Year 1687. and the other two in a Year and a half after so many Swarms as he us'd to call them out of his Hive and all not only with his full Consent but to his abundant Comfort and Satisfaction He would say he thought it the Duty of Parents to study to oblige their Children in that affair And though never could Children be more easie and at rest in a Father's House than his were yet he would sometimes say concerning them as Naomi to Ruth Ruth 3. 1. Shall I not seek rest for thee Two advices he us'd to give both to his Children and others in their Choice of that Relation One was Keep within the bounds of Profession such as one may charitably hope is from a good Principle The other was Look at Suitableness in Age Quality Education Temper c. He us'd to observe from Gen. 2. 18. I will make him a help meet for him that where there is not Meetness there will not be much Help And he would commonly say to his Children with reference to that choice Please God and please your selves and you shall never displease me and greatly blamed those Parents who conclude Matches for their Children and do not ask Counsel at their Mouth He never aim'd at great things in the World for his Children but sought for them in the first place the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof He us'd to mention sometimes the saying of a Pious Gentlewoman that had many Daughters The Care of most People is how to get good Husbands for their Daughters but my care is to fit my Daughters to be good Wives and then let God provide for them In this as in other things Mr. Henry steer'd by that Principle That a Man's Life consisteth not in the abundance of the things that he possesseth And it pleased God so to order it that all his Children were disposed of into Circumstances very agreeable and comfortable both for Life and Godliness He was greatly affected with the Goodness of God to him herein without any forecast or contrivance of his own The Country saith he in his Diary takes notice of it and what then shall I render Surely this is a Token for good All his Four Daughters were Marry'd at Whitewel Chappel and he Preach'd a Wedding Sermon for each of them in his own Family after He would often tell his Friends That those who desire in the Marâ—…ied Condition to live in the Favour of God must enter upon that Condition in the Fear of God For it 's an ill Omen to stumble at the Threshold and an Error in the first Concoction is seldom amended in the second While he lived he had much comfort in all his Children and their Yoke fellows and somewhat the more that by the Divine Providence four of the five Families which Branched out of his were settled in Chester His youngest Daughter was Married April 26. 1688. the same Day of the Year as he observes in his Diary and the same Day of the Week and in the same place that he was Married to his dear Wife twenty eight Years before upon which this is his Remark I cannot desire for them that they should receive more from God than we have received in that Relation and Condition but I would desire and do desire that they may do more for God in it than we have done His usual Complement to his New-Married Friends was others wish you all Happiness I wish you all Holiness and then there is no doubt but you will have all Happiness When the Marriage of the last of his Daughters was about to be concluded on he thus writes But is Joseph gone and Simeon gone and must Benjamin go also We will not say that all these things are against us but for us If we must be thus in this merciful way bereav'd of our Children let us be bereav'd and God turn it for good to them as we know he will if they love and fear his Name And when sometime after she was Married he parted with her to the House of her Husband he thus writes We have sent her away not as Laban said he would have sent his Daughters away with Mirth and with Songs with Tabret and with Harp but with Prayers and Tears and hearty good wishes And now saith he in his Diary we are alone again as we were in our beginning God be better to us than twenty Children Upon the same occasion he thus writes to a dear Relation We are now left as we were One and One and yet but one One the Lord I trust that hath brought us thus far will enable us to finish well and then all will be well and not till then That which he often mentioned as the matter of his great Comfort that it was so and his desire that it might continue so was the Love and Unity that was among his Children and that as he writes the Transplanting of them into new Relations had not lessened that Love but rather increased it for this he often gave thanks to the God of Love noting from Iob 1. 4. That the Childrens Love to one another is the Parents Comfort and Joy In his Last Will and Testament this is the Prayer which he puts up for his Children That the Lord would build them up in Holiness and continue them still in Brotherly Love as a bundle of Arrows which cannot be broken When his Children were removed from him he was a daily Intercessor at the Throne of Grace for them and their Families Still the Burnt-offerings were offered according to the number of them all He used to say Surely the Children of so many Prayers will not miscarry Their particular Circumstances of Affliction and Danger were sure to be mentioned by him with suitable Petitions The greatest Affliction he saw in his Family was the Death of his dear Daughter in Law Catharine the only Daughter of Samuel Hardware Esq who about a Year and a half after she was Transplanted into his Family to which she was the greatest Comfort and Ornament imaginable dy'd of the Small-Pox in Child-bed upon the Thanks giving day for King William's coming in She dy'd but a few Weeks after Mr. Henry had Married the last of his Daughters upon which Marriage he had said Now we have a full Lease God only knows which Life will drop first She comforted her self in the extremity of her illness with this word Well when I come to Heaven I shall see that I could not have been without this Affliction She had been for some time before under some Fears as to her Spiritual State but the Clouds were through Grace dispell'd and she finished her Course with Joy and a Cheerful Expectation of the Glory to be reveal'd When she lay ill Mr. Henry being in fear not only for her that was ill but for the rest of his Children in Chester who had none of them past the Pikes of that perillous Distemper wrote thus to his Son on
However you cannot but say that you had a Kindness done you to have your lives put into it Thus did he frequently deal with his Children and even Travel in Birth again to see Christ formed in them and from this Topick he generally Argued and he would often say If Infant Baptism were more improved it would be less disputed He not only taught his Children betimes to pray which he did especially by his own Pattern his Method and Expressions in Prayer being very easie and plain But when they were young he put them upon it to pray together and Appointed them on Saturdays in the Afternoon to spend some time together none but they and such of their Age as might occasionally be with them in Reading good Books especially those for Children and in singing and praying and would sometimes tell them for their Encouragement that the God with whom we have to do understands broken Language And if we do as well as we can in the Sincerity of our Hearts we shall not only be accepted but taught to do better To him that hath shall be given He sometimes set his Children in their own reading of the Scriptures to gather out such Passages as they took most notice of and thought most considerable and write them down Though this Performance was very small yet the Endeavour was of good use He also directed them to insert in a Paper Book which each of them had for the purpose Remarkable Sayings and Stories which they met with in Reading such other good Books as he put into their hands He took a Pleasure in relating to them the remarkable Providences of God both in his own time and in the days of Old which he said Parents were taught to do by that Appointment Exod. 12. 26 27. Your Children shall ask you in Time to come what mean you by this Service and you shall tell them so and so What his pious Care was concerning his Children and with what a godly Jealousie he was jealous over them take in one Instance when they had been for a week or Fortnight kindly entertained at B. as they were often he thus writes in his Diary upon their Return home My Care and Fear is lest Converse with such so far above them Though of the best should have Influence upon them to lift them up when I had rather they should be kept low For as he did not himself so he was very Sollicitous to teach his Children not to mind high Things not to desire them not to expect them in this World We shall conclude this Chapter with another Passage out of his Diary Apr. 12. 1681. This Day fourteen Years the Lord took my First-born Son from me the Beginning of my Strength with a Stroke In the Remembrance whereof my heart melted this Evening I beg'd pardon for the Jonah that raised that Storm I blessed the Lord that hath spar'd the Rest I beg'd Mercy Mercy for every one of them and absolutely and unreservedly devoted and dedicated them my self my whole self Estate Interest Life to the will and Service of that God from whom I received all Father Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come c. CHAP. V. His Ejectment from Worthenbury His Non-conformity his Removes to Broad-Oak and the Providences that were concerning him to the Year 1672. HAving thus laid together the Instances of his Family Religion we must now return to the History of Events that were concerning him and are obliged to look back to the first Year after his Marriage which was the Year that King Charles the Second came in a Year of great Changes and struggles in the Land which Mr. Baxter in his Life gives a full and clear and Impartial Idea of by which it may easily be guess'd how it went with Mr. Henry in his low and narrow Sphere whose Sentiments in those things were very much the same with Mr. Baxter's Many of his best Friends in Worthenbury Parish were lately removed by Death Emeral Family contrary to what it had been and the same Spirit which that Year reviv'd all the Nation over was working violently in that Country viz. a Spirit of great Enmity to such Men as Mr. Henry was Worthenbury upon the Kings coming in returned into its former Relation to Bangor and was look'd upon as a Chappelry dependant upon that Mr. Robert Fogg had for many Years held the sequestred Rectory of Bangor to which now Dr. Henry Bridgman Son to Iohn Bishop of Chester and Brother to the Lord Keeper Bridgeman return'd to the Possession of By which Mr. Henry was soon Apprehensive that his Interest at Worthenbury was shaken but thus he writes The will of the Lord be done Lord If my Work be done here provide some other for this People that may be more Skilful and more Successful and cut out Work for me elsewhere However I will take nothing ill which God doth with me He laboured what he could to make Dr. Bridgman his Friend who gave him good words and was very civil to him and assured him that he would never remove him till the Law did But he must look upon himself as the Doctors Curate and depending upon his Will which kept him in continual expectation of a removal however he continued in his Liberty there above a Year though in very ticklish and precarious Circumstances The Grand Question now on foot was whether to conform or no. He us'd all means possible to Satisfy himself concerning it by reading and discourse particularly at Oxford with Dr. Fell afterwards Bishop of Oxford but in vain his dissatisfaction remain'd however saith he I dare not judge those that do conform for who am I that I shall judge my Brother He hath noted that being at Chester in discourse with the Dean and Chancellor and others about this time the great Argument they used with him to perswade him to conform was that else he would lose his Preferment and what said they you are a young Man and are you wiser then the King and Bishops But this is his reflection upon it afterwards God grant I may never be left to consult â—…ith Flesh and Blood in such matters In September 1660. Mr. Fogg and Mr. Steel and Mr. Henry were Presented at Flint-Assizes for not Reading the Common Prayer though as yet it was not enjoyn'd but there were some busie People that would out-run the Law They entred their Appearance and it fell for soon after the King's Declaration touching Ecclesiastical Affairs came out which promised Liberty and gave hopes of Settlement but the Spring-Assizes afterwards Mr. Steel and Mr. Henry were presented again On this he writes Be merciful to me O God for Man would swallow me up The Lord shew me what he would have me to do for I am afraid of nothing but Sin It appears by the Hints of his Diary that he had Melancholy Apprehensions at this Time about publick Affairs seeing and hearing of so many faithful Ministers distur'b silenced and ensnared the ways
last Clause of the Act which when the Gentlemen perceived they discharged him from that Office before he had served out the Time He was much affected with it that the Burning of London happned so soon after the Nonconformists were banished out of it He thought it was in Mercy to them that they were removed before that desolating judgment came but that it spoke aloud to our Governours Let my People go that they may serve me and if ye will not behold thus and thus will I do unto you This was the Lord's voice crying in the City In the Beginning of the Year 1667. he removed with his Family to Whitchurch and dwelt there above a Year except that for one quarter of a Year about harvest he returned again to Broad-Oak His Remove to Whitchurch was partly to quiet his Adversaries who were ready to quarrel with him upon the five Mile Act and partly for the benefit of the School there for his Children There in Apr. following he buried his eldest Son not quite six Years old a child of extraordinary praegnancy and forwardness in learning and of a very towardly disposition his Character of this Child is Praeterquam aetatem nil puerile fuit This Child before he was seized with the Sickness whereof he died was much affected with some Verses which he met with in Mr. Whites Power of Godliness said to be found in the Pocket of a hopeful young Man who died before he was twenty four Years old Of his own accord he got them without Book and would be often rehearsing them they were these Not twice twelve Years he might say Not half twelve years full told a wearied Breath I have exchanged for a happy Death Short was my Life the longer is my Rest God takes them soonest whom he loveth best He that is born to day and die's to morrow Loses some hours of joy but months of sorrow Other Diseases often come to grieve us Death Strikes but once and that Stroak doth relieve us This was a great Affliction to the render Parents Mr. Henry writes upon it in the reflection Quicquid amas oupias non placuisse nimis Many Years after he said he thought he did apply to himself at that Time but too sensibly that Scripture Lam. 3. 1. I am the Man that hath seen affliction And he would say to his Friends upon such occasions Loosers think they may have leave to speak but they must have a care what they say lest speaking amiss to God's dishonour they make work for Repentance and shed tears that must be wipt over again He observed concerning this child that he had always been very patient under rebukes The remembrance of which saith he teacheth me now how to carry it under the rebuke's of my heavenly Father His Prayer under this Providence was shew me Lord shew me wherefore thou contendest with me have I over-boasted overlov'd over-priz'd A Lord's Day intervening between the Death and burial of the Child I attended saith he on publick Ordinances though sad in Spirit as Job who after all the evil Tidings that were brought him whereof Death of Children was the last and heaviest yet fell down and worshipped And he would often say upon such occasions that weeping must not hinder sowing Upon the Interment of the Child he writes My dear Child now mine no longer was laid in the cold Earth not lost but sown to be raised again a glorious Body and I shall go to him but he shall not return to me A few days after his dear Friend Mr. Lawrence then living in Whitchurch Parish Buried a Daughter that was grown up and very hopeful and giving good Evidence of a work of Grace wrought upon her Soul how willing saith he may Parents be to part with such when the Lord calls they are not amissi but praemissi And he hath this further Remark The Lord hath made his poor Servants that have been often Companions in his Work now companions in Tribulation the very same Tribulation me for my Sin him for his Trial. While he liv'd at Whitchurch he attended constantly upon the publick Ministry and there as ever he was careful to come to the beginning of the Service which he attended upon with Reverence and Devotion standing all the time even while the Chapters were read In the Evening of the Lord's day he spent some time in instructing his Family to which a few of his Friends and Neighbours in the Town would sometimes come in and it was a little gleam of opportunity but very short for as he Notes He was offended at it who should rather have rejoyced if by any means the Work might be carried on in his Peoples Souls He observes in his Diary this Year how zealous People had generally been for the Observation of Lent a while ago and how cold they are towards it now The same he Notes of Processions in Ascention Week for saith he what hath no good Foundation will not hold up long but in that which is Duty and of God it is good to be zealously affected always In this Year I think was the first time that he Administred the Lord's Supper very privately to be sure after he was Silenced by the Act of Uniformity and he did not do it without mature Deliberation A fear of Separation kept him from it so long what induced him to it at last I find thus under his own Hand I am a Minister of Christ and as such I am obliged Virtute Officii by all means to endeavour the good of Souls Now here 's a company of serious Christians whose Lot is cast to live in a Parish where there is one set over them who Preacheth the Truth and they come to hear him and join with him in other parts of Worship only as to the Lord's Supper they scruple the lawfulness of the Gesture of Kneeling and he tells them his hands are tyed and he cannot administer it unto them any other way wherefore they come to me and tell me they earnestly long for that Ordinance and there is a competent number of them and opportunity to partake and how dare I deny this Request of theirs without betraying my Ministerial Trâ—…st and incuring the Guilt of a grievous Omission In February 1667 8. Mr. Laurence and he were invited by some of their Friends to Betley in Staffordshire and there being some little publick Connivance at that time with the Consent of all concerned they adventured to Preach in the Church one in the Morning and the other in the Afternoon of the Lords day very peaceably and profitably This Action of theirs was presently after Reported in the House of Commons by a Member of Parliament with these Additions That they tore the Common-Prayer Book trampled the Surplice under their Feet pull'd the Minister of the place out of the Pulpit c. Reports which there was not the least Colour for But that with some other such like false Stories produced an Address of the
weary Souls He that knows how to do that well is a learned Minister CHAP. IX His Sickness Death and Burial IN the time of his Health he made Death very familiar to himself by frequent and pleasing Thoughts and Meditations of it and endeavoured to make it so to his Friends by speaking often of it His Letters and Discourses had still something or other which spoke his constant expectations of Death thus did he learn to dye daily And it is hard to say whether it was more easie to him to speak or uneasie to his Friends to hear him speak of leaving the World This minds me of a passage I was told by a worthy Scotch Minister Mr. Patrick Adair that Visiting the famous Mr. Durham of Glasgow in his last Sickness which was long and lingring he said to him Sir I hope you have so set all in order that you have nothing else to do but to dye I bless God said Mr. Durham I have not had that to do neither these many Years Such is the comfort of dying daily when we come to dye indeed Mr. Henry's Constitution was but tender and yet by the Blessing of God upon his great Temperance and care of his Diet and moderate Exercise by walking in the Air he did for many Years enjoy a good measure of Health which he us'd to call The Sugar that sweetens all Temporal Mercies for which therefore we ought to be very thankful and of which we ought to be very careful He had sometimes violent Fits of the Cholick which would be very afflictive for the time Towards his latter end he was distress'd sometimes with a pain which his Doctor thought might arise from a Stone in his Kidnies Being once upon the Recovery from an ill Fit of that Pain he said to one of his Friends that ask'd him how he did he hoped by the Grace of God he should now be able to give one blow more to the Devil's Kingdom and often profess'd he did not desire to live a day longer than he might do God some Service He said to another when he perceived himself Recovering Well I thought I had been putting into the Harbour but find I must to Sea again He was sometimes suddenly taken with fainting Fits which when he recovered from he would say Dying is but a little more When he was in the Sixty third Year of his Age which is commonly called the Grand Climacterick and hath been to many the Dying Year and was so to his Father he numbred the Days of it from August 24. 1693. to August 24. 1694. when he finished it And when he concluded it he thus wrote in his Diary This Day finisheth my commonly dying Year which I have numbred the Days of and should now apply my Heart more than ever to Heavenly Wisdom He was much pleased with that Expression of our English Liturgy in the Office of Burial and frequently us'd it In the midst of Life we are in Death The Infirmities of Age when they grew upon him did very little abate his vigour and liveliness in Preaching but he seemed even to renew his Youth as the Eagles as those that are Planted in the House of the Lord who still bring forth Fruit in old Age not so much to shew that they are upright as to shew that the Lord is upright Psal. 92. 14 15. But in his latter Years Travelling was very troublesome to him and he would say as Mr. Dod us'd to do that when he thought to shake himself as at other times he found his hair was cut his Sense of this led him to Preach an occasional Sermon not long before he dyed on Iohn 21. 18. When thou wast young thou girdedst thy self c. Another occasional Sermon he Preached when he was old for his own Comfort and the Comfort of his aged Friends on Psal. 71. 17 18. O God thou hast taught me from my Youth c. he observed there That it is a blessed thing to be taught of God from our Youth and those that have been taught of God from their Youth ought to declare his wondrous Works all their days after And those that have been taught of God from their Youth and have all their days declared his wondrous Works may comfortably expect that when they are old he will not forsake them Christ is a Master that doth not use to cast off his old Servants For some Years before he dyed he us'd to complain of an habitual weariness contracted he thought by his standing to Preach sometimes very uneasily and in inconvenient places immediately after Riding He would say every Minister was not cut out for an Itinerant and sometimes the manifest attention and affection of People in Hearing enlarged him both in length and fervency somewhat more then his strength could well bear It was not many Months before he dy'd that he wrote thus to a dear Relation who enquir'd sollicitously concerning his Health I am always habitually weary and expect no other till I lye down in the Bed of Spices And blessed be God so the Grave is to all the Saints since he lay in it who is the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Vallies When some of his Friends perswaded him to spare himself he would say It 's time enough to rest when I am in the Grave What were Candles made for but to burn It doth not appear that he had any particular Presages of his Death but many instances there were of his actual gracious expectation of it somewhat more than ordinary for some time before The last Visit he made to his Children in Chester was in Iuly 1695. almost a Year before he dy'd when he spent a Lords-day there and Preached on the last Verse of the Epistle to Philemon The Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with your Spirit By Grace he understood nor so much the good Will of God towards us as the good Work of God in us call'd the Grace of Christ both because he is the Author and finisher of it and because he is the Pattern and Samplar of it Now the choicest Gift we can ask of God for our Friends is that this Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ may be with their Spirit This is the one thing needful the better part the Root of the Matter the whole of Man the Principal thing the more excellent Way a Blessing indeed and the thing that accompanies Salvation The Grace of Christ in the Spirit enlightens and enlivens the Spirit softens and subdues the Spirit purifies and preserves the Spirit greatens and guides the Spirit sweetens and strengthens the Spirit and therefore what can be more desirable A Spirit without the Grace of Christ is a Field without a Fence a Fool without Understanding it is a Horse without a Bridle and a House without Furniture it is a Ship without Tacle and a Soldier without Armour it is a Cloud without Rain and a Carcass without a Soul it is a Tree without Fruit and
Heavenly Father and a cheerful acquiescence in his Heavenly Will I am ashamed saith he of these Groans I want Virtue O for Virtue now when I have need of it referring to his Subject the Lord's day before For give me that I groan thus and I will endeavour to silence them But indeed my stroak is heavier than my groaning It is true what Mr. Baxter said in his Pain there 's no disputing against sense It was his trouble as it was Mr. Baxter's that by reason of his bodily pain he could not express his inward comfort however that was it with which God graciously strengthned him in his Soul He said to those about him they must remember what Instructions and Counsels he had given them when he was in Health for now he could say but little to them only to refer them to what he had said as that which he would live and dye by It was two or three Hours after he was taken ill before he would suffer a Messenger to be sent to Chester for his Son and for the Doctor saying he should either be better or dead before they could come but at last he said as the Prophet did to his importunate Friends Send About eight a Clock that Evening they came and found him in the same Extremity of Pain which he had been in all day And Nature being before spent with his constant and indesatigable Labours in the Work of the Lord now sunk and did perfectly suceumb under its Burthen and was qâ—…ite disabled to grapple with so many Hours uncessant pain What further means were then us'd proved fruitless and did not answer the intention He apprehended himself going a pace and said to his Son when he came in O Son you are welcome to a dying Father I am now ready to be offered and the time of my Departâ—…e is at Hand His pain continued very acute but he had Peace within I am tormented said be once but blessed be God not in this Flame and soon after I am all on Fire when at the same time his extreme parts were cold but he presently added Blessed be God it is not the Fire of Hell To some of his next Neighbours who came in to see him for those at a distance had not notice of his illness he said O make sure work for your Souls by getting an Interest in Christ while you are in Health for if I had that work to do now what would become of me but I bless God I am satisfied It was a Caution he was often wont to give See to it that your work be not undone when your time is done lest you be undone for ever Towards ten or eleven a Clock that Night his Pulse and Sight began to fail of the latter he himself took notice and inferred from it the near approach of his Dissolution He took an affectionate farewel of his Dear Yoke-fellow with a thousand thanks for all her Love and Care and Tenderness left a Blessing for all his dear Children and their dear Yoâ—…e-fellows and little ones that were absent He said to his Son who sat under his head Son the Lord bless you and grant that you may do worthily in your Generation and be more serviceable to the Church of God than I have been such was his great Humility to the last And when his Son reply'd O Sir pray for me that I may but tread in your steps he answered yea follow Peace and Holiness and let them say what they will More he would have said to bear his Dying Testimony to the way in which he had walked but Nature was spent and he had not strength to express it His Understanding and Speech continued almost to the last Breath and he was still in his dying Agonies calling upon God and committing himself to him One of the last words he said when he found himself just ready to depart was O Death where is thy with that his Speech falter'd and within a few Minutes after about sixteen Hours illness he quietly Breathed out his precious Soul into the Embraces of his dear Redeemer whom he had trusted and faithfully served in the work of the Ministry about forty three Years He deparetd betwixt twelve and one a Clock in the Morning of Iune 24. midsummer-Midsummer-day in the Sixty fifth Year of his Age. Happy thrice Happy he to whom such a sudden Change was no surprize and who could Triumph over Death as an unstung disarmed Enemy even when he made so fierce an onset He had often spoke of it as his desire that if it were the Will of God he might not out-live his usefulness and it pleased God to grant him his desire and give him a short passage from the Pulpit to the Kingdom from the height of his usefulness to receive the recompence of Reward So was it ordered by him in whose Hands our Times are After the Account we have given of his great Usefulness it is easie to imagine what sorrow and Mourning there was among his Friends when they heard that the Lord had taken away their Master from their Head One that liv'd so much desir'd could not but dye as much lamented The surprize of the stroke put People into a perfect astonishment and many said the Lord remov'd him so suddenly because he would not deny the many Prayers that would have been put up for his Recovery had it been known that he was in Peril One thing that aggravated this severe Dispensation and made it in the apprehension of many look the more dismal was that this powerful Intercessor was taken away just before a Fast-day when he would have been Wrestling mightily with God for Mercy for the Land However it proved a Fast-day indeed and a day of Humiliation to that Congregation to whom an empty Pulpit was an awakening Sermon The Broad-Oak was then like that under which Rebekah's Nurse was buried Gen. 35 8. Allon-bacuth Bochim a place of Weepers They who had many a time fitten with dry Eyes under melting Ordinances could not sit so under such a melting Providence by which the Lord God call'd so loudly to weeping and to mourning and to girding with Sack cloth But because Mr. Henry had been wont to give it for a Rule that Weeping must not hinder Sowing a Mite was cast into the Treasury of the Nations Prayers and a word spoken to bring the Work of the day and the event of the day together from 2 Kings 13. 20. The day following being Saturday Iune 27. the Earthen Vessel in which this Treasure had been lodg'd was laid up in the Grave in Whitchurch Church attended thither with a very great Company of true Mourners all the Country round many from Chefler and Shrewsbury and the Towns about came to do him Honour at his Death And besides the Floods of Tears that were shed there were abundance of Testimonies given to him by Persons of all sorts like that Iehojadah 2 Chron 24. 16. That he was one that had done good
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
Worthenbury in the County of Flint We do hereby send him thither and actually admit him to tâ—…e said Charge to perform all the Offices and Duties of a faithful Pastor there exhorting the People in the Name of Iesus Christ willingly to receive and acknowledge him as the Minister of Christ and to maintain and encourage him in the Execution of his Office that he may be able to give up such an account to Christ of their Obedience to his Ministry as may be to his joy and their everlasting comfort In Witness whereof we the Presbyters of the Fourth Class in the County of Salop commonly called Bradford-North Class have hereunto set our Hands this 16th day of September in the Year of our Lord God 1657. Tho. Porter Moderator for the time Andrew Parsons Minister of Wem Aylmar Haughton Minister of Prees John Malden Minister of Newport Richard Steel Minister of Hanmer I have heard it said by those who were present at this solemnity that Mr. Henry did in his Countenance Carriage and Expression discover such an extraordinary Seriousness and Gravity and such deep Impressions made upon his Spirit as greatly affected the Auditory and even struck an Aw upon them Read his Reflection upon it in his Diary Methoughts I saw much of God in the carrying on of the work of this dayâ—… O how good is the Lord he is good and doth good the Remembrance of it I shall never loose to him be Glory I made many promises of Diligence Faithfulness c. but I lay no stress at all on them but on God's Promise to me that he will be with his Ministers always to the end of the World Amen Lord so be it Make good thy Word unto thy Servant wherein thou hast caused me to put my Trust. And in another place I did this day receive as much Honour and Work as ever I shall be able to know what to do with Lord Iesus proportion supplies accordingly Two Scriptures he desir'd might be written in his Heart 2 Cor. 6. 4 5 c. and 2 Chron. 29. 11. Two Years after upon occasion of his being present at an Ordination at Whitchurch he thus writes This Day my Ordination Covenants were in a special manner renew'd as to diligence in Reading Prayer Meditation Faithfulness in Preaching Admonition Catechizing Sacraments Zeal against Error and Profaneness Care to preserve and promote the Unity and Purity of the Church notwithstanding Opposition and Persecution tho' to Death Lord thou hast filled my Hands with Work fill my Heart with Wisdom and Grace that I may discharge my Duty to thy Glory and my own Salvation and the Salvation of those that hear me Amen Let us now see how he applied himself to his Work at Worthenbury The Sphere was narrow too narrow for such a burning and shining Light There were but Forty one Communicants in that Parish when he first set up the Ordinance of the Lord's Suppe and they were never doubled Yet he had such low Thoughts of himself that he not only never sought for a larger Sphere but would never hearken to any Overtures of that kind made to him And withal he had such high thoughts of his work and of the worth of Souls that he laid out himself with as much diligence and vigor here as if he had had the over-fight of the greatest and most considerable Parish in the Country The greatest part of the Parish were poor Tenants and labouring Husbandmen but the Souls of suâ—… he us'd to say are as precious as the Souls of the Rich and to be look'd after accordingly His Prayer for them was Lord despise not the day of small things in this place where there is some willingness but much weakness And thus he writes upon the Judges settling a handsome Maintenance upon him Lord thou knowest I seek not theirs but them Give me â—…he Souls He was in Labours more abundant to win Souls besides Preaching he Expounded the Sciptures in order Catechized and Explain'd the Catechism At first he took into the Number of his Catechumens some that were adult who he found wanted Instruction and when he had taken what pains he thought needful with them he dismiss'd them from further attendance with Commendation of their Proficiency and Counsel to hold fast the form of found Words to be watchful against the Sins of their Age and to apply themselves to the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper and make ready for it afterwards he Catechized none above Seventeen or Eighteen Years of Age. He set up a Monthly Lecture there of Two Sermons one he himself Preached and the other his Friend Mr. Ambrose Lewis of Wrexham for some Years He also kept up a Monthly Conference in private from House to House in which he met with the more knowing and judicious of the Parish and they discoursed Familiarly together of the things of God to their mutual Edification according to the Example of the Apostles who tho' they had the liberty of publick Places yet taught also from House to House Acts 5. 42. 20. 20. That which induced him to set and keep up this Exercise as long as he durst which was till August 1660. was that by this means he came better to understand the state of his Flock and so knew the better how to Preach to them and pray for them and they to pray one for another If they were in doubt about any thing relating to their Souls that was an opportunity of getting Satisfaction It was likewise a means of encreasing Knowledge and Love and other Graces and thus it abounded to a good Account He was very industrious in visiting the Sick instructing them and preying with them and in this he would say he aimed at the good not only of those that were Sick but also of their Friends and Relations that were about them He Preach'd Funeral Sermons for all that were Buryed there rich or poor old or young or little Children for he looked upon it as an opportunity of doing good He called it setting in the Plow of the Word when the Providence had softned and prepared the Ground He never took any Money for that or any oâ—…er ministerial Performance besides his stated Salary for which he thought himself obliged to do his whole Duty to them as a Minister When he first set up the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper there he did it with very great solemnity After he had endeavoured to instruct them in his publick Preaching touching the Nature of that Ordinance he discoursed personally with all that gave up their Names to the Lord in iâ—… touching their Knowledge Experience and Conversation obliged them to observe the Law of Christ touching brotherly Admonition in case of Scandal and gave â—…otlce to the Coâ—…gre gaâ—…on who they were that were â—…mitted adding thâ—… 〈◊〉 Concerning these and my self I have two things to say 1. As to what is past we have sinned if â—…e should say we have nâ—… we should deceive our selves and the Truth
were not in us and yet this withal we can say and have said it some of us with Tears We are grieved that we have sinned 〈◊〉 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
Lord the God of the Spirits of all Flesh set a Man over the Congregation Thus he ceased to Preach to his People there but he ceased not to love them and pray for them and could not but think there remained some dormant Relation betwixt him and them As to the Arrears of his Annuity from Mr. P. when he was displaced after some time Mr. P. was willing to give him 100 l. which was a good deal less than what was due upon Condition that he would surrender his Deed of Annuity and his Lease of the House which he for Peace-sake was willing to do and so he lost all the Benefit of Judge Puleston's great Kindness to him This was not compleated till September 1662. until which time he continued in the House at Worthenbury but never Preached so much as once in the Church tho' there were vacancies several times Mr. Richard Hilton was immediately put into the Curacy of Worthenbury by Dr. Bridgman Mr. Henry went to hear him if he were at home as long as he continued at Worthenbury and join'd in all the parts of the publick Worship particularly attending upon the Sacrament of Baptism not daring saith he to turn my back upon God's Ordinance while the Essentials of it are retained tho' corrupted circumstantially in the Administration of it which God amend Once being allow'd the liberty of his Gesture he join'd in the Lord's Supper He kept up his Correspondence with Mr. Hilton and as he saith in his Diary endeavoured to possess him with right Thoughts of his Work and advis'd him the best he could in the Soul affairs of that People which saith he he seemed to take well I am sure I meant it so and the Lord make him Faithful Immediately after he was Removed and Silenced at Worthenbury he was sollicited to Preach at Bangor and Dr. Bridgman was willing to permit it occasionally and intimated to his Curate there that he should never hinder it but Mr. Henry declin'd it Tho' his Silence was his great Grief yet such was his Tenderness that he was not willing so far to discourage Mr. Hilton at Worthenbury nor to draw so many of the People from him as would certainly have followed him to Bangor But saith he I cannot get my Heart into such a Spiritual Frame on Sabbath-days now as formerly which is both my Sin and my Affliction Lord quicken me with quickning Grace When the King came in first and shew'd so good a Temper as many thought some of his Friends were very earnest with him to revive his Acquaintance and Interest at Court which it was thought he might easily do 'T was reported in the Country that the Duke of York had enquired after him but he heeded not the Report nor would he be perswaded to make any Addresses that way For saith he my Friends do not know so well as I the Strength of Temptation and my own inability to deal with it Qui benè latuit benè vixit Lord lead me not into Temptation He was greatly affected with the Temptations and Afflictions of many Faithful Ministers of Christ at this time by the pressing of Conformity and kept many private Days of Fasting and Prayer in his own House at Worthenbury seeking to turn away the Wrath of God from the Land He greatly pitied some who by the urgency of Friends and the fear of want were over perswaded to put a force upon themselves in their Conformity The Lord keep me saith he in the Critical time He Preached sometimes occasionally in divers neighbouring places till bartholomew-Bartholomew-day 1662. the day saith he which our sins have made one of the saddest days to England since the Death of Edward the 6th but even this for good though we know not how nor which way He was invited to preach at Bangor on the black Bartholomew-day and prepared a Sermon on Ioh. 7 37. in the last day that great day of the Feast c. but was prevented from Preaching it and was loth to strive against so strong a stream As to his Nonconformity which some of his worst Enemies have said was his only fault it may not be amisshere to give some Account of it 1. His Reasons for his Nonconformity were very considerable 'T was no rash act but deliberate and well weigh'd in the Balance of the Sanctuary He could by no means submit to be Re-ordain'd so well satisfied was he in his Call to the Ministry and his solemn Ordination to it by the laying on of the Hands of the Presbytery which God had graciously own'd him in that he durst not do that which looked like a Renunciation of it as null and sinful and would be at least a tacit invalidating and condemning of all his Administrations Nor could he truly say that he thought himself moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon him the Office of a Deacon He was the more confirm'd in this Objection because the then Bishop of Chester Dr. Hall in whose Diocess he was besides all that was requir'd by Law exacted from those that came to him to be Re-ordain'd a Subscription to this Form Ego A. B. praetensas meas Ordinationis literas à quibusdam Presbyteris olim obtentas jam penitus renuncio dimitto pro vanis humiliter supplicans quatenus Rev. in Christo Pater Dominus Dominus Georgius permissione divinâ Cestr. Episc. me ad sacrum Diaconatus ordinem juxta morem ritus Ecclesiae Anglicanae dignaretur admmittere This of Reordination was the first and great Bar to his Conformity and which he mostly insisted on He would sometimes say that for a Presbyter to be Ordained a Deacon is at the best suscipere gradum Simeonis Besides this he was not at all satisfied to give his unfeigned Assent and Consent to all and every thing contained in the Book of Common-Prayer c. for he thought that thereby he should receive the Book it self and every part thereof Rubricks and all both as true and good whereas there were several things which he could not think to be so The Exceptions which the Ministers made against the Liturgy at the Savoy Conference he thought very considerable and could by no means submit to much less approve of the Imposition of the Ceremonies He often said that when Christ came to free us from the Yoke of one Ceremonial Law he did not leave it in the Power of any Man or company of Men in the World to lay another upon our Necks Kneeling at the Lord's Supper he was much dissatisfied about and it was for many Years his great Grief and which in his Diary he doth often most pathetically lament that by it he was debared from partaking of that Ordinance in the solemn Assembly For to submit to that Imposition he thought whatever it was to others whom he was far from judging would be Sin to him He never took the Covenant nor ever-express'd any foundness for it and yet he could not think and therefore durst not declare
his own Family on Lords days when the Weather hindred them from going abroad He comforted himself that sometimes in going to publick he had opportunity of instructing and exhorting those that were in company with him by the way according as he saw they had need and in this his Lips fed many and his Tongue was as choice Silver and he acted according to that Rule which he often laid down to himself and others That when we cannot do what we would we must do what we can and the Lord will accept us in it He made the best of the Sermons he heard in Publick It is a Mercy saith he we have Bread though it be not as it hath been of the finest of the Wheat Those are froward Children who throw away the Meat they have if it be wholsome because they have not what they would have When he met with Preaching that was weak his Note is That 's a poor Sermon indeed out of which no good Lesson may be learned He had often occasion to remember that Verse of Mr. Herbert's The worst speaks something good if all want sense God takes the Text and preacheth Patience Nay and once he saith he could not avoid thinking of Eli's Sons who made the Sacrifices of the Lord to be abhorred Yet he went to bear his Testimony to publick Ordinances For still saith he the Lord loves the Gates of Zion more than all the Dwellings of Jacob and so do I. Such then were his Sentiments of things expecting that God would yet open a door of return to former publick Liberty which he much desir'd and prayed for and in hopes of that was backward to fall into the stated Exercise of his Ministry otherwise as were all the sober Nonconformists generally in those parts but it was his grief and burthen that he had not an opportunity of doing more for God He had scarce one Talent of opportunity but that one he was very diligent and faithful in the improvement of When he visited his Friends how did he lay out himself to do them good Being asked once where he made a visit to Expound and Pray which his Friends return'd him thanks for he thus writes upon it They cannot thank me so much for my pains but I thank them more and my Lord God especially for the Opportunity Read his Conflict with himself at this time I own my self a Minister of Christ yet do nothing as a Minister What will excuse me Is it enough for me to say Behold I stand in the Market place and no Man hath hired me And he comforts himself with this Appeal Lord thou knowest what will I have to thy Work publick or private if I had a Call and Opportunity and shall this willing mind be accepted Surely this is a Melancholy Consideration and lays a great deal of blame somewhere that such a Man as Mr. Henry so well qualified with Gifts and Graces for Ministerial Work and in the prime of his time for usefulness so Sound and Orthodox so Humble and Modest so Quiet and Peaceable so Pious and Blameless should be so industriously thrust out of the Vineyard as a useless and unprofitable Servant and laid aside as a despised broken Vessel and a Vessel in which there was no pleasure This is a Lamentation and shall be for a Lamentation especially since it was not his Case alone but the Lot of so many Hundreds of the same Character In these Circumstances of Silence and Restraint he took comfort himself and administred Comfort to others from that Scripture Isa. 16. 4. Let mine out-casts dwell with thee Moab God's People may be an Out-cast People cast out of mens Love their Synagogues their Country but God will own his People when Men cast them out they are out-casts but they are his and somewhere or other he will provide a dwelling for them There were many worthy able Ministers thereabouts turn'd out both from Work and Subsistence that had not such comfortable Support for the Life that now is as Mr. Henry had for whom he was most affectionately concern'd and to whom he shew'd kindness There were computed within a few Miles round him so many Ministers turn'd out to the wide World stript of all their Maintenance and expos'd to continual Hardships as with their Wives and Children having most of them Numerous Families made up above a Hundred that liv'd upon Providence and though oft reduced to wants and straits yet were not forsaken but were enabled to rejoyce in the Lord and to joy in the God of their Salvation notwithstanding to whom the promise was fulfilled Psal. 37. 3. So shalt thou dwell in the Land and verily thou shalt be fed The World was told long since by the Conformists Plea that the worthy Mr. Lawrence Mr. Henry's intimate Friend when he was turn'd out of Baschurch and if he would have Consulted with Flesh and Blood having as was said of one of the Martyrs Eleven good Arguments against Suffering viz. a Wife and Ten Children was ask'd how he meant to maintain them all and cheerfully replied they must all live upon the 6th of Matthew Take no thought for your Life c. and he often sung with his Family Psal. 37. 16. And Mr. Henry hath Noted concerning him in his Diary some time after he was turn'd out that he bore witness to the love and care of our Heavenly Father providing for him and his in his present Condition beyond Expectation One Observation Mr. Henry made not long before he Dyed when he had been young and now was old that though many of the Ejected Ministers were brought very low had many Children were greatly harrassed by Persecution and their Friends generally poor and unable to support them yet in all his Acquaintance he never knew nor could remember to have heard of any Nonconfor mist Minister in Prison for Debt In October 1663. Mr. Steel and Mr. Henry and some other of their Friends were taken up and brought Prisoners to Hanmer under pretence of some Plot said to be on foot against the Government and there they were kept under confinement some days on which he writes it is sweet being in any Condition with a clear Conscience The Sting of Death is Sin and so of Imprisonment also 'T is the first Time saith he I was ever a Prisoner but perhaps may not be the last We felt no hardship but we know not what we may They were after some Days examin'd by the Deputy Lieutenants charged with they knew not what and so dismissed finding verbal security to be forth-coming upon Twenty four hours notice whenever they should be called for Mr. Henry return'd to his Tabernacle with Thanksgivings to God and a hearty prayer for his Enemies that God would forgive them The very next day after they were released a great Man in the Country at whose Instigation they were brought into that trouble died as was said of a drunken Surfeit So that a Man shall say verily there is a God
he constantly attended there with his Family was usually with the first and reverently joined in the Publick Service he diligently wrote the Sermons always staid if the Ordinance of Baptism was Administred but not if there were a Wedding for he thought that Solemnity not proper for the Lord's Day He often Din'd the Minister that Preach'd after Dinner he sung a Psalm repeated the Morning Sermon and Pray'd and then attended in like manner in the Afternoon In the Evening he Preach'd to his own Family and perhaps two or three of his Neighbours would drop in to him On those Lord's Days when there was no Preaching at the Chappel he spent the whole Day at home and many an excellent Sermon he Preach'd when there were present only four besides his own Family and perhaps not so many according to the limitation of the Conventicle Act. In these narrow private Circumstances he Preached over the former part of the Assemblies Catechism from divers Texts He also Preached over Psalm 116. besides many particular occasional Subjects What a grief of Heart it was to him to be thus put under a Bushel and consin'd to such a narrow Sphere of Usefulness read in his own words which I shall Transcribe out of an Elegy he made to give vent to his thoughts upon the Death of his worthy Friend Mr George Mainwaring sometime Minister of Malpas who was Silenced by the Act of Uniformity and Dy'd Mar. 14. 1669 70 wherein he thus bewails feelingly enough the like restraints and Confinements of his Friend His later Years he sadly spent Wrap't up in Silence and Restraint A Burthen such as none do know But they that do it undergo To have a Fire shut up and pent Within the Bowels and no vent To have gorg'd Breasts and by a Law Those that fain would forbidden to draw But his dumbSabbaths here did prove Loud crying Sabbaths in Heaven above His Tears when he might sow no more Wat'ring what he had Sown before Soon after his Settlement at Broad-Oak he took a young Scholar into the House with him partly to teach his Son and partly to be a Companion to himself to Converse with him and to receive help and instruction from him and for many Years he was seldom without one or other such who before their going to the University or in the intervals of their attendance there would be in his Family sitting under his Shadow One of the first he had with him in the Year 1668. and after was Mr. William Turner born in the Neighbourhood afterwards of Edmund Hall in Oxford now Vicar of Walberton in Sussex to whom the World is beholden for that Elaborate History of all Religions which he Published in the Year 1695. and from whom is earnestly expected the Performance of that Noble and useful Project for the Record of Providences Betwixt Mr. Henry and him there was a most intire and affectionate Friendship and notwithstanding that distance of place a constant and endearing Correspondence kept up as long as Mr. Henry liv'd It was observ'd that several young Men who had sojourn'd with him and were very hopeful and likely to be serviceable to their Generations dy'd soon after their Removal from him I could instance in Six or seven as if God had sent them to him to be prepared for another World before they were called for out of this yet never any dy'd while they were with him He had so great a kindness for the University and valued so much the mighty advantages of improvement there that he advis'd all his Friends who design'd their Children for Scholars to send them thither for many Years after the Change though he always counted upon their Conformity But long Experience altered his mind herein and he chose rather to keep his own Son at home with him and to give him what help he could there in his Education than venture him into the Snares and Temptations of the University It was also soon after this Settlement of his at Broad-Oak that he Contracted an intimate Friendship with that learned and pious and judicious Gentleman Mr. Hunt of Boreatton the Son of Colonel Hunt of Salop and with his excellent Lady Frances Daughter of the Right Honourable the Lord Paget The Acquaintance then begun betwixt Mr. Henry and that worthy Family continued to his dying day about Thirty Years One Lords day in a Quarter he commonly spent with them besides other interviews And it was a constant rejoycing to him to see Religion and the Power of Godliness uppermost in such a Family as that when not many Mighty not many Noble are called and the Branches of it Branches of Righteousness the planting of the Lord. Divers of the Honourable Relations of that Family contracted a very great respect for him particularly the present Lord Paget now his Majesty's Ambassador at the Ottoman Court and Sir Henry Ashurst whom we shall have occasion afterwards to make mention of In the time of Trouble and Distress by the Conventicle Act in 1670. he kept private and stirr'd little abroad as loth to offend those that were in Power and judging it Prudence to gather in his Sails when the Storm was violent He then observ'd as that which he was troubled at That there was a great deal of precious time lost among Professors when they came together in discoursing of their Adventures to meet and their escapes which he feared tended more to set up self than to give Glory to God Also in telling how they got together and such a one Preached but little enquiring what Spiritual Benefit and advantage was reaped by it and that we are apt to make the circumstances of our Religious Services more the matter of our Discourse than the Substance of them We shall close this Chapter with two Remarks out of his Diary in the Year 1671. which will shew what manner of Spirit he was of and what were his Sentiments of things at that time One is this All acknowledge that there is at this day a number of sober peaceable Men both Ministers and others among Dissenters but who either saith or doth any thing to oblige them who desireth or endeavoureth to open the Door to let in such nay do they not rather provoke them to run into the same Extravagancies with others by making no difference but laying load on them as if they were as bad as the worst 'T is true that about this time the Lord Keeper Bridgman and Bishop Wilkins and the Lord chief Justice Hale were making some Overtures towards an Accommodation with them but it is as true that those Overtures did but the more exasperate their Adversaries who were ready to account such moderate Men the worst Enemies the Church of England had and the event was greater Acts of Severity Another is this If all that hath been said and written to prove that Prelacy is Antichristian and that it is Unlawful to join in the Common Prayer had been effectually to perswade Bishops to Study
in Israel And there were those who said He was a Man that no Body did or could speak evil of except for his Nonconformity He was us'd to say to his Relations when I am dead make little a do about me a few will serve to bring me to my Grave but his mind could not be observed in that 't was impossible such a burning and shining light could be extinguished but there must be a Universal Notice taken of it Multitudes came unsought unto not to fill their Eyes as Mr. Vines expresseth it but to empty them nor was there any other noise there but that of general Lamentation That Morning before the removal of the Corpse a most affectionate Sermon was Preached in Mr. Henry's Meeting place by his dear and worthy Friend Mr. Tallents of Shrewsbury who was eleven Years elder than he and through God's goodness still survives him He was willing to take that opportunity to testifie the great Love and Honour that he had for Mr. Henry whom he call'd a Friend that is nearer than a Brother His Text was Rom 8. 23. And not only they but our selves also which have the first Fruits of the Spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit the redemption of our Body In his Application he shew'd excellently and with much affection how the consideration of the Spirit and Life of this Eminent Servant of God would greatly lead us to believe on Christ and to have the Spirit of Christ and live after it and to suffer with Christ and to groan for our Adoption Several things were hinted concerning him which have been mentioned already in this Narrative and a very honourable Testimony born to him From a long acquaintance with him he witnessed concerning him to those who knew his Record to be true that he was humble and meek kind and peaceable wise and charitable and one in whom the Fruits of the Spirit were eminently That he was a Friend and a Counsellor and a Father to many that his Expounding and Preaching was plain and pleasant warm and savory full and such as few could reach and greatly blessed by God and that in it he labour'd more abundantly than any And after a great encomium of him it was excellently observed and must be mentioned here as that which was highly agreeable to Mr. Henry's Spirit and his Expressions upon all occasions That it was not his own Righteousness that saved him nor his own strength that quickned and upheld him but Christ's Righteousness and Christ's Strength for to him to live was Christ And in all his Discourses Sermons and Letters he was very careful to ascribe the Honour of all to Christ and to make Christ his All in-all He concluded with some words of seasonable Advice to those of that Society and Neighbourhood 1. Give thanks to God that ever you had him or saw him and that you had him so long above thirty Years in this place Do not many of you owe even your very Souls to him under God While you Mourn give thanks to God that you ever knew him old and great Mercies must be thankfully remembred 2. Rejoyce in the Glory that he now enjoys weep not for him but weep for your selves 'T was the Text on which he Preached not much above a Year ago at the Funeral of that intelligent holy useful Man Mr. William Lawrence of Wem The Primitive Christians buried their Saints with Hymns and Psalms of Joy Chrysostom on the Hebrews saith we are to glorifie God and give thanks to him that he hath Crown'd the Deceased and freed them from their Labours and chides those that Mourn'd and Howl'd And the Days of their Death were called Natalitia Martyrum Sanctorum the Birth-days of the Saints and Martyrs And Hierom in his Epitaph on Holy Paula and in the Lives of other Holy Persons writ by him saith that at her Funeral no Shreeks were heard but multitudes of Psalms and Hymns were sung in divers languages 3. Bewail the Loss the general Loss and yours in particular yet so as to have Hope in God I need not tell you how great your loss is you teel it more than I am able to express If any rejoyce that he is gone because he tormented them say as the Church Mic. 7. 8 9. 4. Seek out for a Supply do not mourn and sit still but up and be doing in your places you have had a cheap Gospel hitherto God sent you one that could Preach freely and which is more that would do so too one that sought not yours but you and now God will see what you will do for your selves that now the Shepherd is smitten the Sheep may not be scattered Pray to God to raise up others like him and graciously to give you one 5. Take heed of liking no Preacher now he is gone This a usual Fault among many that have had excellent Preachers no Body can please them But God may bless weaker means and make your Souls live and thrive under them 6. Hold fast that which you have it is the advice given to Philadelphia the best of the Churches Rev. 3. 11. Keep that good thing which is committed to you that savoriness of Heart that love to Christ and to Saints to all Saints that Knowledge of the Truth Keep to his sober Principles Remember his dying Counsel Follow Peace and Holiness have these things always in remembrance Take heed of falling off take heed of falling away the World will draw you and Satan will tempt you and your own busie Hearts will be apt to betray you but go on humbly and honestly in the strength of Christ and fear not Be not like those Jews that turned aside when Iohn Baptist was dead Iohn 5. 35. The Lord keep you from being such and give you to go on so his Heavenly Kingdom It would have swelled this Book too much if we had inserted the Sermon at large and therefore we forbear it The next day being Lord's day Mr. Owen of Oswestry Preached a most excellent Sermon in the Morning agreeable to that sad occasion upon that pathetical Farewel which Elisha gave to Elijah 2 Kings 2. 12. My Father my Father the Chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof and he saw him no more and he took hold of his own Cloths and rent them He observed 1. That faithful Ministers are the Fathers of a People and their Chariots and Horsemen the former a Metaphor taken from a Family a peaceable Society the latter from an Army a warlike Body Fathers to provide good things Chariots and Horsemen to protect from evil things 2. There is a time when we shall see these Fathers these Chariots and Horsemen of Israel no more Their time is appointed their work cut out for them and when those are finished they are removed 3. When God takes away our Fathers the Chariots of our Israel and the Horsemen thereof it is a proper Season for Mourning and Lamentation Under
think liv'd the greatest Example of sincere Godliness with Prudencâ—… and sweetness of Temper of any I ever knew And iâ—… another Letter not only proposing but pressing thâ—… Publication of an Account of his Life he professeth he thought there was none like him in his day at leaâ—… of his Acquaintance which is known to be both oâ—… the largest and of the best And saith he if Siâ—… Fulk Grevil would have it inscribed upon his Tombâ—… stone that he was a Friend to Sir Philip Sidney I mâ—… well be pleased to have it told the World that I Lov'd anâ—… Honour'd Blessed Mr. Henry a Man of so much Prudence and withal so much Sincerity of so good a Temper so much a Gentleman and yet of such strict Pieâ—… and Devotedness to God that I scarce ever knew his Fellow The Reverend Mr. William Turner now Vicar of Walburton in Sussex of whom mention was made before lately sent to me a very kind Letter Ex mero motu with his free Consent to have it inserted in this Account some hints whereof I think sit to subjoin Worthy Sir I am glad to hear that you have been prevailed with to set upon so good a Work as Recording the most remarkable Passages of Mr. Henry's Life I doubt not but you will meet with some that will give such a History but a cold Reception All that part of the World that lies in Darkness will be offended when Beams of clear Light and Sun-shine first dart into their Faces Virtutem praesentem odimus A little before I went to the University I was upon the Commendation of my worthy School-master Mr. E. yet living and with my Father's Consent half a Year a Domestick with him partly as a Tutor to his young ones and partly as a Pupil to himself and in some little Degree as a Companion where I had the opportunity of informing my self more fully concerning the Humour and Principles and Conversation of a sort of People and especially him and his Family whom I had heard aspers'd very freely in former Companies and represented to the World as very Hypocritical and Disloyal People At my first going I resolved to stand upon my Guard and pry into the Cause which was then the great Subject of Difference and Dispute and upon the whole do say That Mr. Henry was a Man of so clear a Brain so gentle a Behaviour so steddy a Conversation so regular a Devotion was so courteous and condescending to Inferiors so respectful and Dutiful to Superiours so sweet and obliging to all was so careful to improve his time well to do as much good as possible to every Body so constantly affectionate in his Prayers for the King and Government so desirous to keep up a fair Correspondence and Communion with his conformable Brethren so very indifferent in making Proselytes to his particular Opinions and withal so zealous to promote substantial Goodness and true Christianity so mighty inoffensive and peaceable in all his Expressions and Actions so prudent pure pious just sober charitable chearful and pleasant that I profess I am almost afraid to give him his due Character without some Correctives lest they that knew him not should suspect my veracity and imagine my Pen to be managed by some mercenary Hand I remember the Worshipful Rowland Hunt of Boreatton Esq speaking of Mr. Henry thus expressed himself to me and if I mistake not the Lord Embassador Pagett was present I was said he near seven Years resident in the Universities and seven more at the Inns of Court in London and had opportunity of knowing and acquainting my self with the most eminent Divines and Preachers in both those places yet I never found any every way so accomplished for clearness and quickness of apprehension solidity of Judgment and roundness of Style as Mr. Henry is I have Noted in my Book of Providences the Remark I made upon the Temporal Blessings God had rewarded him with viz. a good and virtuous Consort who brought him a good Estate gave him a due Reverence lov'd him with an intire affection an ingenious and hopeful Off-spring well affected well Educated and well dispos'd of in the World the favour of Men and a quiet undisturb'd Habitation upon Earth in great measure c. Sic Testatus sic monet sic precatur Amicus maerens anhelus superstes W. Turner A. M. Another very worthy Conformist formerly of his Acquaintance but now living at a great distance having occasion to mention him in a Letter to a Friend calls him The Great Good and now Glorious Mr. Henry whose Memory saith he shall ever be precious and even sacred to me Such as these were the Honourable Testimonies which all that knew him and knew how to value true Excellency attended him with It is part of the Recompence of Charity and Moderation in this World that it obtains a good Report of all Men. The Kingdom of God saith the Blessed Apostle Rom. 14. 17 18. is not meat and drink which were then the matters of doubtful disputation but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost and he that in these things serveth Christ is not only acceptable to God but approved of men as on the contrary they that judge will be judged and with what measâ—…re we meet it will be measured to us again And this is the Excellency of a Good Name that it is out of the reach of Death and is not Buried in the Grave but rather grows up from it It is not for nothing that Solomon hath joined this good Name which is better than precious Oyntment with the day of ones death which upon that account is better than the day of ones birth that it compleats the Character of those that finish their Course well and are faithful unto Death whereas a Great Name like the Names of the great Ones of the Earth is often wither'd and blemished by Death We read of those that bear their shame when they go down to the Pit though they were the terror of the mighty in the Land of the Living Ezek. 32. 35. At a Meeeting of the Dissenting Ministers of Cheshire at Knutford in May 1696. a few Weeks before Mr. Henry dyed it was agreed that their next Meeting should be at Chester though inconvenient to many of them upon condition that he would meet them there and give them a Sermon It was with much difficulty that he was prevailed with to promise it but his Master called for him before the time appointed came Mr. Flavel of Devonshire dyed when he was under a like appointment But happy they that are come to the General Assembly and Church of the First Born and to the Spirits of just Men made perfect As to his Bodily Presence he was of a middle Stature his Complexion not approaching to any extream of a very pleasant Aspect and an unusual mixture of Gravity and Sweetness in the air of his Countenance which was the true Index of his Mind When some of
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
often pleased with his little pretty fashions lest we offended therein by being too much so No Rival must sit with him in his Throne who deserves all our Love and Ioy and hath too little of it At another time upon the death of another little one The dear little one saith he made but a short Passage through this to another World where it is to be for ever a living Member of the great Body whereof Jesus Christ is the ever-living Head but for which Hope there were cause for Sorrow indeed If he that gives takes and it is but his own why should we say What dost thou At another time upon the like occasion Our Quiver of Childrens Children is not so full but God can soon empty it O for Grace Grace at such a time which will do that that Nature cannot The God of all Grace supply your Need and ours according to his Riches in Glory The Lord is still training you up in his good School and though no Affliction for the present be joyous but grievous nevertheless afterwards it yields well your Work is in every thing to bring your Will to the Will of God To one of his Daughters concerning her little one he thus writes They are but Bubbles we have many warnings to sit loose the less we rely upon them in our Ioys and Hopes the more likely to have them continued to us Our God is a jealous God nor will he suffer the Creature to usurp his Throne in our Affections Upon the death of a little Child but few days old he thus writes The tidings of the death of your little one were afflicting to us but the Clay must nor say to the Potter What dost thou If he that took be the same that gave and what he gave and took was his own by our own consent it becomes us to say Blessed be the Name of the Lord. I hope you have been learning to acknowledge God in all Events and to take all as from his Hand who hath given us to know Isay to know for Paul saith so that all things do work together not only shall but do for our good that we may be more and more partakers of his Holiness He can make the two left as comfortable to you as all the three as all your five could have been However if all the Cisterns were drawn dry while you have your Fountain to go to you are well you may also by Faith look forward and say it was a Covenant-child and through Mercy we shall see it again in a better World Upon the sickness of a dear Child he thus writes to the Parent You and we are taught to say It is the Lord upon his Will must we wait and to it must we submit in every thing not upon constraint but of choice nor only because he is the Potter and we the Clay and therefore in a way of Soveraignty he may do what he pleaseth with us and ours But because he is our Father and will do nothing but what shall be for good to us The more you can be satisfied in this and the more willing to resign the more likely to have Be strong therefore in the Grace which is in Christ Iesus it is given for such a time of need as this I hope your Fears and ours will be prevented and pray they may but thanks be to God we know the Worst of it and that Worst hath no harm in it while the better part is ours which cannot be taken away from us To one of his Children in affliction he writes thus T is a time of Trial with you according to the Will of your and our Heavenly Father Though you see not yet what he means by it you shall see He means you good and not hurt he is shewing you the vanity of all things under the Sun that your happiness lies not in them but in himself only that they and we are passing away withering Flowers that therefore we may learn to die to them and live above them placing our Hope and Happiness in better things trusting in him alone who is the Rock of Ages who fails not neither can fail nor will fail those that fly to him I pray you think not a hard thought of him no not one hard thought for he is good and doth good in all he doth and therefore all shall work for good but then as you are called according to his purpose blessed be his Name for it so you must love him and Love you know thinks no evil but puts the best construction upon all that the Person loved saith or doth and so must you though now for a Season if need be you are in Heaviness And at another time Your Times and the Times of yours are in the Lord 's good Hand whose Will is his Wisdom 'T is one thing as we read and observ'd this Morning out of Ezek. 22 to be put into a Furnace and left there as Dross to be consumed and another thing to be put in as Gold or Silver to be melted for use and to have the Refiner set by You know whom you have believed keep your hold of the everlasting Covenant He is faithfull that hath promised We pray for you and we give Thanks for you daily for the Cup is mixed therefore trust in the Lord for ever and rejoyce in the Lord always again I say rejoyce To one of his Sons in Law that was a little engaged â—…n building he thus writes Be sure to take God along with you in this as in all other your Affairs for except he build the House they labour in vain that build it Count upon troublesome Oâ—…crrences in it and keep the Spirit quiet within And lâ—… nor God's Time nor Dues be entrenched upon and then all will be well 'T was but a little before he died that he wrote thus to one of his Children We rejoyce in God's goodness to you that your Distemper hath been a Rod shaken only and not laid on He is good and doth good and should we not love him and rest in our love to him He saith he doth in his to us and rejoyceth over us with singing Zeph. 3. 17. And have not we much more cause What loveliness in us What not in him I pray let me recommend him to your Love love him love him with all the Powers of your Soul and out of love to him please him He is pleas'd with honest Endeavours to please him though after all in many things we come short for we are not under the Law but under Grace To one of his Children recovered from Sickness he gives this hint Remember that a New Life must be a New Life indeed Reprieves extraordinary call for Returns extraordinary The last Journey he made to London was in August 1690. before he went he sent this Farewel-Letter to his Son at Chester I am going forth this Morning towards the great City not knowing but it may be Mount Nebo to me
good Works and his Memory is blessed I was going to Shrewsbury upon an appointment of his and by the way met the sad news of his Death which was sudden but not surprizing to one that was always ready He was twice at publick Ordinances the day before being Lord's day worshipped God with his Family in the Evening went to bed well as at other times but about two or three a Clock in the Morning wak'd very ill and before five fell asleep in the Lord. Help Lord for the Godly Man ceaseth Mr. George Mainwaring a Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ and my worthy Friend dyed in a good old Age March 14. 1669 70. gathered as a shock of Corn in his Season He was born in Wrenbury Parish in Cheshire supported at the University by Mr. Cotton of Cumbermere where he had the Reputation of a good Scholar he was brought acquainted with the ways of Religion by means of Mr. Buckly his Uncle a strict Puritan He was first Chaplain to Sir Henry Delves afterwards Rector of Baddely and Chaplain to Sir Thomas Mainwaring After the Wars he was removed to Malpas whence he was ejected upon the King's coming in His Conversation was exemplary especially for plainness and integrity he was eminent for expounding Scripture While he was at Malpas he constantly gave all the Milk which his Dairy yield ed on the Lord's day to the Poor Mr. Iohn Adams of Northwood was buried at Ellesmere April 4. 1670. he was a faithful Minister of the Gospel Mr. Zechariah Thomas my worthy Friend dyed of a Consumption at Nantwich September 14. 1670. in the forty first Year of his Age. He was bred up for a Tradesman in Suffolk but always addicted to his Book and was ordained a Minister after the King came in and entertained Curate at Tilstock under Dr. Bernard but by reason of his Nonconformity could not continue there long On the Monday before he Dyed he said to those about him that towards Wednesday he should take his leave of them and did so He was Buried at Acton Mr. Kirkes Vicar of Acton Preached and gave him a worthy Character and such as he deserved for Uprightness Humility Moderation Prayer Faithfulness in reproving Patience under Affliction and in saying he was an Israelite indeed without Guile he said all The Lord make me a Follower of him and of all the rest who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promises Mr. Ioshuah Richardson my truly worthy Friend and Brother dyed at Alkinton in Whitchurch Parish September 1. 1671. Blessed be God for his Holy Life and Happy Death He was several Years Minister of Middle in Shropshire and was turned out thence for Nonconformity He was a holy loving serious Man Dr. Fowler Preached his Funeral Sermon at Whitchurch on Dan. 12. 3. highly praising him as he deserv'd for Wisdom Piety and Peaceableness Mr. Samuel Hildersham dyed near Bromicham in April 1674. the only Son of Mr. Arthur Hildersham of Ashby whose works praise him in the Gates Fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge Batchelor of Divinity 1623. settled Rector of West-Felton in Shropshire in the Year 1628. and continued there till Silenced by the Act of Uniformity He was one of the Assembly of Divines a Father to the Sons of the Prophets in and about Shropshire He was learned loving and charitable an excellent Preacher an eminent Expositor and very much a Gentleman he was about Fourscore Years of Age when he Dyed He ordered by his Will this Inscription upon his Grave-stone Samuel Hildersham B. D. Rector of West-Felton in the County of Salop 34 Years till August 24. 1662. Mr. Richard Sadler my worthy Friend and Fellow Labourer dyed at Whixal in Prees Parish April 1675. He was born in Worcester went when young with his Father into New-England after the Wars he returned into England was Ordained at Whixal Chappel May 16. 1648. and was removed thence to Ludlow Being turned out there upon the King 's coming in he spent the rest of his Days in Privacy at Wrexal A Man of great Piety and Moderation Mr. Rowland Nevet dyed at his House near Oswestry December 8. 1675. and was buried at Morton Chappel I Preached his Funeral Sermon at Swinny on 2 Pet. 1. 14. Knowing that I must shortly put off this my Tabernacle Thence shewing that the Ministers of Christ must certainly and shortly dye He was born in Hodnet Parish Anno Dom. 1609. brought up at Shrewsbury School was afterwards of Edmund-Hall in Oxford Commenced Master of Arts in the Year 1634. he was Episcopally Ordained and Anno 1635. He was presented to the Vicaridge of Stanton in Shropshire where he continued many Years with great Success in his Ministry While he was single he kept House judging that more for the furtherance of his Work among his People than to Table After the War he removed to Oswestry where he laboured abundantly in the work of the Lord and even after he was silenced for Nonconformity he continued among his People there to his dying Day doing what he could when he might not do what he would He would say he thought most of his Converting Work was done at Oswestry the first Seven Years of his being there He loved to Preach and to hear others Preach concerning the great things of Religion Redemption Reconciliation Regeneration c. for these said he are the main matter When the Plague was at Oswestry he continued with his People and preached to them and it was an opportunity of doing much good His Conversation from his Youth was not only blameless but Holy and Pious he was exemplary for Family Religion and great care and industry in the Education of his Children He was looked upon as Congregational in Judgment and Practise and was not satisfied to join in the Common Prayer but he was free to Communicate with those that did It was his Judgment that Ministers should be Ordained by Ministers and that a Minister is not only a Minister of the particular Congregation in which he labours He greatly bewailed the Divisions of the Church and the intemperate Heats of some of all Perswasions He was exceeding kind and loving to his Friends very frequent in pious Ejaculations to God Being often distemper'd in Body he would say he was never better than in the Pulpit and that it was the best place he could wish to dye in He often blessed God for a fit of Sickness which he had which he said he would not have been without for a World the Foundation of his Comfort and Hope of Heaven being laid then When he was sometimes much spent with his Labours he would appeal to God that though he might be wearied in his Service he would never be weary of it His dying Prayer for his Children after many sweet Exhortations was That the Mediator's Blessing might be the Portion of every one of them adding I charge you all see to it that you meet me on the right Hand of Christ at the great Day A little
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
Cheapside A Body of practical Divinity containing 176 Sermons on the Assemblies lesser Catechism By Tho. Watson formerly Minister of St. Stevens Walbrook London Fol. Sermons and Discourses on several divine Subjects by the late Reverend and Learn'd David Clarkson B. D. and sometime fellow of Clare-Hall Camb. Fol. Mr. Pool's Annotations upon the Holy Bible in two Vol. Fol. The third Edition with an Addition of a Concordance and Contents to each Chapter By Mr. Sam. Clark Theological Discourses in 8 Letters and 3 Sermons on the Sacred Trinity Part 1st 4to Theological Discourses and Sermons on several occasions Part 2d 4to Both by Iohn Wallis D. D. Professor of Geometry in Oxford Mediocria Or the middle way between Protestant and Papist in a Paper of Justification The 2d Edit with additions of a Letter to Mr. Williams 4to Peaceable Disquisitions in some Animadversions on a Discourse writ against Owen's Book of the Holy Spirit 4to Pacification touching the Doctrinal Dissent among our United Brethren The Righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel Or an impartial Enquiry into the Genuine Doctrine of St. Paul in the great but much controverted Article of Justification To which are prefixed the Epistles of the right Reverend the Bishops of Worcester and Chester These four by Mr. Iohn Humfrey The glorious Reward of faithful Ministers declared and improved in a Sermon upon occasion of the Funeral of that excellent Minister of Jesus Christ Henry Newcomb A. M. late Pastor of a Congregation at Manchester By Iohn Chorlton 4to A Funeral Sermon on the Death of that pious Gentlewoman Mrs. Iudith Hammond late Wife of the Reverend Mr. George Hammand Minister of the Gospel in London By Mr. Iohn Howe A Sermon Preached at St. Mildred Poultrey Ian. 3d 1696 7. by Iohn Lord Bishop of Chichester and late Rector of the said Church upon his leaving the said Parish The Fountain of Life opened Or a display of Christ in his Essential and Mediatorial glory containing 42 Sermons on various Texts 4to Pneumatalogia or a Treatise of the Soul of man 4to Both by Mr. Iohn Flavel late Minister of the Gospel in Dartmouth Discourses upon the rich Man and Lazarus By Tim. Cruso in 8vo The Swearers Doom Or a Discourse setting forth the great sinfulness and danger of vain and rash Swearing By Iohn Rost A. M. Rector of Offwel and Gittisham in Devon Scripture Light about the Gospel Ordinance of Baptism in a Letter to some scrupulous Friends by a sincere lover of the Christian Community 12ves The Church Catechism enlarged and explained in an easie and familiar method with the Scripture Proofs annexed 8vo The good and faithful Servant set forth in a Sermon preached at Hatfield Broad-Oak in Essex August 2. the day before the Funeral of Mr. Iohn Warren sometime Minister of the Gospel there with a brief Account of his Life and Character By Henry Lukin A Paraphrase on the New Testament with Notes Doctrinal and Practical fitted for the use of Religious Families in their daily reading of the Scriptures By the late Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter 2d Edition Corrected 8vo Jehovah our Righteousness Or the Justification of Believers by the Righteousness of Christ only asserted and applied in several Sermons By Sam. Tomlins A. M. and Minister of the Gospel 12ves Prayers for the use of private Families with Grace both before and after Meat 8vo Rules and Motives to Holy Prayer By Daniel Burgess 8vo The Golden Snuffers Or Christian Reprovers and Reformers Characterized cautioned and encouraged a Sermon preached to the Societies for Reformation of Manners in London By D. Burgess 12ves Proofs of God's Being and of the Scriptures Divine Original with 20 Directions for the profitable reading of them By D. Burgess 12ves A most familiar Explanation of the Assemblies shorter Catechism Corrected and much amended by Ios. Allein 12ves Spiritual Songs or Songs of Praise to Almighty God upon several Occasions together with the Song of Songs which is Solomon's first turn'd then Paraphras'd in English Verse to which may be added Penitential Cries 8vo The Psalms of David in Metre commonly called the Scots Psalms Recommended by divers Ministers BOOKS Printed for John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultrey MR. Pool's English Annotations Folio The Life of the Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter Folio Lorimer's Apology for the Ministers who Subscribed only unto the stating of the Truths and Errors in William's Book in answer to Trail's Letter to a Minister in the Country 4to An Answer of Mr. Giles Firmin to Mr. Grantham about Infant Baptism 4to Some Remarks upon two Anabaptists Pamphlets By Giles Firmin 4to Firmin's Review of Richard Davis his Vindication 4to Shower's Winter Meditations Or a Sermon concerning Frosts and Snow and Winds c. and the wonders of God therein 4to Slater's Thanksgiving Sermon October 27th 1692. 4to His Sermons at the Funerals of Mr. Iohn Reynolds and Mr. Fincher Ministers of the Gospel 4to Burton's Discourses of Purity Charity Repentance and seeking first the Kingdom of God Published with a Preface by Dr. Iohn Tillotson late Archbishop of Canterbury 8vo Remarks on a late Discourse of William Lord Bishop of Derry concerning the Inventions of Men in the Worship of God Also a Defence of the said Remarks against his Lordship's Admonition By I. Boyse 8vo Bishop Wilkin's Discourses of the Gifts of Prayer and Preaching the latter much enlarged By the Bishop of Norwich and Bishop Williams 8vo Slater's Earnest Call to Family Religion being the substance of 18 Sermons 8vo Addy's Stenographia Or the art of short Writing Compleated in a far more compendious way than any yet extant 8vo The London Dispensatory reduced to the practise of the London Physicians Wherein are contained the Medicines both Galenical and Chymical that are now in use Those out of use omitted and those in use and not in the Latin Copy here added By Iohn Peachy of the Colledge of Physitians in London 12ves A Sermon Preached at a publick Ordination to a Countrey Congregation By Mr. S. Clark 4to Cambridge Phrases By A. Robinson 8vo Hammond's Sermon at Steel's Funeral 8vo Shower's Discourse of Tempting Christ. 12ves His Discourse of Family Religion in Three Letters 12ves Burgess's Discourse of the Death Rest Resurrection and blessed Portion of the Saints 12ves Hammond's and Barker's Discourses of Family Worship Written at the Request of the United Ministers of London 12ves The Triumphs of Grace Or the last words and edifying Death of the Lady Margaret de la Musse a Noble French Lady aged but Sixteen Years in May 1681. 12ves The Map of man's Misery Or the poor man's Pocket Book being a perpetual Almanack of Spiritual Meditations containing many useful Instructions Meditations and Prayer c. 12ves Man's whole Duty and God's wonderful intreaty of him thereunto By Mr. Daniel Burgess 12ves Advice to Parents and Children By Mr. Daniel Burgess 12ves Gibbon's Sermon of Justification 4to Vincent's Funeral Sermon Preached by Mr. N. Taylor 4to Addy's Short Hand Bible Shower's Sermon on the Death of Mr. Nat. Oldfield who departed December 31 1696. 8vo The Dying Man's Assistant Or short Instructions for those who are concerned in the preparing of sick Persons for Death 12ves Shower's Thanksgiving Sermon April 16th 1696. 4to Clark's brief Concordance to the whole Bible of the most usual and useful places which one may have occasion to seek for In a new Method 12ves Stephen's Sermon before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen at St. Mary le Bow Ian. 30. 1693. 4to His Thanksgiving Sermon April 16. 1696. 4to Woodhous's Sermon Preached to the Societies for Reformation of Manners at Salters-Hall 8vo Sir Howard's free Discourse wherein the Doctrines that make for Tyranny are displayed the Title of our Rightful and Lawful King William vindicated and the unreasonableness and mischievous tendency of the odious distinction of a King de facto and de jure discovered 8vo Mr Lorrimer's Answer to Goodwin's 4to Calamy's Discourse of Vows 8vo Since well abbreviated by Mr. Faldo * See the Bishop of Chichester's Sermon before the King Ian. 30. 1697. p. 25 29. Where he saith he did not see how it could be call'd a National Sin 2 Pet. 1. 21. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Heb. 11. 6. 1. Ioh. 5. 7. Ioh. 1. 18. Ioh. 4. 24. Ioh. 5. 26. Ioh. 5. 17. Eccl. 7. 29. Gen. 1. 26. Col. 3. 10. Eph. 4. 24. Ps. 51. 5. Eph. 2. 3. Zech. 11. 8. Rom. 7. 18. Gen. 6. 5. 1 Tim. 25. Eph. 1. 4 5. Rom. 5. 11. Gal. 4. 4. Ioh. 17. 19. Phil. 2. 8 9. Eph. 1. 20. 21. Heb. 7. 25. Ioh. 17. 9. Rom. 8. 30. 1 Cor. 6. 11. Ro. 5. 1. Ps. 143. 2. Ier. 23. 6. Mat. 3. 17. Rom. 15. 16. Col. 3. 11. 1 Cor. 13. 9 10. 1 Pet. 1. 5. Eph. 4. 11. Matt. 28. 20. Rom. 4. 11. Matt. 28. 1â—… Rom. 6. 7. Acts 2. 39. Matt. 26. 26. 1 Cor. 11. 26. Eccl. 12. 7. Matt. 25. 34 41. Acts 17. 31. 2 Cor. 5. 10. 1 Cor. 15. 42. Ioh. 5. 29. * Thus he writes in his Diary upon it How oft have we said that Changes are at the door but blessed be God there is no Sting in this