prudent method they took then about the University Sermons on the Lord's Day in the Afternoon which us'd to be Preached by the Fellows of Colledges in their course but that being found not so much for Edification Dr. Owen and Dr. Goodwin performed that Service alternately and the Young Masters that were wont to Preach it had a Lecture on Tuesday appointed them The Sermons he heard at Oxford he commonly wrote not in the time of hearing but afterwards when he came home in his reflection upon them which he found a good help to his Memory In December 1652 he proceeded Master of Arts and in Ianuary following Preach'd his first Sermon at South-Hincsey in Oxford-shire on Ioh. 8. 34. Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin On this occasion he writes in his Diary what was the breathing of his heart towards God The Lord make use of me as an Instrument of his Glory and his Churches good in this high and holy Calling His great Parts and Improvement notwithstanding his extraordinary Modesty and Humility had made him so well known in the University that at the following Act in Iuly 1653. he was chosen out of all the Masters of that Year to be Iunior of the Act that is to answer the Philosophy Questions in Vesperi is which he did with very great applause especially for the very witty and ingenious Oration which he made to the University upon that occasion His questions were 1 An licitum sit carnibus vesci Aff. 2. An Institutio Academiarum sit utilis in Republicâ Aff. 3. An Ingenium pendeat ab humoribus Corporis Aff. At the Act in 1654. He was chosen Magister Replicans and answer'd the Philosophy Questions in Comitiis with a like applause His Questions then were 1. An melius sit sperare quà m frui Neg. 2. An Maxima Animi Delectatio sit agrave sensibus Neg. 3. An utile sit peregrinari Aff. Dr. Owen who was then Vice-Chancellor hath spoken with great commendation of these performances of Mr. Henry's to some in the University afterwards who never knew him otherwise than by report and I have heard a Worthy Divine who was somewhat his Iunior in the University and there a perfect Stranger to him say how much he admired these Exercises of his and lov'd him for them and yet how much more he amir'd when he afterwards became acquainted with him in the Country that so Curious and Polite an Orator should become so Profitable and Powerful a Preacher and so readily lay aside the enticing Words of Mans Wisdom which were so easie to him There is a Copy of Latin Verses of his in print among the Poems which the University of Oxford published upon the Peace concluded with Holland in the Year 1654 which shew him to be no less a Poet than an Orator He hath noted it of some Pious Young Men that before they removed from the University into the Country they kept a day of Fasting and Humiliation for the Sins they had been guilty of in that place and state And in the visits he made afterwards to the University he inserts into His Book as no doubt God did into His a tear dropt over my University Sins CHAP. III. His removal to Worthenbury in Flint-shire His Ordination to the Ministry and his Exercise of it there WOrthenbury is a little Town by Dee side in that Hundred of Flint-shire which is separated some Miles from the rest of the County and known by the name of English Mailoes because tho it is reputed in Wales as pertaining to Flint-shire yet in Language and Customs it is wholly English and lies mostly between Cheshire and Shrop-shire Worthenbury was of old a Parochial Chapel belonging to the Rectory of Bangor but was separated from it in the Year 1658 by the Trustees for uniting and dividing of Parishes and was made a Parish of itself But what was then done being vacated by the Kings coming in it then came to be in statu quo and continued an appurtenant to Bangor till in the Second Year of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary it was again by Act of Parliament separated and made Independant upon Bangor That was the only Act that passed the Royal Assent with the Act of Recognition at the beginning of the Second Parliament of this Reïgn The Principal Family in Worthenbury Parish is that of the Pulestons of Emeral The Head of the Family was then Iohn Puleston Serjeant at Law one of the Iudges of the Common-Pleas This was the Family to which Mr. Henry came from Christ-Church presently after he had compleated his Master's Degree in 1653. Order'd into that remote and to him unknown corner of the Country by that Over-ruling Providence which determineth the times before appointed and the bounds of our Habitation The Judges Lady was a Person of more than ordinary Parts and Wisdom in Piety inferiour to few but in Learning Superiour to most of her Sex which I could give Instances of from what I find among Mr. Henry's Papers particularly an Elegy she made upon the Death of the Famous Mr. Iohn Selden who was her great Friend This was the Lady whose Agency first brought Mr. Henry into this Country She wrote to a Friend of hers Mr. Francis Palmer Student of Christ-Church to desire him to recommend to her a Young Man to be in her Family and to take the over-sight of her Sons some of whom were now ready for the University and to Preach at Worthenbury on the Lord's-Dayes for which a very honourable Encouragement was promised Mr. Palmer proposed it to his Friend Mr. Henry who was willing for one half Year to undertake it provided it might be required of him to Preach but once on the Lord's-Day and that some other supply might be got for 'tother part of the day he being now but Twenty two Years of Age and newly entred upon that great Work Provided also that he should be engaged but for half a Year as little intending to break off so soon from an Academical Life which he delighted in so much But preferring Usefulness before his own private Satisfaction he was willing to make trial for a while in the Country as one that sought not his own things but the things of Jesus Christ to whose Service in the Work of the Ministry he had intirely devoted himself bending his Studies wholly that way In the latter part of his time at Oxford as one grown weary of that which he used to say he found little to his purpose he employed his time mostly in searching the Scriptures and collecting useful Scripture Observations which he made very familiar to him and with which he was throughly furnished for this good Work He got a Bible interleav'd in which he wrote short Notes upon Texts of Scriptures as they occur'd He would often say I â—…ad other Bâ—…k that I may be the better alâ—… to â—…nderstand the Scripture 'T was a stock of Scripture Knowledge that he set up
World but saith he I have not yet subdued the little World my self At his Thirty third Year he hath this Humble Reflection A long time lived to small purpose What shall I do to redeem it And at another I may Mourn as Caesar did when he Reflected upon Alexander ' s early Atchievements that others younger than I am have done much more than I have done for God the God of my life And to mention no more when he had lived Forty two Years he thus writes I would be loth to live it over again least instead of making it better I should make it worse and besides every Year and Day spent on Earth is lost in Heaven This last Note minds me of a Passage I have heard him tell of a Friend of his who being grown into Years was asked how old he was and answer'd On the wrong side of Fifty Which said Mr. Henry he should not have said for if he was going to Heaven it was the right side of Fifty He always kept a Will by him ready made and it was his Custom yearly upon the return of his Birth-day to Review and if occasion were to Renew and Alter it For it is good to do that at a set time which it is very good to do at some time The Last Will he made bears Date This 24th day of August 1695. being as he said the day of the Year on which I was Born 1631. and also the day of the Year on which by Law I Died as did also near Two thousand Faithful Ministers of Iesus Christ 1662. alluding to that Clause in the Act of Uniformity which disposeth of the Places and Benefices of Ministers not Conforming as if they were naturally Dead His Father's Name was Iohn Henry the Son of Henry Williams of Brittons Ferry betwixt Neath and Swansey in Glamorganshire According to the old Welsh Custom some say conformable to that of the ancient Hebrews but now almost in all Places laid aside the Father's Christian Name was the Sons Sirname He had left his Native Country and his Father's House very Young unprovided for by his Relations but it pleased God to bless his Ingenuity and Industry with a considerable Income afterwards which enabled him to live Comfortably himself to bring up his Children well and to be kind to many of his Relations but Publick Events making against him at his latter End when he Dy'd he left little behind him for his Children but God graciously took care of them Providence brought this Mr. Iohn Henry when he was Young to be the Earl of Pembroke'â—… Gentleman whom he served many Years The Earl coming to be Lord Chamberlain preferred him to be the King's Servant He was first made Keeper of the Orchard at White-hall and afterwards Page of the Back Stairs to the King 's Second Son Iames Duke of York which place obliged him to a Personal Attendance upon the Duke in his Chamber He liv'd and dy'd a Courtier a hearty Mourner for his Royal Master King Charles the First whom he did not long survive He continued during all the War time in his House at White-Hall though the Profits of his Places ceased The King passing by his Door under a Guard to take Water when he was going to Westminster to that which they call'd his Tryal enquir'd for his old Servant Mr. Iohn Henry who was ready to pay his due respects to him and pray'd God to Bless his Majesty and to Deliver him out of the Hands of his Enemies for which the Guard had like to have been rough upon him His Mother was Mrs. Magdalen Rochdale of the Parish of St. Martins in the Fields in Westminster She was a vertuous pious Gentlewoman and one that fear'd God above many She was altogether dead to the Vanities and Pleasures of the Court tho' she liv'd in the midst of them She look'd well to the ways of her Houshold Prayed with them daily Catechized her Children and taught them the good Knowledge of the Lord betimes I have heard him speak of his Learning Mr. Perkins his Six Principles when he was very Young and he often mentioned with Thankfulness to God his great Happiness in having such a Mother who was to him as Lois and Eunice were to Timothy acquainting him with the Scriptures from his Childhood And there appearing in him early inclinations both to Learning and Piety she devoted him in his tender Years to the Service of God in the work of the Ministry She Dyed of a Consumption March 6. 1645. leaving behind her only this Son and Five Daughters A little before she Dyed she had this saying My Head is in Heaven and my Heart is in Heaven it is but one step more and I shall be there too His Susceptors in Baptism were Philip Earl of Pembroke who gave him his Name and was kind to him as long as he lived as was also his Son Philip after him Iames Earl of Carlile and the Countess of Salsbury Prince Charles and the Duke of York being somewhat near of an Age to him he was in his Childhood very much an Attendant upon them in their Play and they were often with him at his Father's House and were wont to tell him what Preferment he should have at Court as soon as he was fit for it He kept a Book to his Dying Day which the Duke of York gave him and I have heard him bewail the loss of Two curious Pictures which he gave him likewise Arch-bishop Laud took a particular Kindness to him when he was a Child because he would be very officious to attend at the Water-Gate which was part of his Fathers Charge in White-hall to let the Arch-Bishop through when he came late from Council to cross the Water to Lambeth These Circumstances of his Childhood he would sometimes speak of among his Friends not as glorying in them but taking occasion from thence to bless God for his Deliverance from the Snares of the Court in the midst of which it is so very hard to maintain a good Conscience and the Power of Religion that it hath been said though Blessed be God it is not a Rule without exception Exeat ex aulâ qui velit esse pius The breaking up and scattering of the Court by the Calamities of 1641. as it dashed the expectations of his Court Preferments so it prevented the danger of Court Entanglements And though it was not like Mofes's Choice of his own when come to Years to quit the Court yet when he was come to Years he always expressed a great Satisfaction in his Removal from it and blessed God who chose his Inheritance so much better for him Yet it may not be improper to observe here what was obvious as well as aimable to all who Convers'd with him viz. that he had the most sweet and obliging air of Courtesie and Civility that could be which some attributed in part to his early Education at Court His Meen and Carriage was always so very
a Justice of Peace and above that of a Petty-Constable This was his only Child very fair and honourable Overtures had been made for her disposal but it pleased God so to order Events and to over-rule the Spirits of those concern'd that she was reserv'd to be a Blessing to this good Man in things pertaining both to Life and Godliness His purpose of Marriage was published in the Church three Lord's Days before a laudable Practice which he greatly approved and perswaded others to The Day before his Marriage he kept as a Day of secret Prayer and Fasting He us'd to say Those who would have comfort in that Change of their condition must see to it that they bring none of the Guilt of the Sin of their single State with them into the married State And the presence of Christ at a Wedding will turn the Water into Wine and he will come if he be invited by Prayer He took all occasions while he liv'd to express his thankfulness to God for the great comfort he had in this Relation A day of Mercy so he writes on his Marriage day never to be forgotten God had given him one as he writes afterwards every way hâ—… helper in whom he had much comfort and for whom be thanked God with all his Heart He writes in his Diary April 26. 1680. This day we have been Married Twenty Years in which time we have received of the Lord more than Twenty Thousand Mercies to God be Glory Sometimes he writes we have been so long Married and never Reconciled that is there was never any occasion for it His usual Prayer for his Friends in the Married State was according to his own Practise in that State That they might be mutually serviceable to each others Faith and Holiness and joyntly serviceable to God's Honour and Glory Her Father though he put some Hardships upon him in the Terms and had been somewhat a verse to the Match yet by Mr. Henry's great Prudence and God's good Providence he was influenced to give a free consent to it and he himself with his own Hand gave her in Marriage From this as from other Experiences Mr. Henry had learned to say with Assurance It is not in vain to wait upon God and to keep his way Mr. Matthews settled part of his Estate before Marriage upon them and theirs he lived about seven Years after and when he dyed the remainder of it came to them This competent Estate which the Divine Providence brought into his Hand was not only a Comfortable Support to him when he was turn'd out of his Living and when many Faithful Ministers of Christ were reduced to great Poverty and Straits but it enabled him likewise as he had opportunity to Preach the Gospel freely which he did to his dying Day and not only so but to give for the Relief of others that were in want in which he sow'd plentifully to a very large proportion of his Income and often blessed God that he had wherewithal remembring the words of the Lord how he said It is more blessed to give than to receive Such was his House and such the Vine which God graciously planted by the side of his House By her God gave him six Children all born within less than eâ—…ht Years the two eldest Sons Iohn and Matthew â—…he other four Daughters Sarah Katharine Eleanor and Ann. His eldest Son Iohn dyed of the Measles in 〈◊〉 sixth year of his Age and the rest were in Mercy continued to him The Lord having built him up into a Family he was careful and faithful in making good his solemn Vow at his Ordination that he and his House would serve the Lord. He would often say That we are really that which we are relatively It is not so much what we are at Church as what we are in our Families Religion in the Power of it will be Family Religion In this his Practise was very Exemplary he was one that walked before his House in a perfect way with a perfect Heart and therein behav'd himself wisely His constant Care and prudent endeavour was not only to put away Iniquity far from his Tabernacle but that where he dwelt the word of Christ might dwell richly If he might have no other Church yet he had a Church in his House He made Conscience of Closet-Worship and did abound in it not making his Family-Worship to excuse for that He hath this affecting Note in his Diary upon the removing of his Closet but from one Room in the House to another this day saith he my new Closet was Consecrated if I may so say with this Prayer That all the Prayers that ever should be made in it according to the Will of God Morning Evening and at Noon-day ordinary or extraordinary might be accepted of God and obtain a gracious Answer Amen and Amen It was the Caution and Advice which he frequently gave to his Children and Friends Be sure you look to your Secret Duty keep that up whatever you do the Soul cannot prosper in the neglect of it He observed that Apostasy generally begins at the Closet-door Secret Prayer is first neglected and carelesly performed then frequently omitted and after a while wholly cast off and then farewel God and Christ and all Religion He also advis'd that Secret Duty be perform'd secretly which was the Admonition he gave sometimes to those who caused theiâ—… Voice to be heard on high in that Duty Besides this he and his Wife constantly prayed together Morning and Evening and seldom if they were together at home or abroad was it intermitted and from his own Experience of the Benefit of this Practise He would take all opportunities to recommend it to those in that Relation as conducing very much to the comfort of it and to their furtherance in that which he would often say is the great Duty of Yoke-fellows and that is to do all they can to help one another to Heauen He would say that this Duty of Husbands and Wives Praying together is intimated in that of the Apostle 1. Pet. 3. 7. where they are Exhorted to live as Heirs together of the Grace of Life that their Prayers especially their Prayers together be not hindred that nothing may be done to hinder them from Praying together nor to hinder them in it nor to spoil the Success of those Prayers This Sanctifies the Relation â—…nd fetcheth in a Blessing upon it makes the Comforts of it the more sweet and the Cares and Crosses of it the more easie and is an excellent means of preserving and encreasing Love in the Relation Many to whom he hath recommended the Practise of this Duty have blessed God for him and for his advice concerning it When he was abroad and lay with any of his Friends he would mind them of his Rule That they who lye together must pray together In the performance of this part of his daily Worship he was usually short but often much affected Besides these he
was fined 40 l. the pretence of which was this In the Year 1679. Oct. 15. Mr. Kynaston of Oatly a Justice of Peace in Sâ—…shire meeting him and some others coming as he supposed from a Conventicle he was pleas'd to Record their Conviction upon the notorious Evidence and Circumstance of the Fact The Record was Fil'd at Salop the next Sessions after but no Notice was ever sent of it either to Mr. Henry or the Justices of Flintshire nor any Prosecution upon it against any of the Parties charged the reason of which Mr. Henry in a Narrative he wrote of this affair supposeth to be not only the then favourable posture of Publick Affairs towards Dissenters but also the particular Prudence and Lenity of Mr. Kynaston so that having never smarted for this he could not be supposed to be deterred from the like offence nor if he were wronged in that first Conviction had he ever any opportunity of making his Appeal However the Justices being resolv'd he should have summum jus thought that first Record sufficient to give denomination to a second Offence and so he came to be Fined double This Conviction according to the direction of the Act they certifi'd to the next adjoining Justices of Flintshire who had all along carried themselves with great Temper and Moderation towards Mr. Henry and had never given him any disturbance tho' if they had been so minded they had not wanted opportunities but they were now necessitated to Execute the Sentence of the Shropshire Justices 'T was much press'd upon him to pay the Fine which might prevent his own Loss and the Justices Trouble But he was not willing to do it partly because he would give no Encouragement to such Prosecutions nor voluntarily Reward the Informers for that which he thought they should rather be punished for and partly because he thought himself wronged in the doubling of the Fine Whereupon his Goods were Distrain'd upon and carried away in the doing of which many passages occurred which might be worth the Noting but that the Repetition of them would perhaps grate and give offence to some Let it therefore suffice waving the Circumstances to remember only that their Warrant not giving them Authority to break open doors nor their Watchfulness getting them an opportunity to enter the House They carryed away about Thirty three Cart Load of Goods without doors Corn cut upon the Ground Hay Coles c. This made a great noise in the Country and rais'd the indignation of many against the Decrees which prescribed this grievousness while Mr. Henry bore it with his usual evenness and serenity of mind not at all mov'd or disturb'd by it He did not boast of his Sufferings or make any great matter of them but would often say alas this is nothing to what others suffer nor to what we our selves may suffer before we dye And yet he rejoyced and blessed God that it was not for Debt or for evil doing that his Goods were carried away And saith he while it is for well-doing that we suffer they cannot harm us He frequently expressed the assurance he had that whatever damage he sustain'd God is able to make it up again And as he us'd to say Though we may be losers for Christ yet we shall not be losers by him in the end He had often said that his Preaching was likely to do the most good when it was Seal'd to by Suffering and if this be the time saith he welcome the Will of God even this also shall turn to the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ Benè agere male pati verè Christianum est Soon after this was the Assizes for Flint-shire held at Mold where Sir George Ieffries afterwards Lord Chancellor then Chief Justice of Chester sate Judge He did not in private Conversation seem to applaud what was done in this matter so as was expected whether out of a private pique against some that had been active in it or for what other reason is not known but it was said that he pleasantly ask'd some of the Gentlmen by what new Law they pressed Carts as they passed upon their occasions along the Road to carry away Goods distreyn'd for a Conventicle It was also said that he spoke with some respect of Mr. Henry saying he knew him and his Character well and that he was a great Friend of his Mothers Mrs. Ieffries of Acton near Wrexham a very pious good Woman and that sometimes at his Mothers Request Mr. Henry had Examin'd him in his Learning when he was a School-Boy and had commended his Proficiency And it was much wonder'd at by many that of all the times Sir George Ieffries went that Circuit though 't is well enough known what was his temper and what the temper of that time yet he never sought any occasion against Mr. Henry nor took the occasions that were offered nor countenanced any Trouble intended him though he was the only Nonconformist in Flintshire One passage I remember not improper to be mentioned there had been an Agreement among some Ministers I think it began in the West of England where Mr. Allen was to spend some time either in Secret or in their Families or both between six and eight a Clock every Monday Morning in Prayer for the Church of God and for the Land and Nation more fully and particularly than at other times and to make that their special Errand at the Throne of Grace and to engage as many of their praying Friends as ever they could to the observance of it This had been Communicated to Mr. Henry by some of his Friends at London and he punctually observ'd it in his own Practise I believe for many Years He also mentioned it to some of his Acquaintance who did in like manner observe it It happened that one in Denbighshire to whom he had Communicated it was so well pleas'd with it that he wrote a Letter of it to a Friend of his at a distance which Letter happen'd into Hands that perverted it and made Information upon it against the Writer and Receiver of the Letter who were bound over to the Assizes and great Suspicions Sir George Ieffries had that it was a Branch of the Presbyterian Plot and rally'd the Parties accus'd severely It appear'd either by the Letter or by the Confession of the Parties that they received the Project from Mr. Henry which it was greatly fear'd would bring him into trouble but Sir George to the admiration of many let it fall and never enquir'd further into it It seems there are some Men whose ways so please the Lord that he makes even their Enemies to be at peace with them and there is nothing lost by trusting in God Mr. Henry at the next Assizes after he was Distrain'd upon was presented by one of the High Constables 1. For keeping a Conventicle at his House and 2. for saying That the Law for suppressing Conventicles ought not to be obey'd and that there was
thus of the Bonds and Afflictions that did abide him the Prisons that were frequent the Stripes above measure but the Body of Death that is the Body of Sin that was it he groan'd under How feelingly did he observe from thence That the remainders of indwelling corruption are a very grievous burthen to a gracious Soul But to return It may not be amiss to set down the Causes to which he ascribes his loss of time when he came first to the University One was that he was Young too Young and understood not the day of his opportunities which made him afterwards advise his Friends not to thrust their Children forth too soon from School to the University though they may seem ripe in respect of Learning till they have discretion to manage themselves while they are Children What can be expected but that they should mind childish things Another was that coming from Westminster School his attainments in School-learning were beyond what generally others had that came from other Schools so that he was tempred to think there was no need for him to study much because it was so easie to him to keep pace with others which he saith was the thing that Dr. Caldecott Chaplain to the Eaâ—… of Pembroke and his great Friend warn'd him of at his coming to Oxford Another was That there were two sorts of Persons his Co-temporaries some of the New Stamp that came in by the Visitation and were divers of them serious pious Young Men but of small ability comparatively for Learning and those for that reason he desired not to have much fellowship with But there were others that were of the old Spirit and way Enemies to the Parliament and the Reformation they made and these were the better Scholars but generally not the better Men. With them for a while he struck in because of their Learning and conversed most with them but he soon found it a snare to him and that it took him off from the Life of Religion and Communion with God Elanguescere mox cepit saith he in his Latin Narrative of his younger years pristinae pietatis ardor c. But for ever praised be the Riches of God's free Grace saith he in another Account that he was pleased still to keep his hold of me and not to let me alone when I was running from him but set his hand again the second time as the expression is Isa. 11. 11. to snatch me as a brand out of the Fire His Recovery from this snare he would call a kind of Second Conversion so much was he affected with the preventing Grace of God in it and sensible of a double bond to be for ever thankful as well as of an engagement to be watchful and humble 'T was a saying of his He that stumbleth and doth not fall â—…ets ground by his stumble At the later end of the Year 1648 he had leave given him to make a visit to his Father at White-hall with whom he staied some time there he was Ian. 30. when the King was beheaded and with a very sad heart saw that Tragical Blow given Two things he used to speak of that he took notice of himself that day which I know not whether any of the Historians mention One was that at the instant when the Blow was given there was such a dismal universal Groan among the Thousands of People that were within sight of it as it were with one consent as he never heard before and desired he might never hear the like again nor see such a Cause for it The other was That immediately after the stroke was struck there was according to Order one Troop marching from Chearing-Cross towards Kings-street and another from Kings-street towards Chearing-Cross purposely to disperse and scatter the People and to divert the dismal thoughts which they could not but be fill'd with by driving them to shift every one for his own safety He did upon occasion testifie his dislike of this rash Action which he always said was a thing that could not be justify'd and yet he sometimes said he saw not how it could be call'd a National Sin for as the King urg'd upon his Trial it was certain that not one Man of Ten in the Kingdom did consent to it nor could it becall'd the Sin of the Long Parliament for far the greatest part of them were all that time while the thing was in agitation imprisonâ—…d and kept under a force and scarce 27 of the 40 that were left to carry the name of a Parliament did give their Vote for it which the Commissioners for the. Trying of the Kings Judges in the Year 1660. some of whom had been themselves Members of the long Parliament urged again and again in answer to that plea which the Prisoners stood so much upon that what they did was by Authority of the Parliament But 't is manifest it was done by a prevailing Party in the Army who as he us'd to express it having beaten their Plowshares into Swords could not so easiely beat their Swords into Plowshares again as having fought more for Victory and Dominion than for Peace and Truth but how far these Men were acted and influenced by another sort of People behind the Curtain the World is not altogether ignorant For some Years after King Charles II. came in he observ'd the yearly day of Humiliation for this Sin desiring that God would not lay the Guilt of Blood to the charge of the Nation But afterwards finding to what purposes it was generally observed and improved even to the reproach and condemning not only of the Innocent but of some of the Excellent ones of the Land and noting that there is no precedent in Scripture of keeping Annual days of Humiliation for particular Sins especially after the immediate judgment is at an end Zech. 8. 19. Heb. 10. 2 3. he took no farther notice of it But in his Diary he adds this tender remark according to the Spirit he was of Yet good Men no doubt may observe it to the Lord Rom. 14. 6. Thus he judged not and why then should he be judged In the Year 165â—… he took his Batchelor of Art's Degree and he hath recorded the Goodness of God in raising him up Friends who help'd him out in the expences Such kindnesses have a peculiar sweetness in them to a good Man who sees and receives them as the Kindness of God and the tokens of his Love He would often mention it with thankfulness to God what great helps and advantages he had then in the University not only for Learning but for Religion and Piety Serious Godliness was in reputation and besides the Publick Opportunities they had there were many of the Scholars that us'd to meet together for Prayer and Christian Conference to the great confirming of one anothers hearts in the Fear and Love of God and the preparing of them for the Service of the Church in their generation I have heard him speak of the
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
that then were â—…ppermost under Sir George Booth afterwards Lord Delamere and that of North-Wales under Sir Thomas Middleton could not but affect Worthenbury and the Country thereabouts Mr. Henry's Prayeâ—… for them in â—…his Diâ—…y the Day of their first appearing is Lord own them if they truly own thee He noteâ—… that Lambert's Forces which came down to Suppress them did in that Neighbourhood espouse the Quakers Cause and offer Injury to some Ministers and therefore saith he unless God intend the Ruin of the Nation by them they cannot prosper Nor did they long though in that Expedition they had Success In their Return some of Lambert's Soldiers were at Worthenbury Church hearing Mr. Henry upon a Lord's Day and one of them sat with his Hat on while they were Singing Psalms for which he Publickly admonish'd him And there being many Anabaptists among them he hath Recorded it as a good Providence that those Questions in the Cateâ—…hism which are concerning Baptism came in Course to be Expounded that Day The first Rising of the Cheshire Forces was Aug. 1. 1659. and the 19th following they were worsted and scattered by Lambert's Forces near Northwich a strange Spirit of fear being upon them which quite took off their Chariot Wheels The Country call'd it not the Cheshire Rising but the Cheshire Race Some blamed him that he did not give God thanks publickly for the defeat of Sir George Booth to whom he answer'd with his usual mildness that his Apprehensions concerning that Affair were not the same with theirs We are now saith he much in the dark never more He preach'd the Lecture at Chester soon after just at the time when Mr. Cook aâ—… eminent Minister in Chester and several others were carried Prisoners to London for their Agency in the late Attempt and the City was threatned to have their Charter taken away c. The Text in Course that day for they Preached over the latter part of that Epistle if not the whole at that Lecture happen'd to be Heb. 13 14. We have here no continuing City which he thought a word upon the Wheels at that time He Notes in his Diary that when after that the Army Rul'd disturb'd the Parliament and carry'd all before them with a high Hand there were great Grounds to fear sad times approaching and his Prayer is Lord fit thy People for the Fiery Trial. He was a hearty well-wisher to the return of the King the Spring following April 1660. and was much affected with the Mercy of it While others rejoyce carnally saith he Lord help thy People to rejoyce spiritually in our publick National Mercies 'T was upon that occasion that Mr. Baxter preached his Sermon of Right Rejoycing on Luke 10. 20. But he and others soon saw cause to Rejoyce with Trembling and to sing both of Mercy and Judgment for about that time he hath this Melancholy Remark Religion loses Ground exceedingly and Profanâ—…ss gets it Help Lord However he was very Industrious to quiet the minds of some who were uneasie at that great Revolution and that Scripture yielded him much Satisfaction Ioh. 3. 35. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his Hands If Christ be not only Head of the Church but Heir over all things to the Church we may be assured that all things shall be made to work together for good to it The Text also which the Lord put it into his Heart to preach upon on the day of Publick Thanksgiving for the King's Restoration was very comfortable to him Prov. 21. 1. The Kings Heart is in the hand of the Lord. His sence of that great Mercy of God to the Nation in the unbloody peaceable and legal Settlement of King Charles the 2d upon the Throne was the same with that of Multitudes besides both Ministers and others that were of the quiet in the Land who yet not long after suffered very hard things under him Soon after the Return of the King he notes how industrious some were to remove him from Worthenbury on which he writes this as the Breathing of his Soul towards God Lord if it please thee fasten me here as a Nail in a sure place if otherwise I will take nothing ill which thou dost with me and when press'd by his Friends more earnestly than before to accept of some other place Lord saith he Mine Eye is up unto thee I am wholly at thy disposal make my way plain before my Face because of mine Enemies my Resolution is to deny my self if thou callest me Here or any where 't is no great Matter where I am Many Years after the King's Return he Dated a Letter May 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There are two things further which I think it may be of use to give some account of in the close of this Chapter 1. Of the Course of his Ministry at Worthenbury and 2. Of the State of his Soul and the Communion he had with God in those Years The former out of his Sermon-Notes the latter out of his Diary As to the Subjects he Preached upon he did not use to dwell long upon a Text. Better one Sermon upon many Texts viz. many Scriptures opened and applied than many Sermons upon one Text To that purpose he would sometimes speak He used to Preach in a fixed Method and linked his Subjects in a sort of a Chain not confining himself to the Method of the Assemblies Catechism which some commend but he adapted his Method and Style to the Capacity of his Hearers fetching his Similitudes for Illustration from those things which were familiar to them He did not shoot the Arrow of the Word over their Heads in high Notions or the Flourishes of affected Rhetorick nor under their Feet by blunt and homely Expressions as many do under pretence of plainness but to their Hearts in close and lively Applications His Delivery was very graceful and agreeable far from being either noisie and precipitate on the one Hand or dull and slow on the other His Doctrine did drop as the Dew and distil as the soaking Rain and came with a charming pleasing Power such as many will bear witness to that have wonder'd at the gracious words which proceeded out of his Mouth He wrote the Notes of his Sermons pretty large for the most part and always very legible he wrote most of them twice over But even when he had put his last Hand to them he commonly left many imperfect Hints which gave room for Enlargements in Preaching wherein he had a very great Felicity And he would often advise Ministers not to tye themselves too strictly to their Notes but having well digested the Matter before to allow themselves a liberty of Expression such as a Man's Affections if they be well rais'd will be apt to furnish him with But for this no certain Rule can be given there are diversities of Gifts and each to profit withal He kept his Sermon-Notes in very neat and exact Order Sermons in
Course according to the Order of the Subject and occasional Sermons according to the Scripture-order of the Texts so that he could readily turn to any of them And yet tho' afterwards he was removed to a place far enough distant from any of that Auditory yet though some have desired it he seldom preach'd any of those hundreds of Sermons which he had preach'd at Worthenbury no not when he preach'd never so privately but to the last he studied new Sermons and wrote them as elaborately as ever for he thought a Sermon best preach'd when it was newly meditated Nay if sometimes he had occasion to preach upon the same Text yet he would make and write the Sermons over and he never offered that to God which cost him nothing When he went to Oxford and preach'd there before the University in Christ-Church as he did several times his Labours were not only very acceptable but successful too particularly one Sermon which he preach'd there on Prov. 14. 9. Fools make a mock at sin for which Sermon a young Master of Arts came to his Chamber afterwards to return him thanks and to acknowledge the good Impressions which Divine Grace by that Sermon had made upon his Soul which he hoped he should never forget In his Diary he frequently records the frame of his Spirit in studying and preaching Sometimes blessing God for signal help vouchsafed and owning him the Lord God of all his Enlargements at other times complaining of great deadness and straitness It is a wonder saith he that I can speak of Eternal things with so little Sense of the reality of them Lord strengthen that which remains which is ready to die And he once writes thus upon a studying Day I forgot explicitly and expressly when I began to crave help from God and the Chariot Wheels drove accordingly Lord forgive my Omissions and keep me in the way of Duty As to the state of his Soul in these Years it should seem by his Diary that he was exercised with some Doubts and Fears concerning it I think saith he never did any poor Creature pass through such a mixture of Hope and Fear Ioy and Sadness Assurance and Doubting down and up as I have done these Years past The Notice of this may be of use to poor drooping Christians that they may know their Case is not singular and that if God for a small Moment hide his Face from them he deals with them no otherwise than as he useth sometimes to deal with the dearest of his Servants It would affect one to hear one that liv'd a Life of Communion with God complaining of great straitness in Prayer No Life at all in the Duty many Wandrings If my Prayers were written down and my vain Thoughts interlined What incoherent Nonsense would there be I am ashamed Lord I am ashamed O pitty and Pardon To hear him suspecting the workings of Pride of Heart when he gave an Account to a Friend who enquired of him touching the success of his Ministry and that he should record this concerning himself with this Ejaculation annexed The Lord pardon and subdue 'T was a sign that he kept a very watchful Eye upon the Motions of his own Heart To hear him charging it upon himself that he was present at such a Duty in the midst of many Distractions not tasting sweetness in it c. When a Fire is first kindled saith he there is a deal of Smoak and Smother that afterwards wears away so in young Converts much peevishness frowardness darkness So it hath been with my Soul and so it is yet in a great measure Lord pity and do not quench the smoaking Flax though as yet it do but smoak let these Sparks be blown up into a Flame Great Mercies but poor Returns signal Opportunities but small Improvements Such are his Complaints frequently concerning himself And though few or none excell'd him in profitable Discourse yet in that he often bewails his Barronness and Unprofitableness Little good done or gotten such a day for want of a Heart 't is my Sin and Shame O that I had Wings like a Dove Yet when he wanted a Faith of Assurance he liâ—…'d by a Faith of Adherence Such a Day saith he a full Resignation was made of all my Concernments into the Hands of my Heavenly Father let him deal with me as seemeth good in his Eyes I am learning and labouring to live by Faith Lord help my Unbelief Another time he notes that many perplexing Fears being upon his Spirit they were all silenced with that sweet Word which was seasonably brought to his remembrance Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer He very frequently kept Days of Fasting and Humiliation in secret which he calls his Days of Atonement Sometimes he observed these monthly and sometimes only upon special occasions but the Memorandums in his Diary not only while he was at Worthenbury but often after shew what sweet Communion he had with God in those solemn Duties which no Eye was Witness to but his who sees in secret and will reward openly Remember O my Soul such a Day as a Day of more then ordinary Engagements entred into and strong Resolutions taken up of closer Walking and more Watchfulness O my God undertake for me And upon another of those Days of secret Prayer and Humiliation he notes If sowing in Tears be so sweet what then will the Harvest be when I shall reap in Ioy Bless the Lord O my Soul who forgiveth all thine Iniquities and will in due time heal all thy Diseases CHAP. IV. His Marriage Family Family Religion and the Education of his Children His removed from Emeral to the House in Worthenbury which the Judge had built for him in February 1658 9 and then had one of his Sisters with him to keep his House No sooner had he a Tent but God had an Altar in it and that a smoaking Altar There he set up Repetition on Sabbath-Evenings and welcom'd his Neighbours to it His Christian Friends often and sometimes his Brethren in the Ministry kept Days of Fasting and Prayer at his House He us'd to tell People when they had built new Houses they must dedicate them referring to Deut. 20. 5. and Psal. 30. ult that is they must invite God to their Houses and devote them to his Service Providence having thus brought him into a House of his own soon after provided him a Help-meet for him After long Agitation and some Discouragement and Opposition from the Father Apr. 26. 1660. he Married Katherine the only Daughter and Heiress of Mr. Daniel Matthews of Broad-Oak in the Township of Iscoyd in Flint-shire but in the Parish of Malpâ—… which is in Cheshire and about two Miles distant from Whitchurch a considerable Market Town in Shropshire Mr. Matthews was a Gentleman of a very competent Estate such a one as King Iames the First us'd to say was the happiest Lot of all others which set a Man below the Office of
that judgeth in the Earth In the Beginning of the Year 1665. when the Act for a Royal Aid to his Majesty of two Millions and a half came out The Commissioners for Flintshire were pleas'd to nominate Mr. Henry Sub-collector of the said Tax for the Township of Iscoyd and Mr. Steel for the Township of Hanmer They intended thereby to put an Affront and disparagement upon their Ministry and to shew that they look'd upon them but as Lay-men His note upon it is It is not a Sin which they put us upon but it is a Cross and a Cross in our Way and therefore to be taken up and born with patience When I had better work to do I was wanting in my Duty about it and now this is put upon me the Lord is righteous He procured the gathering of it by others only took account of it and saw it duly done and deserv'd as he saith he hoped he should that Inscription mentioned in Suetonius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the Memory of an honest Publican In September the same Year he was again by warrant from the Deputy Lieutenant's fetch'd Prisoner to Hanmer as was also Mr Steel and others He was examined about private Meetings some such but private indeed he own'd he had been present at of late in Shropshire but the Occasion was extraordinary the Plague was at that Time raging in London and he and several of his Friends having near Relations there thought it time to seek the Lord for them and this was imputed to him as his Crime He was likewise charged with Administring the Lord's Supper which he denied having never Administred it since he was disabled by the Act of Uniformity After some Days Confinement seeing they could prove nothing upon him he was discharged upon Recognizance of 20 l. with two Sureties to be forth-coming upon Notice and to live Peaceably But saith he our Restraint was not Strict for we had liberty of Prayer and Conference together to our mutual Edification thus out of the Eater came forth meat and out of the strong Sweetness and we found Honey in the Carcase of the Lion It was but a little before this that Mr. Steel setting out for London was by a Warrant from the Justices under Colour of the report of a Plot stop't and search'd and finding nothing to accuse him of they seiz'd his Almanack in which he kept his Diary for that Year and it not being written very legibly they made what malicious readings and comments they pleas'd upon it to his great Wrong and Reproach though to all sober and sensible people it discover'd him to be a Man that kept a strict Watch over his own heart and was a great Husband of his time and many said they got good by it and should love him the better for it Psal. 37. 5 6. This Event made Mr. Henry somewhat more cautious and sparing in the Records of his Diary when he saw how evil Men dig up Mischief At Lady-day 1666. The Five-mile Act commenced by which all Nonconformist Ministers were forbidden upon pain of Sixth Months imprisonment to come or be within five Miles of any Corporation or of any plaâ—…e where they had been Ministers unless they would take an Oath of which Mr. Baxter saith 't was credibly reported that the Earl of Southampton then Lord High Treasurer of England said no honest Man could take it Mr. Baxter in his Life hath set down at large his Reasons against taking this Oxford Oath as it was called part 2. p. 396. c. part 3. p. 4. c. Mr. Henry set his down in short 'T was an Oath not at any time to endeavour any Alteration of the Government in the Church or State He had already taken an Oath of Allegiance to the King and he look'd upon this to amount to an Oath of Allegiance to the Bishops which he was not free to take Thus he writes March 22. 1665 6. This Day methoughts it was made more clear to me than ever by the Hand of my God upon me and I note it down that I may remember it 1 That the Government of the Church of Christ ought to be managed by the Ministers of Christ. It appears Heb. 13 7. that they are to rule us that Speak to us the Word of God 2 That under Prelacy Ministers have not the Management of Church-Government not in the least being only the Publishers of the Prelates Decrees as in Excommunication and Absolution which Decrees sometimes are given forth by Lay Chancellors 3 That therefore Prelacy is an Usurpation in the Church of God upon the Crown and Dignity of Jesus Christ and upon the Gospel-Rights of his Servants the Ministers And therefore 4 I ought not to subscribe to it nor to swear not to endeavour in all lawful ways the Alteration of it viz. by Praying and Perswading where there is opportunity But 5 that I may safely venture to suffer in the refusal of such an Oath committing my Soul Life Estate Liberty all to him who judgeth righteously And on March 25. the day when that Act took place he thus writes A sad day among poor Ministers up and down this Nation who by this Act of Restraint are forced to remove from among their Friends Acquaintance and Relations and to sojurn among strangers as it were in Mesech and in the Tents of Kedar But there is a God who tells their wandrings and will put their Tears and the Tears of their Wives and Children into his Bottle are they not in his Book The Lord be a little Sanctuary to them and a place of Refuge from the Storm and from the Tempest and pity those Places from which they are ejected and come and dwell where they may not He wished their Removes might not be figurative of Evil to these Nations as Ezekiel's were Ezek. 12. 1. 2. 3. This severe Dispensation forced Mr. Steel and his Family from Hanmer and so he lost the comfort of his Neighbourhood but withal it drew Mr. Laurence from Baschurch to Whitchurch Parish where he continued till he was driven thence too Mr. Henry's house at Broad Oâ—…k was but four reputed Miles from the utmost Limits of Worthenbury Parish but he got it measured and accounting 1760 Yards to a Mile according to the Statute 35 Eliz. cap. 6. it was found to be just five Miles and threescore Yards which one would think might have been his Security but there were those near him who were ready to stretch such Laws to the utmost rigor under Pretence of construing them in Favour of the King and therefore would have it to be understood of reputed Miles this obliged him for some time to leave his Family and to sojurn among his Friends to whom he endeavoured wherever he came to impart some Spiritual Gift At last he ventured home presuming among other things that the Warrant by which he was made Collector of the Royal Aid while that continued would secure him according to a Promise in the
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
whenever it may be had and an Ear open to all Overtures of that kind The two Motto's proper for the great Guns are applicable to this Ratio ultima Regum and Sic quaerimus Pacem Four Rules he sometimes gave to be observed in our Converse with Men Have Communion with few Be familiar with one Deal justly with all Speak evil of none He was noted for an extraordinary neat Husband about his House and Ground which he would often say he could not endure to see like the Field of the Sloathful and the Vineyard of the Man void of Understanding And it was strange how easily one that had been bred up utterly a Stranger to such things yet when God so ordered his Lot acquainted himself with and accommodated himself to the Affairs of the Country making it the Diversion of his vacant Hours to over-see his Gardens and Fields when he better understood that known Epode of Horace Beatus ille qui procul negotiis than he did when in his Youth he made an ingenious Translation of it His care of this kind was an Act of Charity to poor Labourers whom he employed and it was a good Example to his Neighbours as well as for the Comfort of his Family His Converse likewise with these things was excellently improved for Spiritual purposes by occasional Meditations hints of which there are often in his Diary as those that Conversed with him had many in Discourse Instances of this were easie but endless to give He us'd to say that therefore many of the Scripture Parables and Similitudes are taken from the common Actions of this Life that when our Hands are employed about them our Hearts may the more easily pass through them to Divine and Heavenly things I have heard him often blame those whose irregular Zeal in the Profession of Religion makes them to neglect their Worldly Business and let the House drop through the affairs of which the good Man will order with Discretion and he would tell sometimes of a Religious Woman whose Fault it was how she was convinced of it by means of an intelligent godly Neighbour who coming into the House and finding the good Woman far in the Day in her Closet and the House sadly neglected Children not tended Servants not minded What saith he is there no fear of God in this House which much startled and affected the good Woman that over-heard him He would often say Every thing is beautiful in its Season and that it is the Wisdom of the Prudent so to order the Duties of their General Callings as Christians and those of their particular Callings in the World as that they may not clash or interfere I have heard it observed from Eccl. 7. 16. That there may be over-doing in well-doing I cannot omit one little passage in his Diary because it may be Instructive When he was once desired to be bound for one that had upon a particular occasion been Bound for him he writes Solomon saith He that hateth Suretiship is sure but he saith also he that hath Friends must shew himself friendly But he always cautioned those that became Sureties not to be Bound for any more than they knew themselves able to pay nor for more than they would be willing to pay if the Principal fail His House at Broad-Oake was by the Road-side which tho' it had its inconveniencies yet he would say pleased him well because it gave his Friends an opportunity of calling on him the oftner and gave him an opportunity of being kind to Strangers and such as were any way distressed upon the Road to whom he was upon all occasions cheerfully ready fully answering the Apostles Character of a Bishop that he must be of good Behaviour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 decent affable and obliging and given to Hospitality 1 Tim. 3 2. like Abraham sitting at his Tent Door in quest of Opportunities to do good If he met with any poor near his House and gave them Alms in Money yet he would bid them go to his Door besides for Relief there He was very tender and compassionate towards poor Strangers and Travellers though his Charity and Candor were often imposed upon by Cheats and Pretenders whom he was not apt to be suspicious of but would say in the most favourable sense Thou knowest not the Heart of a Stranger If any ask'd his Charity whose Representation of their Case he did not like or who he thought did amiss to take that Course he would first give them an Alms and then mildly reprove them And labour to convince them that they were out of the way of Duty and that they could not expect that God should bless them in it and would not chide them but reason with them And he would say if he should tell them of their Faults and not give them an Alms the Reproof would look only like an Excuse to deny his Charity and would be rejected accordingly In a word his greatest Care about the things of this World was how to do good with what he had and to devise liberal things desiring to make no other Accession to his Estate but only that Blessing which attends Beneficence He did firmly believe and it should seem few do that what is given to the Poor is lent to the Lord who will pay it again in kind or kindness and that Religion and Piety is undoubtedly the best Friend to outward Prosperity and he found it so for it pleased God abundantly to bless his Habitation and to make a Hedge about him and about his House and about all that he had round about And though he did not delight himself in the abundance of Wealth yet which is far better he delighted himself in the abundance of Peace Psal. 37. 11. All that he had and did observably Prospered so that the Country oftentimes took Notice of it and called his Family a Family which the Lord had Blessed And his Comforts of this kind were as he us'd to pray they might be Oyl to the Wheels of his Obedience and in the use of these things he served the Lord his God with joyfulness and gladness of Heart yet still mindful of and grieved for the Affliction of Ioseph He would say sometimes when he was in the midst of the Comforts of this Life as that good Man All this and Heaven too surely then we serve a good Master Thus did the Lord bless him and make him a Blessing and this abundant Grace through the Thanksgiving of many redounded to the Glory of God Having given this general Account of his Circumstances at Broad-Oak we shall now go on with his Story especially as to the Exercise of his Ministry there and thereabouts for that was his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the thing in which he was and to which he wholly gave himself taking other things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 After this Settlement at Broad-Oak whenever there was Preaching at Whitewell Chappel as usually there was two Lord's days in the Month
ill with our Souls That Honesty is the best Policy That those that would have the comfort of Relations must be careful to do the Duty of them That All is well that ends everlastingly well That Time and the things of Time are nothing compared with Eternity and the things of Eternity That it is better to suffer the greatest Affliction than to commit the least Sin That it highly concerns us to do that now which we shall most wish we had done when we come to dye That Work for God is its own Wages That it is folly for a Man to do that which he must certainly undo again by Repentance or be undone to all Eternity Such as these were the Principles he would have Christians to govern themselves by Speaking of the Causes of Atheism he had this Observation That a Head full of vain and unprofitable Notions meeting with a Heart full of Pride and Self-conceitedness dispose a Man directly to be an Atheist A Gentlewoman that upon some unkindness betwixt her and her Husband was parted from him and lived separately near a Twelve-month grew Melancholy and complained of Sin and the withdrawing of the Light of God's Countenance and the want of Assurance he told her she must rectifie what was a miss between her and her Husband and return into the way of Duty else 't was in vain to expect Peace Her Friends were against it but he said he was confident it would prove so He said he had observed concerning himself that he was sometimes the worse for eating but never for abstinence sometimes the worse for wearing too few Cloaths but never for wearing too many sometimes the worse for speaking but never for keeping Silence As to his Letters he was very free in writing to his Friends A good Letter he would say may perhaps do more good than a good Sermon because the Address is more particular and that which is written remains His Language and Expressions in his Letters were always pious and heavenly and seasoned with the Salt of Grace and when there was occasion he would excellently Administer Counsels Reproofs or Comforts by Letter He kept no Copies of his Letters and it is impossible if we should attempt it to retrieve them from the Hands into which they were scatter'd Mr. Rutherford's and Mr. Allen's Letters that like some of the most excellent of Paul's Epistles boâ—…e date out of a Prison have a mighty Tincture of their peculiar Prison-Comforts and Enlargements we have none such to Produce of Mr. Henry's no Pastoral Letters or Prison Letters he was himself in his whole Conversation an Epistle of Christ. But we shall only glean up some Passages out of such of his Letters as are in our Hands which may be affecting and edifying To his Son when he was abroad for Improvement at London in the Year 1685 and 1686 with the common business of his Letters which was always written with a savor of Religion he would intermix such Lines as these We are all well here Thanks be to God the Divine Providence watching about our Tabernacle and compassing us about with Favour as with a Shield Our great Enquiry is What shall we render Alas our Rendrings are nothing to our Receivings wâ—…re like the Barren Field on which must Cost is bâ—…wed but the Crop is not accordingly Our Heavenly Father is loading us with his Benefits and we are loading him with our Sins grieving him that comforts us and how long how long shall it be so O that it might be otherwise that our Mercies might be as Oyl to the Wheels to make us so much the more active and lively in our Masters Work especially considering how it is with our fellow Servants they empty and we full they Marah and we Naomi There may a Day come when it may cost dear to be honest but after all To fear God and keep his Commandments is the whole of Man I therefore commend it to you and you to God who is a shield and buckler to them that fear him We are well but in daily expectation of that which we are born and born again to and that is Trouble in this World yet rejoycing in hope of the Glory of God which we are reaching after and pressing towards as we trust you are also Where you are you see more of the glittering Vanities of this World in a Day than we here do in an Age and are you more and more in love with them or dead and dying to them I hope dead and dying to them for they are poor things and perish in the using make many worse that enjoy them but none better What is Translated vexation of Spirit Eccl. 1. 2. may be read Feeding upon Wind comp Hos. 12. 1. and can Wind satisfie The Lord preserve and keep you from all Evil the Lord preserve and keep your Soul We both send you our Love and bless you together and apart every day in the Name of the Lord. Amen and Amen Be sincere and humble and choice in your Company always either getting goâ—… or doing good gathering in or laying out Reâ—…ber to keep the Heart with all diligence and above all keepings for there the Fountain is and if that be well kept and clean the streams will be accordingly 'T is some short Refreshment to Friends and Relations to see and hear from one another but it passeth away and we have here no continuing City no abiding Delights in this World our Rest remains elsewhere those we have lose much of their sweetness from the thoughts of parting with them while we enjoy them but the Happiness to come is Eternal After Millions of Millions of Ages if we may so speak of Eternity as far from an end as the first Moment and the last of Glory will be Glory so some read Prov. 25. 27. keep that in your Eye my dear Child and it will as much as any thing dazzle your Eyes to all the fading deceiving Vanities of this lower World and will be a quickning Motive to you to abound always in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know your Labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. The Lord bless you who blesseth indeed See that you walk circumspectly not as the Fools but as the wise many Eyes are upon you his especially who is all Eye Cave Deus videt memento hoc agere our Blessing with 1 Chr. 28. 9. The same which is yet the Prologue of yours is of ours also Ommia bene laus Deo but he that girdeth on the Harness must not boast as that puts it off While the World we live in is under the Moon constant in nothing but inconstancy and such Changes are made in other Families why should we alone promise our selves immunity from the common Lot There would be no need of Faith and Patience which are Winter Graces if it should be always Summer time with us We have three Unchangeables to oppose to all other Mutabilities an unchangeable Covenant
c. He acknowledgeth God in all And indeed after all this is it my dear Cosins that you must satisfie your selves with under this sad Providence that the Lord hath done it and the same Will that ordered the thing it self ordered all the Circumstances of it and who are we that we should dispute with our Maker Let the Potsherds strive with the Potsherds of the Earth but let not the thing formed say to him that formed it Why hast thou made me thus And as for the Improvement of this Affliction which I hope both of you earnestly desire for it is a great Loss to lose such a Providence and not be made better by it I conceive there are four Lessons which it should teach you and they are good Lessons and should be well learned for the advantage of them is unspeakable 1. It should for ever imbitter Sin to you you know what she said to the Prophet 1 Kings 17. 18. Art thou come to call my Sin to remembrance and to slay my Son 'T is Sin Sin that is the old Kill-Friend the Ionah that hath raised this Storm the Achan that hath troubled your House then how should you grow in your hatred of it and endeavours against it that you may be the Death of that which hath been the Death of your dear Children I say the Death of it for nothing less will satisfie the true Penitent than the Death of such a Malefactor 2. It should be a Spur to you to put you on in Heavens way It may be you were growing remiss in Duty beginning to slack your former pace in Religion and your Heavenly Father saw it and was grieved at it and sent this sad Providence to be your Monitor to tell you you should remember whence you were fallen and do your first Works and be more Humble and Holy and Heavenly and self-denying and Watchful abounding always in the work of the Lord. O Blessed are they that come out of such a Furnace thus resined they will say hereafter 't was a happy day for them that ever they were put in 3. You muâ—… learn by it as long as you live to keep your Affections in due Bounds towards Creature Comforts How hard is it to love and not to over-love to delight in Children or Yoke-fellows and not over-delight now God is a jealous God and will not give his Glory to any other and our excess this way doth often provoke him to remove that Mercy from us which we do thus make an Idol of and our Duty is to labour when he doth so to get that matter mended and to rejoyce in all our Enjoyments with Trembling and as if we rejoyced not 4. It should be a means of drawing your Hearts and Thoughts more upwards and home-wards I mean your Everlasting-Home You should be looking oftner now than before into the other World I shall go to him saith David when his little Son was gone before It is yet but a little while e're all the things of Time shall be swallowed up in Eternity And the matter is not great whether we or ours die first whilst we are all dying in the midst of Life we are in Death What manner of persons then ought we to be Now our Lord Iesus Christ himself and God even our Father be your support under and do you good by this Dispensation and give you a Name better than that of Sons and Daughters We are daily mindful of you at the Throne of Grace in our poor measure and dearly recommended to you c. We shall next gather up some Passages out of his Letters to his Children after they were married and gone from him To one of his Daughters with Child of her first Child he thus writes You have now one kind of Burthen more than ever you had before to cast upon God and if you do so he will sustain you according to his Promise And when the time of Travel was near thus You know whom you have trusted even him who is true and faithful and never yet did noâ—… ever will forsake the Soul that seeks him Though he be Almighty and can do every thing yet this he cannot do he cannot deny himself nor be worse than his Word But what is his Word Hath he promised that there shall be always a safe and speedy delivery that there shall be no Iabez no Benoni No but if there be he hath promised it shall work together for good hath promised if he doth not save from he will save through If he call to go even through the valley of the shadow of death and what less is Child-bearing 〈◊〉 he will be with you his Rod and his Staff shall comfort you and that 's well Therefore your Faith must be in those things as the Promise is either so or so and which way soever it be God is good and doth good Therefore my dear Daughter lift up the Hands that hang down cast your Burthen upon him trust also in him and let your Thoughts be established We are mindful of you in our daily Prayers but you have a better Intecessor than we who is heard always To another of them in the same Circumstance he thus writes Your last Letter speaks you in a good Frame which rejoyced my Heart that you were fixed fixed waiting upon God that your Faith was uppermost above your Fears that you could say Behold the handmaid of the Lord let him do with me as seemeth good in his eyes We are never fitter for a Mercy nor is it more likely to be a Mercy indeed than when it is so with us now the Lord keep it always in the Imagination of the Thoughts of your Heart And he concludes ' Forget not 1 Tom. 2. last When one of his Daughters was safely delivered in a Letter to another of them that was drawing near to that needful Hour he observ'd that when David said Psal. 116. 12. What shall I render He presently adds v. 13. I will call upon the Name of the Lord. As if saith he calling upon the Name of the Lord for Mercy for you were one way of rendring unto the Lord for the great Benefit done to your Sister On occasion of affliction in their Families by the sickness or Death of Children or otherwise he always wrote some word in season In the Furnace again saith he but a good Friend sits by and it is only to take away more of the Dross If less Fire would do we should not have it so much and so often O for Faith to trust the Refiner and to refer all to his Will and Wisdom and to wait the Issue for I have been young and now am old but I never yet saw it in vain to seek God and to hope in him At another time he thus writes Tough and knotty Blocks must have more and more Wedges our heavenly Father when he judgeth will overcome We hear of the death of dear S. T. and chide ourselves for being so
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