decent and respectful that it could not but win the Hearts of all he had to do with Never was any Man further from that Rudeness and Morofeness which some Scholars and too many that profess Religion either wilfully affect or carelesly allow themselves in sometimes to the Reproach of their Profession 'T is one of the Laws of our Holy Religion exemplifi'd in the Conversation of this good Man to Honour all Men. Sanctify'd Civility is a great Ornament to Christianity It was a saying he often us'd Religion doth not destroy good Manners and yet he was very far from any thing of Vanity in Apparel or Formality of Compliment in Address but his Conversarion was all Natural and easie to himself and others and little appear'd in him which a severe Critick could call Affected This Temper of his tended very much to the adorning of the Doctrine of God our Saviour and the general Transcript of such an excellent Copy would do much towards the healing of those Wounds which Religion hath received in the House of her Friends by the contrary But to return to his Story The first Latin School he went to was at St. Martin's Church under the teaching of one Mr. Bonner Afterwards he was removed to Battersey where one Mr. Wells was his School master The grateful mention which in some of his Papers he makes of these that were the Guides and Instructors of his Childhood and Youth brings to mind that French Proverb to this purpose To Father Teacher and God All-sufficient none can render Equivolent But in the Year 1643. when he was about Twelve Years old he was admitted into Westminster-School in the Fourth Form under Mr. Thomas Vincent then Usher whom he would often speak of as a most able diligent School-master and one who grieved so much at the Dulness and Non-proficiency of any of his Scholars that falling into a Consumption I have heard Mr. Henry say of him that he even killed himself with false Latin A while after he was taken into the upper School under Mr. Richard Busby afterwards Dr. Busby and in October 1645. he was admitted King's Scholar and was first of the Election partly by his own Merit and partly by the Interest of the Earl of Pembroke Here he profited greatly in School-Learning and all his Days retained his Improvements therein to admiration When he was in Years he would readily in Discourse quote Passages out of the Classic Authors that were not common and had them ad unguem and yet rarely us'd any such things in his Preaching though sometimes if very apposite he inserted them in his Notes He was very ready and exact in the Greek Accents the Quantities of Words and all the several kinds of Latin Verse and often pressed it upon young Scholars in the midst of their University Learning not to forget their School-Authors Here and before his usual Recreation at vacant times was either reading the printed accounts of Publick Occurrences or attending the Courts at Westminster-hall to hear the Trials and Arguments there which I have heard him say he hath often done to the loss of his Dinner and oftner of his Play But Paulo major a canamus Soon after those unhappy Wars begun there was a daily Morning Lecture set up at the Abby-Church between Six and eight of the Clock and Preached by Seven worthy Members of the Assembly of Divines in Course viz. Mr. Marshal Mr. Palmer Mr. Herl Dr. Staunton Mr. Nye Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Hill It was the Request of his pious Mother to Mr. Busby that he would give her Son leave to attend that Lecture daily which he did not abating any thing 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 pleas'd to make good Impressions on his Soul by the Sermons he heard there His Mother also took him with her every Thursday to Mr. Case's Lecture at St. Martins On the Lord's Days he sat under the powerful Ministry of Mr. Stephen Marshal in the Morning at New Chappel in the Afternoon at St. Margarets Westminster which was their Parish Church in the former place Mr. Marshal Preached long from Phil. 2. 5 6 c. in the latter from Ioh. 8. 36. of our Freedom by Christ. This Minister and this Ministry he would to his last speak of with great Respect and Thankfulness to God as that by which he was through Grace in the beginning of his Days begotten agāin to a lively hope I have heard him speak of it as the saying of some wise Men at that time That if all the Presbyterians had been like Mr. Stephen Marshal and all the Independents like Mr. Ieremiah Burroughs and all the Episcopal Men like Arch-bishop Usher the Breaches of the Church would soon have been heal'd He also attended constantly upon the Monthly Fasts at St. Margarets where the best and ablest Ministers of England Preached before the then House of Commons and the Service of the Day was carried on with great strictness and Solemnity from Eight in the Morning till Four in the Evening It was his constant Practice from Eleven or Twelve Years old to write as he could all the Sermons he heard which he kept very carefully Transcribed many of them fair over after and notwithstanding his many Removes they are yet forth-coming At these monthly Fa◅s as he himself hath Recorded it he had often Sweet Meltings of Soul in Prayer and Con◅ession of Sin particularly once with special Remark when Mr. William Bridg of Yarmouth Prayed and many warm and lively Truths came home to his Heart and he daily increased in that Wisdom and Knowledge which is to Salvation Read his Reflections upon this which he wrote many Years after If ever any Child saith he such as I then was between the Tenth and Fifteenth year of my Age enjoy'd Line upon Line Precept upon Precept I did And was it in vain I trust not altogether in vain My Soul rejoyceth and is glad at the remembrance of it the word distilled as the Dew and Dropt as the Rain I lov'd it and lov'd the Messengers of it their very Feet were beautiful to me And Lord what a Mercy was it that at a time when the poor Countries were laid waste when the noise of Drums and Trumpets and the clattering of Arms was heard there and the way to Sion Mourn'd that then my Lot should be where there was Peace and Quietness where the voice of the Turtle was heard and there was great plenty of Gospel Opportunities Bless the Lord O 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 it laid upon me whereby I was kept from the common 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
that then were â—…ppermost under Sir George Booth afterwards Lord Delamere and that of North-Wales under Sir Thomas Middleton could not but affect Worthenbury and the Country thereabouts Mr. Henry's Prayeâ—… for them in â—…his Diâ—…y the Day of their first appearing is Lord own them if they truly own thee He noteâ—… that Lambert's Forces which came down to Suppress them did in that Neighbourhood espouse the Quakers Cause and offer Injury to some Ministers and therefore saith he unless God intend the Ruin of the Nation by them they cannot prosper Nor did they long though in that Expedition they had Success In their Return some of Lambert's Soldiers were at Worthenbury Church hearing Mr. Henry upon a Lord's Day and one of them sat with his Hat on while they were Singing Psalms for which he Publickly admonish'd him And there being many Anabaptists among them he hath Recorded it as a good Providence that those Questions in the Cateâ—…hism which are concerning Baptism came in Course to be Expounded that Day The first Rising of the Cheshire Forces was Aug. 1. 1659. and the 19th following they were worsted and scattered by Lambert's Forces near Northwich a strange Spirit of fear being upon them which quite took off their Chariot Wheels The Country call'd it not the Cheshire Rising but the Cheshire Race Some blamed him that he did not give God thanks publickly for the defeat of Sir George Booth to whom he answer'd with his usual mildness that his Apprehensions concerning that Affair were not the same with theirs We are now saith he much in the dark never more He preach'd the Lecture at Chester soon after just at the time when Mr. Cook aâ—… eminent Minister in Chester and several others were carried Prisoners to London for their Agency in the late Attempt and the City was threatned to have their Charter taken away c. The Text in Course that day for they Preached over the latter part of that Epistle if not the whole at that Lecture happen'd to be Heb. 13 14. We have here no continuing City which he thought a word upon the Wheels at that time He Notes in his Diary that when after that the Army Rul'd disturb'd the Parliament and carry'd all before them with a high Hand there were great Grounds to fear sad times approaching and his Prayer is Lord fit thy People for the Fiery Trial. He was a hearty well-wisher to the return of the King the Spring following April 1660. and was much affected with the Mercy of it While others rejoyce carnally saith he Lord help thy People to rejoyce spiritually in our publick National Mercies 'T was upon that occasion that Mr. Baxter preached his Sermon of Right Rejoycing on Luke 10. 20. But he and others soon saw cause to Rejoyce with Trembling and to sing both of Mercy and Judgment for about that time he hath this Melancholy Remark Religion loses Ground exceedingly and Profanâ—…ss gets it Help Lord However he was very Industrious to quiet the minds of some who were uneasie at that great Revolution and that Scripture yielded him much Satisfaction Ioh. 3. 35. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his Hands If Christ be not only Head of the Church but Heir over all things to the Church we may be assured that all things shall be made to work together for good to it The Text also which the Lord put it into his Heart to preach upon on the day of Publick Thanksgiving for the King's Restoration was very comfortable to him Prov. 21. 1. The Kings Heart is in the hand of the Lord. His sence of that great Mercy of God to the Nation in the unbloody peaceable and legal Settlement of King Charles the 2d upon the Throne was the same with that of Multitudes besides both Ministers and others that were of the quiet in the Land who yet not long after suffered very hard things under him Soon after the Return of the King he notes how industrious some were to remove him from Worthenbury on which he writes this as the Breathing of his Soul towards God Lord if it please thee fasten me here as a Nail in a sure place if otherwise I will take nothing ill which thou dost with me and when press'd by his Friends more earnestly than before to accept of some other place Lord saith he Mine Eye is up unto thee I am wholly at thy disposal make my way plain before my Face because of mine Enemies my Resolution is to deny my self if thou callest me Here or any where 't is no great Matter where I am Many Years after the King's Return he Dated a Letter May 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There are two things further which I think it may be of use to give some account of in the close of this Chapter 1. Of the Course of his Ministry at Worthenbury and 2. Of the State of his Soul and the Communion he had with God in those Years The former out of his Sermon-Notes the latter out of his Diary As to the Subjects he Preached upon he did not use to dwell long upon a Text. Better one Sermon upon many Texts viz. many Scriptures opened and applied than many Sermons upon one Text To that purpose he would sometimes speak He used to Preach in a fixed Method and linked his Subjects in a sort of a Chain not confining himself to the Method of the Assemblies Catechism which some commend but he adapted his Method and Style to the Capacity of his Hearers fetching his Similitudes for Illustration from those things which were familiar to them He did not shoot the Arrow of the Word over their Heads in high Notions or the Flourishes of affected Rhetorick nor under their Feet by blunt and homely Expressions as many do under pretence of plainness but to their Hearts in close and lively Applications His Delivery was very graceful and agreeable far from being either noisie and precipitate on the one Hand or dull and slow on the other His Doctrine did drop as the Dew and distil as the soaking Rain and came with a charming pleasing Power such as many will bear witness to that have wonder'd at the gracious words which proceeded out of his Mouth He wrote the Notes of his Sermons pretty large for the most part and always very legible he wrote most of them twice over But even when he had put his last Hand to them he commonly left many imperfect Hints which gave room for Enlargements in Preaching wherein he had a very great Felicity And he would often advise Ministers not to tye themselves too strictly to their Notes but having well digested the Matter before to allow themselves a liberty of Expression such as a Man's Affections if they be well rais'd 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 Sermons in
this he did most affectionately excite us 1. To be sensible of our Loss which is better felt than exprest 'T is the loss of one that was a Father a Father to his Family to whom he was constant in unfolding the Holy Oracles a Father to the Prophets for Counsel and Conduct and Example the Sons of the Prophets never Conversed with him but they were or might have been the better for him a Father to his Congregation now left Orphans 'T is the loss of one of the Chariots and Horsemen of our Israel so eminent was he for Prevalency in Prayer Courage in Duty Conduct in Affairs Constancy in Religion and a firm adherence to his Ministerial Vows and Lastly a Contempt of the World in which as he that Warreth he did not entangle himself 2. To be sensible of those Sins which have provoked God to deprive us of him Barrenness and Unfruitfulness under his Ministry 't is for this that God hath a Controversie with us 3. To bless God that we enjoy'd him so long eaten Bread must not be forgotten 4. To be Followers of him as he was of Christ. He was a Pattern for Ministers excelling in the knowledge of the Scriptures which made this Man of God perfect and industrious to advance the Honour of Jesus Christ whom he made the Alpha and Omega of his Religion not addicted to Controversies but walking in the good old way unwearied in the Work of God it was the delight of his Heart to be laying out himself for the good of Souls Exemplary for Humility and low Thoughts of himself and his own Performances for meekness and readiness to forgive Injuries for Candor in speaking of others and their words and actions on which he ever put the best Construction and was never apt to speak evil of any Man Eminent for Family-Religion and in that an excellent Copy to all Masters of Families Those things therefore which you have heard and seen in him do and the God of Peace shall be with you These were the Heads which were copiously and excellently enlarged upon in that Sermon In the Afternoon of that Sabbath another Sermon was Preached by a near Relation of Mr. Henry's on Heb. 11. 4. And by it he being dead yet speaketh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is yet spoken of by us and yet speaketh to us The Wednesday following Iuly 1. being the Lecture in course at Danford in Whitchurch Parish Mr. Samuel Lawrence of Nantwich whose turn it was to Preach that Lecture brought up the-long train of Mourners as he express'd it in a most savoury and pertinent Discourse on Heb. 13. 7. Remember them which have or have had the Rule over you who have spoken unto you the words of God whose Faith follow considering the end of their Conversation Bishops no doubt saith he are here meant Scripture Primitive Bishops the Pastors of particular Congregations for they were such as had spoken to them the word of God and watched for their Souls v. 17. Such a one Mr. Henry was that great Man who is fallen this day in Israel removed from us but hath left behind him a good Name to be remembred a good Example to be imitated many a good word spoken to us and many a good Prayer put up for us Remember him with thankfulness that God has given such Power such Gifts and Graces unto Men. I never knew a Man said he in all my Acquaintance in whom I have seen so much of God as in good Mr. Henry whose Holy Humble Heavenly Gracious Conversation hath been to me no small Confirmation of the Truth of the Christian Religion that God gave him to you and continued him so long to see the Church in a better State than he had sometimes seen it that God Crown'd his Labours with such great Success Many Souls in Heaven and some on Earth blessing God that ever they saw his Face and that God continued him in his usefulness to the last Remember him with a quiet submission to the Hand of God in his Removal from us Sensible we must be of the stroke 't is a publick Loss a Loss to to the Ministry our Hands are this Day weak a Loss to the Nation for which he was a powerful Intercessor a Loss to this Country in which he was a burning and shining Light but yet we must acquiesce in the Divine Will The Treasure was in an Earthen Vessel and God will bring us to depend more upon himself and he is teaching us to live and live to Christ without good Mr. Henry though we have sometimes said we did not know how we could live without him Remember him to pay all Honour and Respect to his Name and Memory rise up and call him Blessed That 's a foul Tongue as well as a lying one that can say any thing of him unbecoming a Disciple Servant and Minister of Jesus Christ. Remember him to imitate his good Example Many of you will be called Mr. Henry's Followers be so indeed He was a Pattern to Ministers of Diligence Zeal Humility and great Meekness in dealing with all People which contributed abundantly to his Success his Preaching affectionate without affectation To all People he was a Pattern of Faith and Charity and Contempt of the World of Zeal and Moderation patience in Suffering and of Constancy and Perseverance to the end Remember him and remember your Sins which have provoked God to take him away Have not we grieved this good Man's Spirit c. Remember him and remember Christ's fulness who is the same v. 8. and hath the residue of the Spirit Instruments shifted Cisterns emptied but there is the same in the Fountain Remember him and remember your own Death and Heaven where he is We may think the worse of this World which is much impoverished and the better of Heaven which is somewhat enriched by the removal of this good Man Thus we have gleaned a little out of the Sermons which very well desâ—…ed to have been Published at large some of the Testimonies that were born to him by such as had had long and intimate acquaintance with him that knew his Excellencies very much and knew as little to give flattering Titles nor was it any invidious piece of Service to speak thus Honourably of one who like Demetrius had a good report of all Men and of the Truth it self Nor was it there only but from abroad that very Honourable Testimonies were given of him Sir Henry Ashhurst 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 Boreatton and in London had kept up a constant Correspondence 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 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
according to my Duty and Promise 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 would take you off your own bottom and lay you low in the Sense of your own Unworthiness Inability and Insufficiency that you may say with the Evangelical Prophet Wo is me I am undone And with Ieremiah 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 It were very easie to Transcribe many more such Lines as these out of his Letters to his Son but these shall suffice We shall next gather up some few passages out of some of his Letters to a Person of Quality in London such of them as are come to our Hands which are but few of many The beginning of his Correspondence with that Gentleman which continued to his Death and was kept up Monthly for a great while was in the Year 1686. and the following Letter broke the Ice Honour'd Sir HOping you are by this time as you intended returned to London to your Home and Habitation there I make bold according to my Promise to Salute you in a few Lines In the first place to be your Remembrancer of the Vows of God which are upon you upon the account of the many Mercies of your Journey both in your going out and in your coming in Was not every step you took hedg'd about with special Providence Had not the Angels charge over you Did not they pitch their Tents where you pitched yours Did not Goodness and Mercy follow you and should it not then be had in thankful Remembrance Where Mercy goes before should not Duty follow after If you have Mr. Angier's Life you will find there Page 88 89. a Collection out of his Diary of ten Heads of Mercies acknowledged in a Journey to heighten God's Praises and to quicken his own and others Hearts therein and they are certainly very affecting Next Sir I am to acquaint you that I have faithfully dispos'd of the Money you left with me at parting to eight poor praying Widows in this Neighbourhood as you appointed And this among all the rest of your Alms Deeds is had in Memorial before God 't is Fruit that will abound to your Account Bread sent a Voyage upon the Waters which you and yours will find again after many Days for he is Faithful that hath promised The Apostles Prayer shall be mine 2 Cor. 9 10. Now he that ministreth Seed to the Sower both Minister Bread for your Food and multiply your Seed sown and increase the Fruits of your Righteousness Amen And some time after he writes Your Acknowledging God in all your Affairs I cannot but rejoyce in as an evidence of the uprightness of your Heart towards him 't is the Life and Soul of all Religion 't is indeed to walk with God That includes as much as any other Scripture command in so few words In all thy ways acknowledge him in every thing thou dost have an Eye to him make his Word and Will thy Rule his Glory thy End fetch in strength from him expect success from him and in all Events that happen which are our ways too whether they be for us or against us he is to be acknowledged that is ador'd if prosperous with Thankfulness if otherwise with Submission as Iob The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken and blessed be the Name of the Lord. This is to set the Lord always before us to have our Eye ever towards the Lord where this is not we are so far without God in the World In another Letter As to the Accession lately made to your Estate much good may it do you that is much good may you do with it which is the true Good of an Estate The Lady Warwick would not thank him that would give her a Thousand a Year and tye her up from doing good with it I rejoyce in the large Heart which God hath given you with your large Estate without which Heart the Estate would be your Snare I have lately met with a Letter of Mr. Henry's to a Couple related to him who in a very short time had Buryed all their Children of the Small Pox to their great Grief 't was in the Year 1679. What Comfort and Counsels he Administred to them may be of use â—…o others in their Afflictions and therefore I shall Transcribe the whole Letter though it be long Dear Cosins THis is to you both whom God hath made one in the Conjugal Relation and who are one also in the present Affliction only to signifie to you that we do heartily Sympathize with you in it The Trial is indeed sharp and there will be need of all the Wisdom and Grace you have and of all the help of Friends you can get both to bear and to improve it aright You must bear it with Silence and Submission Surely it is meet to be said unto God I have born Chastisement He is Sovereign Lord of all and may do with us and ours as pleaseth him It is not for the Clay to quarrel with the Potter It was Mercy you had Children and comfort in them so long it is Mercy that yet you have one another and your Children are not lost but gone before a little before whither you your selves are hastning after And if a Storm be coming as God grant it be not it is best with them that put first into the Harbour Your Children are taken away from the Evil to come and you must not Mourn as they that have no hope Sensible you cannot but be but dejected and sullen you must not be that will but put more bitterness into the Cup and make way for another perhaps a sharper stroke You must not think and I hope you do not that there cannot be a sharper stroke for God hath many Arrows in his Quiver he can heat the Furnace seven times hotter and again and again seven times hotter till he hath Consumed us and if he should do so yet still we must say he hath punished us less than our Iniquities have deserved For Examples of Patience in the like kind we have two eminent ones in the Book of God those are Iob and Aaron of the latter it is said Lev. 10. 3 He held his Peace and that which quiered him was what his Brother Moses said to him This is that which the Lord hath said I will be sanctified and if God be Sanctified Aaron is Satisfied if God have Glory from it Aaron hath nothing to say against it Of the former it is said Iob 1. 20. he fell down but it was to Worship and we are told how he expressed himself The Lord gave
AN ACCOUNT OF THE Life and Death OF Mr. Philip Henry Minister of the Gospel near Whitchurch in Shropshire Who Dy'd Iune 24. 1696 in the Sixty fifth Year of his Age. LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside and Iohn Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultrey 1698. TO His much Honoured Friend Sir Henry Ashurst Baronet SIR THE Ministers of the Gospel are in the Scripture Language Stars in the right Hand of Christ to signifie their diffusive Light and beneficial Influences As in the future State of the Resurrection some Stars shall differ from others in Glory so in the present State of the Regeneration some Ministers are distinguish'd from others by a brighter Eminence in their Endowments and a more powerful Emanation of Light in their Preaching Of this Select Number was Mr. Philip Henry in whom there was Union of those real Excellencies of parts Learning and Divine Graces that signaliz'd him among his Brethren This does evidently appear in the Narrative of his Life drawn by one very fit to do it as having had intire knowledge of him by long and intimate Conversation and having by his Holy Instructions and the impression of his Example been made partaker of the same sanctifying Spirit The describing the External Actions of Saints without observing the Holy Principles and Affections from whence they derived their Life and Purity is a defective and irregular Representation of them 'T is as if an account were given of the Riches and Faecundity of the Earth from the Flowers and Fruits that grow upon it without considering the Mines of Precious Metals contain'd in its Bosom Now only an inward Christian that has felt the Power of Religion in his Heart can from the Reflexion upon himself and his uncounterfeit Experience discover the Operations of Grace in the Brests of others Mr. Henry was Dedicated to the Service of Christ by his Mother in his tender Age. His first Love and Desires when he was capable to make a judicious Choice were set upon God He entred early into the Ministry and Consecrated all the Powers of his Soul Understanding Memory Will and Affections with his Time and Strength to the Servioâ—… of Christ. And such was the Grace and Favour of God to him that he lost no Days in his Flourishing Age by satisfying the voluptuous Appetites nor in his declining Age by Diseases and Infirmities but uncessantly applied himself to his Spiritual Work He was called to a private place in Wales but his shining Worth could not be shaded in a Corner A Confluence of People from other parts attended on his Ministry Indeed the word of Truth that dyes in the Mouths of the cold and careless for they are not all Saints that serve in the Sanctuary had Life and Spirit in his Preaching For it proceeded from a Heart burning with Zeal for the Honour of Christ and Salvation of Souls Accordingly he suited his Discourses to the wise and the weak and imitated the Prophet who contracted his Stature to the dead Body of the Widows Son applying his Mouth to the Mouth of the Child to inspire the Breath of Life into him The poor and despised were instructed by him with the same compassionate Love and Diligence as the Rich notwitstanding the civil distinction of Persons which will shortly vanish for ever For he considered their Souls were of the same Precious and immortal value In the Administration of the Lord's Supper he exprest the just temperament of sweetness and severity with melting Compassion he invited all relenting and returning Sinners to come to Christ and receive their Pardon Sealed with his Blood But he was so jealous of the Honour of Christ that he deterr'd by the most fearful Consequences the Rebellious that indulg'd their Lusts from coming to partake of the Feast of the unspotted Lamb. He was not allur'd by Temporal Advantage which is the mark of a Mercenary to leave the first place where by the Divine Disposal he was seated When the fatal Bartholomew-day came tho he had fair Hopes of Preferment by his Attendance upon the King and Duke of York in their early Age of which the remembrance might have been reviv'd Yet he was guided by a Superiour Spirit and imitated the Self-denyal of Moses a Duty little understood and less practised by the Earthly minded rather choosing to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the good things of this World As the Light of Heaven when the Air is stormy and disturb'd does not lose the rectitude of its Rays So his enlightned Conscience did not bend in compliance with the Terms of Conformity but he obeyed its sincere Judgment After his being Expell'd from the place of his publick Ministry his deportment was becoming a Son of Peace He refus'd not Communion with the Church of England in the Ordinances of the Gospel so far as his Conscience permitted Yet he could not desert the Duty of his Office to which he was with sacred Solemnity set apart He was Faithful to improve Opportunities for serving the Interest of Souls notwithstanding the Severities inflicted on him And after the restoring our Freedom of Preaching he continued in the Performance of his delightful Work till Death put a period to his Labours After this account of him as a Minister of Christ I will glance upon his Carriage as a Christian. His Conversation was so Holy and regular so free from taint that he was unaccuseable by his Enemies they could only object his Nonconformity as a Crime But his vigilant and tender Conscience discover'd the spots of sin in himself which so affected his Soul that he desir'd Repentance might accompany him to the Gate of Heaven an excellent Testimony of Humility the inseparable Character of a Saint His love to God was supreme which was declar'd by his chosen Hours of Communion with him every day The Union of Affections is naturally productive of Union in Conversation Accordingly our Saviour promises He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him And he repeats the Promise If a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our abode with him To his special and singular Love to God was joined a universal Love to Men He did good to all according to his Ability His forgiving of Injuries that rare and difficult Duty was eminently conspicuous in the shaâ—…pest Provocations When he could not excuse the offence he would pardon the offender and strive to imitate the perfect Model of Charity exprest in our suffering Saviour who in the extremity of his Sufferings when resentments are most quick and sensible pray'd for his cruel Persecutors His filial trust in God was Correspondent to God's Fatherly Providence to him This was his Support in times of Tryal and maintain'd an equal temper in his mind and tenor in his Conversation In short he led
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
c. He acknowledgeth God in all And indeed after all this is it my dear Cosins that you must satisfie your selves with under this sad Providence that the Lord hath done it and the same Will that ordered the thing it self ordered all the Circumstances of it and who are we that we should dispute with our Maker Let the Potsherds strive with the Potsherds of the Earth but let not the thing formed say to him that formed it Why hast thou made me thus And as for the Improvement of this Affliction which I hope both of you earnestly desire for it is a great Loss to lose such a Providence and not be made better by it I conceive there are four Lessons which it should teach you and they are good Lessons and should be well learned for the advantage of them is unspeakable 1. It should for ever imbitter Sin to you you know what she said to the Prophet 1 Kings 17. 18. Art thou come to call my Sin to remembrance and to slay my Son 'T is Sin Sin that is the old Kill-Friend the Ionah that hath raised this Storm the Achan that hath troubled your House then how should you grow in your hatred of it and endeavours against it that you may be the Death of that which hath been the Death of your dear Children I say the Death of it for nothing less will satisfie the true Penitent than the Death of such a Malefactor 2. It should be a Spur to you to put you on in Heavens way It may be you were growing remiss in Duty beginning to slack your former pace in Religion and your Heavenly Father saw it and was grieved at it and sent this sad Providence to be your Monitor to tell you you should remember whence you were fallen and do your first Works and be more Humble and Holy and Heavenly and self-denying and Watchful abounding always in the work of the Lord. O Blessed are they that come out of such a Furnace thus resined they will say hereafter 't was a happy day for them that ever they were put in 3. You muâ—… learn by it as long as you live to keep your Affections in due Bounds towards Creature Comforts How hard is it to love and not to over-love to delight in Children or Yoke-fellows and not over-delight now God is a jealous God and will not give his Glory to any other and our excess this way doth often provoke him to remove that Mercy from us which we do thus make an Idol of and our Duty is to labour when he doth so to get that matter mended and to rejoyce in all our Enjoyments with Trembling and as if we rejoyced not 4. It should be a means of drawing your Hearts and Thoughts more upwards and home-wards I mean your Everlasting-Home You should be looking oftner now than before into the other World I shall go to him saith David when his little Son was gone before It is yet but a little while e're all the things of Time shall be swallowed up in Eternity And the matter is not great whether we or ours die first whilst we are all dying in the midst of Life we are in Death What manner of persons then ought we to be Now our Lord Iesus Christ himself and God even our Father be your support under and do you good by this Dispensation and give you a Name better than that of Sons and Daughters We are daily mindful of you at the Throne of Grace in our poor measure and dearly recommended to you c. We shall next gather up some Passages out of his Letters to his Children after they were married and gone from him To one of his Daughters with Child of her first Child he thus writes You have now one kind of Burthen more than ever you had before to cast upon God and if you do so he will sustain you according to his Promise And when the time of Travel was near thus You know whom you have trusted even him who is true and faithful and never yet did noâ—… ever will forsake the Soul that seeks him Though he be Almighty and can do every thing yet this he cannot do he cannot deny himself nor be worse than his Word But what is his Word Hath he promised that there shall be always a safe and speedy delivery that there shall be no Iabez no Benoni No but if there be he hath promised it shall work together for good hath promised if he doth not save from he will save through If he call to go even through the valley of the shadow of death and what less is Child-bearing 〈◊〉 he will be with you his Rod and his Staff shall comfort you and that 's well Therefore your Faith must be in those things as the Promise is either so or so and which way soever it be God is good and doth good Therefore my dear Daughter lift up the Hands that hang down cast your Burthen upon him trust also in him and let your Thoughts be established We are mindful of you in our daily Prayers but you have a better Intecessor than we who is heard always To another of them in the same Circumstance he thus writes Your last Letter speaks you in a good Frame which rejoyced my Heart that you were fixed fixed waiting upon God that your Faith was uppermost above your Fears that you could say Behold the handmaid of the Lord let him do with me as seemeth good in his eyes We are never fitter for a Mercy nor is it more likely to be a Mercy indeed than when it is so with us now the Lord keep it always in the Imagination of the Thoughts of your Heart And he concludes ' Forget not 1 Tom. 2. last When one of his Daughters was safely delivered in a Letter to another of them that was drawing near to that needful Hour he observ'd that when David said Psal. 116. 12. What shall I render He presently adds v. 13. I will call upon the Name of the Lord. As if saith he calling upon the Name of the Lord for Mercy for you were one way of rendring unto the Lord for the great Benefit done to your Sister On occasion of affliction in their Families by the sickness or Death of Children or otherwise he always wrote some word in season In the Furnace again saith 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 O 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 Wedges our heavenly Father when he judgeth will overcome We hear of the death of dear S. T. and chide ourselves for being so