an 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 happen 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 ventures the loss of an Eternal Crown and Kingdom for a Cup or two of puddle Water such as all terâ—…ene pleasures in Comparison are makes a bargain which no less a space than that which is Everlasting will be sufficient 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 Eternal 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 't is so with Religion the worst is at first It is like the Picture that frown'd at first entrance but afterwards smiles and looks pleasant They that walk in sinful ways meet with some Difficulties at first which Custom conquers and they become as nothing 'T is good accustoming our selves to that which is good The more we do the more we may do in Religion Your Acquaintance I doubt not increaseth abroad and accordingly your watch must be for by that oftentimes e're we are aware we are ensnar'd 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 hath most cause finds something else to do 'T is 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 beseech the most Blessed God even our own God to give you his Blessing for he only can command the Blessing and those whom he Blesseth are Blessed indeed Let us still hear to our comfort that you walk in the 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 Publick and Personal for Time is always teeming Your Improvement is our Ioy. Be sincere and serious cloathed with Humility abounding always in the work of the Lord and when you have done all saying I am an unprofitable Servant 'T was 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 overcomes 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 hearing the word in Season and out of Season your other studies will prosper never the worse especially if you could return immediately from it to the Closet again without cooling Divertisements by the way See your need of Christ more and more and live upon him no Life like it so sweet so safe Christus meus mihi in omnia We cannot be discharged from the Guilt of any Evil we do without his Merit to satisfie 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 acceptable so that every day in every thing he is All in All. Though you are at a distance from us now we rejoyce 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 a pace towards Eternity and the Judge even at the Door and work accordingly where-ever you are alone or in Company 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 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 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 Man if that do well all 's well Worship God in the Spirit rejoyce in Christ Iesus 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 Happiness 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 always ready to hold Communion with those that desire and seek Communion with him Keep low and humble in your Thoughts and Opinion of your self but aim high in your Desires and Expectations even as high as the Kingdom of Heaven it self and resolve to take up with nothing short of it The Lord guide you in all your ways and go in and out before you and preserve you blameless to his Heavenly Kingdom 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 counted you Faithful putting you into the Ministry then be Faithful out of love to him feed his Lambs Make it your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as a workman that needs not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of Truth I hope what you Experienced of the presence of God with you in the Solemnity hath left upon you a truly indelible Character and such Impressions as neither time nor any thing else shall be able to wear out Remember Psal. 71. 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 't will be easily born If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him I am and shall be
put a Lustre upon all his other Graces This Character of him minds me of a Passage I have sometimes heard him tell us a check to the forwardness and conference of young Men That once at a Meeting of Ministers a Question of Moment was started to be debated among them upon the first proposal of it a confident young Man shoots his Bolt presently Truly saith he I hold it so You hold Sir saith a grave Minister it becomes you to hold your Peace Besides his frequent preaching of the Lectures about him he was a constant and diligent Attendant upon those within his reach as a Hearer and not only wrote the Sermons he heard but afterwards recorded in his Diary what in each Sermon reach'd his Heart affected him and did him good adding some proper pious Ejaculations which were the Breathings of his Heart when he meditated upon and prayed over the Sermon What a wonderful degree of Piety and Humility doth it evidence for one of so great acquaintance with the things of God to write This I learnt out of such a Sermon and this was the Truth I made up to my self out of such a Sermon and indeed something out of every Sermon His diligent improvement of the Woâ—…d preach'd contributed more than any one thing as a means to his great Attainments of Knowledge and Grace He would say sometimes that one great use of Week-day Lectures was that it gave Ministers an opportunity of hearing one another preach by whiâ—…h they are likely to profit when they hear not as Masters but as Scholars not as Censors but as Learners His great Friend and Companion and Fellow Labourer in the Work of the Lord was the worthy Mr. Richard Steel Minister of Hanmer one of the next Parishes to Worthenbury whose praise is in the Churches of Christ for his Excellent and Useful Treatises The Husbandman's Calling An Antidote against Distractions and several others He was Mr. Henry's alter idem the Man of his Counsel with him he joined frequently at Hanmer and else-where in Christian Conference and in Days of Humiliation and Prayer Besides their Meetings with other Ministers at Publick Lectures after which it was usual for them to spend some time among themselves in set Disputations in Latin This was the Work that in those Days was carried on among Ministers who made it their Business as Iron sharpens Iron to provoke one another to Love and to good Works What was done of this kind in Worcestershire Mr. Baxter tells us in his Life In the beginning of his Days he often laboured under Bodily Distempers it was fear'd that he was in a Consumption and some blamed him for taking so much pains in his Ministerial Work suggesting to him Master spare thy self One of his Friends told him he lighted up all his Pound of Candles together and that he could not hold out long at that rate and wished him to be a better Husband of his Strength But he often reflected upon it with comfort afterwards that he was not influenced by such Suggestions The more we do the more we may do so he would sometimes say in the Service of God When his Work was sometimes more than ordinary and bore hard upon him he thus appealed to God Thou knowest Lord how well contented I am to spend and to be spent in thy Service and if the outward Man decay O let the inward Man be renewed Upon the returns of his Indisposition he expresseth a gâ—…eat Concern how to get Spiritual good by it to come out of the â—…urnace and leave some Dross behind for it is a great Loss to loose an Affliction He mentions it as thaâ—… which he hoped did him good that he was ready to look upon every return of Distemper as a Summons to the Grave thus he learn'd to dye daily I find saith he my earthly Tabernacle tâ—…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 Iesus Christ and the good Spirit of Grace Even so Amen This was both his Strength and his Song under his Bodily Infirmities While he was at Worthenbury he constantly laid by the Tenth of his Income for the Poor which he carefully and faithfully dispos'd of in the liberal things which he devis'd especially the teaching of poor Children And he would recommend it as a good Rule to lay by for Charity in some proportion according as the Circumstances are and then it will be the easier to lay out in Charity we shall be the more apt to seek for opportunities of doing good when we have Money lying by us of which we have said This is not our own but the Poors 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 with that which he cannot loose And yet to prove Alms to be Righteousness and to exclude all Boasting of them he often express'd himself in these words of David Of thine own Lord have we given thee In the Year 1658. the Ministers of that Neighbourhood began to enlarge their Correspondence with the Ministers of North-Wales and several Meetings they had at Ruthin and other places that Year for the settling of a Correspondence and the promoting of Unity and Love and good Understanding among themselves by entring into an Association like those some years before of Worcestershire and Cumberland to which as their pattern those two having been Published they did refer themselves They appointed particular Associations and notwithstanding the differences of Apprehension that were among them some being in their Judgments Episcopal others Congregational and others Classical they agreed to lay aside the thoughts of Matters in Variance and to give to each other the Right Hand of Fellowship that with one Shoulder and with one Consent they might Study each in their places to promote the Common Interest of Christ's Kingdom and the Common Salvation of precious Souls He observ'd that this Year after the Death of Oliver Cromwell there was generally throughout the Nation a great Change in the Temper of God's People and a mighty tendency towards Peace and Unity as if they were by Consent weary of their long clashings which in his Diary he expresseth his great Rejoycing in and his Hopes that the time was at Hand when Iudah should no longer vex Ephraim nor Ephraim envy Iudah neither should they learn War any more And though these hopes were soon disappointed by a Change of the Scene yet he would often speak of the Experience of that and the following Year in those parts as a Specimen of what may yet be expected and therefore in Faith prayed for when the Spirit shall be poured out upon us from on high But alas Who shall live when God doth this From this Experience he likewise gather'd this Observation That it is not so much our Difference of Opinion that doth us
whenever it may be had and an Ear open to all Overtures of that kind The two Motto's proper for the great Guns are applicable to this Ratio ultima Regum and Sic quaerimus Pacem Four Rules he sometimes gave to be observed in our Converse with Men Have Communion with few Be familiar with one Deal justly with all Speak evil of none He was noted for an extraordinary neat Husband about his House and Ground which he would often say he could not endure to see like the Field of the Sloathful and the Vineyard of the Man void of Understanding And it was strange how easily one that had been bred up utterly a Stranger to such things yet when God so ordered his Lot acquainted himself with and accommodated himself to the Affairs of the Country making it the Diversion of his vacant Hours to over-see his Gardens and Fields when he better understood that known Epode of Horace Beatus ille qui procul negotiis than he did when in his Youth he made an ingenious Translation of it His care of this kind was an Act of Charity to poor Labourers whom he employed and it was a good Example to his Neighbours as well as for the Comfort of his Family His Converse likewise with these things was excellently improved for Spiritual purposes by occasional Meditations hints of which there are often in his Diary as those that Conversed with him had many in Discourse Instances of this were easie but endless to give He us'd to say that therefore many of the Scripture Parables and Similitudes are taken from the common Actions of this Life that when our Hands are employed about them our Hearts may the more easily pass through them to Divine and Heavenly things I have heard him often blame those whose irregular Zeal in the Profession of Religion makes them to neglect their Worldly Business and let the House drop through the affairs of which the good Man will order with Discretion and he would tell sometimes of a Religious Woman whose Fault it was how she was convinced of it by means of an intelligent godly Neighbour who coming into the House and finding the good Woman far in the Day in her Closet and the House sadly neglected Children not tended Servants not minded What saith he is there no fear of God in this House which much startled and affected the good Woman that over-heard 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 Callings in the World as that they may not clash or interfere I have heard it observed from Eccl. 7. 16. That there may be over-doing in well-doing I cannot omit one little passage in his Diary because it may be Instructive When he was once desired to be bound for one that had upon a particular occasion been Bound for him he writes Solomon saith He that hateth Suretiship is sure but he saith also he that hath Friends must shew himself friendly But he always cautioned those that became Sureties not to be Bound for any more than they knew themselves able to pay nor for more than they would be willing to pay if the Principal fail His House at Broad-Oake was by the Road-side which tho' it had its inconveniencies yet he would say pleased him well because it gave his Friends an opportunity of calling on him the oftner and gave him an opportunity of being kind to Strangers and such as were any way distressed upon the Road to whom he was upon all occasions cheerfully ready fully answering the Apostles Character of a Bishop that he must be of good Behaviour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 decent affable and obliging and given to Hospitality 1 Tim. 3 2. like Abraham sitting at his Tent Door in quest of Opportunities to do good If he met with any poor near his House and gave them Alms in Money yet he would bid them go to his Door besides for Relief there He was very tender and compassionate towards poor Strangers and Travellers though his Charity and Candor were often imposed upon by Cheats and Pretenders whom he was not apt to be suspicious of but would say in the most favourable sense Thou knowest not the Heart of a Stranger If any ask'd his Charity whose Representation of their Case he did not like or who he thought did amiss to take that Course he would first give them an Alms and then mildly reprove them And labour to convince them that they were out of the way of Duty and that they could not expect that God should bless them in it and would not chide them but reason with them And he would say if he should tell them of their Faults and not give them an Alms the Reproof would look only like an Excuse to deny his Charity and would be rejected accordingly In a word his greatest Care about the things of this World was how to do good with what he had and to devise liberal things desiring to make no other Accession to his Estate but only that Blessing which attends Beneficence He did firmly believe and it should seem few do that what is given to the Poor is lent to the Lord who will pay it again in kind or kindness and that Religion and Piety is undoubtedly the best Friend to outward Prosperity and he found it so for it pleased God abundantly to bless his Habitation and to make a Hedge about him and about his House and about all that he had round about And though he did not delight himself in the abundance of Wealth yet which is far better he delighted himself in the abundance of Peace Psal. 37. 11. All that he had and did observably Prospered so that the Country oftentimes took Notice of it and called his Family a Family which the Lord had Blessed And his Comforts of this kind were as he us'd to pray they might be Oyl to the Wheels of his Obedience and in the use of these things he served the Lord his God with joyfulness and gladness of Heart yet still mindful of and grieved for the Affliction of Ioseph He would say sometimes when he was in the midst of the Comforts of this Life as that good Man All this and Heaven too surely then we serve a good Master Thus did the Lord bless him and make him a Blessing and this abundant Grace through the Thanksgiving of many redounded to the Glory of God Having given this general Account of his Circumstances at Broad-Oak we shall now go on with his Story especially as to the Exercise of his Ministry there and thereabouts for that was his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the thing in which he was and to which he wholly gave himself taking other things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 After this Settlement at Broad-Oak whenever there was Preaching at Whitewell Chappel as usually there was two Lord's days in the Month
World but saith he I have not yet subdued the little World my self At his Thirty third Year he hath this Humble Reflection A long time lived to small purpose What shall I do to redeem it And at another I may Mourn as Caesar did when he Reflected upon Alexander ' s early Atchievements that others younger than I am have done much more than I have done for God the God of my life And to mention no more when he had lived Forty two Years he thus writes I would be loth to live it over again least instead of making it better I should make it worse and besides every Year and Day spent on Earth is lost in Heaven This last Note minds me of a Passage I have heard him tell of a Friend of his who being grown into Years was asked how old he was and answer'd On the wrong side of Fifty Which said Mr. Henry he should not have said for if he was going to Heaven it was the right side of Fifty He always kept a Will by him ready made and it was his Custom yearly upon the return of his Birth-day to Review and if occasion were to Renew and Alter it For it is good to do that at a set time which it is very good to do at some time The Last Will he made bears Date This 24th day of August 1695. being as he said the day of the Year on which I was Born 1631. and also the day of the Year on which by Law I Died as did also near Two thousand Faithful Ministers of Iesus Christ 1662. alluding to that Clause in the Act of Uniformity which disposeth of the Places and Benefices of Ministers not Conforming as if they were naturally Dead His Father's Name was Iohn Henry the Son of Henry Williams of Brittons Ferry betwixt Neath and Swansey in Glamorganshire According to the old Welsh Custom some say conformable to that of the ancient Hebrews but now almost in all Places laid aside the Father's Christian Name was the Sons Sirname He had left his Native Country and his Father's House very Young unprovided for by his Relations but it pleased God to bless his Ingenuity and Industry with a considerable Income afterwards which enabled him to live Comfortably himself to bring up his Children well and to be kind to many of his Relations but Publick Events making against him at his latter End when he Dy'd he left little behind him for his Children but God graciously took care of them Providence brought this Mr. Iohn Henry when he was Young to be the Earl of Pembroke'â—… Gentleman whom he served many Years The Earl coming to be Lord Chamberlain preferred him to be the King's Servant He was first made Keeper of the Orchard at White-hall and afterwards Page of the Back Stairs to the King 's Second Son Iames Duke of York which place obliged him to a Personal Attendance upon the Duke in his Chamber He liv'd and dy'd a Courtier a hearty Mourner for his Royal Master King Charles the First whom he did not long survive He continued during all the War time in his House at White-Hall though the Profits of his Places ceased The King passing by his Door under a Guard to take Water when he was going to Westminster to that which they call'd his Tryal enquir'd for his old Servant Mr. Iohn Henry who was ready to pay his due respects to him and pray'd God to Bless his Majesty and to Deliver him out of the Hands of his Enemies for which the Guard had like to have been rough upon him His Mother was Mrs. Magdalen Rochdale of the Parish of St. Martins in the Fields in Westminster She was a vertuous pious Gentlewoman and one that fear'd God above many She was altogether dead to the Vanities and Pleasures of the Court tho' she liv'd in the midst of them She look'd well to the ways of her Houshold Prayed with them daily Catechized her Children and taught them the good Knowledge of the Lord betimes I have heard him speak of his Learning Mr. Perkins his Six Principles when he was very Young and he often mentioned with Thankfulness to God his great Happiness in having such a Mother who was to him as Lois and Eunice were to Timothy acquainting him with the Scriptures from his Childhood And there appearing in him early inclinations both to Learning and Piety she devoted him in his tender Years to the Service of God in the work of the Ministry She Dyed of a Consumption March 6. 1645. leaving behind her only this Son and Five Daughters A little before she Dyed she had this saying My Head is in Heaven and my Heart is in Heaven it is but one step more and I shall be there too His Susceptors in Baptism were Philip Earl of Pembroke who gave him his Name and was kind to him as long as he lived as was also his Son Philip after him Iames Earl of Carlile and the Countess of Salsbury Prince Charles and the Duke of York being somewhat near of an Age to him he was in his Childhood very much an Attendant upon them in their Play and they were often with him at his Father's House and were wont to tell him what Preferment he should have at Court as soon as he was fit for it He kept a Book to his Dying Day which the Duke of York gave him and I have heard him bewail the loss of Two curious Pictures which he gave him likewise Arch-bishop Laud took a particular Kindness to him when he was a Child because he would be very officious to attend at the Water-Gate which was part of his Fathers Charge in White-hall to let the Arch-Bishop through when he came late from Council to cross the Water to Lambeth These Circumstances of his Childhood he would sometimes speak of among his Friends not as glorying in them but taking occasion from thence 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 that it hath been said though Blessed be God it is not a Rule without exception Exeat ex aulâ qui velit esse pius The breaking up and scattering of the Court by the Calamities of 1641. as it dashed the expectations of his Court Preferments so it prevented the danger of Court Entanglements And though it was not like Mofes's 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 his Removal from it and blessed God who chose his Inheritance so much better for him Yet it may not be improper to observe here what was obvious as well as aimable to all who Convers'd with him viz. that he had the most sweet and obliging air of Courtesie and Civility that could be which some attributed in part to his early Education at Court His Meen and Carriage was always so very
were not in us and yet this withal we can say and have said it some of us with Tears We are grieved that we have sinned 〈◊〉 For time to come we are resolâ—…ed by God's Gâ—…ce to walk in new Obedience and yet leâ—…g we are not Angels but Men and Women compassed about with Infirmities and Temptations it is possible we may fall but if we do it is our declared Resolution to submit to Admonition and censure according to the Rule of the Gospel And all along he took care so to manage his Admissions to that Ordinance as that the weak might not be discouraged and yet the Ordinance might not be profaned He would tell those whom he was necessitated to debar from the Ordinance for Ignorance that he would undertake if they were but truly willing they might in a Weeks time by the Blessing of God upon their diligent use of Means Reading Prayer and Conference get such a competent Measure of Knowledge as to be able to â—…scern the Lord's Body And those that had been scandalous if they would but come in and declare their Repentance and Resolutions of new Obedience they should no longer be excluded To give a Specimen of his lively Administrations of that Ordinance let me transcribe the Notes of his Exhortationat the first Sacrament that ever he administred Nov. 27. 1659. I suppose they are but the Hints of what he enlarged more upon for he had always a great fluency upon such occasions Dearly beloved in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ We are met together this day about the most solemn weighty Service under Heaven we are come to a Feast where the Feast-maker is God the Father the Provision God the Son whose Flesh is Meat indeed and whose Blood is Drink indeed the Guests a company of poor Sinners unworthy such an Honour the Crumbs under the Table were too good for us and yet we are admitted to tast of the Provision upon 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 saying it to you ô believing Souls Cant. 5. 1. Eat O Friends drink yea drinkabundantly O Beloved The end of this Feast is to keep in remembrance the Death of Christ and our Deliverance by it and thereby to convey spiritual Nourishment and Refreshment to our Souls But withal give me leave to ask you one Question What Appetite have you to this Feast Are you come hungring and thirsting such have the Promise they shall be filled He filleth the Hungry with good things but the Rich are sent empty away a Honey-Comb to a full Soul is no Honey-Comb Canst thou say as Christ said With desire I have desired to eat this In this Ordinance here 's Christ and all his Benefits exhibited to thee Art thou weak here 's Bread to strengthen thee Art thou sad here 's Wine to comfort thee What is it thou standest in need of a Pardon here it is seal'd in Blood take it by Faith as I offer it to you in the Name of the Lord Jesus though thy Sins have been as Scarlet they shall be as Wool if thou be willing and obedient It may be here are some that have been Drunkards Swearers Scoffers at Godliness Sabbath-breakers and what not And God hath put it into your Hearts to humble your selves to mourn for and turn from all your Abominations O come hither here 's forgiveness for thee What else is it thou wantest O saith the poor Soul I would have more of the Spirit of Grace more Power against Sin especially my own Iniquity why here it is for thee from the fulness that is in Jesus Christ we receive and Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. We may say as David did Psal. 108. 7 8. God hath spoken in his Holiness and then Gilead is mine and Manasseh mine So God hath spoken in his Word sealed in his Sacrament and then Christ is mine Pardon is mine Grace is mine Comfort mine Glory mine here I have his Bond to shew for it This is to those among you that have engaged their Hearts to approach unto God this Day But if there he any come hither with a false unbelieving filthy hard Heart I do warn you seriously and with Authority in the Name of Jesus Christ presume not to come any nearer to this sacred Ordinance you that live in the practice 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 reconcil'd to God be reconciled to your Brother and then come Better shame thy self for coming so near than damn thy self by coming nearer I testifie to those who say they shall have Peace though they go on still in their Trespasses that there 's Poyson in the Bread take it and eat it at your own Peril there 's Poyson 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 your selves here 's a Christ to save you Come O come ye that are weary and heavy laden c. It may not be amiss to transcribe also some Hints of preparation for the administring of the Ordinance of Baptism which I find under his Hand at his first setting out in the Ministry as follows It is a real Manifestation of the Goodness and Love of God to Believers that he hath not only taken them into Covenant with himself but their Seed also saying I will be thy God and the God of thy Seed Tho' to be born of such doth not necessarily intitle Infants to the spiritual Mercies of the Covenant for Grace doth not run in a Blood we see the contrary many times even godly Parents have wicked Children Abraham had his Ishmael and Isaac his Esau yet questionless it doth entitle them to the external Priviledges of the Covenant The like Figure unto Noah's Ark even Baptism doth also now save us Noah and all that were his entred into the Ark though we have cause to doubt whether they all entred into Heaven While our Lord Jesus was here upon the Earth they brought little Children to him and he laid his Hands on them and blessed them and said moreover Suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not there are many at this day that forbid little Children to come to Christ he adds the reason for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven Whether 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 their Children also are in Covenant with him and being in Covenant they have an undoubted Right and Title to this Ordinance of
the mischief for we may as soon expect all the Clocks in the Town to strike together as to see all good People of a mind in every thing on this side Heaven but the mismanagement of that difference In the Association of the Ministers it was referred to Mr. Henry to draw up that part of their Agreement which concerned the Worship of God which task he performed to their Satisfaction his Preface to what he drew up begins thus Though the main of our Desires and Endeavours be after Unity in the greater things of God yet we judge Uniformity in the Circumstances of Worship a thing not to be altogether neglected by us not only in regard of that influence which external visible Order hath upon the Beauty and Comliness of the Churches of Christ but also as it hath a Direct Tendency to the strenthning of our Hands in Ministerial Services and withal to the removing of those Prejudices which many People have conceiv'd even against Religion and Worship itself We bless God from our very Souls for that whereunto we have already attained and yet we hope some further thing may be done in reference to our closer walking by the same Rule and minding the same things The word of God is the Rule which we desire and resolve to walk by in the Administration of Ordinances and for those things wherein the Word is silent we think we may and ought to have recourse to Christian Prudence and the Practise of the Reformed Churches agreeing with the general Rules of the Word And therefore we have had as we think we ought in our present Agreement a special Eye to the Directory c. These Agreements of theirs were the more likely to be for good for that here as in Worcestershire when they were in agitation the Ministers set apart a Day of Fasting and Prayer among themselves to bewail Ministerial neglects and to seek to God for Direction and Success in their Ministerial Work They met sometimes for this purpose at Mr. Henry's House at Worthenbury One Passage may not improperly be inserted here that once at a Meeting of the Ministers being desired to subscribe a Certificate concerning one whom he had not sufficient acquaintance with he refus'd giving this Reason That he preferred the peace of his Conscience before the Friendship of all the Men in the World Sept. 29. 1658. the Lady Puleston dyed She was saith he the best Friend I had on Earth but my Friend in Heaven is still where he was and he will never leave me nor forsake me He preached her Funeral Sermon from Isa. 3. last Cease from Man whose Breath is in his Nostrils He hath noted this Expression of hers not long before she dy'd My Soul leans to Iesus Christ lean to me sweet Saviour About this time he writes A dark Cloud is over my Concernments in this Family but my desire is that whatever becomes of me and my Interest the Interest of Christ may still be kept on foot in this place Amen so be it But he adds soon after that saying of Athanasius which he was us'd often to quote and take comfort from Nubecula est citò pertransibit It is a little Cloud and will soon blow over About a Year after Sept. 5. 1659. Judge Puleston dy'd and all Mr. Henry's Interest in Emeral Family was buryed in his Grave He preached the Judges Funeral Sermon from Neh. 13. 14. Wipe not out my good Deeds that I have done for the House of my God and for the Offices thereof the Design of which Sermon was not to â—…pplaud his Deceased Friend I find not a word in the Sermon to that purpose But he took occasion from the instance of so great a Benefactor to the Ministry as the Judge was to shew that Deeds done for the House of God and the Offices thereof are good Deeds and to press People according as their Ability and Opportunity was to do such Deeds One passage I find in that Sermon which ought to be Recorded That it had been for several Years the practise of a worthy Gentleman in the Neighbouring County in renewing his Leases instead of making it a Condition that his Tenants should keep a Hawk or a Dog for him to oblige them that they should keep a Bible in their Houses for themselves and should bring up their Children to learn to Read and to be Catechized This saith he would be no charge to you and it might oblige them to that which otherwise they would neglect Some wish'd saith he in his Diary that I had chosen some other Subject for that Sermon but I approved my self to God and if I please mâ—…n I am not the Servant of Christ. What personal Affronts he received from some of the Branches of that Family at that time need not be mentioned but with what Exemplary Patience he bore them ought not to be forgotten In March 165â—… he was very much sollicited to leave Worthenbury and to accept of the Vicaridge of Wrexham which was a place that he had both a great Interest in and a great kindness for but he could not see his Call clear from Worthenbury so he declin'd it The same Year he had an offer made him of a considerable Living near London but he was not of them that are given to Change nor did he Consult with Flesh and Blood nor seek great things to himself That Year he had some disturbance from the Quakers who were set on by some others who wished ill to his Ministry they Challenged him to dispute with them and that which he was to prove against them was that the God he Worshipped was not an Idol that Iohn Baddely a Blacksmith in Malpas and the Ring-leader of the Quakers in that Country was not Infallible nor without Sin That Baptism with Water and the Lord's Supper are Gospel Ordinances that the Scriptures are the word of God and that Jesus Christ will come to judge the World at the last Day But he never had any publick Disputes with them nor so much disturbance from them in publick Worship as some other Ministers had elsewhere about that time He had some apprehensions at that time that God would make the Quakers a Scourge to this Nation but had Comfort in this Assurance that God would in due time vindicate his own Honour and the Honour of his Ordinances and those of them who will not Repent to give him Glory will be cast into the Fire One passage I cannot omit because it discovers what kind of Spirit the Quakers were of A Debauch'd Gentleman being in his revels at Malpas Drinking and Swearing was after a sort reproved for it by Baddely the Quaker who was in his Company Why saith the Gentleman I 'll ask thee one Question Whether is it better for me to follow Drinking and Swearing or to go and Hear Henry He answered Of the two rather follow thy Drinking and Swearing The Cheshire Rising this Year in Opposition to the Irregular Powers
House of Commons to the King to issue out a Proclamation for the putting of the Laws in Execution against Papists and Nonconformists which was issued out accordingly though the King at the opening of that Session a little before had declared his desire that some Course might be taken to compose the minds of his Protestant Subjects in matters of Religion which had raised the Expectations of some that there would be speedy enlargement but Mr. Henry had Noted upon it We cannot expect too little from Man nor too much from GOD. And here it may be very pertinent to observe how industrious Mr. Henry was at this time when he and his Friends suffered such hard things from the Government to preserve and promote a good affection to the Government notwithstanding It was commonly charged at that time upon the Nonconformists in general especially from the Pulpits that they were all a factious and turbulent People and as was said of old Ezra 4. 15. hurtful to Kings and Provinces that their Meetings were for the sowing of Sedition and Discontents and the like and there is some reason to think that one thing intended by the Hardships put upon them was to drive them to this there is a way of making a wise Man mad But how peaceably they carried themselves is manifest to God and in the Consciences of many For an Instance of it it will not be amiss to give some Account of a Sermon which Mr. Henry Preached in some very private Meetings such as were called Seditious Conventicles in the Year 1669. when it was a day of treading down and of perplexity it was on that Text Psal. 35. 20. Against them that are quiet in the Land Whence not to curry favour with Rulers for whatever the Sermon was the very Preaching of it had it been known must have been severely Punished but purely out of Conscience towards God he taught his Friends this Doctrine That it 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 Subjection to Governours and Government in the Lord. We must maintain a reverent Esteem of them and of their Authority in opposition to despising Dominion 2 Pet. 2. 10. 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 our Cross in our way and bear them as we do foul Weather We must not speak evil of Dignities Iude 8. nor revile the gods Exod. 22. 28. Paul checked himself for this Acts 23. 5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I did not consider it if I had I would not have said so We must not traduce their Government as Absalom did David's 2 Sam. 15. 3. Great care is to be taken how we speak of the faults of any especially of Rulers Eccl. 10. 20. The People of God do make the word of God their Rule and by that they are taught 1. 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 2. That they as well as others are to have their Dues Honour and Fear and Tribute 3. That their lawful Commands are to be obey'd and that readily and chearfully 1 Tit. 3. 1. 4. That the Penalties inflicted for not obeying unlawful Commands are patiently to be undergone This is the Rule and as many as walk according to this Rule Peace shall be upon them and there can be no danger of their Unpeaceableness They are taught to pray for Kings and all in Authority 1 Tim. 2. 1. 2. and God forbid we should do otherwise yea thô they Persecute Ier. 29. 7. Peaceable Prayers bespeak a peaceable People Psal. 109. 4. If some professing Religion have been unquiet their unquietness hath given the lye to their Profession Iude 8. 11 12. Quietness is our Badge Coll. 3. 12. ' â—…will be our Strength Isa. 30 7 15. our Rejoycing in the day of Evil Ier. 18. 18. it is pleasing to God 1 Tim. 2. 2 3. it may work upon others 1 Pet. 2. 12 13. The means he prescribed for the keeping of us quiet were to get our Hearts fill'd with the Knowledge and Belief of these two things 1. That the Kingdom of Christ is not of this World Ioh. 18. 36. many have thought otherwise and it hath made them unquiet 2. That the wrath of Man worketh not the righteousness of God Iam. 1. 20. he needs not our Sin to bring to pass his own Counsel We must mortifie Unquietness in the Causes of it Iam. 4. 1. we must always remember the Oath of God Eccl. 8. 2. the Oath of Allegiance is an Oath of Quietness and we must beware of the Company and Converse of those that are unquiet Prov. 22. 24 25. Thô deceitful Matters be devis'd yet we must be quiet still nay be so much the more quiet I have been thus large in gathering these hints out of that Sermon which he took all occasions in other Sermons to inculcate as all his Brethren likewise did that if possible it may be a Conviction to the present Generation or however may be a Witness in time to come that the Nonconformist Ministers were not Enemies to Caesar nor troublers of the Land nor their Meetings any way tending to the disturbance of the publick Peace but purely design'd to help to repair the Decays of Christian Piety All that knew Mr. Henry knew very well that his Practise all his days was consonant to these his settled Principles In May 1668. he return'd again with his Family from Whitchurch to Broad-Oke which through the good Hand of his God upon him continued his settled home without any Remove from it till he was removed to his long home above twenty eight Years after The edge of the Five Mile Act began now a little to rebate at least in that Country and he was desirous to be more useful to the Neighbours among whom God had given him an Estate than he could be at a distance from them by relieving the Poor employing the Labourers and especially instructing the Ignorant and helping as many as he could to Heaven He made that Scripture his standing Rule and wrote it in the beginning of his Book of Accounts Prov. 3. 9 10. Honour the Lord with thy Substance c. And having set apart a day of Secret Prayer and Humiliation to beg of God a wise and an understanding Heart and to drop a Tear as he expresseth it over the sins of his Predecessors formerly in that estate he laid out himself very much in doing good He was very serviceable upon all Accounts in the Neighbourhood and though it took up a great deal of his time and hindred him from his beloved Studies yet it might be said of him as the Bishop of Salisbury saith of Arch-Bishop Tillotson in his Sermon at his Funeral that he chose rather to live to the good of
the Evening of the Lord's Day I have just done the publick Work of this Day wherein before many scores of Witnesses many of whom I dare say are no little concerned for you I have absolutely freely and unreservedly given you all up to the good Will and Pleasure of our Heavenly Father waiting what he will do with us for good I am sure we have received and shall we not receive Evil also He Preached at Chester upon occasion of that sad Breach in his Family on Iob 10. 3. Shew me wherefore thou contendest wich me When two of his Children lay ill and in perillous 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 use to do I 'll never ask any thing of him again but on the contrary he shall hear oftner from me than ever and I will love God the better and love Prayer the better as long as I live He us'd to say Trades-men take it ill if those that are in their Books go to another Shop while we are so much indebted to God for past Mercies we are bound to attend him for further Mercies As he was an Intercessor for his Children at the Throne of Grace so he was upon all occasions a Remembrancer to them both by Word and Letter to quicken them to that which is good How often did he inculcate this upon them Love one another and the God of Love and Peace will be with you Do all you can while you are together to help one another to Heaven that you may be together there for ever and with the Lord. When the Families of his Children were in Health and Peace the Candle of God shining upon their Tabernacles he wrote thus to them 'T was one of Iob's Comforts in his Prosperity that his Children loved one another and feasted together The same is ours in you which God continue But you will not be offended if we pray that you may none of you Curse God in your Hearts Remember 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 rejoyced in the Visits of his Children and made that as other things which were the matter of his Rejoycing the matter of his Thanksgiving His usual saying at parting was This is not the World we are to be together in and 't is well it is not but there is such a World before us And his usual Prayer was That our next Meeting might be either in Heaven or further on in our way towards it He had in eight Years time twenty four Grand-children Born some by each of his Children concerning whom he would often bless God that they were all the Sealed ones of the God of Heaven and Enroll'd among his Lambs On the Birth of his Second Grand-Child at a troublesome time as to publick Affairs he thus writes I have now seen my Childrens 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 Baptized two of his Grand-children together at Chester publickly and Preached on Gen. 33. 5. They are the Children which God hath graciously given thy Servant He observed in what a savory pious gracious manner Iacob speaks He had spoken good Sense if he had only said They are my Children but then he had not spoken like Iacob 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 pour'd 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 Married from him but his House was fill'd again with the Children of several of his Friends whom he was by much importunity perswaded to take to Table with him All that knew him thought it a thousand pities that such a Master of a Family should have but a small Family and should not have many to sit down under his Shadow He was first almost necessitated to it by the death of his dear Friend and Kinsman Mr. Benyon of Ash who left his Children to his Care Some he took gratis or for small Consideration and when by reason of the advances of Age he could not go about so much as he had done doing good he laid out himself to do the more at home He kept a Teacher to attend their School-Learning and they had the benefit not only of his Inspection in that but which was much more his Family-Worship Sabbath Instructions Catechizing and daily Converse in which his Tongue was as choice Silver and his Lips sed 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 busie House but there is a Rest remaining We must be doing something in the World while we are in it but this fashion will not last long methinks I see it passing away Sometimes he had such with him as had gone through their Course of University Learning at private Academies and desired to spend some time in his Family before their Entrance upon the Ministry that they might have the benefit not only of his Publick and Family Instructions but of his Learned and Pious Converse in which as he was throughly furnished for every good Word and Work so he was very Free and Communicative The great thing which he used to press upon those who intended the Ministry was to study the Scriptures and make them familiar Bonus Textuarius est bonus Theologus was a Maxim he often minded them of For this purpose he recommended to them the study of the Hebrew that they might be able to search the Scriptures in the Original He also advised them to the use of an inter-leav'd Bible wherein to insert such Expositions and Observations as occur occasionally in Sermons or other Books which he would say are more happy and considerable sometimes than those that are found in the professed Commentators When some young Men desir'd the Happiness of coming into his Family he would tell them You come to me as Naaman did to Elisha expecting that I should do this and 'tother for you and alas I can but say as he did Go wash in Iordan Go Study the Scriptures I profess to teach no other Learning but Scripture Learning It was but a little before he dyed that in reading Isa. 50. he observed from v. 4. The Lord God-hath given me the Tongue of the learned c. That the true Learning of a Gospel Minister consists not in being able to talk Latin fluently and to dispute in Philosophy but in being able to speak a word in Season to
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 intended to preach upon that Text when he was at Chester the Year before but was then prevented by a particular sad occasion which obliged him to a Funeral Sermon Divine Providence reserving that Benediction which his Heart was much upon for his Valediction The Thursday following being kept as a Fast in his Sons Congregation at Chester he Preached on Luke 19. 41. He beheld the City and wept over it which proved his Farewel to the Town as the former was his Farewel to his Friends and Relations in it It was not many Weeks before he dyed that he wrote thus to one of his Children We are well here thanks be to God and are glad to hear that you and yours are well also God in Mercy continue it But why should we be well always Do we deserve it Are there no mixtures in our Obedience Are there any Persons or Families at whose door Sickness and Death never knock'd 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 a pace but the best of it is that as Time goes Eternity comes and we are in good hope through Grace that it will be a comfortable Eternity It was in April 1696. a few Weeks before he dy'd that his Sons Father-in-Law Robert Warbinton Esq was gather'd to his Grave in peace in a good old Age Upon the tidings of whose Death Mr. Henry wrote thus to his Son Your Fathers Where are they Your Father-in-Law gone and your own Father 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 Dy'd that in a Letter to his very dear and worthy Friend and Brother Mr. Tallents of Shrewsbury he had this passage Methinks it is strange that it should be your Lot and mine to abide so long on Earth by the Stuff when so many of our Friends are dividing the Spoil above but God will have it so and to be willing to live in obedience to his Holy Will is as true an Act of Grace as to be willing to dye when he calls especially when Life is Labour and Sorrow But when it is Labour and Joy Service to his Name and some measure of Success and Comfort in serving him When it is to stop a Gap and stem a Tide it is to be rejoyced in 't is Heaven upon Earth nay one would think by the Psalmists oft repeated Plea Psal. 6. 30. 88. and 115. and 118. that it were better than to be in Heaven itself and can that be A little before his Sickness and Death being Summer time he had several of his Children and his Childrens Children about him at Broad-Oak with whom he was much refreshed and very cheerful but ever and anon spoke of the fashion he was in as passing away and often told them he should be there but a while to bid them welcome And he was observed frequently in Prayer to beg of God that he would make us ready for that which would come certainly and might come suddenly One asking him how he did he answer'd I find the Chips fly off apace the Tree will be down shortly The last time he Administred the Lord's Supper a Fortnight before he dy'd he closed the Administration with that Scripture 1 Ioh. 3. 2. It doth not yet appear what we shall be not yet but it will shortly The Sabbath but one before he dy'd being in the course of his Exposition come to that difficult part of Scripture the 40th of Ezekiel and the following Chapters he said he would endeavour to explain those Prophecies to them and added If I do not do it now I never shall And he observed that the only Prophetical Sermon which our Lord Jesus Preached was but a few days before he dy'd 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 Iune 21. 1696. he went through the work of the Day with his usual vigor 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 v. 5. he took Virtue for Christian Courage and Resolution in the Exercise of Faith and the last thing he mentioned in which Christians have need of Courage is in Dying for as he was often us'd to say It is a serious thing to dye and to dye is a work by itself That day he gave Notice both Morning and Afternoon with much Affection and Enlargement of the Publick Fast which was appointed by Authority the Friday following Iune 26. pressing his Hearers as he us'd to do upon such occasions to come in a prepared Frame to the solemn Services of that day The Tuesday following Iune 23. he rose at Six a Clock according to his Custom after a better Nights Sleep than ordinary and in wonted Health Between seven and eight a Clock he performed Family Worship according to the usual manner he Expounded very largely the former half of the 104th Psalm and sung it but he was somewhat shorter in Prayer than he us'd 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 seem'd to be a complicated Fit of the Stone and Cholick together with very great Extremity The means that had been us'd to give him Relief in his illness were altogether ineffectual 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 Iordan rough but there 's no Remedy they must through it to Canaan and would tell of a good Man who us'd 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 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 Extremity he was still looking up to God and calling upon him who is a present Help in the needful Hour When the Exquisiteness of his Pain forced Groans and Complaints from him he would presently Correct himself with a patient and quiet submission to the Hand of his
before he Dyed he had this Expression Go forth my Soul go forth to meet thy God adding by and by It is now done Come Lord Iesus come quickly One present saying to him that he was now going to receive his Reward he replied It is free Grace Mr. Henry was much importun'd to Print his Sermon at Mr. Nevet's Funeral with some account of his Life and Death which he was somewhat inclined to do but was discouraged by the difficulties of the Times and it was never done But some Materials he had for it out of which we have Collected these hints Mr. Robert Fogg my old dear Friend was buried at Acton near Nantwich April 21. 1676. he dyed in a good old Age about Eighty He was Minister of Bangor in Flintshire till after the King came in and thence forward to his Death was a poor silent Nonconformist but of a bold and zealous Spirit giving good Counsel to those about him A little before he dyed he had this weighty saying among others Assure your selves the Spirit of God will be underling to no Sin Mr. Andrew Parsons sometimes Minister of Wem dyed at London October 1. 1684. He was Born in Devonshire and was Minister there some Years before the War being driven thence to London he became well known to Mr. Pym. who sent him down to Wem when that Town was Garrison'd for the Parliament there he continued in the Exercise of his Ministry till the Year 1660. He was an active friendly generous Man and a moving affecting Preacher Mr. Baxter in his Life Part 3. Page 94. commends him for a moderate Man and speaks of his being in trouble for seditious words Sworn against him which were these Preaching from 2 Tim. 3. 13. he said The Devil was like a King that courted the Soul and spoke fair till he was gotten into the Throne and then play'd pranks The Witnesses deposed contrary to the Coherence of his Discourse that he said the King was like the Devil He was tryed at Shrewsbury before my Lord Newport Mr. Serjeant Turner and others May 28. 1662. It was also charged upon him that he had said there was more Sin committed now in England in a Month than was heretofore in seven Years And that there had been more and better Preaching in England for Twenty Years past then was ever since the Apostles days He had Council assigned him who pleaded that the time limited by the Stature in which he was Indited was Expired The Court yielded it was so allowing Twenty eight Days to a Month but they would understand it of Thirty Days to a Month so he was found Guilty and Fined Two hundred Pound and ordered to be Imprisoned till it should be paid Mr. Hugh Rogers a worthy Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ turn'd out for Nonconformity from Newtown in Montgomery-shire was buried at Welshpool March 17. 1679 80. he was look'd upon as Congregational but his declared Judgment was That Ministers ought to be Ordained by Ministers and to give themselves wholly to that Work and that none but Ministers have Authority to Preach and Govern in a Constituted Church and that Christ's Ministers are his Ministers in all places and that where the word of Christ is Preached and his Sacraments administred there is a true Church He was a Man of Excellent Converse and whose peculiar felicity lay in pleasant and edifying Discourse Iuly 2d and 3d 1680. these two days brought tidings of the Death of Mr. Haines sometime Minister of Wem in Shropshire and since at New Chappel in Westminster and of Mr. Richard Edwards Minister at Oswestry both worthy Conformists pious peaceable and good Men whom I hope through Grace to meet shortly in Heaven The Lord raise up others in their room to be and do better Mr. Robert Bosier my dear Friend and Kinsman having just compleated the Twenty third Year of his Age dyed of a Fever September 13th 1680. at Mr. Doelittle's House in Islington whither he was gone but a few Weeks before for Improvement in Learning being formerly a Commoner of Edmund-Hall in Oxford and since having spent some Years in my Family and designed himself for the Service of Christ in the Work of the Ministry He was a young Man of Pregnant Parts great Industry and exemplary Seriousness and Piety and likely to be an eminent Instrument of good in his day His Friends and Relations had promised themselves much comfort in him but we know who performeth the thing that is appointed for us and giveth not account of any of his Matters Mr. Iohn Malden my dear and worthy Friend turned out from Newport in Shropshire for Nonconformity dyed at Alkington near Whitchurch May 23d 1681. a Man of great Learning an Excellent Hebrician and of exemplary Piety and a solid Preacher as he lived so he dyed very low in his own Eyes esteeming himself good for nothing though really good for every thing which was manifestly a prejudice both to his Comfort and to his Usefulness He said he was far from repenting his being a Sufferer against Conformity The Relicks of so much Learning Piety and Humility I have not seen this great while laid in a Grave But blessed be God we had such a one so long Dr. Ioshua Maddocks a beloved Physician our very dear Friend and Kinsman dyed of a Fever at Whitchurch in the midst of his Days Iuly 27th 1682. a very pious Man and especially eminent for Meekness an Excellent Scholar and particularly learned in the Mathematicks he lived much desired and dyed as much lamented Mr. Thomas Bridge who had been Rector of the higher Rectory of Malpas about fifty seven Years being aged about eighty two Years was buried at Malpas Octob. 7. 1682. In his last sickness which was long he had appointed Mr. Green one of the Curates there to preach his Funeral Sermon on 1 Tim. 1. 16. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Iesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering And to say nothing in his Commendation but to give a large Account of his Repentance upon his Death-bed c. He was a taking popular Preacher preaching oftâ—…n and almost to the last When old he could read the smallest Print without Spectacles Mr. William Cook an aged painful faithful Minister of Jesus Christ in Chester finished his Course with Joy Iuly 4. 1684. in the midst of the cloudy and dark Day See Mr. Baxter's Character of him in his Life Part 3. Pag. 98. And an honourable Account given of him by Mr. Samuel Bold of Steple in Dorsetshire in a large Preface to his Book of Man's great Duty He was eminent for great Industry both in publick and private Work great self-denial mortification and contempt of the World and a strict adherence to his Principles in all the Turns of the Times He was first Minister at Wroxal in Warwick-shire there he published two Treatises against the Anabaptists From thence he was by the Advice of the London Ministers removed to Ashby
of Communicating one that feared God and walked in his Integrity to the last had no certain Dwelling place on Earth but I trust hath one in Heaven Hic tandem requiescit Mr. Richard Steel my old and dear Friend and Companion in Tribulation and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ died at London November 16. 1692. in the Sixty Fourth Year of his Age a Man that had been greatly useful in his Generation both in the Country and at London Mr. Thomas Gilbert died at Oxford Iuly 15. 1694. formerly Minister of Edgmond in Shropshire aged 83. a learned good Man Luke Lloyd Esquire of the Bryn in Hanmer Parish my aged worâ—…hy Friend finished his Course with Joy March 31. 1695. being Lord's Day He was in the Eighty Seventh Year of his Age and had been Married almost Sixty Nine Years to his pious Wife of the same Age who still survives him He was the Glory of our little Congregation the Top branch in all respects of our small Vine and my Friend indeed When he made his Will under the Subscription of his Name he wrote Iob 19. 25 26 27. On which Text of Scripture I know that my Redeemer liveth c. Mr. Henry at the Request of some of his Relations preached a Sermon at the Licensed House near Hanmer some time after his Funeral in which Sermon he bore a very honourable Testimony to that worthy Gentleman who as he saith went to Heaven without a Blot held fast his Integrity and was lively and zealous in the Christian Profession to the end of his Days He was very Exemplary for his Love to the Ordinances of God and his Delight in attending on them his living upon Christ for Strength and Righteousness his great Humility and Condescending obliging Carriage in all his Converse He was a Man of great Courage and Resolution and yet in Prayer Tender and Self-abasing to admiration often melting into Tears in the Confession of Sin and his Charity and Moderation were known unto all Men. He lived and died a Pattern of Piety and Primitive Christianity and still brought forth Fruit in Old Age his Vigour both of Body and Mind being wonderfully preserv'd to the last and by the Grace of God he finished well and his Sun set under no Cloud Such good Men are intended to be to us as the Star that led the wise Men to Christ and as far as they do so we are to follow them Mark the perfect Man and behold the upright for the end of that Man is Peace Mr. Samuel Taylor an aged Minister of Jesus Christ and my true Friend and fellow Labourer died at Wem Iune 26. 1695. He was turned out from Edstaston Chappel near Wem by the Act of Uniformity choosing rather to beg his Bread than to wrong his Conscience He continued in Wem ever since and preached there as his Strength and Liberty would permit He had his House burnt in the dreadful Fire that was there in 1676. and had a Child born that very Night He was a Man of a very tender Spirit humble and low in his own Eyes of approved Integrity and finished well Mr. Henry preached his Funeral Sermon at Wem on 2 Cor. 4. 7. We have this Treasure in Eartheâ—… Vessels September 21. 1695. I heard of the Death of Two holy aged Bartholomew Witnesses Mr. Richard Mayo of London and Mr. Henry Newcome of Manchester Psal. 12. 1. Mr. Edward Lawrence of London my dear and worthy Friend and a faithful Minister and Witness of the Lord Jesus died November 1695. about the Seventieth Year of his Age born at Moston in Shropshire of Magdalen College in Cambridge turned out from Baschurch in Shropshire by the Act of Uniformity in 1662. was driven from Whitchurch by the violent Persecution of the Convenricle Act in 1670. when he removed to London and there spent the rest of his Days He had many Children but great Affliction in some of them which gave occasion to his Book Entituled Parents Groans over their wicked Children It is a very high but just Character which Mr. Vincent hath given of him in his Sermon at his Funeral of which let me take leave to add some few Instances that occur to us which may be instructive besides those which we have already mentioned occasionally At his Meals he would often speak of using God's Creatures as his Witnesses that he is good and we cannot conceive how much good our God doth every moment An Expression of his great regard to Justice was that common Caution he gave his Children Tremble to borrow Two-pence and of his Meekness and Tenderness this Make no Man angry nor sad He often said I adore the Wisdom of God that he hath not seen meet to trust me with Riches When he saw little Children playing in the Streets he would often lift up his Heart in an ejaculatory Prayer to God for them calling them the Seed of the next Generation When his Friend chose to Ride the back-way into Town he pleasantly check'd him telling him that his Heart had been often refreshed when he hath look'd out at the Window and seen a good Man go along the Streets He us'd to say That Cromwell did more real Prejudice to Religion by his Hypocrisie than King Charles the Second did that never pretended to it As also that he feared the Sins of the Land more than the French A Friend of his in the Country writing to him not long before he died desired his Thoughts concerning the Differences among the London Dissenters to which he return'd this Answer I can say little concerning our Divisions which when some mens Iudgments and Tempers are heal'd will be also healed But When will that be They that have most Holiness are most Peaceable and have most Comfort M. S. PHILIPPUS HENRY de Broad-Oak in Comitatu Flint A. M. Sacri Minister Evangelii Pastor olim Worthenburiensis In Aulâ Regiâ natus piis honestis Parentibus Scholae Westmonasteriensis indéque Aedis Christi Oxon. Alumnus Regius Vir priscâ Pietate verè Christianâ Judicio subacto limato Memoriâ prastanti magno soecundo Ingenio Eruditione perpolitâ summo AnimiCandore Morum Venustate Inprimis Spectabilis in Exemplum natus Cui Sacra semper sua Fides aliorumque Fama Divini Numinis Cultor assiduus Divini Verbi Interpres exquisitissimus Aliorum Affectûs movere non minùs pollens Quam suis moderari Concionando pariter ac Vivendo palà m exhibens Christi Legem Exemplar Christum Prudens peritusque rerum Lenis Pacificus Hospitalis Ad Pietatis omnia Charitatisque ossicia usque paratus Suis Jucundus Omnibus Humanus Continuis Evangelii Laboribus succumbens Corpus Nec tantae jam par ampliùs Animae In Dormitorium hîc juxtà positum demisit Jun. 24o. Anno Dom. M DC XCVI Aetatis LXV Viro opt multùmque desiderato moerens posuit Gener ejus J. T. M. D. FINIS Books Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns