who lie together 
 must pray together. In the performance of 
 this part of his daily worship he was usually 
 short, but often much affected. 
 
 Besides these he made conscience, and 
 made a business of family worship in all the 
 parts of it; and in it he was uniform, steady, 
 and constant from the time that he was first 
 called to the charge of a family, to his dying 
 day; and according to his own practice, he 
 took all occasions to press it upon others. 
 His doctrine once from Josh. xxiv. 15, was, 
 
 iThat family worship is family duty. He 
 
82 
 
 LIFi: OF THE 
 
 would say sometimes, If the worship of God 
 be not in the house, write, " Lord have mercy 
 on us," upon the door; for there is a plague, 
 a curse in it. It is the judgment of arch- 
 bishop Tillotson, in that excellent book which 
 he published a little before his death upon 
 this subject: That constant family worship 
 is so necessary to keep alive a sense of God 
 and religion in the minds of men, that he 
 sees not how any family that neglects it can 
 in reason be esteemed a family of Christians, 
 or indeed to have any religion at all. How 
 earnestly would JNIr. Henry reason with peo- 
 ple sometimes about this matter, and tell 
 what a blessing it would bring upon them 
 and their houses, and all that they had. He 
 that mak-es his house a little church shall 
 find, that God will make it a little sanctuary. 
 It may be of use to give a particular account 
 of his practice in this matter, because it was 
 very exemplary. As to the time of it, his 
 rule was, commonly the earUer the better, 
 both morning and evening; in the morning 
 before worldly business crowded in, early 
 will I seek thee:" he that is the first would 
 have the first; nor' is it fit that the worship 
 of God should stand by and wait while the 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 83 
 
 world's turn is served. And early in the 
 evening, before the children and servants be- 
 gan to be sleepy; and therefore, if it might 
 be, he would have prayer at night before 
 supper, that the body might be the more fit 
 to serve the soul in that service of God. And 
 indeed he did industriously contrive all the 
 circumstances of his family worship, so as to 
 make it most solemn and most likely to an- 
 swer the end. He always made it the busi- 
 ness of every day, and not (as too many 
 make it) a by-business. This being his fixed 
 principle, all other affairs must be sure to 
 give way to this. And he would tell those 
 who objected against family worship, that 
 they could not get time for it, that if they 
 would put on Christian resolution at first, 
 they would not find the difficulty so great as 
 they imagined; but after a while, their other 
 affairs would fall in easily and naturally with 
 this, especially where there is that wisdom 
 which is profitable to direct; nay, they would 
 find it to be a great preserver of order and 
 decency in a family, and it would be like a 
 hem to all their other business, to keep it 
 from ravelling. He was ever careful to have 
 all his family present at family worship: 
 
84 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 though sometimes, living in the country, he 
 had a great household; yet he would have 
 not only his children and sojourners (if he 
 had any) and domestic servants, but his 
 workmen and day-labourers, and all that 
 were employed for him, if they were within 
 call to be present, to join with him in this ser- 
 vice; and as it was an act of his charity 
 many times to set them to work for him, 
 so to that he added this act of piety, to set 
 them to work for God. And usually when 
 he paid his workmen their wages, he gave 
 them some good counsel about their souls: 
 yet if any that should come to family wor- 
 ship were at a distance, and must be staid 
 for long, he would rather want them than 
 put the duty much out of time; and would 
 sometimes say at night, Better one away 
 than all sleepy.'' 
 
 The performances of his family worship 
 were the same morning and evening. He 
 observed, that under the law, the morning 
 and the evening lamb had the same meat- 
 offering and drink-olfering, Exod. xxix. 38 — 
 41. He always begun with a short, but very 
 solemn prayer, imploring the Divine pre- 
 sence and grace, assistance and acceptance: 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 85 
 
 particularly begging a blessing upon the word 
 to be read, in reference to which he often 
 put up this petition: "That the same Spirit 
 that indited the Scripture, would enable us to 
 understand the Scripture, and to make up 
 something to ourselves out of it that may do 
 us good:" and esteeming the word of God 
 as his necessary food, he would sometimes 
 pray in a morning, that "our souls might 
 have a good meal out of it," he commonly 
 concluded even this short prayer, as he did 
 also his blessings before and after meat, with 
 a doxology, as Paul upon all occasions, "To 
 Him be glory," &:c. which is properly adora- 
 tion, and is an essential part of prayer. 
 
 He next sung a psalm, and commonly he 
 sung David's psalms in order, throughout; 
 sometimes using the old translation, but gene- 
 rally Mr. Barton's: and his usual way was 
 to sing a whole psalm throughout, though 
 perhaps a long one, and to sing quick; (yet 
 with a good variety of proper and pleasant 
 tunes) and that he might do so, usually the 
 psalm was sung without reading the line be- 
 twixt (every one in the family having a 
 book;) which he preferred much before the 
 common way of singing where it might con- 
 
86 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 veniently be done, as more agreeable to the 
 practice of the primitive church, and the re- 
 formed churches abroad; and by this means 
 he thought the duty more hkely to be per- 
 formed " in the spirit, and with the under- 
 standing;" the sense being not so broken, 
 nor the affections interrupted, as in reading 
 the Hne betwixt. He would say, that a 
 Scripture ground for singing psahns in fami- 
 lies might be taken from Psalm cxviii. 15. 
 " The voice of rejoicing and of salvation, is in 
 the tabernacles of the righteous;" and that 
 it is a way to hold forth godliness (like Ra- 
 hab's scarlet thread, Josh. ii. 17,) to such as 
 pass by our windows. 
 
 He next read a portion of Scripture, taking 
 the Bible in order; he would sometimes 
 blame those who only pray in their families, 
 and do not read the Scripture; in prayer we 
 speak to God, by the word he speaks to us; 
 and is there any reason (saith he) that we 
 should speak all? in the tabernacle the priests 
 were every day to burn incense, and to light 
 the lamps; the former figuring the duty of 
 prayer, the latter the duty of reading the 
 word. Sometimes he would say, Those do 
 well that pray morning and evening in their 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 87 
 
 families; those do better, that pray and read 
 the Scriptures; but those do best of all that 
 pray, and read, and sing psalms; and Chris- 
 tians should covet earnestly the best gifts. 
 
 He advised the reading of the Scripture in 
 order; for though one star in the firmament 
 of the Scripture differ from another star in 
 glory, yet wherever God hath a mouth to 
 speak, we should have an ear to hear; and 
 the diligent searcher may find much excel- 
 lent matter in those parts of Scripture, which 
 we are sometimes tempted to think might 
 have been spared. How aflfectionately would 
 he sometimes bless God for every book, and 
 chapter, and verse, and line, in the Bible! 
 
 What he read in his family, he always ex- 
 pounded; and exhorted all ministers to do so, 
 as an excellent means of increasing their ac- 
 quaintance with the Scripture. His exposi- 
 tions were not so much critical as plain, and 
 practical, and useful; and such as tended to 
 edification, and to answer the end for which 
 the Scriptures were written, which is to make 
 us wise to salvation. And herein he had a 
 peculiar excellence, performing that daily ex- 
 ercise with so much judgment, and at the same 
 time with such facility and clearness, as if 
 
88 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 every exposition had been premeditated; and 
 very instructive they were, as well as affecting 
 to the auditors. His observations vv^eremany 
 times very pretty and surprising, and such as 
 one shall not ordinarily meet with. Commonly 
 in his expositions he reduced the matter of 
 the chapter or psalm read, to some heads; 
 not by a logical analysis, which often minceth 
 it too small and confounds the sense with the 
 terms; but by such a distribution as the mat- 
 ter did most easily and unforcedly fall into. 
 He often mentioned that saying of Tertu- 
 lian's, "I adore the fulness of the Scriptures;" 
 and sometimes that, Scriptura semper habet 
 aliqiiid relegentibus. When sometimes he 
 had hit upon some useful observation that 
 was new to him, he would say afterwards to 
 those about him, "How often have I read 
 this chapter, and never before now took no- 
 tice of such a thing in it!" he put his chil- 
 dren, while they were with him, to write 
 these expositions; and when they were gone 
 from him, the strangers that sojourned with 
 him did the same. What collections his chil- 
 dren had, though but broken and very im- 
 perfect hints; yet, when afterwards they 
 were disposed of in the world, were of good 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 89 
 
 use to them and their families. Some expo- 
 sitions of this nature, that is, plain and prac- 
 tical, and helping to raise the affections and 
 guide the conversation by the word, he often 
 wished were published by some good hand 
 for the benefit of families: but such was his 
 great modesty and self diffidence (though 
 few more able for it) that he would never be 
 persuaded to attempt any thing of that kind 
 himself As an evidence how much his heart 
 was upon it, to have the word of God read 
 and understood in families, take this passage 
 out of his last will and testament: " I give 
 and bequeath to each of my four daughters, 
 ^lv. Pool's English annotations upon the 
 Bible, in two volumes, of the last and best 
 edition that shall be to be had at the time of 
 my decease, together with Mr. Barton's last 
 and best translation of the singing psalms, 
 one to each of them; requiring and request- 
 ing them to make daily use of the same, for 
 the instruction, edification, and comfort of 
 themselves and their families." But 'tis 
 time we proceed to the method of his family 
 worship. 
 
 The chapter or psalm being read and ex- 
 pouudedj he required from his children some 
 
90 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 account of what they could remember of it; 
 and sometimes would discourse v/ith them 
 plainly and familiarly about it, that he might 
 lead them into an acquaintance with it ; and 
 (if it might be) impress something of it upon 
 their hearts. 
 
 He then prayed, and always kneeling, which 
 he looked upon as the fittest and most proper 
 gesture for prayer; and he took care that his 
 family should address themselves to the duty 
 with the outward expressions of reverence 
 and composedness. He usually fetched his 
 matter and expressions in prayer, from the 
 chapter that was read, and the psalm that was 
 sung, which was often very affecting, and 
 helped much to stir up and excite praying 
 graces. He sometimes observed in those 
 psalms, where reference is had to the Scrip- 
 ture stories, as Psalm Ixxxiii. and many 
 others, that those who are well a^cquainted 
 with the Scriptures, would not need to make 
 use of the help of prescribed forms, which 
 are very necessary for those that cannot do 
 the duty without them, but are unbecoming 
 those that can; as a go-cart is needful to a 
 child, or crutches to one that is lame, but 
 neither of them agreeable to one that needs 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 91 
 
 them not: 'twas the comparison he common- 
 ly used in this matter. In family prayer he 
 was usually most full in giving thanks for 
 family mercies, confessing family sins, and 
 begging family blessings. Very particular 
 he would sometimes be in prayer for his fa- 
 mily; if any were absent, they were sure to 
 have an express petition put up for them. 
 He used to observe concerning Job. i. 5, that 
 he offered burnt offerings for his children, 
 according to the number of them all, an 
 offering for each child; and so would he 
 sometimes in praying for children, put up a 
 petition for each child. He was observed at 
 the annual return of the birth-day of each of 
 his children to bless God for his mercy to him 
 and his wife in that child: the giving of it, 
 the continuance of it, the comfort they had 
 in it, &c. with some special request to God 
 for that child. Every servant and sojourner, 
 at their coming into his family and their 
 going out (besides the daily remembrances 
 of them) had a particular petition put up for 
 them, according as their circumstances were. 
 The strangers that were at any time within 
 his gates, he was wont particularly to recom- 
 
92 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 mend to God in prayer, with much affection, 
 and Christian concern for them and their 
 concernments. He was daily mindful of 
 those that desired his prayers for them, and 
 would say sometimes, It is a great comfort 
 that God knows who we mean in prayer, 
 though we do not name them. Particular 
 providences concerning the country, as to 
 health or sickness, good or bad weather, or 
 the like, he commonly took notice of in 
 prayer, as there was occasion; and would 
 often beg of God to fit us for the next provi- 
 dence, whatever it might be: nor did he 
 ever forget to pray for the peace of Jerusa- 
 lem. He always concluded family prayer, 
 both morning and evening, with a solemn 
 benediction, after the doxology; "the bless- 
 ing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, 
 and the Holy Ghost, be with us,'^ &c. Thus 
 did he daily bless his household. 
 
 Immediately after the prayer was ended, 
 his children together, with bended knee, 
 asked blessing of him and their mother; that 
 is, desired of them to pray to God to bless 
 them: which blessing was given with great 
 solemnity and aflection ; and if any of them 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 93 
 
 were absent, they were remembered, "the 
 Lord bless you and your brother," or "you 
 and your sister that is absent." 
 
 This was his daily worship, which he 
 never altered, (unless as is aftermentioned) 
 nor ever omitted any part of, though he went 
 from home ever so early, or returned ever so 
 late, or had ever so much business for his 
 servants to do. He would say that some- 
 times he saw cause to shorten them; but he 
 would never omit any; for if an excuse be 
 once admitted for an omission, it will be often 
 returning. He was not willing (unless the 
 necessity were urgent) that any should go 
 from his house in a morning before family 
 worship; but upon such an occasion would 
 remind his friends, that "Prayer and proven- 
 der never hinder a journey." 
 
 He managed his daily family worship so as 
 to make it a pleasure and not a task to his chil- 
 dren and servants; for he was seldom long, 
 and never tedious in the service; the variety 
 of the duties made it the more pleasant; so 
 that none who joined with him had ever any 
 reason to say, Behold what a weariness is it! 
 Such an excellent faculty he had of rendering 
 religion the most sweet and amiable employ- 
 
94 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 ment in the world; and so careful was he 
 (Uke Jacob) "to drive as the children could 
 go," not putting "new wine into old bottles." 
 If some good people that mean well would do 
 likewise, it might prevent many of those pre-, 
 judices which young persons are apt to con- 
 ceive against rehgion, when the services of 
 it are made a toil and a terror to them. 
 
 On Thursday evenings (instead of reading) 
 he catechised his children and servants in the 
 Assembly's Catechism, with the proofs, or 
 sometimes in a little catechism, concerning 
 the matter of prayer, published in the year 
 1674, and said to be written by Dr. Collins, 
 which they learned for their help in the gift of 
 prayer, and he explained it to them. Or they 
 read, and he examined them in some other 
 useful book, as Mr. Pool's Dialogues against 
 the Papists, the Assembly's Confession of 
 Faith with the Scriptures, or the like. 
 
 On Saturday evenings, his children and 
 servants gave him an account of what they 
 could remember of the chapters that had 
 been expounded all the week before, in order, 
 each a several part, helping one another's 
 memories for the recollecting of it. This he 
 called, " gathering up the fragments which 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 95 
 
 remained, that nothing might be lost." He 
 would say to them sometimes as Clirist to 
 his disciples, "Have ye understood all these 
 things?" If not, he took that occasion to 
 explain them more fully. This exercise 
 (which he constantly kept up all along) was 
 both delightful and profitable, and being 
 managed by him with so much prudence and 
 sweetness, helped to instill into those about 
 him betimes, the knowledge and love of the 
 holy Scriptures. 
 
 When he had sojourners in his family, who 
 were able to bear a part in such a service, he 
 had commonly, in the winter time, set week- 
 ly conferences, on questions proposed, for 
 their mutual edification and comfort in the 
 fear of God; the substance of what was said, 
 he himself took and kept an account of in 
 waiting. 
 
 But the Lord's day he called and counted 
 the queen of days, the pearl of the week, 
 and observed it accordingly. The fourth 
 commandment intimates a special regard to 
 be had to the Sabbath in families, "thou, and 
 thy son, and thy daughter," &c. it is "the 
 Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings." 
 In this therefore he was very exact, and 
 
96 LIFE OF THE 
 
 I 
 
 abounded in the work of the Lord in his 
 family on that day. Whatever were the cir- 
 cumstances of his pubhc opportunities, (which 
 varied as we shall find afterwards) his fami- 
 ly reUgionon that day was the same: extra- 
 ordinary sacrifices must never supercede the 
 continual burnt-offering and his meat-offer- 
 ing, Numb, xxviii. 15. His common saluta- 
 tion of his family or friends, on the Lord's 
 day in the morning, was that of the primitive 
 Christians: "the Lord is risen, he is risen 
 indeed;" making it his chief business on that 
 day, to celebrate the memory of Christ's re- 
 surrection; and he would say sometimes, 
 "Every Lord's day is a true Christian's 
 Easter day." He took care to have his fam- 
 ily ready early on that day, and was larger 
 in exposition and prayer on Sabbath morn- 
 ings than on other days. He would often 
 remember, that under the law the daily sacri- 
 fice was doubled on Sabbath days, two lambs 
 in the morning, and two in the evening. He 
 had always a particular subject for his expo- 
 sitions on Sabbath mornings; the harmony of 
 the Evangelists several times over, the Scrip- 
 ture prayers. Old Testament prophecies of 
 Christ, " Christ the true treasure" (so he en- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 97 
 
 titled that subject,) " sought and found in the 
 field of the Old Testament." He constantly 
 suns a psalm after dinner, and another after 
 supper, on the Lord's days. And in the 
 evening of the day his children and servants 
 were catechised and examined in the sense 
 and meaning of the answers in the catechism ; 
 that they might not say it (as he used to tell 
 them) like a parrot, by rote. Then the day's 
 sermons were repeated, commonly by one of 
 his children, when they were grown up, and 
 hile they were with him ; and the family 
 gave an account of what they could remem- 
 ber of the word of the day, which he endea- 
 voured to fasten upon them, as a nail in a 
 sure place. In his prayers on the evening of 
 the Sabbath, he was often more than ordina- 
 rily enlarged; as one that found not only 
 God's service perfect freedom, but his work 
 Its own wages, and a great reward; not only 
 after keeping, but (as he used to observe 
 from Psal. xix. 11,) in keeping God's com- 
 mandments. A present reward of obedience 
 m obedience. In that prayer he was usually 
 very particular, in praying for his family 
 and all that belonged to it. It was a prayer 
 he often put up that, that we might have 
 
98 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 grace to carry it "as a minister, and a minis- 
 ter's wife, and a minister's children, and a 
 minister's servants should carry it, that the 
 ministry might in nothing be blamed." He 
 would sometimes be a particular intercessor 
 for the towns and parishes adjacent: how 
 have I heard him when he hath been in the 
 mount with God, in a Sabbath evening 
 prayer, wrestle with the Lord for Chester, 
 and Shrewsbury, and Nantwich, and Wrex- 
 ham, and Whitchurch, &c. those nests of 
 souls, wherein there are so many, that can- 
 not discern between their right hand and 
 their left in spiritual things. He closed his 
 Sabbath work in his family with singing 
 Psalm cxxxiv. and after it a solemn blessing 
 of his family. 
 
 Thus was he prophet and priest in his own 
 house; and he was king there too, ruling in 
 the fear of God, and not suffering sin upon 
 any under his roof. 
 
 He had many years ago a man-servant 
 that was once overtaken in drink abroad: for 
 which, the next morning at family worship 
 he solemnly reproved him, admonished him, 
 and prayed for him with a spirit of meek- 
 ness, and soon after parted with him. But 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 99 
 
 there were many that were his servants, who, 
 by the blessing of God upon his endea- 
 vours, got those good impressions upon their 
 souls which they retained ever after; and 
 blessed God with all their hearts that ever 
 they came under his roof. Few went from 
 his service till they were married, and went 
 to families of their own; and some after they 
 had been married and buried their yoke-fel- 
 lows, returned to his service again, saying, 
 
 Master it is good to be here." 
 
 He brought up his^ children in the fear of 
 God, with a great deal of care and tenderness, 
 and did by his practice, as well as upon all 
 occasions in discourses, condemn the indis- 
 cretion of those parents who are partial in 
 their affections to their children, making a 
 difference between them, which he observed 
 did often prove of ill consequence in families; 
 and lay a foundation of envy, contempt, 
 and discord, which turns to their shamxC and 
 ruin. His carriage towards his children was 
 with great mildness and gentleness, as one 
 who desired rather to be loved than feared 
 by them. He was as careful not to provoke 
 them to wrath, nor to discourage them, as he 
 was to bring them up in the nurture and ad- 
 
100 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 monition of the Lord. He ruled indeed, and 
 kept up his authority, but it was with wis- 
 dom and love and not with a high hand. He 
 allowed his children a great degree of free- 
 dom with him, which gave him the opportu- 
 nity of reasoning them, not frightening them 
 into that which is good. He did much to- 
 wcards the instruction of his children in the 
 way of familiar discourse, according to that 
 excellent directory for religious education, 
 Deut. vi. 7. Thou shalt whet these things 
 (so the word is, which he said noted frequent 
 repetition of the same things) upon thy chil- 
 dren, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest 
 in thy house, &:c. which made them love 
 home and delight in his company, and great- 
 ly endeared religion to them. 
 
 He did not burthen his children's memo- 
 ries by imposing upon them the getting of 
 chapters and psalms without book; but en- 
 deavoured to make the whole word of God 
 familiar to them, (especially the Scripture 
 stories) and to bring them to understand it 
 and love it, and then they would easily re- 
 member it. He used to observe from Psal. 
 cxix. 93; I will never forget thy precepts, 
 for with them thou hast quickened me;" that 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 101 
 
 we are then likely to remember the word of 
 God when it doth us good. 
 
 He taught all his children to write himself, 
 and set them betimes to write sermons and 
 other things that might be of use to them. 
 He taught his eldest daughter the Hebrew 
 tongue when she was about six or seven 
 years old, by an English Hebrew grammar, 
 which he made on purpose for her: and she 
 went so far in it, as to be able readily to 
 read and construe a Hebrew psalm. 
 
 He drew up a short form of the baptismal 
 covenant, for the use of his children ; it was 
 this: 
 
 " I take God the Father to be my chiefest 
 good and highest end. 
 
 I take God the Son to be my Prince and 
 Saviour. 
 
 I take God the Holy Ghost to be my sanc- 
 tifier, teacher, guide, and comforter. 
 
 I take the word of God to be my rule in 
 all my actions. 
 
 And the people of God to be my people in 
 all conditions. 
 
 I do likewise devote and dedicate unto the 
 
102 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 Lord, my whole self, all I am, all I have, and 
 all I can do. 
 
 And this I do deliberately, sincerely, free- 
 ly, and for ever." 
 
 This he taught his children, and they each 
 of them solemnly repeated it every Lord's 
 day in the evening, after they were cate- 
 chised, he putting his Amen to it, and some- 
 times adding, "so say, and so do, and you are 
 made for ever." 
 
 He also took pains with them, to lead them 
 into the understanding of it, and to persuade 
 them to a free and cheerful consent to it. 
 And when they grew up, he made them all 
 write it over severally with their own hands, 
 and very solemnly set their names to it, 
 which he told them he would keep by him, 
 and it should be produced as a testimony 
 against them, in case they should afterwards 
 depart from God, and turn from following 
 after him. 
 
 He was careful to bring his children be- 
 times (when they were about sixteen years 
 of age) to the ordinance of the Lord's Sup- 
 per, to take the covenant of God upon them- 
 
REV. PHILIP HEXRY. 
 
 103 
 
 selves, and to make their dedication to God 
 their own act and deed; and a great deal of 
 pains he took with them, to prepare them for 
 that great ordinance, and so to transmit them 
 into the state of adult church-membership. 
 And he would often blame parents, who 
 would think themselves undone if they had 
 not their children baptized, and yet took no 
 care wlHii they grew up and made a profes- 
 sion of the Christian religion, to persuade 
 them to the Lord's Supper. 'Tis true (he 
 would say) buds and blossoms are not fruit, 
 but they give hopes of fruit, and parents may 
 and should take hold of the good beginnings 
 of grace which they see in their children, by 
 those who bind them so much the closer to and 
 lead them so much the faster, in the way that 
 IS called holy. By this solemn engagement 
 the door which stood half open before, and 
 invited the thief, is shut aiid bolted against 
 temptation. And to those who pleaded that 
 they were not fit, he would say, that the fur- 
 ther they went into the world, the less fit 
 they would be. Qui non est hoclie eras minus 
 aptus erit. Not that children should be 
 compelled to it, nor those that are mlfiully 
 ignorant, untoward, and perverse, admitted 
 
104 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 to it; but those children that are hopeful and 
 well inclined to the things of God, and appear 
 to be concerned in other duties of religion, 
 when they begin to put away childish things, 
 should be incited, and encouraged, and per- 
 suaded to this, that the matter may be 
 brought to an issue. "Nay, but we will 
 serve the Lord;" fast bind, fast find. Abun- 
 dant thanksgivings have been redftered to 
 God by many of his friends for his advice 
 and assistance herein. 
 
 In dealing with his children, about their 
 spiritual state, he took hold of them very 
 much by the handle of their infant baptism, 
 and frequently inculcated that upo'n them, 
 that they were born in God's house, and were 
 betimes dedicated and given up to him, and 
 therefore were obliged to be his servants, 
 Psal. cxvi. 16, I am thy servant, because the 
 the son of thy handmaid. This he was wont 
 to illustrate to them by the comparison of 
 taking a lease of a fair estate for a child in 
 the cradle, and putting his life into it ; the 
 child then knows nothing of the matter, nor 
 is he capable of consenting; however, then 
 he is maintained out of it, and hath an interest 
 in it; and when he grows up and becomes 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 105 
 
 able to choose, and refuse for himself, if he 
 go to his landlord, and claim the benefit of 
 the lease, and promise to pay the rent, and 
 do the services, well and good, he hath the 
 benefit of it, if otherwise, it is at his peril. 
 *'Now, children, (would he say) our great 
 Landlord was willing that your lives should 
 be put into the lease of heaven and happi- 
 ness, an(ifcit was done accordingly, by your 
 baptism, which is the seal of the righteous- 
 ness that is by faith; and by that it was 
 assured to you, that if you would pay the 
 rent and do the service, that is, live a life of 
 faith and repentance, and sincere obedience, 
 you shall never be turned off the tenement; 
 but if now you dislike the terms, and re- 
 fuse to pay this rent, you forfeit the lease; 
 however, you cannot but say, that you had 
 a kindness done you, to have your lives put 
 into it.'' Thus did he frequently deal with 
 his children, and even travel in birth again 
 to see Christ formed in them, and from this 
 topic he generally argued, and he would 
 often say, if infant baptism were more im- 
 proved, it would be less disputed. 
 1 He not only taught his children betimes 
 |to pray, (which he did especially by h^^ own 
 I 10 
 
106 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 pattern, his method and expressions in prayer 
 being very easy and plain) but when they 
 were young he put them upon it, to pray to- 
 gether, and appointed them on Saturdays in 
 the afternoon to spend some time together; 
 none but they and such of their age as might 
 occasionally be with them, in reading good 
 books, especially those for children, and in 
 singing and praying; and would lifetimes 
 tell them for their encouragement, that the 
 God with whom we have to do, understands 
 broken language. And if we do as well as 
 we can in the sincerity of our hearts, we 
 shall not only be accepted, but taught to do 
 better : " to him that hath shall be given." 
 
 He sometimes set his children, in their own 
 reading of the Scriptures, to gather out such 
 passages as they took most notice of, and 
 thought most considerable, and write them 
 down: though this performance was very 
 small, yet the endeavour was of good use. 
 He also directed them to insert in a paper 
 book, which each of them had for the pur- 
 pose, remarkable sayings, and stories, which 
 they met with in reading such other good 
 books as he put into their hands. 
 
 He took a pleasure in relating to them 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 107 
 
 the remarkable providences of God, both in 
 his own time, and in the days of old, which 
 he said, parents were tanght to do by that 
 appointment, Exod. xii. 26, 27. Your chil- 
 dren shall ask you in time to come. What 
 mean you by this service? and you shall tell 
 them so and so. 
 
 What his pious care was concerning his 
 children, and with what a godly jealousy he 
 was jealous over them, take in one instance: 
 when they had been for a week, or a fort- 
 night, kindly entertained at B. (as they were 
 often.) he thus writes in his diary upon their 
 return home : " My care and fear is, lest 
 converse with such so far above them, though 
 of the best, should have influence upon them 
 to lift them up, when I had rather they 
 should be kept low." For as he did not 
 himself, so he was very solicitous to teach 
 his children, not to mind high things; not to 
 desire them, not to expect them in this world. 
 
 We shall conclude this chapter with an- 
 other passage out of his diary, April 12, 1681. 
 
 This day fourteen years the Lord took my 
 first-born son from me, the beginning of my 
 strength, with a stroke. In the remembrance 
 whereof my heart melted this evening: I beg- 
 
108 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 ged pardon for the Jonah that raised the 
 storm ; 1 blessed the Lord that hath spared the 
 rest, I begged mercy, mercy for every one of 
 them, and absohitely and unreservedly de- 
 voted and dedicated them, myself, my whole 
 self, estate, interest, and life, to the will and 
 service of that God from whom I received 
 all. Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy 
 kingdom come," &c. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 His Ejectment from Worthenbury — his Non-conformity — 
 his removal to Broad Oak, and other occurrences up to 
 1672. 
 
 We are now arrived at a period in Mr. 
 Henry's life, in which his troubles may be 
 said to have begun. No sooner had the res- 
 toration of the king taken place, than a vio- 
 lent spirit of opposition to such men as Mr. 
 Henry, was manifest throughout the nation. 
 The rectory of Bangor, which had been held 
 many years by Mr. Fogg, now reverted to 
 Doctor Henry Bridgman, in consequence of 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 109 
 
 which Mr. Henry began to be apprehensive 
 that his interest at Worthenbury was shaken. 
 But in these circumstances he writes, "The 
 will of the Lord be done. Lord, if my work 
 be done here, provide some other minister 
 for this people that may be more skilful, 
 more successful, and cut out work for me, 
 somewhere else. However, I will take no- 
 thing ill which God doth with me." He 
 did what he could to conciliate the friendship 
 of Dr. Bridgman, who gave him good words, 
 and was very civil to him, and assured him 
 that he would never remove him, till the 
 law did. But as Worthenbury fell back in- 
 to its former connexion with Bangor, he was 
 obliged to consider himself as curate to the 
 rector of that parish. 
 
 But the great question which now occu- 
 pied his attention, as well as that of thou- 
 sands of ministers beside, was, whether to 
 conform or not. He took all possible pains 
 to satisfy himself on this point, by reading, 
 and conference with learned men, particu- 
 larly with Dr. Fell, afterwards bishop of Ox- 
 ford. But his mind remained unsatisfied. 
 The most of the arguments used with him to 
 induce him to conform, were addressed to the 
 
110 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 principle of convenience and self-interest. 
 But he was actuated by far higher motives. 
 And his expression, in his diary, is, " God 
 grant that I may never be left to consult 
 with flesh and blood, in such matters." 
 
 In September 1G60, Mr. Fogg, Mr. Steel, 
 and Mr. Henry, were presented at Flint 
 Assizes, for not reading the common prayer; 
 although, as yet there was no law enjoining 
 it; but there were some busy people that 
 would out run the law. They were relieved, 
 however, by the king's proclamation, which 
 promised liberty. But in the spring he was 
 presented again, which led him to write thus, 
 " Be merciful to me 0 God, for man would 
 swallow me up. The Lord show me what 
 he would have me to do, for I am afraid of 
 nothing but sin." 
 
 In November 1660, he took the oath of 
 allegiance, of which he has left a memoran- 
 dum in his diary, with these words added, 
 " God so help me, as I propose in my heart, 
 to do accordingly." Nor could any man 
 more conscientiously observe that oath of 
 God, than he did, or more sincerely pro- 
 mote its ends. 
 
 To increase his troubles, his annuity, from 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Emeral, was now withheld, and he was 
 treated with much unkindness by some of 
 the members of that family; yet he had the 
 satisfaction of enjoying the unceasing friend- 
 ship of the Broughton family, even to his 
 dying day. 
 
 In the year 1661, many attempts were 
 made to disturb and ensnare him, and the 
 expectation was, that he would soon be si- 
 lenced, or removed. This state of things in- 
 duced him to make the following pious reflec- 
 tions- " Methinks, Sabbaths were never so 
 sweet as they now are, when we are kept 
 at such uncertainties. Now, a day in thy 
 courts, is better than a thousand. Such a 
 day as this (a sacrament day) is better than 
 ten thousand. 0 that we might yet see 
 many such days!" 
 
 It was not long before Dr. Bridgman for- 
 mally gave Mr. Henry his dismission from 
 Worthenbury, of which notice was publish- 
 ed to the congregation, on the 27th of Octo- 
 ber. He, on that day, preached his farewell 
 sermon, from Phil. i. 27. Only let your 
 conversation be as becometh the gospel of 
 Christ." His daily prayer for them was, 
 " Tiie Lord, the God of the spirits of all 
 
112 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 flesh, set a man iDver the congregation." 
 Thus he ceased to preach to his people there, 
 but he did not cease to love them and pray 
 for them. As to the arrears of his annuity, 
 after some time, Mr. Puleston consented to 
 give him a hundred pounds, a good deal less 
 than was due — on condition that he would 
 surrender his deed of annuity, and his lease 
 of the house; which for peace sake, he was 
 willing to do; so he was deprived of all the 
 benefit of Judge Puleston's great kindness to 
 him. 
 
 After this, he continued in the house until 
 1662, but never preached again in the church; 
 though he regularly attended the services of 
 his successor, Mr. Hilton, and joined in all 
 the parts of public worship. And once, being 
 permitted to use his own posture, he par- 
 took of the Lord's supper. When silenced, 
 at Worthenbury, he was solicited to preach 
 at Bangor, and Dr. Bridgman was willing to 
 permit it, but he declined it. He frequently 
 preached in other neighbourhoods, however, 
 until Bartholomew's day — "The day," said 
 he, which our sins have made one of the 
 saddest days to England since the death of 
 Edward VL — but even this for good." 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 113 
 
 His reasons for non-conformity were not 
 trivial. He had well considered the whole 
 subject, and weighed the reasons on both 
 sides, in the balances of the sanctuary. He 
 could by no means submit to be re-ordained; 
 so well satisfied was he of his call to the 
 ministry, and his solemn ordination to it, by 
 the laying on of the hands of the presbytery, 
 that he durst not do that which looked like a 
 renunciation of it, as null and sinful; and 
 which would be at least a tacit invalidating 
 and condemning all his ministrations. Nor 
 could he truly say, that he felt himself moved 
 by the Holy Ghost, to take upon him the 
 office of a deacon. Moreover, the form of 
 subscription required by Dr. Hall, Bishop of 
 Chester was one to which he could not con- 
 scientiously consent; because it contained a 
 formal renunciation of his former ordination. 
 Ego A. B — prsetensas meas ordinationis 
 literas, a quihiisdam Presbyteris olim oh- 
 tentas^ jam penitus renuncio, &c. &c. Be- 
 sides this, he was not satisfied to give his 
 unfeigned assent, to all and every thing, con- 
 tained in the book of Common Prayer; for 
 ^Mie thought, that thereby he would receive 
 the book itself and every part thereof, ru- 
 
114 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 brics and all, both as true and good; where- 
 as there were several things, which he could 
 not think to be so. The exceptions which 
 the ministers made against the liturgy at the 
 Savoy conference, he thought very consider- 
 able; and he could not submit to, much less 
 approve the imposition of ceremonies. He 
 often said, that when Christ came to free us 
 from the yoke of one ceremonial law, he did 
 not leave it in the power of any man, or 
 company of men in the world, to lay another 
 upon our necks. Kneeling at the Lord's 
 supper he was much dissatisfied with ; and 
 it was a subject of grief and deep lamenta- 
 tion, that for several years, he was prevented 
 by this regulation, from partaking of this 
 holy ordinance. It need not be wondered 
 at, that he was a non-conformist, for the 
 terms of conformity were intended to keep 
 out just such men as he was. 
 
 When his old master Mr. Busby met him, 
 he said my son, how came you to be a non- 
 conformist? Mr. Henry replied, " Why in- 
 deed sir, you made me one ; the things which 
 I learnt from you are the cause of my non- 
 conformity." 
 
 When the Lord Chamberlain told the king. 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 115 
 
 that Ihe terms of conformity were so hard, 
 that he was afraid that the ministers would 
 not comply with this; Bishop Sheldon, as 
 Mr. Baxter relates, said, " I am afraid they 
 will." Many who were in doubt what they 
 would do, until that act was published, were 
 immediately decided. This is said to have 
 been the fact, in regard to Mr. Anthony 
 Burgess. 
 
 But although Mr. Henry was a decided 
 non-conformist on principle, yet he was 
 moderate in his conduct and sentiments; and 
 his example had influence on many to pre- 
 vent them from running into an uncharitable 
 and schismatical separation, against which 
 he constantly bore his testimony, and was 
 very industrious to stem the tide of such a 
 spirit. In church-government, that which 
 he wished for, was, Archbishop Usher^s re- 
 duction of Episcopacy. He thought it law- 
 ful to join in the common-prayer, in public 
 assemblies, and practised accordingly, and 
 endeavoured to satisfy others, concerning it. 
 The spirit he was of, made him much afraid 
 of extremes, and solicitous for nothing more 
 than to keep up Christian love and charity, 
 among professors. 
 
116 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 But to resume the history. He removed 
 to Broad Oaks, at Michaelmas, 1662, just 
 nine years from the time he first came into 
 that part of the country. Three weeks after 
 his arrival, his second son was born; on 
 which occasion he said, " We have no rea- 
 son to call him Benoni, I wish we had none 
 to call him, Ichabod. 
 
 For several years after his setdement, at 
 Broad Oak, he went with his family, regu- 
 larly to public worship, on the Lord's day; 
 and did not preach himself, except when he 
 visited his friends; or, to his own family, 
 when the weather hindered them from going 
 to church. In this state of the suspension of 
 his ministry, in which he so much delighted, 
 and so much excelled, he comforted himself, 
 by the consideration, that sometimes he had 
 by attending public worship, the opportunity 
 of conversing with many, and of communi- 
 cating instructions to them, according to their 
 necessities. And in this way, his lips fed 
 many, and his tongue was as choice silver; 
 and he acted on the sound principle, that 
 when we cannot do what we would, we 
 must do what we can, and the Lord will ac- 
 cept us in it. His motive in attending the 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 117 
 
 public service, was, to bear his testimony to 
 public ordinances; though sometimes, the 
 SLirmons preached in his hearing, put pa- 
 tience to a severe trial. His disposition to 
 labour in the .vineyard, remained undimin- 
 ished, and when he visited his friends, he 
 laid himself out to be useful to them in every 
 way. But still his mind was not entirely at 
 ease, in this state of silence, in obedience to 
 human laws, as appears by the following 
 reflections, found in his diary. ^' I own my- 
 self a minister of Christ, yet do nothing as a 
 minister. What will excuse me? Is it 
 enough for me to say, behold I stand in the 
 market place, and no man hath hired me 
 Then he appeals to God, " Lord thou know- 
 est what will I have to thy work, pubUc or 
 private, if only I had a call and an oppor- 
 tunity, and shall this willing mind be ac- 
 cepted 
 
 Surely this is a melancholy consideration, 
 and lays a great deal of blame somewhere, 
 that such a man as Mr. Henry, so well quali- 
 fied, by gifts and graces, for ministerial work, 
 and in the prime of his life; so sound and 
 orthodox; so humble and modest, so quiet 
 and peaceable, so pious and blameless, should 
 
118 
 
 l.IFE OF THE 
 
 be thrust out of the vineyard, as a useless 
 and unprofitable servant, and laid aside as a 
 despised and broken vessel, and a vessel in 
 which there was no pleasure. This is a la- 
 mentation, and shall be for a lamentation; 
 especially, since it was not his case alone but 
 that of so many hundreds of the same char- 
 acter. The condition of many of these too, 
 was far worse than his, as it regarded tem- 
 poral subsistence; for they were not only 
 silenced, but cast out from their livings, with 
 large families dependent on them, and with- 
 out any means of comfortable support. One 
 of his intimate friends, Mr. Lawrence, v/hen 
 ejected, had a wife and ten children, and 
 nothing to support them. When asked what 
 he intended to do, he calmly replied, " they 
 must live on the Vlth. of Matthew, "Take 
 no thought for your life." And he often 
 sung with his family. Psalm xxxvii. 16. 
 And Mr. Henry has noted in his diary, the 
 love and mercy of God towards this depen- 
 dent family, providing for them in a way be- 
 yond all expectation. At the close of Mr. 
 Henry's life, when now old, he remarks, 
 that although the families of the ejected min- 
 isters were brought often very low, as they 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 119 
 
 had many children, and were greatly harass- 
 ed by persecution; and their friends com- 
 monly poor and unable to help them; yet he 
 never heard that any of them were imprison- 
 ed for debt. 
 
 In October 1663, Mr. Henry and his 
 friend, Mr. Steel, were taken up, and brought 
 prisoners to Hanmer, on pretence of some 
 plot against the government. While under 
 duresse, he writes, " It is sweet being in any 
 condition, with a clear conscience; the sting 
 of death is sin, and so of imprisonment, also. 
 'Tis the first time I was ever prisoner, but 
 it may not be the last; we felt no hardship 
 but we know not what we may." Upon 
 examination of the proper officers, nothing 
 appeared against them, and they were dis- 
 missed, but held under a recognizance to ap- 
 pear again at twenty-four hours warning, 
 when called for. Mr. Henry returned to 
 his tabernacle, with thanksgiving to God, 
 and a hearty prayer for his enemies, that 
 God would forgive them. The very next 
 day after thqy were released, a great man in 
 the country, at whose instigation they were 
 brought into trouble, died, it is said of a 
 drunken surfeit. So that a man shall say, 
 
120 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 " Verily there is a God that judgeth in the 
 earth. In the beginning of the year 1665, 
 when an act was passed for two milHons 
 and a half to be collected in aid of his majes- 
 ty, the Commissioners of Flintshire appoint- 
 ed Mr. Henry a snb-collector for the town- 
 ship of Iscoyd, and Mr. Steel for Hanmer; 
 which was intended to put an affront upon 
 these persecuted men, and to show that they 
 were regarded as mere laymen. In Septem- 
 ber, of the same year, he and Mr. Steel were 
 again apprehended, and examined in relation 
 to some private meetings which they had at- 
 tended. Mr. Henry averred that in Shrop- 
 shire, he had attended some private meetings; 
 but the case was extraordinary. The plague 
 was at that time raging in London; and he 
 and several of his friends having near rela- 
 tives there thought it reasonable to seek the 
 Lord for them; and this was imputed to 
 them as a crime. He was likewise charged 
 with having administered the Lord's Supper, 
 which he denied; having never administered 
 it since the act of uniformity .had passed. 
 After some days confinement, since they 
 could prove nothing against him, he was dis- 
 charged on a recognizance of twenty pounds, 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 121 
 
 with two sureties to be forthcoming, on no- 
 tice, and to live peaceably. 
 
 At Lady day, 1666, the five mile act went 
 into operation by which all non-conformist 
 ministers were forbidden, on pain of six 
 months imprisonment, to come, or be, within 
 five miles of any corporation, or of any place 
 where they had been ministers ; unless they 
 would take an oath, which, it was reported, 
 the Earl of Southampton, then Lord high 
 treasurer of England, said, * no honest man 
 could take.' Mr. Baxter, in his life, has 
 set down at large his reasons against taking 
 this Oxford oath, as it was called. 'Twas 
 an oath, not at any time to endeavour any 
 alteration of the government, in the church 
 or state. Mr. Henry had already taken the 
 oath of allegiance to the King, and he con- 
 sidered this an oath of allegiance to the 
 bishops, which he was not free to take. 
 
 His reflections on the occasion are worthy 
 of our notice. " This day methought, it was 
 made more clear to me than ever, by the 
 hand of my God upon me, and I note it 
 down, that I may remember it, 1. That the 
 government of the church of Christ ought to 
 be managed by the ministers of Christ. It 
 11 
 
122 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 appears from Heb. xiii. 7, that they are to 
 rule who speak to iis the word of God. 
 2. That under prelacy ministers have not 
 the management of Church government, not 
 in the least, being only the pubUshers of the 
 prelates, decrees, as in excommunication and 
 absolution; which decrees, are sometimes 
 given forth by lay chancellors. 3. That, 
 therefore, prelacy is an usurpation in the 
 church of God, upon the crown and dignity 
 of Jesus Christ, and upon the gospel rights 
 of his servants, the ministers. 4. And, there- 
 fore, I ought not to subscribe it (this oath) 
 nor to swear not to endeavour, in all lawful 
 ways, the alteration of it, viz: by persuading 
 and praying where there is opportunity. 
 5. That I may safely venture to suffer in the 
 refusal of such an oath, committing my soul, 
 life, estate, liberty, all, to Him who judgeth 
 righteously." On the day, on which the 
 act passed, he writes: "A sad day among 
 poor ministers, up and down this nation; 
 who by this act of restraint, are forced to 
 remove from among their friends, acquaint- 
 ance, and relations, and to sojourn among 
 strangers, as it were in Mesech, and in the 
 tents of Kedar. But there is a God, who 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 123 
 
 tells their wanderings, and will put their 
 tears, and the tears of his wives and chil- 
 dren, in his bottle; are they not in his book? 
 The Lord be a little sanctuary to them, and 
 a place of refuge, from the storm and from 
 the tempest; and pity those places from 
 which they are ejected!" 
 
 Mr. Henry's house, at Broad Oak, was 
 but four computed miles from the nearest 
 border of Worthenbury parish, but he got it 
 measured, and counting 1760 yards to a 
 mile, which was statute measure, it was 
 found to be just five miles and threescore 
 yards; which one would think, would have 
 been enough to secure him from the operation 
 of this law; but there were persons near him, 
 disposed to stretch the laws to the utmost 
 rigour, and therefore insisted on it being un- 
 derstood, of computed miles. This obliged 
 him, for some time, to leave his family, and 
 to sojourn among his friends, to whom he 
 endeavoured, wherever he came, to impart 
 some spiritual gift. At last, he ventured 
 home, presuming, among other things, that 
 the warrant by which he was made collector 
 of the royal aid, while that continued, would 
 secure him, according to a proviso, in the last 
 
124 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 clause of "the act; which, when his persecu- 
 tors perceived, they discharged him from 
 that office, before he had served out the time. 
 
 He was much affected with that dispensa- 
 tion of providence, by which the non-con- 
 formists were removed from London, before 
 the great fire; as it seemed to be in mercy to 
 them, to remove them out of the way, before 
 thatdesolating judgment came. But he con- 
 sidered it a loud call to the rulers of the na- 
 tion, as though it had been said, ^' Let my 
 people go that they may serve me; and if ye 
 will not, behold thus and thus will I do unto 
 you.'' 
 
 In the beginning of the year 1667, he re- 
 moved his family to Whitchurch, and dwelt 
 there above a year, except that for one quar- 
 ter, about harvest, he returned to Broad Oak. 
 His removal to Whitchurch, was, partly to 
 quiet his enemies, who were ever ready to 
 trouble him, on the ground of the five mile 
 act; and partly for the benefit of the school 
 there, for his children. And there he buried 
 bis eldest son, not quite six years old ; a child 
 of extraordinary pregnancy and forwardness 
 in learning, and a very tractable disposition. 
 Jlis own character of the child was, " Frse- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 125 
 
 terqiie setatem nil puerile fuit, i. e. except 
 his age, there was nothing childish about 
 him! This was a great affliction to the pa- 
 rents. Mr. Henry, many years afterwards, 
 said, he thought he did, at that time, apply 
 too sensibly to himself, that Scripture in Lam. 
 iii. 1. "I am the man that hath seen afflic- 
 tion.'^ And he would say to his friends, on 
 such occasions, " Losers think they may have 
 leave to speak, but they must have a care 
 what they say, lest speaking amiss to God's 
 dishonour, they make work for repentance, 
 and shed tears, that must be wept over 
 again." He remarked that this child had been 
 always very patient, under rebukes, " the 
 remembrance of which," says he, "teacheth 
 me now how to carry it under the rebuke 
 of my heavenly Father. His prayer on this 
 occasion, was, " Show me Lord, show me, 
 wherefore thou contendest with me. Have 
 I over-boasted, over-loved, over-prized." A 
 Lord's day intervening between the death 
 and burial of the child, he attended public 
 worship. Though sad in spirit, like Job, who 
 after all the evil tidings that were brought 
 him, of which the death of children was the 
 last and heaviest, yet fell down and worship- 
 
126 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 ped. And he would often say, on snch occa- 
 sions, " weeping must not hinder sowing." 
 Upon the interment of the child, he has this 
 remark: " My dear child, now mine no lon- 
 ger, was laid in the cold earth: not lost, but 
 sown to be raised again, a glorious body — 
 and I shall go to him, but he shall not return 
 to me.'^ A few days after, his dear friend, 
 Lawrence, buried a daughter, that was 
 grown up, and very hopeful, and gave good 
 evidence of a work of grace wrought upon 
 her soul. On which he observes, " How wil- 
 ling may parents be to part with such, when 
 the Lord calls: they are not lost but gone 
 before." " The Lord hath made his poor 
 servants, that have been often companions 
 in his work, now companions in tribulation — 
 the very same tribulation — me for my sin; 
 but him for his trial." 
 
 While at Whitchurch, he attended rever- 
 ently and punctually on the public services 
 of the church. In the evening of the Lord's 
 day, he spent some time instructing his fami- 
 ly, to which a few of his friends and neigh- 
 bours, in the town, would sometimes come 
 in; and it was a little gleam of opportunity, 
 but very short; "for," as he remarks, " He 
 
»EV. PHIXIP HXNRr. 
 
 127 
 
 was offended at it, who ought rather to have 
 rejoiced, if by any means the work might be 
 carried on in his people's souls." In this 
 year, 1667, for the first time he administered 
 the Lord's supper, very privately, to a few 
 pious persons, who did not think it lawful to 
 receive the ordinance, kneeling. 
 
 In February 1668, he and Mr. Lawrence, 
 being at Betley, in Staffordshire; and there 
 being, at that time, some little connivance, 
 with the consent of all concerned, they 
 preached in the church ; the one in the morn- 
 ing, and the other in the afternoon of the 
 Lord's day, very peaceably and profitably. 
 This action of theirs, however, was soon 
 afterwards, reported in the House of Com- 
 mons, with the addition, that they tare the 
 prayer book, trampled the surplice under 
 their feet, and pulled the minister of the 
 place out of the pulpit. This and other false 
 reports, induced many to petition to have 
 the laws more rigorously executed against 
 the non-conformists. The King accordingly 
 issued a proclamation to that effect; but in 
 his speech at the opening of the parliament, 
 he had recently expressed the desire that 
 some way might be found to compose the 
 
128 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 minds of his protestant subjects; which exci- 
 ted hopes in many, that there would speedily 
 be enlargement. Mr. Henry's sage, and 
 pious remark was, We cannot expect too 
 little from man, nor too much from God.'*' 
 
 It furnishes a remarkable evidence that 
 Mr. Henry and his non-conformist friends, 
 acted from conscientious and disinterested 
 principles, that although they were so severe- 
 ly treated by the government, and were 
 harassed by vexatious prosecutions on the 
 ground of mere suspicion; yet they, gener- 
 ally used their endeavours to preserve and 
 promote a good affection towards civil rulers. 
 Although oppression is suited to make a wise 
 man mad; and on this account the non-con- 
 formist ministers were commonly denounced 
 from the pulpits of the nation, as a turbulent 
 and factious people; and as was said of old, 
 "hurtful to kings and provinces;" yet they 
 remained quiet, and created no disturbances 
 in the land. Mr. Henry's sentiments — with 
 w^hich his conduct was correspondent — may 
 be best learned from a sermon preached by 
 him to a few friends, in one of those private 
 meetings, called "seditious conventicles," in 
 the year, 1 669. The following is an extract. 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 129 
 
 The text was Psalm xxxv. 20, '-That is the 
 character of the people of God, that they are 
 a quiet people, in the land.'^ This quietness, 
 he described to be, an orderly peaceable sub- 
 jection to governors and government in the 
 Lord. We must maintain a reverent esteem 
 of them, and of their authority, in opposition 
 to despising dominions. We must be meek, 
 under severe commands and burthensome 
 impositions, not murmuring and complaining, 
 as the Israelites, against Moses and Aaron; 
 but take them up as the cross in our way, 
 and bear them as we do foul weather. We 
 must not speak evil of dignities; nor revile 
 the gods. Paul checked himself for this. I 
 did not consider it, if I had, I would not have 
 said so. We must not traduce the govern- 
 ment, as Absalom did David's. Great care 
 is to be taken how we speak of the faults of 
 any, especially, rulers. The people of God 
 do make the word of God their rule, and by 
 that they are taught, that magistracy is God's 
 ordinance, and magistrates God's ministers; 
 that by him kings reign, and the powers that 
 be are ordained of him: that they, as well as 
 others, are to have their dues, honour, fear, 
 and tribute; that their lawful commands are 
 12 
 
130 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 to be obeyed, and that readily and cheer- 
 fully: that the penalties for not obeying un- 
 lawful commands, are patiently to be under- 
 gone. This is the rule, and as many as walk 
 according to this rule, peace shall be upon 
 them, and there is no danger of their un- 
 peaceableness. They are taught to pray 
 for kings and all that are in authority — and 
 God forbid that we should do otherwise; yea 
 though they persecute. Peaceable prayers 
 bespeak a peaceable people. If some pro- 
 fessing religion have been unquiet, their un- 
 quietness hath given the lie to their profes- 
 sion. Quietness is our badge. 'Twill be 
 our strength — our rejoicing in the day of evil. 
 It is pleasing to God — it may work upon 
 others. The means for keeping our hearts 
 quiet, is to get them filled with the knowledge 
 of these two things, 1. That the kingdom of 
 Christ is not of this world. 2. That the 
 wrath of man worketh not the righteousness 
 of God. He needs not our sin to bring to 
 pass his own counsel. We must mortify 
 unquietness in the causes of it. We must 
 always remember the oath of God; the oath 
 of allegiance is an oath of quietness. And 
 we must beware of the company and con- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRT. 
 
 131 
 
 versation of those that are unquiet. Though 
 deceitful matters be devised, vre must be 
 quiet still; nay, be so much the more quiet." 
 Every sentence of the above is supported by 
 a reference to a Scripture text. The pas- 
 sages referred to are, 2 Pet. ii. 10; Jude S; 
 Exod. xxii. 28; Acts xxiii. 5 : 2 Sam. xv. 3; 
 Eccles. X. 20; Titus iii. 1: 1 Tim. iii. 1, 2; 
 Jer. xxix. 7; Psal. cix. 4; Jude ii. 12; Col. 
 iii. 12; Isa. xxx. 7. 15; Jer. xviii. IS; I 
 Pet. ii. 12, 13; James iv. 1; Eccles. viii. 2. 
 
 In 1663, ^Ir. Henry returned again with 
 his family from Whitchurch to Broad Oak, 
 which continued to be his settled home, till 
 he was removed to his long home, about 
 twenty-eight years after this time. 
 
 The rigour of the five-mile act began now 
 to abate, and more opportunity was enjoyed 
 fordoing good, than before, which Mr. Hen- 
 ry endeavoured to improve to the utmost; 
 especially in instructing the ignorant, help- 
 ing on their way to heaven such as needed 
 his aid. 
 
 In the beginning of his account book, he 
 placed that text. Prov. iii. 9, 10, "Honour 
 the Lord with thy substance, and with the 
 first fruits of all thine increase ; so shall thy 
 
132 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 barns be filled with plenty; and thy presses 
 shall burst out with new wine." And he 
 not only wrote it down but practised it. After 
 his return, he kept a day of fasting and 
 prayer, to beg of God, a wise and under- 
 standing heart, and to drop a tear — as he ex- 
 pressed it — over the sins of his predecessors, 
 formerly in that estate. He laid himself out 
 very much in doing good; and was in many 
 ways serviceable to his neighbourhood. He 
 was very useful in the common concerns 
 of the township and country, in which 
 he was a very prudent counsellor. And al- 
 though an humble service for a man of his 
 office and gifts, " Yet men gave ear and 
 waited, and kept silence at his counsel: after 
 his words they spake not again," Job xxix. 
 21. Many, who respected him not as a min- 
 ister, loved and honoured him as a knowing, 
 prudent, and humble neighbour. References 
 were sometimes made to him ,by rule of court, 
 with consent of parties. He was very afi*a- 
 ble and easy of access, and admirably patient 
 in hearing every one's complaint, which he 
 would answer with so much prudence and 
 mildness, and gave such apt advice, that 
 many a time to consult with him, was to 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 133 
 
 end the matter. He observed that in al- 
 most all quarrels, there were faults on both 
 sides, and that generally they were most in 
 fault, who were most clamorous and for- 
 ward. One making her complaint to him of 
 a bad husband; unkind in this respect, and 
 the other; and concluded by saying; sir, 
 what would you have me to do ? He mild- 
 ly answered, "I would have you to go 
 home and be a better wife to him, and then 
 you'll find, that he'll be a better husband to 
 you." 
 
 Labouring with one to forgive an injury, 
 he said, "Are you not a Christian ?" and 
 urged this, until he prevailed. He often per- 
 suaded people to give up some of their rights 
 for the sake of peace. And would tell them 
 Luther's story of the two goats, which met 
 on a narrow bridge, over a deep water. 
 They could not go back, they durst not 
 fight ; but after a short parley, one of them 
 lay down and let the other go over him, and 
 no harm done. He would also tell a story, 
 worthy of being preserved, of a good friend 
 of his, Mr. T. G. of Whitchurch, who, in his 
 youth was greatly wTonged by an unjust un- 
 cle of his, being an' orphan. His portion, 
 
134 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 which was £200 was put into the hands of 
 this uncle; who when he grew up shuffled 
 with him, and would give hinn but forty 
 pounds; and he had no way of recover- 
 ing his right but by law. But before he 
 would engage in that he resolved to consult 
 his minister, no other than the celebrated Dr. 
 Twiss, of Newbury. His advice was to 
 take the £40, rather than go to law, saying, 
 " Thomas, if thou dost so, assure thyself that 
 God will make it up to thee, and thine, some 
 other way; and they that defraud thee will 
 be the losers by it, at last." He took the 
 advice and God so prospered that little stock 
 with which he began the world, that when 
 he died, in a good old age, he left his son 
 possessed of some hundreds a year; and he 
 that wronged him fell into decay. 
 
 Many very pious worthy families, in the 
 country, said of Mr. Henry, that they had 
 no friend, like minded, who did naturally 
 care for their state, and so affectionately sym- 
 pathize with them, and in whom their hearts 
 could safely trust. 
 
 He was very charitable to the poor, and 
 full of alms-deeds, which he did himself, or 
 put up others to do; and whenever he gave 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 135 
 
 an alms for the body, he accompanied it with 
 some good word of counsel, reproof, instruc- 
 tion, or comfort; and in accommodating these 
 to the persons addressed he had a great dex- 
 terity. He was very free to lend money to 
 the poor; and would say, there is often more 
 charity in lending, than in giving, because it 
 obliged the borrower, both to honesty and 
 industry. 
 
 He deemed it lawful to take a moderate 
 interest for money lent, where the borrower 
 was in the way of gaining by it ; but he ad- 
 vised his friends, that had money, to dispose 
 of it rather in some other way, if they could. 
 In all his accounts with his tenants and me- 
 chanics, he was very exact; and in the man- 
 agement of his farm, neat, and orderly; 
 which was considered remarkable, in one 
 brought up to learning, as he was. While 
 he lived at Broad Oak, though necessarily 
 engaged in agricultural pursuits, which ren- 
 dered considerable traffic necessary; yet in 
 the whole time he never sued any man; nor 
 was he ever sued for money by any one. His 
 rules about lawsuits were, " 1. Do not go to 
 law for trifles. 2. Be not rash or hasty in 
 the matter, but try all other methods first. 
 
136 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 3. Never go to law out of malice, or revenge. 
 
 4. Let it be with a disposition to have peace, 
 as soon as possible." 
 
 He never approved the course of those 
 professors, who on pretence of religion, ne- 
 glect their worldly business. . And he would 
 tell of a religious woman, who had this 
 fault, and was convinced of her error, by- 
 means of an intelligent, godly neighbour, 
 who coming to the house when the day was 
 far advanced, and finding the woman in her 
 closet, while her children and household af- 
 fairs were neglected, said in a solemn tone, 
 "What, is there no fear of God in this 
 house ?" which much startled and affected 
 the good woman, who overheard him. He 
 would often say, " every thing is beautiful 
 in its season." And that it is the wisdom of 
 the prudent, so to order the duties of their 
 general callings as Christians, and those of 
 their particular calling in the world, so as 
 that they may not clash or interfere. " There 
 may be overdoing, in well doing." 
 
 When asked to be security for one who 
 had been security for him, he said, " Solo- 
 mon saith, that he that hateth suretiship is 
 sure." But he saith also, "He that hath 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 137 
 
 friends must show himself friendly. But 
 he always cautioned his friends not to be 
 bound for any more than they knew that 
 they were able to pay; nor for more than 
 they would be willing to pay, if the princi- 
 pal failed. 
 
 He was pleased that his house, at Broad 
 Oak, was near the road, because it occasion- 
 ed the more frequent calls of his friends, and 
 gave him an opportunity of showing kind- 
 ness to strangers, and to help such as were 
 any way distressed on the road ; for he was, 
 on all occasions, cheerfully ready to relieve 
 his distressed fellow creatures; fully answer- 
 ing the apostle^s character of a bishop, '-that 
 he must be of good behaviour, decent, affa- 
 ble, obliging, and given to hospitality.'' Like 
 Abraham, who sat at his tent door in quest 
 of opportunities to do good. If he met with 
 any poor near his house he gave them alms 
 in money, yet he would bid them go to 
 his door besides, for relief there. He v.-as 
 very tender and compassionate towards poor 
 strangers, and travellers; though, as might 
 be expected, his charity was often imposed 
 on by cheats and pretenders, of whom he 
 was not apt to be suspicious; but would say, 
 
138 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 " Thou knowest not the heart of a stranger." 
 If he met with any begging, whom he 
 thought did wrong in pursuing this course, 
 after giving an aims, he would kindly re- 
 prove them, and exhort them to pursue 
 honest industry for a hving; otherwise they 
 could not expect God to bless them. But he 
 would not chide them, but reason with them. 
 For he would say, if he reproved them and 
 gave them nothing, it would look only like 
 an excuse to deny his charity; and his re- 
 proof would be sure to be rejected. 
 
 In a word, his greatest care about the 
 things of this world was to do good with 
 what he had, and to devise liberal things; 
 desiring to make no other accession to his 
 estate, than that blessing which attends be- 
 neficence. He firmly believed, that what 
 was given to the poor is lent to the Lord, 
 •who will pay it again in kind, or kindness; 
 and that religion and charity is surely the 
 best friend to outward prosperity. He found 
 it so in his own experience, for it pleased 
 God abundantly to bless his habitation, and 
 to make a hedge about him, and about all 
 that he had round about. And though he 
 did not delight himself in the abundance of 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 139 
 
 wealth, yet, which is far better, he delighted 
 himself in the abundance of peace. All that 
 he had and did, observably prospered; so 
 that it was noticed by all around, and people 
 would say, " This is a family which the 
 Lord has blessed.'^ And his comforts, of 
 this kind, were as he used to pray they 
 might be — oil to the wheels of his obedience. 
 And in these things he served the Lord his 
 God with joyfulness and gladness of heart; 
 yet still mindful of, and grieved for the afflic- 
 tion of Joseph. When in the midst of the 
 comforts of this life, he would say, some- 
 times, " What ! all this, and heaven too ! then 
 surely we serve a good Master." Thus did 
 the Lord bless him, and make him a bless- 
 ing; and this abundant grace, through the 
 thanksgiving of many, redounded to the glory 
 of God. 
 
 During his residence at Broad Oak, Mr. 
 Henry, as has been said, regularly attended 
 the church with his family ; was always pre- 
 sent when the service commenced, and re- 
 mained until it was ended; and if there was 
 a baptism, he waited for this also, but not for 
 a wedding, for he disapproved of this on the 
 
140 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 Lord's day. He often invited the preacher 
 to dinner; and after dinner he was accustom- 
 ed to sing a hymn, and then preach to his 
 own family, when two or three others would 
 drop in ; and many an excellent sermon he 
 preached, when there were only four pre- 
 sent, besides his family, according to the limi- 
 tation of the conventicle act. In these nar- 
 row circumstances, he preached over the first 
 part of the Assembly's Catechism, from di- 
 vers texts. He also preached over the 116th 
 Psalm, besides many particular, occasional 
 subjects. 
 
 He commonly had in his house one or 
 more young scholars, preparing for the uni- 
 versity. The first of these was Mr. William 
 Turner, afterwards of Edmund's Hall, Ox- 
 ford, to whom the world is indebted for the 
 elaborate "History of all Religions," edited 
 in the year 1695; and the "Record of the 
 remarkable Providences of God." Between 
 him and Mr. Henry there existed a most 
 entire and affectionate friendship; and an 
 endearing and constant correspondence. It 
 was remarked, that several of the young 
 men who lived in his house, died, soon after 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 141 
 
 leaving him; as if God had sent them there, 
 to be prepared for another world, before 
 they were called for out of this. 
 
 For a long time he entertained so high an 
 opinion of the advantages of the universities, 
 as places of education, that he advised all his 
 friends to send their sons, although he knew 
 that conformity would be the consequence. 
 But he afterwards changed his opinion, and 
 would not send his own son, but chose ra- 
 ther to keep him at home with him, and to 
 give him what help he could there, in his 
 education, than venture him into the snares 
 and temptations of the university. 
 
 Soon after his settlement at Broad Oak, he 
 formed an acquaintance with that learned, 
 judicious, and pious gentleman, Mr. Hunt, 
 and with his excellent lady, Frances, daugh- 
 ter of the right honourable Lord Paget, 
 which soon ripened into an intimate friend- 
 ship, which continued, without interruption, 
 until his dying day. It was a constant re- 
 joicing to him, to see religion and the power 
 of godliness uppermost in such a family as 
 that, when not many mighty and not many 
 noble are called. Divers of the honourable 
 relations of that family contracted a very 
 
142 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 great respect for him, particularly, tVie pre- 
 sent Lord Paget, his majesty's ambassador 
 at the Ottoman court, and Sir Henry Ash- 
 urst, of whom mention will be made in the 
 sequel. 
 
 Two remarks from his diary shall close 
 this chapter, which ^v\\\ show what manner 
 fl of spirit he was of, and what were his senti- 
 ments of things at that time. The first is, 
 
 All acknowledge that there is, at this day, 
 a number of sober, peaceable men, both 
 ministers and people, among dissenters; but 
 who saith or doth any thing to oblige them? 
 Who desireth, or endeavoureth to open the 
 door to let in such? Nay, do they not rather 
 provoke them to run into the same extrava- 
 gancies with others, by making no difterence, 
 but laying a load on them, as if they were 
 as bad as the worst.'' 'Tis true, that Lord 
 Keeper Bridgeman, Bishop Wilkins, and 
 Chief Justice Hale, were making some over- 
 tures for an accommodation with them, but 
 this only served to exasperate their adversa- 
 ries the more; and the event was greater 
 acts of severity. 
 
 Another is this, " If all that has been said 
 and written to prove prelacy to be anti- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 143 
 
 Christian, and that it is unlawful to join in 
 the common prayer, had been said effectual- 
 ly to persuade bishops to study, and do the 
 duty of church rulers, in preaching, and feed- 
 ing the flock, according to the word, and to 
 persuade people to be spiritual in the use of 
 forms, it had been better with the church of 
 God in England, than it now is." Conso- 
 nant to this, was a remark which he often 
 made, and took occasion to mention, as his 
 settled principle, viz. " In those things where 
 all the people of God are agreed, I will spend 
 my zeal; and wherein they differ, I will en- 
 deavour to walk according to the light which 
 God hath given me, and charitably believe 
 that others do so too.'^ 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 From the year 1672 to 1680. 
 
 As was mentioned, there was some relaxa- 
 tion in the execution of the severe act against 
 conventicles; so that, in some places, the 
 non-conformists ventured to set up meetings 
 
144 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 for religious conference and worship; but it 
 was not until the early part of the year 1672, 
 that they received indulgence by the royal 
 declaration. What the secret springs were 
 which produced this indulgence, time suffi- 
 ciently revealed; however, to the poor, dis- 
 tressed dissenters, it was as life from the 
 dead, and gave them some reviving in their 
 bondage. It never should be said, that those 
 people were hard to be pleased, who were 
 so much rejoiced at this httle breathing spell, 
 precarious as it was. The purport of the 
 king's declaration was, that, " in considera- 
 tion of the inefficacy of rigour, tried for 
 divers years, and to invite strangers into the 
 kingdom, it suspended the penal laws against 
 all non-conformists and recusants; promised 
 to license separate places for meetings; limit- 
 ing papists only to private houses." 
 
 In regard to this liberty, Mr. Henry re- 
 marks, "That the conformists were dis- 
 pleased; the Presbyterians were glad; the 
 Independents very glad, and the Papists 
 triumphed." He was afraid that it would 
 tend to sow divisions, and break up parish- 
 order. " We are hereby," said he, " put into 
 a trilemma; either to turn Independents, in 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 145 
 
 practice, to strike in with the conformists; 
 or to sit down in former silence and suffer- 
 ings, till the Lord shall open a more effectual 
 door.'' What he desired was, " That those 
 who were in place would permit the sober 
 non-conformists to preach occasionally in 
 their pulpits; by which means he thought 
 prejudices would in time wear off, on both 
 sides; and they might constantly strengthen 
 each other's hands against the papists, who, 
 he foresaw, would fish best in troubled wa- 
 ters. This he would have chosen much ra- 
 ther than keeping a separate meeting. But 
 such a privilege could not be had; for he 
 was never allowed to preach in Whitwell 
 chapel, even when it was vacant. 
 
 A few weeks after the declaration, he re- 
 ceived a license like Paul, to preach in his 
 own house, to all that came to him, no man 
 forbidding him. But he was still so much 
 opposed to division, that he would not preach 
 when there was public service in the church, 
 and held meeting in his own house only in 
 the evening. He now preached and ex- 
 pounded, and united with the people in 
 prayer and praise. But his services were 
 entirely gratuitous; he asked nothing and re- 
 13 
 
146 
 
 LIFE or THfi 
 
 ceived nothing for his labours of love. And 
 not only so, but as worshippers came often 
 from a distance, it subjected him to a consi- 
 derable expense, in providing entertainment 
 for his friends. But this he never grudged. 
 His saying on such occasions was, "That 
 the ark is a guest that always pays well for 
 its entertainment." And he remarked, " that 
 when Christ borrowed Peter's boat, to preach 
 a sermon out of it, he presently repaid him 
 for the same, with a great draught of fishes. 
 Luke v. 3, 4. 
 
 Although he had many thoughts about ac- 
 cepting this indulgence; yet after a while his 
 judgment was clear, that he ought to make 
 use of it, and accordingly, while it lasted, 
 he was "in labours more abundant." He 
 preached many lectures abroad, in Cheshire, 
 Denbighshire, and Shropshire, laying him- 
 self out exceedingly for the good of souls — 
 spending and being spent in the work of the 
 Lord. And his labours were not in vain in 
 the Lord ; for it might be said of this man 
 and that man, that he was born again, then 
 and there. And many there were, who 
 asked the way to Zion, wuh their faces 
 thitherwards, and were savingly brought 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 147 
 
 home to Jesus Christ: that is, such as had 
 been vain and careless, and worldly, and re- 
 gardless of God and another world, became 
 sober and serious, and concerned about their 
 souls, and a future state. 
 
 Whatever lectures were set up in the 
 country round, it Avas still desired, that Mr. 
 Henry would begin them: and very happy 
 he was, both in the choice and management 
 of his subjects, on such occasions. Take one 
 specimen, from a discourse on Heb. xii. 15. 
 "I assure you," says he, " and God is my 
 witness, that I have not come to preach, 
 either sedition against the state, or schism 
 against the peace of the church, by persuad- 
 ing you to this or that party, or opinion ; but 
 as a mir)ister of Christ that hath received 
 mercy from the Lord, to desire to be faithful, 
 my errand is to exhort you to all possible 
 seriousness, in the great business of your 
 eternal salvation, according to my text, which 
 if the Lord will make as profitable to you 
 as it is of weight in itself, neither I nor 
 you shall have cause to repent my coming 
 hither, and being here to day, looking dili- 
 gently lest any of you fail of the grace of 
 God. If it were the last sermon I were to 
 
148 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 preach, I should not know how to take my 
 aim better, to do you good.'^ 
 
 His heart was wonderfully enlarged about 
 this time. The fields were white ready to 
 the harvest; and he was busy, and God did 
 remarkably own him, setting many seals to 
 his ministry, which much confirmed him in 
 the course which he had been led to pursue. 
 
 In his diary, for March 1673, he has the fol- 
 lowing memento, " Remember that if trouble 
 should come for what we now do in the use of 
 present liberty, I neither shrink from it, nor 
 sink under it; for I do therein approve my- 
 self to God, and to my own conscience, in 
 truth and uprightness; and the Lord whom 
 I serve, can, and will certainly bear me out, 
 and bring me oif with comfort in the end." 
 
 At the commencement of this liberty, the 
 society of Broad Oak was formed out of per- 
 sons who had belonged to several contiguous 
 parishes. To these hungry souls he admin- 
 istered the bread of life, but would not suffer 
 himself to be called their pastor; but being a 
 minister of Jesus Christ, he thought himself 
 bound to preach the gospel as he had oppor- 
 tunity. Usually, once a month, he adminis- 
 tered the ordinance of the Lord's supper. 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 149 
 
 Some of those communion days are noted in 
 his diary, as "sweet, seahng days, in which 
 he found it good to draw near to God." 
 
 Towards the close of this year, there was 
 a general expectation of the cancelling of the 
 indulgence, on which, on a previous Sabbath 
 and sacrament day^ he remarks. " Perhaps 
 this may be the last; * Father, thy will be 
 done.' It is good for us to be at such uncer- 
 tainties; for now we receive our liberty from 
 our Father, fresh, every day, which is best 
 and sweetest of all." 
 
 In the years, 1677, 1678, and 1679, in the 
 course of his ministry, at Broad Oak, he 
 preached over the ten commandments ; and 
 from other texts of Scripture largely opened 
 the duties required, and sins forbidden, in 
 each commandment. For although none 
 delighted more than he in preaching Christ 
 and gospel grace; yet he knew that Christ 
 came not to destroy the law and the pro- 
 phets, but to fulfil; and that though through 
 grace, we are not under the law as a cove- 
 nant, yet we are under it as a rule — " under 
 the law to Christ." "We have known," 
 says he, " those who have called preaching 
 on such subjects, good moral preaching; but 
 
150 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 let them call it as they will, I am sure it is 
 necessary, and as much now as ever." He 
 was very earnest in pressing upon the peo- 
 people, the conscientious performance of 
 moral and relative duties. He would say, 
 " A good Christian will be a good husband, 
 a good father, a good master, a good sub- 
 ject, a good neighbour, and so in other rela- 
 tions." He was fully persuaded of the truth 
 of the proverb, " Honesty is the best policy." 
 " These are things," he would say, " in which 
 the children of this world are competent 
 judges. They that know not what belongs 
 to faith, and repentance and prayer, yet know 
 what belongs to the making of an honest bar- 
 gain." They are also parties concerned, and 
 often careful themselves, in these things; 
 therefore, professors of religion should walk 
 very circumspectly, "that the name of God and 
 his doctrine be not blasphemed," nor rehgion 
 wounded through their sides. He was espe- 
 cially pointed in reproving sins against the 
 ninth commandment, as being so common, 
 and their evil so little thought of. He gave 
 it as a rule, " If we can say no good of per- 
 sons, we had better say nothing of them." 
 Also, " Never to speak of any one's faults 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 151 
 
 to others, till we have first spoken of them to 
 the offender himself." He was himself an 
 eminent example of this rule. Some that 
 have conversed much with him have said, 
 that they never heard him speak evil of any 
 body ; nor could he bear to hear any spoken 
 evil of, and would often drive away a back- 
 biting tongue. But to offenders themselves, 
 he was known to be a faithful reprover. 
 When he preached of moral duties, he would 
 always have something of Christ in the ser- 
 vice, as the great pattern of the duty, or his 
 love as the motive to it; or his merit, as mak- 
 ing atonement for the neglect of it. In the 
 year 1680, he preached over the doctrines 
 of faith and repentance, from several texts. 
 He used to tell, that it was said of the famous 
 Mr. Dod, that some called him in scorn, 
 Faith and Repentance, because he insist- 
 ed so much on these two, in his preaching. 
 "But,-' said he, '^if this is to be vile, I will 
 be more vile still ; for faith and repentance 
 are all in all, in Christianity.'' Concerning 
 repentance, he sometimes said, " If I were to 
 die in the pulpit, I would desire to die 
 preaching repentance ; or if I die out of the 
 
152 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 pulpit, I would desire to die, practising re- 
 pentance.'^ And he often came over this 
 saying, " He who repents every day for the 
 sins of every day, when he comes to die, will 
 have but the sins of one day to repent of/' 
 "Even reckonings make long friends." 
 
 In the year 1681, Mr. Henry preached 
 over the duties of hearing the word and 
 prayer. Of the former from the parable of 
 the sower ; and on the Lord's prayer, he de- 
 livered above thirty excellent and elaborate 
 discourses. He looked upon the Lord's pray- 
 er, to be not only a pattern for prayer but — 
 according to the advice of the Assembly of 
 Divines — proper to be used as a form. "A 
 great strait," says he, "poor ministers are in, 
 in relation to this matter, when some will not 
 hear them if they do not use the Lord's pray- 
 er, and others will not hear them, if they do. 
 What is to be done in such a case ? We 
 must walk according to the light we have, 
 and approve ourselves to God, either in using 
 or not using it ; and wait for the day when 
 God will mend the matter, which I hope he 
 will do in his own due time." 
 
 He was just concluding his lectures on the 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 153 
 
 Lord's prayer when a dark cloud arose over 
 his assemblies, which compelled him to con- 
 tract his sails. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The trials and persecutions which he endured between 
 the years 1680 and 1687. 
 
 In the summer of 1681, there was a long and 
 alarming drought, which induced many pious 
 persons to think of a day of fasting, prayer, 
 and humihation, to supplicate relief, and to 
 deprecate the righteous judgments of God. 
 The meeting was held at the house of a pri- 
 vate gentleman, in Shropshire, and Mr. Henry 
 was invited to preach. From the indulgence 
 which had been granted, for some time, no 
 fears were entertained of the interference of 
 the magistrates, to enforce the penal lav/s,. 
 against conventicles. But when Mr. Henry 
 was in the m.idst of his sermon, founded on 
 Psalm Ixvi. S, the congregation was inter- 
 rupted by the entrance of two magistrates,, 
 who insulted the ministers, talked profanely, 
 14 
 
154 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 and had the names of the congregation taken 
 down, to the number of a hundred and fifty. 
 These magistrates, it may be remarked, 
 came directly from an ale-house and bowl- 
 ing-green, in the neighbourhood, where they 
 were accustomed to resort for purposes of 
 dissipation and intemperance. Fines were 
 inflicted on ministers and people according 
 to their notions of their criminaUty : but they 
 were not very careful to go exactly by the 
 law. Mr. Henry, however, being the chief 
 offender, and able to pay, they fined £40. 
 They also lodged an information against him 
 \ before the justices of Flintshire, his own 
 county, who had not been disposed to give 
 him any trouble ; but now they were obliged 
 to act in the case; and the original fine 
 was doubled. It was much pressed upon 
 him to pay the fine and prevent further vex- 
 ation; but he was unwilling to do it, partly, 
 because he would give no encouragement to 
 such prosecutions, nor reward the informers 
 for that for which they rather deserved pun- 
 ishment; and partly because he thought him- 
 self wronged in the doubling of the fine; his 
 goods were therefore distrained upon, and 
 carrried away. The law not permitting them 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 155 
 
 to break locks, or enter into the apartments 
 of the house, they seized such produce of the 
 farm as they could lay their hands on, out of 
 doors; such as cut grain, hay, coals, &c. to 
 the amount of thirty-three cart loads of goods. 
 This made a great noise in the country, and 
 provoked the indignation of many against 
 the unrighteous decrees, which prescribed 
 such grievous proceedings against peaceable 
 citizens, for no other offence than attempting, 
 by united prayer, to avert the heavy judg- 
 ments of heaven, under which the people 
 were suffering. Mr. Henry bore it with his 
 usual evenness of mind. His serenity was 
 not in the least disturbed by the event. But 
 he never clamoured about his sufferings, nor 
 made a boast of them; but would say, 
 " Alas this is nothing to what others suffer, 
 nor to what we ourselves may suffer before 
 we die." He did rejoice, however, that it 
 was not for crime or ill-doing that he suffer- 
 ed, and his remark was, "While it is for well 
 doing that we suffer, they cannot harm us." 
 In his diary he writes, " How often have we 
 said that changes are at the door; but blessed 
 be God, there is no sting in this." He enter- 
 tained a full assurance that all these losses 
 
156 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 would be more than made up to him. His 
 maxim was, Though we may be losers for 
 Christ, yet we shall not be losers by him, in 
 the end." And he often said, that preach- 
 ing was likely to do the most good, when it 
 was sealed to by suffering.'' 
 
 The case of Mr. Bury, one of the minis- 
 ters present at this meeting, was truly hard, 
 and suited to excite compassion and indig- 
 nation, at the same time. The Conventicle 
 Act makes it only punishable to preach or 
 teach in such meetings; but he only prayed; 
 and yet he was fined in the sum of twenty 
 pounds; which, being poor, he was utterly 
 unable to pay. They, therefore, took off 
 seven pounds, and laid it on others: and for 
 the remainder, they took from him, by dis- 
 tress, the bed on which he lay, with both 
 blanket and rug; also another feather bed, 
 and nineteen sheets, most of them new. 
 And this man, though he had violated no 
 law, and incurred no penalty, found no re- 
 dress; so that the good man sat down with 
 his loss, "and took joyl^uliy the spoiling of 
 his goods, knowing in himself, that in hea- 
 ven he had a better and more enduring sub- 
 stance." 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 157 
 
 Though the famous Judge Jeffries often 
 came into that circuit, and on one occasion 
 received some information calculated to im- 
 phcate Mr. Henry, yet for some reason, he 
 never gave him any trouble. It was said 
 the reason was, that Mr. Henry was a great 
 friend of his mother's, and sometimes at her 
 request, had examined him on his school 
 learning when he was a boy. The informa- 
 tion lodged with the judge against Mr. 
 Henry, was for a thing which could be con- 
 sidered a transgression of no law, human or 
 divine. The case was this, an agreement 
 had been made by some ministers, to spend 
 some time between six and eight o'clock, 
 either in their closets, or with their families, 
 every Monday morning, in prayer for the 
 church of God, and for the land and na- 
 tion, more particularly than at other times. 
 This concert had been communicated to Mr. 
 Henry, by some of his friends at London, 
 and he punctually observed it for many 
 years, in his own practice. A person to 
 whom he had communicated it was so well 
 pleased, that he wrote a letter concerning it, 
 to a friend at a distance, which letter hap- 
 pened to fall into hands that perverted it 
 
15S 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 SO that both the writer and receiver of the 
 letter were bound over to the assizes; and 
 Judge Jeffries beUeved it to be a part of the 
 Presbyterian plot against the church and the 
 nation, and severely reprimanded the per- 
 sons accused. But though it appeared by 
 the intercepted letter, that the plan had been 
 received from Mr. Henry, yet the judge let 
 it fall, and never inquired further into the 
 affair, which was a matter of astonishment 
 to all who knew him. However, at the 
 next assizes, after his goods had been dis- 
 trained upon, he was presented by one of the 
 high constables for holding conventicles at 
 his house, and for saying, "that the law for 
 suppressing conventicles ought not to be 
 obeyed, and that there was never a tittle of 
 the word of God in it.'^ As to this last pre- 
 sentment, it was altogether false. He had, 
 indeed, in conversation with the high con- 
 stable, said, that ail human laws ought not 
 to be obeyed, merely because they were 
 laws. He had too much prudence to make 
 any such remark on the law, under which 
 he suffered, for he knew that he had fallen 
 upon evil times, when so many were made 
 offenders for a word. 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 159 
 
 In this same year, 1681, a public confer- 
 ence was held between Dr. William Lloyd, 
 bishop of Coventry and Litchfield, with 
 several dissenting ministers, of whom Mr. 
 Henry was one. This learned bishop, when 
 he came into his diocese, thought it his duty 
 to endeavour to reduce the dissenters with- 
 in his jurisdiction, to obedience to the church; 
 and he resolved to try the efficacy of reason 
 with them, before he had recourse to any 
 harsher measures. If any dechned coming 
 to converse with him, he made use of it as 
 an argument against them, for he alleged, 
 
 that no man can plead conscience for not 
 coming, when he is required to give an ac- 
 count of his religion to them that have au- 
 thority to demand it, by the laws of the 
 country; and to hear from their mouths, 
 what can be said for the established religion. 
 These things," said he, " are such as con- 
 science is so far from excusing us for not do- 
 ing, that it requires them as an indispensa- 
 ble duly, to give an account of their hope, to 
 every one that asketh a reason of the same; 
 and that we should hear them that are in 
 Moses's chair; and, therefore, they who re- 
 
160 LIFE OF THE 
 
 fused this he would consider as governed by 
 obstinacy, not by conscience." 
 
 The most considerable dissenting minister 
 in those parts was Mr. James Owen, of Os- 
 westry, then very young, but well known 
 since as an author, by the book entitled, " A 
 Plea for Scripture Ordination;" the object of 
 which is to prove the validity of ordination 
 by presbyters, without a diocesan bishop. 
 Bishop Lloyd had held several private con- 
 ferences with him: but at length insisted on 
 a public conference, or disputation, in the 
 town hall of Oswestry, on Tuesday, the 27th 
 of September, 16S1; then to give an account 
 by what right he exercised the ministry, not 
 having received episcopal ordination. He 
 directed him also to get what ministers he 
 could to assist him, as he wished to hear 
 what any of them had to say for themselves. 
 Some whom Mr. Owen invited to his aid, 
 declined, as believing, that more harm than 
 good was likely to arise out of it. Mr. 
 Henry, to whose meek and modest spirit, 
 such things were very repugnant, was loath 
 to desert his young friend, Mr. Owen; and 
 so, after much importunity, he resolved to 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 161 
 
 attend; and besides him, no one came, ex- 
 cept Mr. Jonathan Roberts, a plain m.an, of 
 great integrity, and a very good scholar. 
 The bishop came, according to his appoint- 
 ment, and brought with him Mr. Henry 
 Dodvvell, afterwards so celebrated in eccle- 
 siastical controversy. Mr. Henry, who was 
 an entire stranger to the bishop, begged hard 
 that the controversy might be held in pri- 
 vate, before a select number of friends; but 
 it could not be obtained. He also requested, 
 that it might not be expected that he, being 
 of another diocese, should take any part in the 
 controversy, but only as a hearer. "Nay," 
 said the bishop, "it is not the concern of my 
 diocese alone, but it is the common cause of 
 reHgion, and therefore I expect you should 
 interest yourself more in it than as a hearer." 
 His lordship was pleased to promise that no- 
 thing spoken by way of argument, should 
 be turned to the disadvantage of the dispu- 
 tants, nor should it be the occasion of trou- 
 ble to them. There were present divers of 
 the clergy and gentry, of the surrounding 
 country, with the magistrates of the town, and 
 a great multitude of people, which was very 
 unpleasant to Mr. Henry's feelings, who 
 
162 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 never loved any thing that made a noise. 
 The discourse began about two o'clock in 
 the afiernoon, and continued till about seven 
 or eight, at night. It was managed with a 
 great deal of liberty, and not under the strict 
 laws of disputation, which made it hard to 
 give an accurate account of the particulars. 
 The bishop managed his part of the contro- 
 versy with a great deal of gravity, calmness, 
 and evenness of spirit, and therein gave an 
 excellent pattern to all that are placed in 
 such stations. Hr. Henry's remarks in his 
 diary on the management and result of this 
 unsought for dispute, are humbling enough. 
 '^Upon reflection,'' says he "I find, I have 
 great reason to be ashamed of my manifold 
 imperfections and infirmities; and yet do 
 bless God, that seeing I could manage it no 
 better, to do the truth more service, there 
 was no more done to its disservice. To God 
 be the glory," But others thought, that, on 
 this occasion, Mr. Henry was an instrument 
 of glorifying God, and serving the church 
 in this conference, as much, perhaps, as in 
 any thing that he ever did, except preaching 
 the gospel. And some who were adversa- 
 ries to the cause he pleaded, though not con- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 163 
 
 vinced by his arguments; yet by his great 
 meekness and humility, and by the excellent 
 Christian spirit which he manifested, were 
 brought to entertain a better opinion of him, 
 and the way in which he walked. 
 
 The conference was broken off, rather ab- 
 ruptly, for while the bishop and Mr. Henry 
 were earnestly engaged in an argument, Mr. 
 Roberts, whispered to INIr. Henry to let the 
 bishop have the last word, which one of the 
 magistrates overhearing, said, " You say my 
 lord shall have the last word, but he shall not, 
 for I will. We thank God that we have the 
 s^vord of power in our own hands, and by the 
 grace of God we will keep it; and it shall 
 not rust; and I hope every lawful magis- 
 trate will do as I do. And look to your- 
 selves, gentlemen, by the grace of God, I'll 
 root you out of the country.'^ To which a 
 forward man replied, "Amen, throw them 
 down stairs.'' The bishop remained silent; 
 but the mayor of the town took order foi 
 their safety. 
 
 Two days afterwards the bishop v/rote a 
 very obliging letter to Mr. Henry, to signify 
 to him how much he was pleased with the 
 good temper and spirit he found in him, at 
 
164 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 Oswestry; and that he looked upon him as 
 one that intended well but laboured under 
 prejudices; and to desire further acquain- 
 tance and conversation with him; and re- 
 quested particularly, that he would come to 
 him to Wrexham. About three months af- 
 terwards, he sent for him again, to Chester. 
 At both of which interviews, they had a 
 great deal of discourse with much freedom; 
 in which they seemed to vie with each other, 
 in candour and obligingness; showing to 
 each other all meekness. The bishop even 
 condescended to show him his plan for the 
 government of his diocese, of which Mr. 
 Henry expressed his approbation, but plea- 
 santly told him to take heed not to verify 
 again, Juvenal's remark: 
 
 " Dat veniam corvis, vexat censura colum- 
 bas." 
 
 Pardon is given to the crows, but ceiisure 
 vexes the doves. 
 
 The bishop smiled and said he would take 
 care to avoid that. His lordship observing 
 his true catholic charity and moderation, told 
 him, if he had him in his diocese, he did not 
 question but that he should find out some way 
 to make him useful. But all his reasonings 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 165 
 
 could not satisfy Mr. Henry of the lawfulness 
 of being re-ordained, and conforming to the 
 established worship. 
 
 Mr. Henry found it necessary again to 
 contract his sails and confine himself very 
 much at home; for although, in 1682, the 
 dissenters enjoyed some liberty; yet in the 
 following year, their meetings were gene- 
 rally suppressed throughout the kingdom. 
 He continued his attendance at Whitewell 
 Chapel; and on a certain day, when he was 
 present the curate preached a bitter sermon 
 against the dissenters, in the morning, and 
 some people expressed their surprise that 
 Mr. Henry would attend again in the after- 
 noon, to whom he replied, "If he do not 
 know his duty, I know mine, and I bless God, 
 I can find honey in a carcase." 
 
 During this time of treading down and per- 
 plexity, he though it best to remain quietly 
 at home; being forced — as he used to ex- 
 press it, "to throw the plough under the 
 hedge." At home he preached constantly, 
 without disturbance, and would say, " When 
 we cannot keep open shop, we must drive a 
 secret trade." " There is," he observed, " a 
 mean, if we could put it between foolhardi- 
 
166 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 ness, and faint heartedness." One of his 
 friends in London earnestly solicited him to 
 make a visit to that place, in this time of re- 
 straint in the country. To whom he thus 
 wrote'. " I should be glad once more to kiss 
 my native soil, though it were but with a 
 kiss of valediction; but my indisposedness to 
 travel, and the small prospect there is of 
 doing good to countervail the pains, are my 
 prevailing arguments against it. I am here? 
 it is true, buried alive, but I am quiet in my 
 grave, and have no mind to be a walking 
 ghost. We rejoice, and desire to be thank- 
 ful that God hath given us a house and con- 
 tinued it to us, when so many better than we, 
 have not where to lay their heads, ^ having 
 no certain dwelling place.' Why are they 
 exiles and not we? [It was at the disper- 
 sion of the French Protestants.] Why are 
 they strangers in a strange land, and not we? 
 We must not say, ^ we v/ill die in our nests,' 
 lest God say, nay; our times and all our 
 ways are at his disposal, absolutely and uni- 
 versally ; and it is very well they are so." 
 
 When the duke of Monmouth, in 1685, 
 made his descent, and the insurrection had 
 taken place in the west, Mr. Henry and many 
 
REV. PHILIP HEJ^RY. 
 
 167 
 
 others were apprehended by a warrant from 
 the deputy lieutenant, and sent under a 
 guard to Chester Castle; where he was about 
 three weeks, a close prisoner. He was lodg- 
 ed with some gentlemen and ministers that 
 were brought thither out of Lancashire, who 
 were all strangers to him ; but he had great 
 comfort in the acquaintance and society of 
 many of them. He often spoke of this im- 
 prisonment, not as a matter of complaint, but 
 of thanksgiving, and blessed God that he 
 was nothing uneasy all the while. In a ser- 
 mon preached to his family after his return 
 home, he expressed himself in the following 
 manner, " That his imprisonment was for no 
 cause; 'tis guilt that makes a prison. That 
 it was his security in a time of danger; that 
 he had good company in his sufferings, who 
 prayed together, and read the Scriptures to- 
 gether, and discoursed to their mutual edifi- 
 cation; that he enjoyed health there — not 
 'sick and in prison;' that he was visited 
 and prayed for, by his friends ; that he was 
 very cheerful and easy in his spirit ; many 
 a time asleep and quiet, when his adversa- 
 ries were disturbed and unquiet. That his 
 enlargement was speedy and unsought for. 
 
168 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 and that it gave occasion to the magistrates 
 who committed him, to give it under their 
 hands, that they had nothing, in particular, 
 to lay to his charge ; and especially, that it 
 was without a snare, which was the thing he 
 feared more than any thing else." 
 
 It was a surprise to some who visited him, 
 in his imprisonment, and were big with the 
 expectation of the duke of Monmouth's suc- 
 cess, to hear him say, I would not have 
 you to flatter yourselves with such hopes; 
 for God will not do his work for us, in 
 these nations, by that man; but our deliver- 
 ance and salvation will arise some other 
 way." 
 
 When men became inimical to him, in- 
 stead of manifesting proud resentment, or as 
 is usual, putting on a cold and distant face; 
 he took special pains to treat such with all 
 courtesy and kindness. And when a gentle- 
 man who had been very unfriendly to him, 
 needed his assistance in a law-suit, though 
 he might have declined, and it would have 
 been for his interest to do so; yet he appeared 
 as a witness for him, which conduct so won 
 upon this person, that he ever afterwards was 
 more friendly in his treatment of him. And 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 169 
 
 when he heard of the death of one that had 
 been his professed enemy, he said, " God 
 knows that I have often prayed for him." 
 
 Some have wondered to see how courte- 
 ously he would speak to such as had injured 
 him, when he met with them, being as indus- 
 trious to discover his forgiving of wrongs, as 
 some are to discover their resentments of 
 them. It was said of archbishop Cranmer,/ 
 that the way to have him for one's friend, 
 was, to do him an unkindness; and it might 
 surely be said of Mr. Henry, that the doing 
 him an injury would not make him an ene- 
 my. In this he resembled his worthy friend, 
 Mr. Lawrence, who in company with some 
 of his sons, passing by the house of a gentle- 
 man that had been injurious towards him, he 
 gave a charge to his sons that they should nev- 
 er think or speak ill of that gentleman, for the 
 sake of any thing he had done against him; 
 but whenever they went by his house, to lift 
 up their hearts in prayer to God for him, and 
 his family. And who is he that will harm 
 those who are thus followers of him that is 
 good in his goodness. 
 
 15 
 
170 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The last nine years of his life, when he enjoyed liberty and 
 enlargement at Broad Oak- From the year 1687. 
 
 When out of favour to the Roman Catholics, 
 King James II. gave a general indulgence to 
 all dissenters, it was a question much agita- 
 ted, whether conscientious men could with 
 propriety avail themselves of this liberty, 
 since it was no longer doubtful what the mo- 
 tives were which induced the government to 
 remove the restraints which had been laid 
 upon them. Mr. Henry, after a full consi- 
 deration of the subject in the light of the ex- 
 amples of the saints recorded in Scripture, 
 came to the conclusion that it was lawful 
 and right for him to use the liberty granted 
 in preaching the gospel. He said, " what- 
 ever men's ends are in it, I believe God's 
 ends are to do us good." Another maxim 
 which he applied to existing circumstances 
 was, ^^Duty is ours, events are God's." He 
 remembered, that the indulgence granted in 
 King Charles' time had been the occasion of 
 good; and why might not this do so too.^ 
 " Did Jeremiah sit still in the prison because 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 171 
 
 his liberty was granted by the king of Baby- 
 lon ? Did not Paul appeal to Caesar, when 
 persecuted by his own countrymen for 
 preaching the gospel, and find more kindness 
 at Rome, than he did at Jerusalem ? And 
 although he believed that the repeal of the 
 penal laws was intended to introduce popery; 
 yet he thought that there could be no more 
 effectual barrier against popery, than the 
 powerful and faithful preaching of the gos- 
 pel ; and the refusal of the indulgence by the 
 dissenters would have no effect in preventing 
 its effect in favour of the papists. Commis- 
 sioners were sent through the country to as- 
 certain the losses sustained by dissenters, in 
 consequence of the execution of the act of 
 uniformity, and the five mile, and conventi- 
 cle acts, and they applied to him to furnish 
 an account of his damages, but he declined 
 giving any, saying that he had long since for- 
 given those that injured him. A commission 
 was also sent to him to be a justice of the 
 peace, which office he respectfully declined, 
 as he felt himself to be unworthy of the hon- 
 our, and unfit for the office. 
 
 It was with much fear and trembling, that 
 Mr. Henry received the account of the land- 
 
172 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 ing of the prince of Orange, in 16S8, as being 
 somewhat in the dark concerning the clear- 
 ness of his call, and dreading what might be 
 the consequence of it. He used to pray, " Give 
 peace in our time, 0 Lord." But when se- 
 cret things were brought to light, and a regu- 
 lar course was taken to fill the throne with 
 such a king, and such a queen, none rejoiced 
 in it more heartily than he did. He celebra- 
 ted the national thanksgiving with an excel- 
 lent sermon, from Rom. viii. 31, " If God be 
 for us, who can be against us?" 
 
 Soon after the revolution was accom- 
 plished, there was a scheme set on foot to 
 comprehend the moderate dissenters, in the 
 establishment of the church of England, 
 which Mr. Henry most earnestly desired and 
 wished for, if it could be had on any terms 
 less than sinning against his conscience ; for 
 never was any man more averse to every 
 thing which tended to separation. To pro- 
 mote this desirable object his prayers and 
 endeavours were unceasing, until it was 
 found to be impracticable. Despairing, there- 
 fore, to see an accommodation, he set himself 
 the more vigorously to improve the present 
 liberty. In the year 1689, the act of tolera- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 173 
 
 tion was passed, which not only allowed the 
 dissenters' meetings, but took them under the 
 protection of the government. 
 
 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 an old age, and to renew his youth like the 
 eagles. Though what he did he still did 
 gratis and would do so, yet he was not wil- 
 ling to have any constant assistant, nor had 
 he any; so much was he in his element, when 
 he was about his Master's work: 'twas 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 expound- 
 ed 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 sum- 
 mer. His meeting place ^vas an out-build- 
 ing of his own, near adjoining to his house, 
 fitted up very decently and conveniently for 
 the purpose. He begun with prayer, then 
 
174 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 he snng Psal. c. without reading the line : 
 next he read and exponnded a chapter in the 
 Old Testament in the morning, and in the 
 New Testament in the afternoon. He look- 
 ed upon the public reading of the Scriptures 
 in religious assemblies to be an ordinance of 
 God. and that it tended very much to the edi- 
 fication 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: especially as he managed it with 
 practical, profitable observations. Some that 
 have heard him read a chapter with this 
 thought, how will he make such a chapter 
 as this useful to us ? have been surprised 
 with such pertinent, useful instructions, as 
 they have owned to be as much for their edi- 
 fication 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 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 175 
 
 concerning Clirist, who is the true treasure 
 hid in the field, the true manna hid in the 
 dew of the Old Testament. Take one in- 
 stance; the last Sabbath that ever he spent 
 with hi$ children at Chester, in the public 
 morning 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, iie expressed himself 
 to this purpose: "When I have read a chap- 
 ter 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 no- 
 thing 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 ap- 
 plicable to Christ, that after he had patiently 
 gone through his sufferings, he was appoint- 
 ed an intercessor for his unkind friends, ver. 
 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. 
 
176 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 but in whom, viz. with us in him, he hath 
 made us accepted in the beloved." 
 
 After the exposition of the chapter he sung 
 a psalm, and commonly chose a psalm suit- 
 able to the chapter he had expounded; and 
 would briefly tell his hearers how they might 
 sing that psalm with understanding, and what 
 aftections 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 some- 
 times he loved to sing whole psalms, rather 
 than pieces of psalms. 
 
 After the sermon in the morning, he sung 
 the cxvii. 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 re- 
 freshment in his study, making no formal 
 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 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 177 
 
 he was careful they should not faint by the 
 way. The morning sermon was repeated, 
 by a ready writer, to those that staid in the 
 meeting place, as many did, and when that 
 was done, he begun the afternoon's exercise; 
 in which he not only read and expounded a 
 chapter, but catechized the children, and ex- 
 pounded the catechism briefly before sermon. 
 Thus did he go from strength to strength, 
 and from duty to duty, on Sabbath days: 
 running the ways of God's commandments 
 with an enlarged heart. And the variety^ 
 and vivacity of his pubUc services, made them 
 exceedingly 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. He would say sometimes 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, 
 16 
 
178 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 he would especially exhort them to number 
 their Sabbath days, how many they have 
 been, and how ill they have been spent; how 
 few ^tis 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 Sab- 
 baths," 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 edi- 
 fication. 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 hear- 
 ers. When he grew old, he would say, surely 
 he might now take a greater liberty to talk 
 (as he called it) in the pulpit; that is, to speak 
 famiUarly to people; yet to the last he abated 
 not in his preparation 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 preach- 
 ing were talking, it were talking to the pur- 
 pose. His sermons were not common place, 
 but even when his subjects were the most 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 179 
 
 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 
 clinching of the nail, that it might be as a 
 nail in a sure place. So very industrious 
 was he, and no less ingenious in his endea- 
 vours, that his hearers might be " able, after 
 his decease, to have these things always in 
 remembrance," 2 Pet. i. 15, and it is hoped, 
 that by the blessing of God, the effect did not 
 altogether disappoint 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 all 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 
 
180 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 was, because 'tis 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 childish- 
 ness. But the excellency of his sermons lay 
 chiefly in the enlargements, which were al- 
 ways very solid, grave, and judicious; but 
 in expressing and marshalling his heads, he 
 often condescended below his own judg- 
 ment, to help his hearers' memories. Some 
 of his subjects (when he had finished them) 
 he 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 minis- 
 try) to give some account of the method of 
 his Sabbath subjects, during the last eight or 
 nine years of his ministry; and it was de- 
 signed, till 'twas found 'twould swell this 
 narrative into too great a bulk. 
 
 2. As to the administration of the sacra- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 181 
 
 ments, those mysteries of God, which minis- 
 ters are the stewards of. 
 
 As to the sacrament of baptism, he had 
 never (that I know of) baptized any chil- 
 dren (except his own) from the time he was 
 turned out in 1662, till this last liberty came, 
 though often desired to do it: but now he 
 revived the administration of that ordinance 
 in his congregation. The occasion was this: 
 one of the parish ministers preaching at 
 Whitewell chapel, Mr. Henry and his family, 
 and many of his friends being present, was 
 earnestly cautioning people not to go to con- 
 venticles, and used this as an argument 
 against it, "That they were baptized into the 
 church of England:" INIr. Henry's catholic 
 charity could not well digest this monopoliz- 
 ing of the great ordinance of baptism, and 
 thought it time to bear his testimony against 
 such narrow principles, which he ever ex- 
 pressed his dislike of in all parties and per- 
 suasions. Accordingly he took the next op- 
 portunity that offered itself, publicly to bap- 
 tize 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 
 
182 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 of the dissenters, nor into the church at Broad 
 Oak, but into the visible catholic church of 
 Jesus Christ." After this he baptized very- 
 many, and always publicly, though being in 
 the country they were commonly carried a 
 good way. The public administration of 
 baptism he not only judged most agreeable 
 to the nature and end of the ordinance, 
 but found to be very profitable and edifying 
 to the congregation; for he always took that 
 occasion, not only to explain the nature of the 
 ordinance, but affectionately and patheti- 
 cally to excite people duly to improve their 
 baptism. He usually received the child 
 immediately cut 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 con- 
 gregation of Christ's church, having washed 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 183 
 
 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 con- 
 fess 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 sup- 
 per he constantly celebrated in his congrega- 
 tion once a month, and always to a very con- 
 siderable number of communicants. He did 
 not usually observe public days of prepara- 
 ration for that ordinance, other than as they 
 fell in course in the weekly lectures; nor did 
 he ever appropriate any particular subject of 
 his preaching to sacrament days, having a 
 great felicity in adapting any profitable sub- 
 ject 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 or- 
 dinance was very solemn and affecting. He 
 had been wont to go about in the congrega- 
 tion, and to deliver the elements with his 
 own hands ; but in his latter time, he deliver- 
 ed them only to those near him, and so they 
 
184 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 were handed from one to another, with the 
 assistance of one who suppUed the office of a 
 deacon, as having also the custody and dis- 
 posal 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 con- 
 cerning 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 occa- 
 sion; gently leading those whom he discern- 
 ed 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 tender- 
 ness, 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 commu- 
 nicants, had a peculiar selemnity in it. Such 
 
REV. PHILIP HEXRT. 
 
 185 
 
 as he catechized, when they grew up to 
 some years of discretion, if he observed 
 them to be inteUigent 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 seve- 
 rally, and discoursed with them of the things 
 belonging to their everlasting peace: put it 
 to their choice whom they would serve: and 
 endeavoured to afi"ect 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 se- 
 veral Lord's days he catechized them, par- 
 ticularly in public, touching the Lord's sup- 
 per, and the duty of preparation for it, and 
 their baptismal covenant, which in that ordi- 
 nance they were to take upon themselves, 
 and to make their own act and deed. Often 
 telling them 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 
 
186 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 before the ordinance; when in a solemn as- 
 sembly on purpose, he prayed for them, and 
 preached a sermon 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 has 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 congre- 
 gation was, not such as he could have wish- 
 ed 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, Deut. xii. 8, 9. 
 However, I see not but the end was effec- 
 tually attained by the methods he took, 
 though there wanted the formality of officers 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRr. 
 
 187 
 
 and church meetings for the purpose. If he 
 heard of any that walked disorderly, he sent 
 for them, and reproved them, gently or sharp- 
 ly, as he saw the case required. If the sin 
 had scandal in it, he suspended them from 
 'he ordinance of the Lord's supper, till they 
 ^ave some tokens of their repentance and re- 
 formation. And where the offence was pub- 
 lic and gross, his judgment was, that some 
 public satisfaction should be made to the 
 congregation before re-admission. But what- 
 ever offence did happen, or breaches of the 
 Christian peace, Mr. Henry's peculiar excel- 
 lency lay in restoring with the spirit of meek- 
 ness; which, with his great prudence, and 
 love, and condescension, did so much com- 
 mand the respect of his people, and win upon 
 them, that there was a universal satisfaction 
 in all his management; and it may truly be 
 ^aid of him, as it was of David, 2 Sam. iii. 
 06, that "whatsoever he did pleased all the 
 people." And it is an instance and evidence 
 that those ministers who will rule by love 
 and meekness, need no laws or canons to 
 rule by, other than those of the holy Scrip- 
 ture. " How forcible are right words!'' Job 
 vi. 25. 
 
188 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 4. He was very strict and very serious in 
 observing the public fasts appointed by au- 
 thority, and caUed them a denght. 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 be more 
 warm and lively towards the latter end of 
 the duties of a fast day, than at the begin- 
 ning ; as if the spirit were most wilhng 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 espe- 
 cially 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 inter- 
 cessions for the land, for the king, the go- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 189 
 
 vernment, the army, the navy, the church, 
 the French Protestants, &:c. He was ano- 
 ther 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 Nehemiah was, 
 Neh. 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 trangressions, especially the 
 house of Jacob their sins. " 'Tis 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 chap- 
 ter of the Revelation, in the fast sermons of 
 two years. Another year he preached over 
 the particulars of that charge, Zeph. iii. 2. 
 Hypocrisy in hearers, and flattery in preach- 
 ers (as he would sometimes say) is bad at 
 any time, but it is especially abominable upon 
 a day of humiliation. 
 
 5. He preached a great many lectures in the 
 country about, some stated, some occasional, 
 in supplying of which he was very indefati- 
 gable. He hath sometimes preached a lec- 
 
190 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 tare, ridden eight or nine miles, and preach- 
 ed another, and the next day two more: to 
 quicken himself to diligence he would often 
 say, our opportunities are 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 lec- 
 ture, he said, he comforted himself with two 
 Scriptures; one was 2 Tim. ii. 3, "Endure 
 hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." 
 The other (because he exposed and hazarded 
 his health, for which some blamed him) was 
 2 Sam. 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 his lecture) 
 because we think ourselves better than others, 
 but because it is our desire to be better than 
 we are." 
 
 He was very happy in the choice of his 
 subjects for his week day lectures. At one 
 which was stated, he preached against errors 
 in general, from James i. 16, " Do not err my 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 191 
 
 beloved brethren;^' particularly from divers 
 other Scriptures he showedj that we must 
 not err, concerning God and Christ, and the 
 Spirit; concerning sin and repentance, faith 
 and good works; concerning God's ordi- 
 nances; concerning grace and peace, and 
 afflictions and prosperity, and the things of 
 the life to come. 
 
 At the monthly lectures he delivered at his 
 own house, he chose to preach upon the 
 four last things, death and judgment, heaven 
 and hell, in many particulars, but common- 
 ly 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, ask- 
 ed 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 some- 
 times remove the lectures in the country from 
 one place to another, for the benefit of those 
 that could not travel. Once having adjourn- 
 ed a lecture to a new place, he began it there 
 with a sermon on Acts xvii. 6, " These men 
 
192 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 that have turned the world 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 fami- 
 lies 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 
 burthensome to any; nay, he was best pleas- 
 ed, 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 ob- 
 servant 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 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 193 
 
 forty years he had never slept at a sermon. 
 He was diligent also to improve what he 
 heard afterwards by meditations, repeti- 
 tion, 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 has noted in his diary, (as that which 
 affected him,) this saying of a godly man, a 
 hearer of his, " I find it easier to go six miles 
 to hear a sermon, than to spend one quar- 
 ter 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 
 the last nine years of his life, they were some- 
 what different from what they had been; but 
 the same candle of God which had shined 
 upon his tabernacle continued still to do so. 
 In the years 1687, and 16SS,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 iiot 
 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 
 17 
 
194 
 
 LIFE or THE 
 
 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 ?" Two advices he used 
 to give, both to his children and others, in 
 their choice of that relation : one Avas, " Keep 
 within the bonds of profession," such as one 
 may charitably hope is from a good princi- 
 ple. The other was, ^' Look at suitableness," 
 in age, quality, education, temper, &c. He 
 used to observe from Gen. ii. IS, "I will 
 make him a help meet for him;" that where 
 there is not meetness, 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. He never aimed at great things 
 in the world for his children, but sought for 
 them in the first place the kingdom of God, 
 and the righteousness thereof. He used to 
 mention sometimes the saying of a pious 
 gentlewoman, that had many daughters: 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 195 
 
 "The care 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 man's life consisteth not in 
 the abundance of the things that he possess- 
 eth." And it pleased God so to order it, that 
 all his children were disposed of, into cir- 
 cumstances 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 (says he in his 
 diary) takes notice of it, and what then 
 shall I render ?" Surely this is a token for 
 good. 
 
 All his four daughters were married at 
 Whitewell chapel, and he preached a wed- 
 ding sermon for ^ch of them, in his own 
 family, after. He would often tell his friends, 
 that those Avho desire, in the married condi- 
 tion, 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. 
 
196 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 While he lived, he had much comfort in 
 all his children and their yoke-fellows, and 
 somewhat the more, that by the Divine Pro- 
 vidence, four of the five families which 
 branched out of his, were settled in Chester. 
 
 His youngest daughter was married April 
 26, 16S8, the same day of the year (as he 
 observes in his diary) and the same day of 
 the week, and in the 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 receiv- 
 ed, 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 daugh- 
 ters was about to be concluded on, he thus 
 writes: "But is 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 merci- 
 ful way bereaved of our children, let us be 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 197 
 
 bereaved; and God turn it for good to them, 
 as we know he will 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 with prayers and tears, and hearty good 
 wishes.'^ "And now (says he in his diary) 
 we are alone again, as we were in our be- 
 ginning; God be 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; 
 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 chil- 
 dren; and that (as he writes) the transplant- 
 ing of them into new relations, had not les- 
 sened 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 
 
198 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 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 ho- 
 liness, and continue them still in brotherly 
 love, 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 burnt offerings 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 circum- 
 stances 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 Hard- 
 ware, Esq., who, about a 3^ear 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 Wil- 
 ham'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. 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 199 
 
 "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 dis- 
 pelled, and she finished her course with joy, 
 and a cheerful expectation of the glory to be 
 revealed. When she lay ill, Mr. Henry (be- 
 ing 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 peril- 
 ous distemper) wrote thus to his son, on the 
 evening of the Lord's day, 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 plea- 
 sure 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 occa- 
 sion of that sad breach in his family, on Job 
 
200 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 X. 3, Show 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 diary: ''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 love God the better, and love prayer 
 the better, as long as I live/'' He used 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 mer- 
 cies, 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 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 201 
 
 help one another to heaven, that you may be 
 together there, for ever, and with the Lord." 
 When the famiUes of his children were in 
 health and peace, the candle of God shining 
 upon their tabernacles, he wrote thus to 
 them, " 'Twas one of Job's comforts in his 
 prosperity, that his children loved one ano- 
 ther, 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. Re- 
 member 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 chil- 
 dren, and made that as other things, which 
 were the matter of his rejoicing, the mat- 
 ter of his thanksgiving. His usual saying at 
 parting, was, "This is not the world we 
 are to be together in, and ^tis 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 
 grand-children born, some by each of his 
 18 
 
202 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 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 pub- 
 lic affairs, he thus writes, '' I have now seen 
 my children's children, let me also see peace 
 upon Israel; and then I will say, Lord, now 
 lettest thou thy servant depart." Some 
 were much affected with it, when he bap- 
 tized two of his grand-children together at 
 Chester, publicly, and preached on Gen. 
 xxxiii. 5, "I'hey are the children which God 
 hath graciously given thy servant." He ob- 
 served in what a savory, pious, gracious 
 manner Jacob speaks. He had spoken good 
 sense if he had only said, they are my chil- 
 dren ; but then he had not spoken like Jacob, 
 like one that had so lately seen the face of 
 God. ' Though our speech be not always of 
 grace, yet it must be always with grace, 
 grace poured into the lips. There is a kind 
 of language, the air of which speaks it the 
 language of Canaan; Christians should speak 
 like Christians. 
 
 It was not long after his children were mar- 
 ried from him, but his house was filled again 
 
RKV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 203 
 
 with the children of his friends, several of 
 whom he was, by much importunity persuad- 
 ed 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 al- 
 most 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 at- 
 tend 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, catechizing 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 with 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 some- 
 thing in the world while we are in it; but 
 
204 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 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 learn- 
 ing at private academies, and desired to spend 
 some time in his family, before their entrance 
 upon the ministry, that they might have 
 the benefit, not only of his public and family 
 instructions, but of his learned pious con- 
 verse, in which, as he was thoroughly fur- 
 nished, 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 Scrip- 
 tures, and make them familiar. Bonus tex- 
 tuarius est bonus theologus, was a maxim 
 he often reminded them of For this purpose 
 he recommended to them the study of the 
 Hebrew, that they might be able to search 
 the Scriptures in the original. He also ad- 
 vised them to the use of an interleaved Bible, 
 wherein to insert such expositions and ob- 
 servations as occur occasional ly ki sermons 
 or other books; which, he would say, are 
 more happy and considerable sometimes, 
 than those that are found in the professed 
 commentators. When some young men de- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 205 
 
 sired the happiness of coming into his family, 
 he would tell them, " You come to me as 
 Naamaii did to EUsha, 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 pro- 
 fess to teach no other learning but Scripture 
 learning." It was but a little before he died, 
 that in reading Isa. 1. he observed from ver. 
 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 philoso- 
 phy, but in being able to speak a word in 
 season to weary souls. He that knows how 
 to do that well, is a learned minister. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 His Sickness, Death, and Burial. 
 
 In the time of his health, he made death very 
 familiar to himself by frequent and pleasing 
 thoughts and meditations of it; and endea- 
 voured to make it so to his friends, by speak- 
 
206 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 ing often of it. His letters and discourses 
 had still something or other which spoke his 
 constant expectations of death; thus did he 
 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 pas- 
 sage I was told by a worthy Scotch minister, 
 Mf. 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 or- 
 der, that you have nothing else to do but to 
 die." "I bless God (said Mr. Durham) I 
 have not had that to do either these many 
 years.'^ Such is the comfort of dying daily, 
 vvhen we come to die indeed. 
 
 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 cholic, 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 207 
 
 which would be very afflictive for the time. 
 Towards his latter end he was distressed 
 sometimes with a pain, which his doctor 
 thought might arise from a stone in his kid- 
 neys. 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, 'Mie 
 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 recovering, " Well, I ; 
 thought I had been putting into the har- 
 bour, but 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 dy- 
 ing year, and was so to his father, he num- 
 bered the days of it, from August 24, 1693, 
 to August 25, 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 
 
208 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 days of; and should now apply my heart 
 more than ever to heavenly wisdom." He 
 was much pleased with that expression of 
 the 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 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 fruit in old age; not so 
 much to show that they are upright, as to 
 show that the Lord is upright, Psal. 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 bethought 
 to shake 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. 18, ^'When thou wast 
 young, thou girdest thyself,'^ &c. Another 
 occasional sermon he preached when he was 
 old, for his own comfort, and the comfort of 
 his aged friends, on Psal. Ixxi. 17, 18. "0 
 God, thou hast taught me from my youth," 
 &c. He observed there, that it is a blessed 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 209 
 
 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 won- 
 drous works, may comfortably expect, that 
 when they are old he will not forsake them. 
 Christ is a master that doth not use to cast 
 off his old servants. 
 
 For some years before he died, he used to 
 complain of an habitual weariness, contract- 
 ed, he thought, by his standing to preach, 
 sometimes very uneasily, and in inconve- 
 nient 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 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 lye down in the bed of 
 spices." And (blessed be God) so the grave 
 is to all the saints, since He lay in it who is 
 
210 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the val- 
 lies. When some of his friends persuaded 
 him to spare himself, he would say, " It's 
 time enough to rest when I am in the grave; 
 what were candles made for, but to burn." 
 
 It doth not appear that he had any parti- 
 cular presages of his death; but by many in- 
 stances there were of his actual gracious ex- 
 pectation 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, " The 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 ivs, called the grace * 
 of Christ, both because he is the author and 
 finisher of it, and because he is the pattern 
 and samplar of it. Now "the choicest gift 
 we can ask of God for our friend is, that 
 this grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may be 
 with their spirit." This is the one thing 
 needful, the better part, the root of the mat- 
 ter, the whole of man, the principal thing, 
 the more excellent way, a blessing indeed, 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 211 
 
 and the thing that accompanies salvation. 
 The grace of Christ in the spirit, enlightens 
 and enlivens the spirit, softens and subdues 
 the spirit, purifies and preserves the spirit, 
 enlarges and guides the spirit, sweetens and 
 strengthens the spirit, and therefore what can 
 be more desirable. A spirit without the 
 grace of Christ, is a field without a fence, 
 a fool without understanding; it is a horse 
 without a bridle, and a house without furni- 
 ture; it is a ship without tackle, and a sol- 
 dier without armour; it is a cloud without 
 rain, and a carcase without a soul; it is a tree 
 without fruit, and a traveller without a 
 guide. How earnest therefore should we 
 be in praying to God for grace, both for our- 
 selves and for our relations! He had intend- 
 ed to preach upon that text, when he was at 
 Chester the year before, but was then pre- 
 vented, by a particular sad occasion, which 
 obliged him to a funeral sermon. Divine Pro- 
 vidence 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 
 
212 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 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 if : 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 earth be forsaken for us, or the 
 rock removed out of its place ? Is it not 
 enough that we be dealt with according 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, but the best of it is, that as 
 lime 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 ti- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 213 
 
 dings of whose death, Mr. Henry wrote thus 
 to his son: '-'Your fathers, where are they? 
 your father-in-law gone, and your own fa- 
 ther going; 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. Tallenrs of Shrewsbury, he 
 had this passage : Meihinks 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 spoils 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, ser- 
 vice to his name, and some measure of suc- 
 cess and comfort in serving him : when it is 
 to stop a gap, and stem a tide, it is to be re- 
 joiced in; 'tis heaven upon earth: nay, one 
 would think, by the Psalmist's oft repeated 
 plea, Psal. vi. xxx. Ixxxviii. cxv. and cxviii. 
 that it were better than to be in heaven itself: 
 and can that be 
 
214 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 A Utile before his sickness and death, be- 
 ing Slimmer time, he had several of his chil- 
 dren, 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 pass- 
 ing 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 ofl" apace, the tree will be down 
 shortly." 
 
 The last time he administered the Lord's 
 supper, a fortnight before he died, he closed 
 the administration with that Scripture, 1 
 John iii. 2, " It doth not yet appear what we 
 shall be ;" nor 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 xl. of Ezekiel,and the 
 following chapters, he said he would endea- 
 vour to explain, those prophecies to them; 
 and added "If I do not do it now, I never 
 shall:" and he observed, that the only pro- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 215 
 
 phetical sermon which oiir 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, 169G, 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," ver. 5. 
 He took virtue for Christian courage and re- 
 solution 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" That 
 day he gave notice, both morning and after- 
 noon, with much affection and enlargement, 
 of the public fast, which was appointed by 
 authority the Friday following, June 26, 
 pressing his hearers, as he used to do upon 
 such occasions, to come in a prepared frame, 
 to the solemn services of that day. 
 
 The Tuesday following, June 23, he rose 
 at six o'clock, according to his custom, after 
 
216 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 a better night's sleep than ordinary, and in 
 wonted health. Between seven and eight 
 o'clock he performed family worship, accor- 
 ding to the usual manner; he expounded 
 very largely tlie former half of the civ. Psalm, 
 and sung it; but he was somewhat shorter 
 in prayer than he used to be, being then (as 
 it was thought) taken ill. Blessed is that 
 servant, whom his Lord, when he comes, 
 shall find so doing. Immediately after prayer 
 he retired to his chamber, not saying any 
 thing of his illness, but was soon after found 
 upon his bed in great extremity of pain, in 
 his back, breast, and bowels; it seemed to be 
 a complicated fit of the stone and cholic to- 
 gether, in very great extremity. The means 
 that had been used to give him relief in his 
 illness were altogether inetFectual; he had 
 not the least intermission or remission of pain, 
 neither up nor in bed, but in a continual toss. 
 He had said sometimes, that God's Israel 
 may find Jordan rough ; but there's no re- 
 medy, they must go through it to Canaan; and 
 would tell of a good man who used to say, he 
 was not so much afraid of death as of dying. 
 We know they are not the godly people, 
 part of the description of whose condition it 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 217 
 
 is, that there are no bands in their death, 
 and yet their end is peace, and their death 
 gain, and they have hope in it. In this ex- 
 tremity he was still looking up to God, and 
 calling upon him, who is a present help in 
 the needtul hour. When the exquisiteness 
 of his pain forced groans and complaints 
 from him, he would presently correct him- 
 self with a patieut and quiet submission to 
 the hand of his heavenly Father, and a cheer- 
 ful acquiescence in his heavenly will. I 
 am ashamed (says he) of these groans, I 
 want virtue: 0 for virtue when I have need 
 of it (referring to his subject the Lord's day 
 before) forgive me that I groan thus, and I 
 will endeavour to silence them; but indeed 
 my stroke is heavier than my groaning.'' It 
 is true, what ]\Ir. Baxter said in his pain, 
 There is no disputing against sense. It was- 
 his trouble, as it was Mr. Baxter's, that by 
 reason of his bodily pain, he could not ex- 
 press his inward comfort : however that was 
 it, with which God graciously strengthened 
 him in his soul. He said to those about him: 
 They must remember what instructions and 
 counsels he had given them when he was in 
 health, for now he could say but little to 
 19 
 
 I 
 
218 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 them, only to refer them to what he had said, 
 as that which he would live and die by. 
 
 It was two or three hours after he was 
 taken ill, before he would suffer a messenger 
 to be sent to Chester for his son, and for the 
 doctor, saying, he should either be better or 
 dead, before they could come; but at last he 
 said, as the prophet did to his importunate 
 friends, Send. About eight o'clock that even- 
 ing they came and found him in the same ex 
 tremity of pain which he had been in all day. 
 And nature. being before spent with his con- 
 stant and indefatigable labours in the work 
 of the Lord, now sunk, and did perfectly suc- 
 cumb under its burthen, and was quite dis- 
 abled to grapple with so many hours inces- 
 sant pain. What further means were then 
 used proved fruitless, and did not answer the 
 intention. He apprehended himself going 
 apace, and said to his son when he came in, 
 " 0 son you are welcome to a dying fa- 
 ther: I am now ready to be offered, and the 
 time of my departure is at hand." His pain 
 continued very acute, but he had peace with- 
 in. I am tormented (said he once) but bless- 
 ed be God not in this flame ; and soon after, 
 " I am all on fire," (when at the same time 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 219 
 
 his extreme parts were cold) but he present- 
 ly added, Blessed be God it is not the fire of 
 hell.'^ To sonae of his next neighbours who 
 came into see him (for those at a distance 
 had not notice of his illness) he said, " 0 
 make sure work for your souls by getting an 
 interest in Christ while you are in health; 
 for if I had that work to do now, what would 
 become of me ? but I bless God I am satis- 
 fied." It was a caution he was often wont to 
 give : See to it that your work be not undone, 
 when your time is done, lest you be undone 
 for ever. 
 
 Towards ten or eleven o'clock that night, 
 his pulse and sight began to fail; of the lat- 
 ter he himself took notice, and inferred from 
 it the near approach of his dissolution. 
 
 He took an atfectionate farewell of his dear 
 yoke-fellow, with a thousand thanks for all 
 her love and care, and tenderness ; left a bless- 
 ing for all his dear children, and their dear 
 yoke-fellows and little ones that were absent, 
 he said to his son who sat under his head, 
 " Son, the Lord bless you, and grant that you 
 may do worthily in your generation, and be 
 more serviceable to the church of God than 
 I have been;" such was his great humility 
 
220 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 to the last. And when his son, replied, 0 
 sir, pray for me that I may but tread in your 
 steps; he answered, Yea, follow peace and 
 holiness, and let them say what they will. 
 More he would have said to bear his dying 
 testimony to the way in which he had walk- 
 ed, but nature was spent, and he had not 
 strength to express it. 
 
 His understanding and speech continued 
 almost to the last breath, and he was still in 
 his dying agonies calling upon God, and com- 
 mitting himself to him. One of the last 
 words he said, when he found himself just 
 ready to depart, was: "0 death, where is 
 
 thy ?" with that his speech faltered. 
 
 and within a few minutes (after about six- 
 teen hours illness) he quietly breathed out 
 his precious soul, into the embraces of his 
 dear Redeemer, whom he had trusted, and 
 faithfully served in the work of the ministry, 
 ^ about forty-three years. He departed be- 
 twixt twelve and one o'clock in the morning 
 of June 24, midsummer day, in the sixty-sixth 
 year of his age. Happy, thrice happy he, to 
 whom such a sudden change was no sur- 
 prise, and who could triumph over death, as 
 an unstung disarmed enemy, even when he 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 221 
 
 made so fierce an onset. He had often spoken 
 of it as his desire, that if it were the will of 
 God, he might not outlive his usefulness; 
 and it pleased God to grant him his desire, 
 and give him a short passage from the pul- 
 pit to the kingdom; from the height of his 
 usefulness, to receive the recompense of re- 
 ward. So was it ordered by Him in whose 
 hands our times are. 
 
 After the account we have given of his 
 great usefulness, it is easy to imagine what 
 sorrow and mourning there was among his 
 friends, when they heard that the Lord had 
 taken away their master from their head. 
 One that lived so much desired, could not 
 but die as much lamented. The surprise of 
 the stroke put people into a perfect astonish- 
 ment; and many said, The Lord removed 
 him so suddenly, because he would not deny 
 the many prayers that would have been put 
 up for his recovery, had it been known that 
 he was in peril. One thing that aggravated 
 this severe dispensation, and made it in the 
 apprehension of many look the more dismal, 
 was, this powerful intercessor was taken 
 away just before a fast day, when he would 
 have been wrestling mightily with God for 
 
222 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 mercy for the land. However, it proved a 
 fast day indeed, and a day of hunniliation to 
 that congregation, to whom an empty pulpit 
 was an awakening sermon. The Broad Oak 
 was then like that under which Rebekah's 
 nurse was buried, Gen. xxxv. 8. Allon ba- 
 cuth, the oak of weeping. They who had 
 many a time sitten with dry eyes, under 
 melting ordinances, could not sit so under 
 such a melting providence, by which the 
 Lord God called so loudly to weeping and to 
 mourning, and to girding with sackcloth. 
 But because Mr. Henry had been wont to 
 give it for a rule, that weeping must not hin- 
 der sowing, a mite was cast into the trea- 
 sury of the nation's prayers, and a word 
 spoken to bring the work of the day, and 
 the event of the day together, from 2 Kings 
 xiii. 20. 
 
 The day following being Saturday, June 
 27, the earthen vessel, in which this treasure 
 had been lodged, was laid up in the grave in 
 Whitchurch church, attended thither with a 
 very great company of true mourners, all the 
 country round; many from Chester and 
 Shrewsbury, and the towns about, came to 
 do him honour at his death: and, besides the 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 223 
 
 floods of tears that were shed, there were 
 abundance of testimonies given to him, by 
 persons of all sorts, Hke that to Jehoiadah, 2 
 Chron. xxiv. 16. That he was one that had 
 done good in Israel. And there were those 
 who said, he was a man that nobody did or 
 could speak evil of, except for his non-con- 
 formity. He was used to say to his relations: 
 When I am dead, make little ado about me; 
 a few will serve to bring me to my grave. 
 But his mind could not be observed in that: 
 'twas impossible such a burning and shining 
 light could be extinguished, but there must 
 be a universal notice taken of it. Multitudes 
 came unsought ; not to fill their eyes (as Mr. 
 Vines expresses it) but to empty them ; nor 
 was there any other noise there, but that of 
 general lamentation. 
 
 That morning before the removal of the 
 corpse, a most alfectionate sermon was 
 preached in Mr. Henry's meeting place, by 
 his dear and worthy friend ^Ir. Tallents of 
 Shrewsbury, who was eleven years older 
 than he, and through God's goodness still sur- 
 vives him. He was willing to take that op- 
 portunity, to testify the great love and hon- 
 
224 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 our that he had for Mr. Henry, whom he 
 called a friend that is nearer than a brother. 
 
 The next day being Lord's day, Mr. Owen 
 of Oswestry preached a most excellent ser- 
 mon in the morning, agreeable to that sad 
 occasion, upon that pathetic farewell which 
 Elisha gave to Elijah, 2 Kings ii. 12, "My 
 father, my father, the chariots of Israel and 
 the horsemen thereof, and he saw him no 
 more; and he took hold of his own clothes, 
 and rent them." 
 
 In the afternon of that Sabbath, another 
 sermon was preached by a near relation of 
 Mr. Henry's on Heb. xi. 4, " And by it, he 
 being dead yet speaketh." 
 
 Nor was it at home only but from abroad, 
 that very honourable testimonies were given 
 of him. Sir Henry Ashurst (whose great 
 worth and usefulness the world hath been 
 made to know, by some of the best pens of 
 the age) besides the personal acquaintance 
 he had with Mr. Henry, both at Borreatton 
 and in London, had kept up a constant cor- 
 respondence with him, by letter, for many 
 years. Read the character he gave of him, 
 in a letter to a near relation of Mr. Henry's, 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 225 
 
 upon the tidings of his death: "I need not 
 tell you how sadly I received the doleful 
 news of Mr. Henry's translation, who, I do 
 think, lived the greatest example of sincere 
 godliness, with prudence and sweetness of 
 temper, of any I ever knew." And in ano- 
 ther letter, not only proposing, but pressing 
 the publication of an account of his life, he 
 professes, he thought there was none like 
 him in his day, at least of his acquaintance, 
 which is known to be both of the largest and 
 of the best: " And (says he) if Sir Fulk Gre- 
 vil would have it inscribed upon his tomb- 
 stone, that he was a friend to Sir Philip Sid- 
 ney, I may well be pleased to have it told to 
 the world, that I loved and honoured blessed 
 Mr. Henry; a man of so much prudence, 
 and withal so much sincerity, of so good a 
 temper, so much a gentleman, and yet of 
 such strict piety and devotedness to God, 
 that I scarce ever knew his fellow.'' 
 
 Another worthy conformist, of his acquain- 
 tance, having occasion to mention him in a 
 letter to a friend, calls him " The great, good^ 
 now glorious Mr. Henry, whose memory 
 (says he) shall ever be precious, and even sa- 
 cred to me." 
 
 20 
 
226 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 Such as these were the honourable testi- 
 monies which all that knew him, and knew 
 how to value true excellency, attended him 
 with. It is part of the recompense of charity 
 and moderation in this world, that it obtains 
 a good report of all men. The kingdom of 
 God (says the blessed apostle, Rom. xiv. 17, 
 18,) is not meat and drink, which were then 
 the matters of doubtful disputation, " but 
 righteousness, and peace, and joy in the 
 Holy Ghost: and he that in these things 
 serve th Christ is not only acceptable to God, 
 but approved of men;" as, on the contrary, 
 they that judge will be judged, and with what 
 measure we mete, it will be measured to us 
 again. And this is the excellency of a good 
 name, that it is out of the reach of death, and 
 is not buried in the grave, but rather grows 
 up from the grave. 
 
 It is not for nothing Solomon has joined 
 this good name, which is better than precious 
 ointment with the day of one's death, which 
 upon that account is better than the day of 
 one's birth, that it completes the character of 
 those that finish their course well, and are 
 faithful unto death; whereas a great name, 
 like the names of the great ones of the earth, 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 227 
 
 is often withered and blemished by death. 
 We read of those that "bear their shame 
 when they go down to the pit, though they 
 were the terror of the mighty in the land of 
 the hving," Ezek. xxxii. 35. 
 
 At a meeting of the dissenting ministers of 
 Cheshire at Knutsford, in May, 1696, (a few 
 weeks before Mr. Henry died) it was agreed, 
 that their next meeting should be at Chester 
 (thongh inconvenient to many of them) upon 
 condition that he would meet them there, 
 and give them a sermon. It was with much 
 difficulty that he was prevailed with to pro- 
 mise it, but his Master called for him before 
 the time appointed came. Mr. Flavel of 
 Devonshire died when he was under a like 
 appointment. But happy they that are come 
 to the General assembly, and church of the 
 first born, and to the spirits of just men made 
 perfect." 
 
 As to his bodily presence, he was of a mid- 
 dle stature, his complexion not approaching 
 to any extreme, of a very pleasant aspect, 
 and an unusual mixture of gravity and sweet- 
 ness in the air of his countenance, which was 
 the true index of his mind. When some of 
 his friends have solicited him to have his pic- 
 
228 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 ture drawn, he would put them off with 
 this, that ^'the best picture of a minister is in 
 the hearts of his people." 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A miscellaneous collection of some of his sayings, obser- 
 vations, counsels and comforts, out of his seimons, let- 
 ters and discourses. 
 
 Mr. Henry, through the excess of his mo- 
 desty and self diffidence, never published any 
 of his labours to the world, nor ever fitted or 
 prepared any of them for the press; and yet 
 none more valued the labours of others, or 
 rejoiced more in them; nor have I heard any 
 complain less of the multitude of good books, 
 concerning which he often said, that store is 
 no sore, and he was very forward to per- 
 suade others to publish ; and always express- 
 ed a particular pleasure in reading the lives, 
 actions, and sayings of eminent men, ancient 
 and modern, which he thought the most use- 
 ful and instructive kind of writings. He was 
 also a very candid reader of books, not apt to 
 pick quarrels, with what he read, especially 
 when the design appeared to be honest, and 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 229 
 
 when others would find fault, and say, this 
 was wanting, and the other amiss, his usual 
 excuse was, " there is nothing perfect under 
 the sun." 
 
 It will be but a small repair of this want 
 of the publishing of some of his works, (but 
 I doubt it will prove the best we can make,) 
 to glean up some few of many of his sayings, 
 observations, and good instructions (as his 
 remains) which we shall not marshal in any 
 order, but give them as they occur, besides 
 those which have been already inserted into 
 this narrative. 
 
 It was a saying he frequently used, which 
 has been mentioned already, that " Every 
 creature is that to us, and only that, which 
 God makes it to be:" and another was, 
 "Duty is ours, events are God's:" and ano- 
 ther was " The soul is the man," and there- 
 fore " That is always best for us, which is 
 best for our souls :" and another was, <^ The 
 devil cozens us of all our time, by cozening 
 us of the present time." 
 
 In his thanksgivings for temporal mercies 
 he often said, "If the end of one mercy were 
 not the beginning of another, we were un- 
 done:" and to encourage to the work of 
 
230 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 thanksgiving he would say, that " new mer- 
 cies call for new returns of praise, and then 
 those new returns will fetch in new mercies:" 
 and from Psal. 1. 23, "He that offers praise 
 glorifies me, and to him that orders his 
 conversation aright — He observed, that 
 thanksgiving is good, but thanks-living is 
 better. 
 
 When he spoke of a good name, he usual- 
 ly described it to be a name for good things 
 with good people. " When he spoke of con- 
 tentment, he used to say, " When the mind 
 and the condition meet, there's contentment. 
 Now in order to that, either the condition 
 must be brought up to the mind, and that is 
 not only unreasonable but impossible; for as 
 the condition rises, the mind rises with it; 
 or else the mind must be brought down to 
 the condition, and that is both possible and 
 reasonable. And he observed, that no con- 
 dition of life will of itself make a man con- 
 tent, without the grace of God; for we find 
 Haman discontented in the court, Ahab dis- 
 contented on the throne, Adam discontented 
 in Paradise, nay (and higher we cannot go) 
 the angels that fell discontented in heaven 
 itself.'' 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRr. 
 
 231 
 
 The three questions which he advised peo- 
 ple to put to themselves in self-examination 
 before the sacrament, were, What am I ? 
 What have I done? and What do I want? 
 
 He used to recommend to his friends these 
 four Scripture arguments against sin, ex- 
 pressed for memory's sake in four verses, to 
 be ready in an hour of temptation. 
 
 Is this thy kindness to thy friend? 
 It will be bitterness in the end. 
 The vows of God upon me lie ; 
 Should such a man as I am fly ? 
 
 He said there were four things which he 
 would not for all the world have against him, 
 The word of God, his own conscience, the 
 prayers of the poor, and the account of god- 
 ly ministers. 
 
 " He that hath a blind conscience which 
 sees nothing, a dead conscience which feels 
 nothing, and a dumb conscience which says 
 nothing, is in as miserable a condition as a 
 man can be in on this side hell." 
 
 Preaching on 1 Pet. i. 6, " If need be you 
 are in heaviness.'^ He showed what need 
 the people of God have of afflictions. " The 
 same that our bodies have of physic, that 
 
232 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 our trees have of pruning, that gold and sil- 
 ver have of the furnace, that liquors have of 
 being emptied from vessel to vessel, that the 
 iron hath of a file, that the fields have of a 
 hedge, that the child has of the rod." 
 
 Preaching on that prayer of Christ for his 
 disciples, John xvii. 21. "That they all may 
 be one," which no doubt is an answered 
 prayer, for the Father heard him always, he 
 showed, "That notwithstanding the many 
 sad divisions that are in the church, yet all 
 the saints as far as they are sanctified, are 
 one; one in relation, one flock, one family, 
 one building, one body, one bread: one by 
 representation, one in image and likeness, of 
 one inclination and disposition: one in their 
 aims, one in their askings, one in amity and 
 friendship, one in interest, and one in their 
 inheritance; nay, they are one in judgment 
 and opinion; though in some things they 
 differ, yet those things in which they are 
 agreed are many more, and much more con- 
 siderable than those things wherein they dif- 
 fer. They are all of a mind concerning sin, 
 that it is the worst thing in the world; con- 
 cerning Christ that he is all in all ; concern- 
 ing the favour of God, that it is better than 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 233 
 
 life; concerning the world, that it is vanity; 
 concerning the word of God that it is very- 
 precious," &c. 
 
 Preaching on Gal. i. 16, concerning the 
 conversion of Paul, he began his sermon 
 with this remark, to raise attention: much is 
 said in story concerning the seven wonders 
 of the world, the Temple of Ephesus, the Py- 
 ramids of Egypt, the Tombs of Mausoleus, 
 &c.,all of which are now no more; but I 
 have been sometimes thinking, whether I 
 could not name seven things which I would 
 call the seven wonders of the church; and 
 and what do you think of these seven ? are 
 they not wonderful.^ 1. Our redemption by 
 Jesus Christ, who is called Wonderful; 2. 
 The salvation of Noah in the Ark; 3. The 
 faith of Abraham in offering up Isaac; 4. 
 The patience of Job; 5. The providences of 
 God towards the nation and people of the 
 Jews; 6. The pouring out of the Spirit upon 
 the Apostles; 7. The conversion of Paul. 
 
 But it would be endless to gather up such 
 passages as these out of his sermons, which 
 were full of them, and we mention these 
 only because they occur first. 
 
 He used to observe concerning the nation 
 
234 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 of the Jews, that before the captivity in 
 Babylon, no people could be more strongly 
 addicted to idols and idolatry than they 
 were, to admiration, considering what clear 
 warnings they had against it. But after that 
 captivity, never was any people more averse 
 to idols and idolatry than they, that the pro- 
 mise might be fulfilled, Ephraim shall say, 
 What have I to do any more with idols? 
 and he looked upon it, that the idolatry of 
 the papists was one of the greatest obstruc- 
 tions to the Jews' conversion, which he did 
 expect and look for, as not apprehending 
 how the promises, Rom. xi. have yet had 
 their full accomplishment; not that they 
 shall again be incorporated into a people, 
 but shall join themselves to the churches of 
 Christ, in the several nations whither they 
 be scattered. 
 
 The great thing that he condemned and 
 witnessed against in the church of Rome, 
 was their monopolizing of the church, and 
 condemning all that are not in with their in- 
 terests, which is so directly contrary to the 
 spirit of the gospel as nothing can be more. 
 He sometimes said, " I am too much a catho- 
 lic to be a Roman catholic.'' 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 235 
 
 By the institutions of the gospel (he said) 
 he knew of no holy place, one holy day, two 
 holy sacraments, and four holy canons. Let 
 all things be done in charity; let all things be 
 done to edifying: let all things be done de- 
 cently and in order: and let all things be 
 done to the glory of God. 
 
 In the observations he made of God's 
 providences, he frequently took notice in 
 discourse with his friends, of the fulfilling of 
 the Scripture in them; for (says he) the 
 Scripture has many accomplishments, and is 
 in the fulfilling every day. Speaking of a 
 wicked son in the neighbourhood that was 
 very undutiful to his mother, he charged 
 some of his children to observe the provi- 
 dence of God concerning him; perhaps (says 
 he) I may not live to see it, but do you take 
 notice, whether God do not come upon him 
 with some remarkable judgment in this life, 
 according to the threatening implied in the 
 reason annexed to the fifth commandment: 
 but he himself lived to see it fulfilled not 
 long after, in a very signal providence. 
 
 He observed from Scripture instances, as 
 well as from some providences which he had 
 taken notice of in his own day, That if any 
 
236 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 began well in the ways of religion and godli- 
 ness, and afterwards cast off their profession, 
 and returned to profaneness again, usually 
 God sets a mark of his displeasure upon 
 them, by some visible judgment in this 
 world; their estates ruined, their reputation 
 blasted, their families sunk, or themselves 
 brought to misery; so that all who passed by 
 might say, This was an apostate. " If any 
 man draw back, my soul shall have no plea- 
 sure in him." 
 
 He observed from Numb. x. 12. "That all 
 our removes in this world, are but from one 
 wilderness to another.'' Upon any change 
 that is before us, we are apt to promise our- 
 selves a Canaan, but we shall be deceived, it 
 will prove a wilderness. 
 
 Once pressing the study of the Scriptures, 
 he advised to take a verse of Psalm cxix. 
 every morning to meditate upon, and so go 
 over the psalm twice in the year, and that 
 (said he) will bring you to be in love with 
 all the rest of the Scripture; and he often 
 said, "All grace grows, as love to the word 
 of God grows." 
 
 One asking his advice, what to do when 
 (as often unavoidably) we are in the sight 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 237 
 
 and hearing of the wickedness of the wicked, 
 and whether we are to reprove them; why 
 (says he) you know what an angry counte- 
 nance does, and we may sometimes give a 
 reproof by our looks, when we have not op- 
 portunity of giving it otherwise. 
 
 He would not bear that any should be evil 
 spoken of in his hearing, it was to him as vine- 
 gar to the teeth. He would remind those who 
 reflected upon people behind their backs, of 
 that law, Lev. xix. 14, "Thou shalt not 
 curse the deaf.'^ Those that are absent are 
 deaf, they cannot right themselves, and there- 
 fore say no ill of them. A friend of his in- 
 quiring of him concerning a matter which 
 tended to reflect upon some people ; he be- 
 gan to give an account of the story, but im- 
 mediately broke off", and checked himself 
 with these words, " But our rule is, to speak 
 evil of no man,'^and would proceed no fur- 
 ther in the story. It was but a week before 
 he died, that one desired him to lend him 
 such a book; "Truly (says he) I would lend 
 it you, but that it rakes in the faults of some, 
 which should rather be covered with a man- 
 tle of love." It were easy to multiply in- 
 stances of this. 
 
238 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 To quicken people to diligence and liveli- 
 ness in the worship of God, he would some- 
 times observe, that the temple was built 
 upon a threshing floor, a place of labour. 
 He would also urge, that in answer to those 
 who turned it to his reproach, that his meet- 
 ing-place had been a barn; no new thing 
 (would he say) to turn a threshing floor into 
 a temple. 
 
 When some zealous people in the country 
 would have him to preach against top-knots, 
 and other vanities in apparel, he would say, 
 that was none of his business; if he could 
 but persuade people to Christ, the pride and 
 vanity and excess of those things would fall 
 of course: and yet he had a dislike to vanity 
 and gaiety of dress, and allowed it not in 
 those that he had influence upon. His rule 
 was, that in such things we must neither be 
 owls nor apes; not affect singularity, nor 
 affect modishness; nor (as he used lo observe 
 from 1 Pet. iiL 3.) make the putting on of 
 apparel our adorning, because Christians 
 have better things to adorn themselves with. 
 When some complained to him of a relation 
 of theirs, that would not let them dress his 
 children with ribbands, and other fine things. 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRT. 
 
 239 
 
 "why truly (said Mr. Henry) those things 
 are fit for children;'^ therehy reproving both 
 him that would not allow them to his chil- 
 dren, and them that perhaps minded them 
 too much themselves. 
 
 He often, both in sermons and discourses, 
 would press people to fix to themselves some 
 good principles, and to come off from the cor- 
 rupt and carnal principles that worldly people 
 go by. He took all occasions to recommend 
 such principles as these : "That God who is the 
 first and best, should have the first and best; 
 that a part in Christ is a good part ; that soul 
 prosperity is the best prosperity, and that it 
 is well or ill with us, according as it is well 
 or ill with our souls; that honesty is the best 
 policy; that those that would have the com- 
 fort of relations, must be careful to do the 
 duty of them; that all is well that ends ever- 
 lastingly well; that time and the things of 
 time, are nothing compared with eternity and 
 the things of eternity; that it is better to 
 suffer the greatest affliction than to commit 
 the least sin ; that it highly concerns us to 
 do that now, which we shall most wish we 
 had done when we come to die; that work 
 for God is its own wages; that it is folly for 
 
240 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 a man to do that which he must certainly 
 undo again by repentance, or be undone to 
 all eternity." Such as these were the prin- 
 ciples he would have Christians to govern 
 themselves by. 
 
 Speaking of the causes of atheism, he had 
 this observation; "That a head full of vain 
 and unprofitable notions, meeting with a 
 heart full of pride and self-conceitedness, dis- 
 pose a man directly to be an atheist." 
 
 He said he had observed concerning him- 
 self, that he was sometimes the worse for 
 eating, but never for abstinence; sometimes 
 the worse for wearing too few clothes, but 
 never for wearing too many; sometimes 
 the worse for speaking, but never for keep- 
 ing silence. 
 
 As to his letters^ he was very free in wri- 
 ting to his friends. A good letter, he would 
 say, may perhaps do more good than a good 
 sermon, because the address is more particu- 
 lar, and that which is written remains. His 
 language and expressions in his letters were 
 always pious and heavenly, and seasoned 
 with the salt of grace; and when there was 
 occasion, he would excellently administer 
 counsels, reproofs, or comforts by letter. He 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 241 
 
 kept no copies of his letters, and it is impos- 
 sible if we should attempt it, to retrieve them 
 from the hands into which they were scatter- 
 ed. Mr. Rutherford's and Mr. Allen's letters, 
 that (like some of the most excellent of Paul's 
 epistles) bore date out of a prison, have a 
 mighty tincture of their peculiar prison com- 
 forts and enlargements; we have none such 
 to produce of Mr. Henry's, no pastoral letters 
 or prison letters; he was himself, in his 
 whole conversation, an epistle of Christ. 
 But we shall only glean up some passages 
 out of such of his letters as are in our hands, 
 which may be affecting and edifying. 
 
 To his son, when he was abroad for im- 
 provement at London, in the year 1685, and 
 1686, with the common business of his let- 
 ters, which was always written with a savour 
 of religion, he would intermix such lines as 
 these : " We are all well here, thanks be to 
 God, the Divine providence watching about 
 our tabernacle, and compassing us about with 
 favour, as with a shield. Our great inquiry 
 is, What shall we render? alas! our render- 
 ings are nothing to our receivings; we are 
 like the barren field, on which much cost is 
 bestowed, but the crop is not accordingly. 
 21 
 
242 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 Our heavenly Father is loading us with his 
 benefits, and we are loading him with our 
 sins; grieving him that comforts us; and 
 how long shall it be so? 0 that it might be 
 otherwise ? that our mercies might be as oil 
 to the wheels, to make us so much the more 
 active and lively in our Master's work, espe- 
 cially considering how it is with our fellow 
 servants; they empty and we fill, they Ma- 
 rah and we Naomi. There may a day 
 come, when it may cost dear to be honest, 
 but after all, to fear God and keep his com- 
 mandments, is the whole of man. I there- 
 fore commend it to you, and you to God, 
 who is a shield and a buckler to them that 
 fear him. 
 
 " We are well, but in daily expectation of 
 that which we are born, and born again to, 
 and that is trouble in this world, yet rejoic- 
 ing in hope of the glory of God, which we 
 are reaching after, and pressing towards, as 
 we trust you are also. Where you are, you 
 see more of the gliTtering vanities of this 
 world in a day, than we do here in an age; 
 and are you more and more in love with 
 them, or dead and dying to them? I hope 
 dead and dying to them, for they are poor 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 243 
 
 things and perish in the using; make many- 
 worse that enjoy them, but none better. 
 What is translated Vexation of spirit, Eccl. i. 
 2. may be read, Feeding upon wind, Hos. xii. 
 1. and can wind satisfy? the Lord preserve 
 and keep you from all evil, the Lord preserve 
 and keep your soul. We both send you our 
 love, and bless you together and apart, every 
 day, in the name of the Lord. Amen and 
 Amen. 
 
 "Be sincere, and humble, and choice in 
 your company, always either getting good 
 or doing good, gathering in or laying out. 
 Remember to keep the heart with all dili- 
 gence and above all keepings, for there the 
 fountain is, and if that be well kept and clean, 
 the streams will be accordingly. 
 
 "'Tis some short refreshment to friends 
 and relations, to see and hear from one an- 
 other, but it passeth away, and we have 
 here no continuing city, no abiding delights 
 in this world; our rest remains elsewhere; 
 those we have lose much of their sweetness, 
 from the thoughts of parting with them while 
 we enjoy them, but the happiness to come is 
 eternal. After millions of millions of ages 
 (if we may so speak of eternity) as far from 
 
244 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 an end as the first moment; and the last of 
 glory will be glory (so some read Prov. xxv. 
 27,) keep that in your eye, my dear child, 
 and it will as much as any thing dazzle your 
 eyes, to all the fading deceiving vanities of 
 this lower world; and will be a quickening 
 motive to you, to abound always in the 
 work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know 
 your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. 
 The Lord bless you, who blesses indeed. 
 
 " See that you walk circumspectly, not as 
 the fools, but as the wise; many eyes are 
 upon you, his especially, who is all eye; 
 Cave, Deus videt. Memento hoc agere; 
 our blessing with 1 Chron. xxviii. 9. 
 
 " The same which is yet the prologue of 
 yours, is of ours also. Omnia bene, laus 
 Deo! but he that girdeth on the harness, 
 must not boast as he that puts it off. While 
 the world we live in is under the moon, 
 constant in nothing but inconstancy : and 
 such changes are made in other families, 
 why should we alone promise ourselves im- 
 munity from the common lot? there would 
 be no need of faith and patience, which are 
 winter graces, if it should be always sum- 
 mer time with us. We have three unchange- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 245 
 
 ables to oppose to all other mutabilities; an 
 unchangeable covenant, au unchangeable 
 God, and an unchangeable heaven : and while 
 these three remain the same, yesterday, to- 
 day, and for ever: welcome the will of our 
 heavenly Father in all events that may hap- 
 pen to us: come what will, nothing can 
 come amiss to us. 
 
 "Keep the invisible things of the other 
 world always in your eye. He that ven- 
 tures the loss of an eternal crown and king- 
 dom, for a cup or two of puddle water (such 
 as all terrene pleasures in comparison are) 
 makes a bargain, which no less a space than 
 that which is everlasting will be sulBcient to 
 bewail and repent of. How much better is 
 it to lay up in store now a good foundation 
 for time to come, and to lay hold on eter- 
 nal life? doing those works which we would 
 be willing should hereafter follow us, yet 
 still making the blessed Jesus our all in all. 
 
 " The further progress you make in your 
 studies, you will find them the easier; 'tis so 
 with religion, the worst is at first. It is like 
 the picture that frowned at first entrance, 
 but afterwards smiles and looks pleasant. 
 They that walk in sinful ways, meet with 
 
246 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 some difficulties at first, which custom con- 
 quers, and they become as nothing. 'Tis 
 good accustoming ourselves to that which is 
 good. The more we do, the more we may- 
 do in religion. Your acquaintance (I doubt 
 not) increases abroad, and accordingly your 
 watch must be: for by that oftentimes ere 
 we are aware, we are ensnared. He that 
 walketh with wise men shall be wise. 
 
 " The return of the spring invites our 
 thanksgiving for the mercy of it. The birds 
 are singing early and late according to their 
 capacity, the praises of their Creator ; but 
 man only, that has most cause, finds some- 
 thing else to do. 'Tis redeeming love that 
 is the most admirable love ; less than an 
 eternity will not suffice to adore it in. Lord, 
 how is it! Lord, what is man! as the 
 streams lead to the fountain, so should all 
 our mercies lead us to that. We both of us 
 send you our most affectionate love and 
 blessing: blessing? that is, we pray and be- 
 seech the most blessed God, even our own 
 God, to give you his blessing, for he only 
 can command the blessing; and those whom 
 he blesses are blessed indeed. Let us still 
 hear to our comfort, that you walk in the 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 247 
 
 truth, living above the things of the world, 
 as dead to them. The Lord in mercy fit us 
 for his will in the next providence, public 
 and personal, for time is always teeming. 
 
 "Your improvement is our joy. Be sin- 
 cere and serious, clothed with humility, 
 abounding always in the work of the Lord ; 
 and when you have done all, saying I am 
 an unprofitable servant. 'Twas the good 
 advice of the moral philosopher. In your 
 converse with men, distrust; but I must 
 add, in every thing towards God, believe. 
 Expect temptation and a snare at every turn, 
 and walk accordingly. We have a good 
 cause, a vanquished enemy, a good second, 
 and extraordinary pay; for he that over- 
 comes needs not desire to be more happy 
 than the second and third of the revelation 
 speaks him to be. The God of all mercy 
 and grace compass you about always with 
 his favour as with a shield! 
 
 " I would have you redeem time, for hear- 
 ing the word in season, and out of season ; 
 your other studies will prosper never the 
 worse, especially if you could return imme- 
 diately from the closet again, with cooling 
 divertisements by the way. 
 
248 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 See your need of Christ more and more, 
 and live upon him; no life like it, so sweet, 
 so safe. Christ lis meus miki in omnia. 
 We cannot be discharged from the guilt of 
 any evil we do, without his merit to satisfy: 
 we cannot move in the performance of any 
 good required, without his Spirit and grace 
 to assist and enable for it; and when we 
 have done all, that all is nothing, without his 
 mediation and intercession to make it accep- 
 table; so that every day, in every thing, he 
 is all in all. Though you are at a distance 
 from us now, we rejoice in the good hope 
 we have through grace, of meeting again in 
 the land of the living, that is, on earth, if 
 God see good; however in heaven, which is 
 the true land of the truly living, and is best 
 of all. The Lord God everlasting be your 
 sun and shield in all your ways: see time 
 hasting away apace towards eternity, and 
 the Judge even at ihe door, and work accord- 
 ingly, wherever you are, alone or in com- 
 pany; be always either doing or getting 
 good, sowing or reaping. As for me, I make 
 no other reckoning, but that the time of my 
 departure is at hand, and what trouble I 
 may meet with before, I know not, the will 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 249 
 
 of the Lord be done : one of my chief cares 
 is, that no iniquity of mine may be laid up 
 for you, which God grant for his mercy's sake 
 in Christ Jesus. Amen. 
 
 "Be careful of your health. Remember 
 the rule, Venienti occurrere; but especially 
 neglect not the main matter. The soul is 
 the main; if that do well, all's well. Wor- 
 ship God in the spirit; rejoice in Christ Jesus, 
 and have no confidence in the flesh. God 
 be gracious unto thee, my son; redeem time, 
 especially for your soul: expect trouble in 
 this world, and prepare for it ; expect happi- 
 ness in the other world, and walk worthy of 
 it, unto all pleasing. 
 
 " A good book is a good companion at any 
 time, but especially a good God, who is al- 
 ways ready to hold communion with those 
 that desire and seek communion with him. 
 Keep low and humble in your thoughts and 
 opinion of yourself; but aim high ni your 
 desires and expectations, even as high as the 
 kingdom of heaven itself, and resolve to take 
 up with nothing short of it. The Lord guide 
 you in all your ways, and go in and out be- 
 fore you, and preserve you blameless to his 
 heavenly kingdom." 
 
 23 
 
250 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 Immediately after his son was ordained to 
 the work of the ministry at London, in the 
 year 1687, he thus wrote to him: "Are you 
 now a minister of Jesus Christ ? hath he count- 
 ed you faithful, putting you into the ministry ? 
 then be faithful; out of love to him feed his 
 lambs; as a workman that needs not to be 
 ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. I 
 hope what you experienced of the presence of 
 God with you in the solemnity, has left upon 
 you a truly indelible character and such im- 
 pressions, as neither time nor any thing else 
 shall be able to wear out. Remember Psalm 
 Ixxi. 16. It is in the eye of sense a bad time 
 to set out in; but in sowing and reaping, 
 clouds and wind must not be heeded. The 
 work is both comfortable and honourable, 
 and the reward rich and sure : and if God 
 be pleased to give opportunity and a heart, 
 though there may be trouble attending it, 
 it will be easily borne. If we suffer with 
 him we shall also reign with him. I am 
 and shall be, according to my duty and pro- 
 mise, earnest at the throne of grace on your 
 behalf, that the Lord will pour out upon you 
 of his Holy Spirit, that what he calls you to, 
 he would fit you for; especially that he 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 251 
 
 would take you off your own bottom, and 
 lay you low in the sense of your own ur\- 
 worthiness, inability, and insufficiency, that 
 you may say with the evangelical prophet, 
 Wo is me, I am undone ! and with Jeremiah 
 I am a child; and with Paul, I am nothing. 
 Where this is not, the main thing is wanting; 
 for God resists the proud, but gives grace to 
 the humble. Now the Lord give you that 
 grace to be humble ; and then, according to 
 his promise, he will make you rich in every 
 other grace.'' 
 
 On occasion of affliction in the families of 
 his children by the sickness or death of chil- 
 dren, or otherwise, he always wrote some 
 word in season. 
 
 " In the furnace again? (says he) but a 
 good friend sits by, and it is only to take 
 away more of the dross. If less fire would 
 do, we should not have it so much and so 
 often. 0 for faith to trust the Refiner, and 
 to refer all to his will and wisdom, and to 
 wait the issue — for I have been young, and 
 now am old, but I never yet saw it in vain 
 to seek God, and to hope in Him." 
 
 At another time he thus writes: "Tough 
 and knotty blocks must have more and more 
 
252 
 
 LIFE OP THE 
 
 wedges; our heavenly Father, when he 
 judges, will overcome. We hear of the 
 death of dear S. T. and chide ourselves for 
 being so often pleased with his little pretty- 
 fashions, lest we offended therein, by being 
 too much so. No rival must sit with Him in 
 his throne, who deserves all our love and 
 joy, and has too little of it." 
 
 At another time upon the death of an- 
 other little one : " The dear little one (says 
 he) made but a short passage through this to 
 another world, where it is to be for ever a 
 living member of the great body, whereof 
 Jesus Christ is the ever-living head; but for 
 which hope there were cause for sorrow 
 indeed. If he that gives takes, and it is but 
 his own, why should we say, What dost 
 thou ? 
 
 At another time upon the like occasion : 
 " Our quiver of children's children is not so 
 full, but God can soon empty it; 0 for grace, 
 grace at such a time, which will do that that 
 nature cannot. The God of all grace supply 
 your need and ours, according to his riches in 
 glory. The Lord is still training you up in 
 his good school; and though no affliction for 
 the present be joyous, but grievous, never- 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 253 
 
 theless afterwards it yields well ; yonr work 
 is in every thing to bring your will to the 
 will of God." 
 
 To one of his daughters concerning her 
 little ones, he thus writes: "They are but 
 bubbles: we have many warnings to sit 
 loose; the less we rely upon them in our 
 joys and hopes, the more likely to have them 
 continued to us. Our God is a jealous God, 
 nor will he suffer the creature to usurp his 
 throne in our affections." 
 
 Upon the death of a little child but a few 
 days old, he thus writes: " The tidings of the 
 death of your little one were afflicting to us, 
 but the clay must not say to the potter. What 
 dost thou ? If he that took be the same that 
 gave, and what he gave and took was his 
 own, by our own consent, it becomes us to 
 say. Blessed be the name of the Lord. I 
 hope you have been learning to acknowledge 
 God in all events, and to take all as from his 
 hand, who has given us to know, I say, to 
 know (for Paul says so) that all things do 
 work together, (not only shall, but do) for 
 our good, that we may be more and more 
 partakers of his holiness. He can make the 
 two left as comfortable to you as all the 
 
254 
 
 LIFE OP THE / 
 
 three, as all your five could have been. 
 However, if all the cisterns were drawn dry- 
 while you have your fountain to go to, you 
 are well ; you may also by faith look for- 
 ward, and say, it was a covenant child, and 
 through mercy, we shall see it again in a bet- 
 ter world." 
 
 Upon the sickness of a dear child, he thus 
 writes to the parent: "You and we are 
 taught to say, It is the Lord: upon his will 
 must we wait, and to it must we submit in 
 every thing; not upon constraint, but of 
 choice: not only because he is the potter and 
 we the clay, and therefore in a way of sove- 
 reignty he may do what he pleases with us 
 and ours; — but because he is our Father, and 
 will do nothing but what shall be for good 
 to us. The more you can be satisfied in this, 
 and the more willing to resign, the more like- 
 ly to have. Be strong therefore in the grace 
 which is in Christ Jesus; it is given for such 
 a time of need as this. I hope your fears 
 and ours will be prevented, and pray they 
 may; but thanks be to God, we know the 
 worst of it, and that worst has no harm in it, 
 while the better part is ours, which cannot 
 be taken away from us." 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 255 
 
 To one of his children in affliction he 
 writes thus: "It is a time of trial with you, 
 according to the will of your and our hea- 
 venly Father. Though you see not yet 
 what he means by it, you shall see. He 
 means you good, and not hurt ; he is show- 
 ing you the vanity of all things under the 
 sun, that your happiness lies not in them, 
 but in himself only; that they and we are 
 passing away, withering flowers ; that there- 
 fore we may learn to die to them, and live 
 above them, placing our hope and happiness 
 in better things, trusting in him alone who 
 is the rock of ages, who fails not, neither can 
 fail, nor will fail those that fly to Him. I 
 pray you, think not a hard thought of him, 
 no not one hard thought, for he is good, and 
 doth good in all he doth, and therefore all 
 shall work for good: but then, as you are 
 called according to his purpose (blessed be 
 his name for it) so you must love him, and 
 love (you know) thinks no evil, but puts the 
 best construction upon all that the person 
 loved says or does, and so must you, though 
 now for a season, if need be, you are in hea- 
 viness." 
 
 At another time: "Your t'mes, and the 
 
256 
 
 LIFE OF THE 
 
 times of yours, are in the Lord's good hand, 
 whose will is his wisdom. It is one thing 
 (as we read and observed this morning, out 
 of Ezek. xxii.) to be put into a furnace and 
 left there as dross to be consumed; and an- 
 other thing to be put in as gold or silver to 
 be melted for use, and to have the refiner 
 set by. " You know whom you have be- 
 lieved, keep your hold of the everlasting 
 covenant: he is faithful that hath promised. 
 We pray for you, and we give thanks for 
 you daily, for the cup is mixed, therefore 
 trust in the Lord for ever, and rejoice in the 
 Lord always; again I say rejoice.'' 
 
 To one of his sons-in-law that was a little 
 engaged in building, he thus writes: "Be 
 sure to take God along with you in this, as 
 in all your other affairs; for except he build 
 the house, they labour in vain that build it. 
 Count upon troublesome occurrences in it, 
 and keep the spirit quiet within : and let not 
 God's time nor dues be entrenched upon, 
 and then all will be well." 
 
 It was but a little before he died that he 
 wrote thus to one of his children : " We re- 
 joice in God's goodness to you, that your 
 distemper has been a rod shaken only, and 
 
REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 257 
 
 not laid on. He is good, and doth good; 
 and should we not love him, and rest in our 
 love to him ? He saith, he doth in his to us, 
 and rejoicethover us with singing, Zeph. iii. 
 17. And have we not much more cause? 
 What loveliness in us ? What not in him ? 
 I pray let me recommend him to your love: 
 love him, love him with all the powers of 
 your sou], and out of love to him please him. 
 He is pleased with honest endeavours to 
 please him: though, after all, in many things 
 we come short, for we are not under the law, 
 but under grace." 
 
 To one of his children recovered from 
 sickness he gives this hint : " Remember that 
 a new life must be a new life indeed: re- 
 prieves extraordinary call for returns extra- 
 ordinary." 
 
 The last journey he made to London was 
 in August 1690; before he went, he sent his 
 farewell letter to his son at Chester: "I am 
 going forth this morning towards the great 
 city not knowing but it maybe jNIount Nebo 
 to me: therefore I send you this as full of 
 blessings as it can hold, to yourself, my 
 daughter your wife, all the rest of my daugh- 
 ters, their husbands, and all the little ones, 
 
258 LIFE OF THE REV. PHILIP HENRY. 
 
 together and severally. If I could command 
 the blessings, I would; but I pray to Him 
 that hath and doth, and I trust will. The 
 Lord bless you, and keep you, and lift up 
 the light of his countenance upon you. As 
 you have received, and you for your part 
 preached Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in 
 him: keeping conscience always void of 
 offence, both towards God, and towards all 
 men. Love your mother, and be dutiful to 
 her, and live in love and peace among your- 
 selves, and the God of love and peace that 
 hath been, will be with you. Amen." 
 
 FINIS. 
 
CATALOGUE OF BOOKS 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION. 
 
 The Board of Publication of the Presbyte- 
 rian Church in the United States of America, 
 have recently issued the following valuable 
 books: 
 
 1. The Way of Salvation Familiarly Ex- 
 plained, in a Conversation between a Father and his Chil- 
 dren. 18mo. 
 
 2. The Mute Christian under the Smarting 
 
 Rod ; with Sovereign Antidotes for every case. By the Rev. 
 Thomas Brooks. 18mo. 
 
 3. The Great Concern of Salvation. By 
 
 the Rev. Thomas Haly burton; abridged for the Board. 18mo. 
 
 4. Christian Consistency; or the connexion 
 
 between Experimental and Practical Religion: designed 
 for Young Christians. By the Rev. E. Mannering. 18mo. 
 
 5. Self-Employment in Secret: containing 
 
 An Inquiry into the State of the Soul; Thoughts upon 
 Painful Afflictions; Memorials for Practice. By the Rev. 
 John Corbet. 18mo. 
 
 6. A Treatise on the Scripture Doctrine of 
 
 Original Sin ; with Explanatory notes. By the Rev. Henry 
 A. Boardman. 18rao. 
 
 7. The Pleasures of Religion. By the Rev. 
 
 Henry Foster Burder, D.D. 18mo. 
 
8. The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, 
 
 and ils consequences to the Protestant Churches of France 
 and Italy ; containing Memoirs of some of the Sufferers in 
 the Persecution attending that event. 18mo. 
 
 9. The Utility and Importance of Creeds 
 
 and Confessions. By the Rev. Samuel Miller, D.D. 18mo. 
 
 10. The Life of John Knox, the Scottish 
 
 Reformer ; abridged for the Board from McCrie's Life of 
 Knox. 18mo. 
 
 11. The Life of Captain Wilson; contain- 
 ing an account of his residence in India; his conversion to 
 Christianity; his missionary voyage to the South Seas; and 
 his peaceful death. Abridged. IBmo. 
 
 12. Letters to an Anxious Inquirer; de- 
 signed to relieve the difficulties of a friend under serious 
 impressions. By T. Charlton Henry, D.D., late Pastor of 
 the Second Presbyterian Church, Charleston, S. C; with a 
 Biographical Sketch of the Author. Third edition, embel- 
 lished with a Portrait. ISmo. 
 
 13. A Threefold Cord; or a Precept, Pro- 
 mise, and Prayer from the Holy Scriptures, for every day 
 in the year. 32mo. 
 
 14. The Duties and Responsibilities of the 
 
 Pastoral Office, being an abridgment of the Reformed Pas- 
 tor. By Richard Baxter. ISrno. 
 
 15. The Offices of Christ; abridged from 
 
 the original work of Stevenson. By the Rev. William S. 
 Plumer, D.D. IBmo. 
 
 16. The Divine Purpose, displayed in the 
 
 Works of Providence and Grace; in a series of Letters to 
 an Inquiring Friend. By the Rev. John Matthews, D.D. 
 IBmo. 
 
 17. Presbyterianism the truly Primitive 
 
 and Apostolical Constitution of the Church of Christ; and 
 Infant Baptism Scriptural and Reasonable; and Baptism 
 by Sprinkling or Affusion, the most suitable and edifying 
 mode. By Samuel Miller, D.D. 12mo. 
 
18. The Spirit of Prayer. By the Rev. 
 
 Nathaniel Vincent. 32mo. 
 
 19. The Spruce Street Lectures, by several 
 
 Clerg^ymen ; delivered during the years 1831-32. To which 
 is added, a Lecture on the importance of Creeds and Con- 
 fessions. By Samuel Miller, D.D. 8vo. 
 
 20. A new stereotype edition of the Con- 
 stitution of the Presbyterian Church, in the United States 
 of America; containing the Conlisssion of Faith, the Cate- 
 chisms, and the Directory for the V^orship of God : together 
 with the Plan of Government and Discipline, as ratified by 
 the General Assembly, at their Sessions in May, 1821, and 
 amended in 1833. 18mo. 
 
 21. A Guide to Christian Communicants, 
 
 in the exercise of Self- Examination. By the Rev. William 
 Trail. 32mo. 
 
 22. A Friendly Visit to the House of 
 
 Mourning. By the Rev. Richard Cecil. 32mo. 
 
 23. The Doctrine of Regeneration. Se- 
 lected from the Writings of the Rev. Stephen Charnock. 
 12mo. 
 
 24. Love to Christ ; chiefly extracted from 
 
 the " True Christian's Love of the Unseen Christ." By 
 Thomas Vincent. 32mo. 
 
 25. The Life of Major General Andrew 
 
 Burn, of the Royal Marines. 18mo. 
 
 26. Memoir of Lieutenant Colonel Black- 
 
 ader. 18mo. 
 
 27. Memoir of the Rev. George Trosse, 
 
 of Exeter, England. 18mo. 
 
 28. Scripture Portions for the Afflicted, 
 
 especially the Sick ; with Reflections from various authors. 
 18mo. 
 
 29. The Destruction of Jerusalem, an irre- 
 sistible pr oof of the Divine origin of Christianity. 18mo. 
 
30. The Christian's Great Interest; or the 
 
 Trial of a Saving Interest in Christ, and the way to attain 
 it. By Rev. William Guthrie, minister at New Kilmarnock, 
 Scotland, 1605. With an Introductory Essay, by the Rev. 
 Dr. Thomas Chalmers. 18mo. 
 
 31. The Life of Andrew Melville, the 
 
 Scottish Reformer. Abridged for the Board, from McCrie's 
 Life of Melville. 18mo. 
 
 32. The Lives of the Patriarchs. 18mo. 
 
 33. An Exposition of a Portion of the 
 
 Epistle to the Romans, in the form of Questions and An- 
 swers. By J. J. Janeway, D.D. 18mo. 
 
 34. A Blow at the Root of Antinomianism. 
 
 By the Rev. John Flavel. 32mo. 
 
 35. The Fulfilling of the Scripture, for 
 
 Confirming Believers and Convincing Unbelievers. By the 
 Rev, Robert Fleming. Abridged from the third edition. 
 18mo. 
 
 36. Lime Street Lectures; a Defence of 
 
 some Important Doctrines of the Gospel. In twenty-six 
 Sermons, by several eminent Divines. 8vo. 
 
 37. The Novelty of Popery, and the An- 
 tiquity of the Religion of Protestants, proved by Scripture 
 and History. 12mo. 
 
 38. A Series of Tracts on the Doctrines, 
 
 Order and Polity of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States of America; embracing several on practical subjects. 
 2 vols. 12 mo. 
 
 39. The Form of Government, the Disci- 
 pline, and Directory for Worship of the Presbyterian Church 
 in the United States of America. 18mo. 
 
 40. The Larger Catechism of the Westmin- 
 ster Assembly; with Proofs from the Scriptures. 18mo. 
 
 41. The Saints' Encouragement to Dili- 
 gence in Christ's service. By the Rev. James Janeway. 
 18mo. 
 
42. The Return of Prayers. By Thomas 
 
 Goodwin, B.D. 32mo. 
 
 43. The Mystery of Godliness. By the 
 
 Rev. Thomas Bradbury. 2 vols. 12mo. 
 
 44. Sketches of Church History. Com- 
 prising a regular series of the most important and interest- 
 ing events in the History of the Church, from the birth of 
 Christ to the nineteenth century. By the Rev. James 
 Wharey. 18mo. 
 
 45. The Life of the Rev. John Owen, to- 
 gether with the Life of the Rev. John Janeway, in 1 vol. 
 Abridged for the Board. 18mo. 
 
 46. The Life of the Rev. Richard Baxter. 
 
 Abridged for the Board. 18mo. 
 
 47. The Christian Education of the Chil- 
 dren and Youth in the Presbyterian Church. By Rev. 
 Samuel Miller, D. D. ISmo. 
 
 48. The Prophetic Blessings of Jacob and 
 
 Moses, respecting the Twelve Tribes of Israel. 32mo. 
 
 49. Memoirs of the Rev. John Rodgers, 
 
 D. D. late Pastor of the Wall Street and Brick Churches in 
 the City of New York. By Samuel Miller, D. D. ISmo. 
 
 50. Divine Conduct ; or the Mystery of 
 
 Providence : wherein the being and efficacy of Providence 
 are asserted and vindicated ; the methods of Providence, as 
 it passes through the several stages of our lives, opened; 
 and the proper course of improving all Providences pointed 
 out. By the Rev. John Flavel. 18mo. 
 
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