as had been vain and wordly and careless and mindless of God and another World became sober and serious and concern'd about their Souls and a Future State This was the Conversion of Souls aimed at and laboured after and through Grace not altogether in vain Whatever Lectures were set up in the Country round 't was still desired that Mr Henry would begin them which was thought no small Encouragement to those who were to carry them on and very happy he was both in the choice and management of his Subjects at such opportunities seeking to find out acceptable Words Take one Specimen of his Address when he began a Lecture with a Sermon on Heb. 12. 15. I assure you saith he and God is my Witness I am not come to Preach either Sedition against the Peace of the State or Schism against the Peace of the Church by perswading you to this or that Opinion or Party but as a Minister of Christ that hath received Mercy from the Lord to desire to be faithful My errand is to exhort you to all possible Seriousness in the great Business of your Eternal Salvation according to my Text which if the Lord will make as profitable to you as it is material and of weight in it self neither you nor I shall have cause to repent cur coming hither and our being here to day looking diligently lest any of you fail of the Grace of God If it were the last Sermon I were to Preach I did not know how to take my aim better to do you good In doing of this Work he often said that he looked upon himself but as an Assistant to the Parish Ministers in promoting the common Interests of Christs Kingdom and the common Salvation of precious Souls by the Explication and Application of those great Truths wherein we are all agreed And he would compare the Case to that in Hezekiah's time when the Levites helped the Priests to kill the Sacrifice which was something of an irregularity but the exigence of affairs called for it the Priests being too few and some of them not so careful as they should have been to sanctifie themselves see 2 Chr. 29. 34. and wherever he Preached he usually pray'd for the Parish Minister and for a Blessing upon his Ministry He hath often said how well pleas'd he was when after he had preached a Lecture at Oswestry he went to visit the Minister of the Place Mr. Edwards a worthy good Man and told him he had been Sowing a handful of Seed among his People and had this Answer That 's well the Lord prosper your Seed and mine too there 's need enough of us both And another worthy Conformist that came privately to hear him but was reprimanded for it by his Superiours told him afterwards with tears that his Heart was with him His Heart was wonderfully enlarged in his Work at this time the Fields were white unto the Harvest and he was busie and God did remarkably own him setting many Seals to his Ministry which much confirm'd him in what he did He hath this observable passage in his Diary about this time which he recorded for his after Benefit and the Example of it may be instructive Remember that if trouble should come hereafter for what we do now in the use of present Liberty I neither shrink from it nor sink under it for I do therein approve my self to God and to my own Conscience in truth and uprightness and the Lord whom I serve can and will certainly both bear me out and bring me off with comfort in the end I say Remember and forget it not this 24th day of March 1672 3. 'T was at the beginning of this Liberty that the Society at Broad-Oak did Commence made up besides the Neighbourhood of some out of Whitchurch and Whitchurch Parish that had been Mr. Porter's People some out of Hanmer Parish that had been Mr. Steel's and some out of the Parishes of Wem Prees and Ellismere Persons generally of very moderate and sober Principles quiet and peaceable Lives and hearty well-wishers to the King and Government and not Rigid or Schismatical in their Separation but willing to attend though sometimes with difficulty and hazard upon those Administrations which they found most lively and edifying and most helpful to them in the great business of working out their Salvation To this Society he would never call himself a Pastor nor was he willing that they should call him so but a Helper and a Minister of Christ for their good He would say That he look'd upon his Family only as his Charge and his Preaching to others was but accidental whom if they came he could no more turn away than he could a poor hungry Man that should come to his door for an Alms. And being a Minister of Iesus Christ he thought himself bound to Preach the Gospel as he had opportunity Usually once a Month he administred the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper Some of his Opportunities of that kind he sets a particular Remark upon as sweet Sealing Days on which he found it good to draw near to God When about the Years end there was a general Expectation of the Cancelling of the Indulgence He hath this Note upon a precious Sabbath and Sacrament day as he calls it perhaps this may be the last Father thy will be done it is good for us to be at such uncertainties for now we receive our Liberty from our Father fresh every day which is best and sweetest of all On the 3d of March 1676 7. being Saturday night the Town of Wem in Shropshire about six Miles from him was burnt down the Church Market House and about One hundred twenty six dwelling Houses and one Man in little more than an Hours time the Wind being exceeding violent at which time Mr. Henry was very helpful to his Friends there both for their support under and their improvement of this sad Providence It was but about half a Year before that a threatning Fire had broke out in that Town but did little hurt some serious People there presently after Celebrated a Thanksgiving for their Deliverance in which Mr. Henry imparted to them a Spiritual Gift Oct. 3. 1676 from Zech. 3. 2. Is not this a brand pluck'd out of the Fire In the close of that Sermon pressing them from the consideration of that remarkable Deliverance to personal Reformation and Amendment of Life That those who had been Proud Covetous Passionate Lyars Swearers Drunkards Sabbath-breakers would be so no more and urging Ezr. 9. 13 14. he added If this Providence have not this effect upon you you may in reason expect another Fire for when God judgeth he will overcome and minded them of Lev. 26. where 't is so often threatned against those who walk contrary to God that he would punish them yet seven times more The remembrance of this could not but be affecting when in so short a time after the whole Town was laid in Ruins The
Oxford Subscribed by Dr. Wilkinson Dr. Langley c. the other from the Neighbour Ministers Mr. Steel Mr. Fogg c. both testifying of his Conversation c. The Lord forgive me saith he in his Diary upon this that it hath not been more Exemplary as it ought for Piety and Industry Amen Lord in Christ. The Day for Ordination was appointed to be Sept. 16. at Prees of which Notice was given at Worthenbury by a Paper read in the Church and afterwards affixed to the Church-door the Lord's Day before signifying also That if any one could produce any just Exceptions against the Doctrine or Life of the said Mr. Henry or any sufficient Reason why he might not be Ordained they should certifie the same to the Classis or the Scribe and it should be heard and considered On the Day of Ordination there was a very great Assembly gathered together Mr. Porter began the Publick work of the Day with Prayer then Mr. Parsons Preached on 1 Tim. 1. 12. I thank Christ Iesus who hath enabled me for that he counted me Faithful putting me into the Ministry Putting Men into the Ministry is the Work of Jesus Christ. After Sermon Mr. Parsons according to the usual Method requir'd of him a Confession of his Faith which he made as follows The Ground and Rule of my Faith towards God is the Scripture of the Old and New Testament I believe they were written by Holy Men immediately inspir'd by the Holy Ghost having found the efficacy of them in some measure upon my own Heart I believe they are further able to make me wise to Salvation Concerning God I believe that he is and that he is the Rewarder of those that diligently seek him The Trinity of Persons in the Unity of the Godhead I receive and own as a Truth I admire and adore as a Mystery though no Man hath seen God at any time yet the only Begotten Son which is in the Bosom of the Father he hath declared him and what he hath declared concerning him that I believe I believe that God is a Spirit for the Son hath said God is a Spirit I believe that he hath Life in himself and that he hath given to the Son to have Life in himself I believe all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made I believe by his Providence he preserves guides and governs all the Creatures according to the purpose of his own Will to his own Glory for the Father worketh hitherto and the Son also worketh I believe he made Man upright after his own Image and Likeness which Image consisted in Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness but Man by Sin lost it I believe we were all in the Loins of our first Parents and that they stood and fell as publick Persons and upon that Account justly without any colour of wrong we bear our share both in the Guilt of their Disobedience and also the Corruption of Nature following thereupon so that we come into the World Children of Wrath and Heirs of the Curse one as well as another Enemies to God hating him and hated of him Averse to what is good and prone to all manner of Evil. Though all are born in this Condition yet there are some that do not dye in it I believe there is a Mediator and there is but one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Iesus Those whom the Father hath from Everlasting pitched his Love upon and given to Christ not because of Works or Faith foreseen but meerly of his Free Grace for those I believe Christ was sent forth into the World made of a Woman made under the Law for their sakes he sanctified himself and became obedient to Death even the Death of the Cross wherefore God also highly exalted him and having raised him from the Dead on the third Day seâ—… him at his own Right Hand where he ever lives to make Intercession for those for whom he shed his Blood All these Elect redeemed ones I believe are in due time sooner or later in their Lives effectually called washed sanctified justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God I believe the Righteousness of Christ alone apprehended by Faith is the matter of our Justification before God and that no Flesh can stand in his Sight upon any other terms for he is the Lord our Righteousness and in him only the Father is well pleas'd I believe the Work of Sanctification managed by the Spirit who dwelleth in us though in respect of Parts it be compleat for the whole Man is renewed yet in respect of Degrees it is not fully perfected till we come to Glory and I believe all that are Justified shall be Glorifi'd for we are kept by the Fower of God through Faith unto Salvation I believe the gathering in and Building up of Saints is the special end why Pastors and Teachers are appointed in the Church and that Jesus Christ according to his Promise will be with them in that Work to the end of the World The Two Sacraments of the New Testament Baptism and the Lord's Supper I receive and own as Signs and Seals of the Covenant of Grace the former Instituted by our Lord Jesus as a Sign and Seal of our engrassing into him due of right to all the Infants of Believing Parents and but once to be Administred the other instituted by our Lord Jesus in the Night wherein he was Betrayed to shew forth his Death and to Seal the Benefits purchased thereby to his Church and People and to be often repeated When the Body returns to the Dust I believe the Soul returns to God that gave it and that immediately it receives from him the Sentence according to what hath been done in the Flesh either Come inherit the Kingdom oâ—… Depart accursed into everlasting Fire I believe besides this a Day of general Judgment in the end of the World wherein we must all appear before the Tribunal of Jesus Christ and that our Bodies being raised by an Almighty-Power from the Dust shall be United to the same Souls again and shall partake with them in the same Condition either of Happiness or Misery to all Eternity Those that have done good shall come forth unto the Resurrection of Life and those that have done evil to the Resurrection of Damnation This is the Sum and Substance of my Faith into which I was Baptized and in which by the Grace of God I will live and Dye Mr. Parsons then propos'd certain Questions to him according to the Instructions in the Directory to which he return'd Answer as followeth Question 1. What are your Ends in undertaking the Work and Calling of a Minister Answer As far as upon search and Enquiry I can
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
from his House in a Morning before Family Worship but upon such an Occasion would mind his Friends that Prayer and Provender never hinder a Iourney He managed his daily Family-Worship so as to make it a Pleasure and not a Task to his Children and Servants for he was seldom long and never tedious in the Service the variety of the Duties made it the more pleasant so that none who join'd with him had ever any reason to say Behold what a Weariness is it Such an Excellent Faculty he had of rendring Religion the most sweet and aimable Employment in the World and so careful was he like Iacob to drive as the Children could go not putting new Wine into old Bottles If some good People that mean well would do likewise it might prevent many of those Prejudices which young Persons are apt to conceive against Religion when the Services of it are made a Toil and a Terror to them On Thursday Evenings instead of Reading he Catechized his Children and Servants in the Assemblies Catechism with the Proofs or sometimes in a little Catechism Concerning the matter of Prayer published in the Year 1674. and said to be written by Dr. Collins which they learned for their help in the Gift of Prayer and he Explain'd it to them Or else they Read and he Examined them in some other useful Book as Mr. Pool's Dialogues against the Papists the Assemblies Confession of Faith with the Scriptures or the like On Saturday Evenings his Children and Servants gave him an Account what they could remember of the Chapters that had been Expounded all the Week before in order each a several part helping one anothers Memories for the Recollecting of it This he call'd gathering up the Fragments which remained that nothing might be lost He would say to them sometimes as Christ to his Disciples Have ye understood all these things If not he took that occasion to explain them more fully This Exercise which he constantly kept up all along was both delightful and profitable and being managed by him with so much Prudence and sweetness helped to instil into those about him betimes the Knowledge and Love of the Holy Scriptures When he had Sojourners in his Family who were able to bear a part in such a Service he had commonly in the Winter time set Weekly Conferences on Questions propos'd for their mutual Edification and Comfort in the fear of God the Substance of what was said he himself took and kept an Account of in Writing But the Lord's Day he called and counted the Queen of Days the Pearl of the Week and observed it accordingly The Fourth Commandment intimates a special regard to be had to the Sabbath in Families Thou and thy Son and thy Daughter c. it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your Dwellings In this therefore he was very exact and abounded in the work of the Lord in his Family on that Day Whatever were the Circumstances of his Publick Opportunities which vari'd as we shall find afterwards his Family Religion on that day was the same Extraordinary Sacrifices must never supersede the continual Burnt-offering and his Meat-offering Numb 28. 15. His common Salutation of his Family or Friends on the Lord's Day in the Morning was that of the Primitive Christians The Lord is risen he is risen indeed making it his chief Business on that day to Celebrate the Memory of Christ's Resurrection and he would say sometimes Every Lord's Day is a true Christians Easter day He took care to have his Family ready early on that day and was larger in Exposition and Prayer on Sabbath-Mornings than on other days He would often remember that under the Law the daily Sacrifice was doubled on Sabbath-days two Lambs in the Morning and two in the Evening He had always a particular Subject for his Expositions on Sabbath Mornings the Harmony of the Evangelists several times over the Scripture Prayers Old Testament Prophesies of Christ Christ the true Treasure so he Entituled that Subject sought and found in the Field of the Old Testament He constantly sung a Psalm after Dinner and another after Supper on the Lord's Dayes And in the Evening of the Day his Children and Servants were Catechized and Examined in the sense and meaning of the Answers in the Catechism that they might not say it as he used to tell them like a Parrot by Rote Then the Days Sermons were repeated commonly by one of his Children when they were grown up and while they were with him and the Family gave an Account what they could remember of the word of the Day which he endeavoured to fasten upon them as a Nail in a sure place In his Prayers on the Evening of the Sabbath he was often more than ordinarily Enlarged as one that found not only God's Service perfect Freedom but his Work it s own Wages and a great Reward not only after keeping but as he used to observe from Ps. 19. 11. in keeping God's Commandments A perfect Reward of Obedience in Obedience In that Prayer he was usually very particular in praying for his Family and all that belong'd to it It was a Prayer he often put up that we might have Grace to carry it as a Minister and a Minister's Wife and a Minister's Children and a Minister's Servants should carry it that the Ministry might in nothing be blamed He would sometimes be a particular Intercessor for the Towns and Parishes adjacent How have I heard him when he hath been in the Mount with God in a Sabbath Evening Prayer wrestle with the Lord for Chester and Shrewsbury and Nantwich and Wrexham and Whitchurch c. those nests of Souls wherein there are so many that cannot discern between their Right Hand and their Left in Spiritual things c. He closed his Sabbath Work in his Family with singing Psalm 134. and after it a solemn Blessing of his Family Thus was he Prophet and Priest in his own House and he was King there too Ruling in the fear of God and not suffering Sin upon any under his Roof He had many Years ago a man Servant that was once over-taken in Drink abroad for which the next Morning at Family-Worship he solemnly Reproved him admonish'd him and Prayed for him with a Spirit of Meekness and soon after parted with him But there were many that were his Servants who by the Blessing of God upon his Endeavours got those good Impressions upon their Souls which they retain'd ever after and blessed God with all their Hearts that ever they came under his Roof Few went from his Service till they were Married and went to Families of their own and some after they had been Married and had Bury'd their Yoke fellows return'd to his Service again saying Master it is good to be here He brought up his Children in the fear of God with a great deal of Care and Tenderness and did by his Practise as well as upon all occasions in Discourses
of Sion mourning and the quiet in the Land treated as the troublers of it his Soul wept in Secret for it And yet he join'd in the Annual Commemoration of the King's Restauration and preach'd on Caesar's considering saith he that it was his right also the sad Posture of the Civil Government through Usurpers and the manner of his coming in without Bloodshed This he would all his Days speak of as a national Mercy but what he rejoyced in with a great Deal of Trembling for the Ark of God and he would sometimes say That during those Years between forty and sixty though on Civil accounts there were great Disorders and the Foundations were out of Course yet in the matters of God's Worship things went well there was Freedom and Reformation and a Face of Godliness was upon the Nation tho' there were those that made but a mask of it Ordinances were administred in Power and Purity and though there was much amiss yet Religion at least in the Profession of it did prevail This saith he we know very well let Men say what they will of those times In November 1660. he took the Oath of Allegiance at Orton before Sir Thomas Hanmer and two other Justices of which he hath left a Memorandum in his Diary with this added God so help me as I purpose in my Heart to do accordingly Nor could any more Conscientiously observe that Oath of God than he did nor more sincerely promote the Ends of it That Year according to an Agreement with some of his Brethren in the Ministry who hoped thereby to oblige some People he Preached upon Christmas-day The Sabbath before it happen'd that the 23d Chapter of Leviticus which treats intirely of the Jewish Feasts called there the Feasts of the Lord came in course to be Expounded which gave him occasion to distinguish of Feasts into Divine and Ecclesiastical the Divine Feasts that the Jews had were those there appointed their Ecclesiastical Feasts were those of Purim and of Dedication and in the Application of it he said He knew no Divine Feast we have under the Gospel but the Lord's Day intended for the Commemoration of the whole Mercy of our Redemption And the most that could be said for Christmas was that it is an Ecclesiastical Feast and it is questionable with some whether Church or State though they might make a good Day Esth. 9. 19. could make a Holy Day Nevertheless for asmuch as we find our Lord Iesus Joh. 10. 22. so far complying with the Church Feast of Dedication as to take occasion from the Peoples coming together to Preach to them he purposed to Preach upon Christmas day knowing it to be his Duty in Season and out of Season He Preached on 1 Ioh. 3. 8. For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the Works of the Devil And he minded his People that it is double dishonour to Iesus Christ to practise the Works of the Devil then when we keep a Feast in Memory of his Manifestation His Annuity from Emeral was now with held because he did not read the Common Prayer tho' as yet there was no Law for Reading of it hereby he was disabled to do what he had been wont for the Help and Relief of others and this he has Recorded as that which troubled him most under that Disappointment but he blessed God that he had a Heart to do good even when his Hand was empty When Emeral Family was unkind to him he reckoned it a great Mercy which he gave God thanks for who makes every Creature to be that to us that it is that Mr. Broughton and his Family which is of considerable Figure in the Parish continued their kindness and respects to him and their countenance of his Ministry which he makes a grateful mention of more than once in his Diary Many attempts were made in the Year 1661. to disturb and ensnare him and it was still expected that he would have been hindred Methinks saith he Sabbaths were never so sweet as they are now we are kept at such uncertainties now a day in they Courts is better than a thousand such a day as this saith he of a Sacrament Day that Year better than ten thousand O that we might yet see many such days He was advis'd by Mr. Ratcliff of Chester and others of his Friends to enter an Action against Mr. P. for his Annuity and did so but concerning the Success of it saith he I am not over sollicitous for though it be my due Luke 10. 7. yet it was not that which I Preached for and God knows I would much rather Preach for nothing than not at all and besides I know assuredly if I should be Cast God will make it up to me some other way After some Proceeding he not only mov'd but sollicited Mr. P. to refer it having learned saith he that it is no Disparagement but an Honour for the Party wronged to be first in seeking Reconciliation The Lord if it be his Will incline his Heart to Peace I have now saith he two great Concerns upon the Wheel one in reference to my Maintenance for time past the other as to my continuance for the future the Lord bâ—… my friend in both but of the two rather in the latter But saith he many of greater Gifts and Grace than I are laid aside already and when my turn comes I know not the Will of God be done He can do his Work without us The issue of this affair was that there having been some Disputes between Mr. P. and Dr. Bridgman about the Tithe of Worthenbury wherein Mr. P. had clearly the better Claim to make yet by the Mediation of Sir Tho. Hanmer they came to this Agreement Septemb. 11. 1661. that Dr. Bridgman and his Successors Parsons of Bangor should have and receive all the Tithe Corn and Hay of Worthenbury without the Disturbance of the said Mr. P. or his Heirs except the Tith-Hay of Emeral Demesn upon Condition that Dr. Bridgman should before the first of November following avoid and discharge the present Minister or Curate Philip Henry from the Chappel of Worthenbury and not hereafter at any time re-admit the said Minister Philip Henry to Officiate the said Cure This is the Substance of the Articles agreed upon between them pursuant to which Dr. Bridgman soon after dismiss'd Mr. Henry and by a Writing under his Hand which was published in the Church of Worthenbury by one of Mr. Puleston's Servants October the 27th following Notice was given to the Parish of that Dismission That Day he Preached his Farewel Sermon on Phil. 1. 27. Only let your Conversation be as becomes the Gospel of Christ. In which as he saith in his Diary his desire and design was rather to profit then to affect it matters not what becomes of me whether I come unto you or else be absent but let your Conversation be as becomes the Gospel His parting Prayer for them was The
that however unlawfully impos'd it was in itself an unlawful Oath and that no Person that took it was under the Obligation of it For sometimes Quod fieri non debuit factum valet In short it cannot be wondred at that he was a Nonconformist when the Terms of Conformity were so industriously contrived to keep out of the Church such Men as He which is manifest by the full Account which Mr. Baxter hath left to Posterity of that affair and it is a passage worth noting here which Dr. Bates in his Funeral Sermon on Mr. Baxter relates that when the Lord Chamberlain Manchester told the King while the Act of Uniformity was under debate that he was afraid that the Terms were so hard that many of the Ministers would not comply with them Bishop Sheldon being present replied I am afraid they will And it is well known how many of the most sober pious and laborious Ministers in all parts of the Nation Conformists as well as Nonconformists did dislike those Impositions He thought it a Mercy since it must be so that the Case of Nonqonformity was made so clear as it was abundantly to satisfie him in his Silence and Sufferings I have heard that Mr. Anthony Burgoss who hesitated before when he read the Act blessed God that the Matter was put cut of doubt And yet to make sure Work the Printing and Publishing of the New Book of Common-Prayer was so deferr'd that few of the Ministers except those in London could possibly get a sight of it much less duly consider of it before the time prefix'd which Mr. Steel took Notice of in his Farewel-Sermon at Hanmer August 17. 1662. That he was silenced and turn'd out for not declaring his unfeigned Assent and Consent to a Book which he never saw nor could see One thing which he comforted himself with in his Nonconformity was that as to Matters of doubtful Disputation touching Church-Government Ceremoniâ—…s and the like he was unsworn either on one side or the other and so was free from those snares and bands in which so many find themselves both ty'd up from what they would do and entangled that they knew not what to do He was one of those that fear'd an Oath Eccl. 10. 2. and would often say Oaths are Edg-Tools and not to be played with One passage I find in his Papers which confirm'd him in this satisfaction 't is a Letter from no less a Clergy-man than Dr. F. of Whitchurch to one of his Parishioners who desired him to give way that his Child might be Baptized by another without the Cross and Godfathers if he would not do it so himself both which he refus'd 'T was in the Year 1672 3. For my part saith the Doctor I freely profess my Thoughts that the strict urging of indifferent Ceremonies hath done more harm than good and possibly had all Men been left to their liberty therein there might have been much more Unity and not much less Uniformity But what Power have I to dispense with my self being now under the Obligation of a Law and an Oath And he Concludes I am much grieved at the unhappy condition of my self and other Ministers who must either lose their Parishioners Love if they do not comply with them or else break their solemn Obligations to please them This he would say was the Mischief of Impositions which ever were and ever will be bones of Contention When he was at Worthenbury though in the Lord's Supper he used the Gesture of Sitting himself yet he Administred it without scruple to some who chose rather to Kneel and he thought that Ministers Hands should not in such things be tied up but that he ought in his place though he suffered for it to witness against the making of those things the indispensable Terms of Communion which Jesus Christ hath not made to be so Where the Spirit of the Lord and the Spirit of the Gospel is there is liberty Such as these were the Reasons of his Nonconformity which as long as he liv'd he was more and more coâ—…firm'd in 2. His Moderation in his Nonconformity was very exemplary and eminent and had a great influence upon many to keep them from running into an Uncharitable and Schismatical Separation which upon all occasions he bore hiâ—… Testimony against and was very industrious to stem the Tide of In Church Government that which he desired and wished for was Usher's Reduction of Episcopacy He thought it lawful to join in the Common-Prayer in Publick Assemblies and practis'd accordingly and endeavoured to satisfie others concerning it The Spirit he was of was such as made him much afraid of extreams and solliciâ—…ous for nothing more than to maintain and keep Christian Love and Charity among Professors We shall meet with several Instances of this in the progress of his Story and therefore wave it here I have been told of an aged Minister of his acquaintance who being as'd upon his Death-bed What his thoughts were of his Nonconformity replied he was well satisfied in it and should not have Conformed so far as he did viz. to join in the Liturgy if it had not been for Mr. Henry Thus was his Moderation known unto all Men. But to proceed in his Story At Michaelmas 1662. he quite left Worthenbury and came with his Family to Broad-Oak just Nine Years from his first coming into the Country Being cast by Divine Providence into this new place and state of Life his Care and Prayer was that he might have Grace and Wisdom to manage it to the Glory of God which saith he is my chief End Within three Weeks after his coming hither his second Son was Born which we mention for the sake of the Remark he has upon it We have no Reason saith he to call him Benoni I wish we had not to call him Iâ—…habod And on the Day of his Family-Thanksgiving for that Mercy he writes We have reason to Rejoyce with Trembling for it goes ill with the Church and People of God and reason to fear worse because of our own Sins and our Enemies Wrath. At the latter end of this Year he hath in his Diary this Note It is observed of many who have Conformed of late and fallen from what they formerly Professed thaâ—… since their so doing from unblamable orderly pious Men they are become exceeding dissolute and profane and instanceth in some What need have we every day to Pray Lord lead us not into Temptation For several Years after he came to live at Broad-Oak he went constantly on Lords days to the publick Worship with his Family at Whitewell-Chapel which is hard by if there were any supply there as sometimes there was from Malpas and if none then to Tylstock where Mr. Zachary Thomas continued for about half a Year and the place was a little Sanctuary and when that string fail'd usually to Whitchurch and did not Preach for a great while unless occasionally when he visited his Friends or to
him he hath made us accepted in the Beloved After the Exposition of the Chapter he sung a Psalm and commonly chose a Psalm suitable to the Chapter he had Expounded and would briefly tell his Hearers how they might sing that Psalm with Understanding and what affections of Soul should â—…e working towards God in the singing of it his hints of that kind were of great use and contributed much to the right Performance of that Service he often said The more singing of Psalms there is in our Families and Congregations on Sabbath-days the more like they are to Heaven and the more there is in them of the Everlasting Sabbath He would say sometimes he loved to sing whole Psalms rather than pieces After the Sermon in the Morning he sung the 117th Psalm without reading the Line He intermitted at Noon about an Hour and a half and on Sacrament days not near so long in which time he took some little Refreshment in his Study making no solemn Dinner yet many of his Friends did partake of his Carnal as well as of his Spiritual things as those did that follow'd Christ of whom he was careful they should not faint by the way The Morning Sermon was repeated by a ready Writer to those that staid in the Meeting place as many did and when that was done he begun the Afternoons Exercise in which he not only Read and Expounded a Chapter but Catechized the Children and Expounded the Catechism briefly before Sermon Thus did he go from strength to strength and from Duty to Duty on Sabbath-days running the ways of God's Commandments with an enlarged Heart And the variety and vivacity of his publick Services made them exceeding pleasant to all that joined with him who never had cause to complain of his being tedious He us'd to say Every Minute of Sabbath Time is precious and none of it to be lost And that he scarce thought the Lord's day well spent if he were not weary in Body at Night wearied with his Work but not weary of it as he used to distinguish He would say sometimes to those about him when he had gone through the Duties of a Sabbath Well if this be not the way to Heaven I do not know what is In pressing People to Number their days he would especially exhort them to Number their Sabbath-days how many they have been and how ill they have been spent how few 't is like they may be that they may be spent better and to help in the Account he would say that for every twenty Years of our Lives we enjoy above a thousand Sabbaths which must all be accounted for in the day of Reckoning As to his constant Preaching it was very Substantial and Elaborate and greatly to Edification He us'd to say he could not Starch in his Preaching that is he would not as knowing that where the Language and Expression is stiff and forced and fine as they call it it doth not reach the greatest part of the Hearers When he grew old he would say sure he might now take a greater liberty to talk as he call'd it in the Pulpit that is to speak familiarly to People yet to the last he abated not in his Preparations for the Pulpit nor ever delivered any thing raw and undigested much less any thing unbecoming the Gravity and Seriousness of the Work If his Preaching were talking it was talking to the purpose His Sermons were not Common Place but even when his Subjects were the most plain and 〈◊〉 yet his management of them was usually peculiar and surprizing In those Years as formerly he kept for the most part in a method for Subjects and was very seldom above one Sabbath upon a Text. And his constant Practise was as it had been before when he concluded a Subject that he had been a good while upon he spent one Sabbath in a brief Rehearsal of the Marrow and Substance of the many Sermons he had Preached upon it which he call'd the clenching of the Nail that it might be as a Nail in a sure place So very industrious was he and no less ingenious in his endeavours that his Hearers might be able after his Decease to have these things always in remembrance 2 Pet. 1. 15. and it is hoped that by the Blessing of God the effect did not altogether disappoint his Expectation In the later times of his Ministry he would often contrive the Heads of his Sermons to begin with the same Letter or rather two and two of a Letter but he did not at all seem to affect or force it only if it fell in naturally and easily he thought it a good help to Memory and of use especially to the younger sort And he would say the chief reason why he did it was because 't is frequently observed in the Scripture particularly the Book of Psalms And though it be not a fashionable Ornament of Discourse if it be a Scripture Ornament that is sufficient to recommend it at least to justifie it against the imputation of Childishness Mr. Porter of Whitchurch very much us'd it so did Mr. Malden But the Excellency of his Sermons lay chiefly in the Enlargements which were always very solid grave and judicious but in expressing and marshalling his Heads he often condescended below his own Judgment to help his Hearers Memories Some of his Subjects when he had finished them he made some short Memorandums of in Verse a Distich or two of each Sabbaths work and gave them out in Writing among the young ones of his Congregation many of whom wrote them and learned them and profited by them It might be of use especially to those who had the happiness of sitting under his Ministry to give some Account of the Method of his Sabbath Subjects during the last Eight or Nine Years of his Ministry and it was design'd till 't was found 't would swell this Narrative into too great a Bulk 2. As to the Administration of the Sacraments those Mysteries of God which Ministers are the Stewards of As to the Sacrament of Baptism he had never that I know of Baptized any Children except his own from the time he was turn'd out in 1662. till this last Liberty came though often desir'd to do it such was the tender regard he had to the Established Church but now he reviv'd the Administration of that Ordinance in his Congregation The occasion was this One of the Parish-Ministers Preaching at Whiteweâ—… Chappel Mr. Henry and his Family and many of his Friends being present was earnestly cautioning People not to go to Conventicles and us'd this as an Argument against it That they were Baptized into the Church of England Mr. Henry's Catholick Charity could not well digest this Monopolizing of the great Ordinance of Baptism and thought it time to bear his Testimony against such narrow Principles which he ever expressed his dislike of in all Parties and Perswasions Accordingly he took the next opportunity that offer'd it self publickly to
decent and respectful that it could not but win the Hearts of all he had to do with Never was any Man further from that Rudeness and Morofeness which some Scholars and too many that profess Religion either wilfully affect or carelesly allow themselves in sometimes to the Reproach of their Profession 'T is one of the Laws of our Holy Religion exemplifi'd in the Conversation of this good Man to Honour all Men. Sanctify'd Civility is a great Ornament to Christianity It was a saying he often us'd Religion doth not destroy good Manners and yet he was very far from any thing of Vanity in Apparel or Formality of Compliment in Address but his Conversarion was all Natural and easie to himself and others and little appear'd in him which a severe Critick could call Affected This Temper of his tended very much to the adorning of the Doctrine of God our Saviour and the general Transcript of such an excellent Copy would do much towards the healing of those Wounds which Religion hath received in the House of her Friends by the contrary But to return to his Story The first Latin School he went to was at St. Martin's Church under the teaching of one Mr. Bonner Afterwards he was removed to Battersey where one Mr. Wells was his School master The grateful mention which in some of his Papers he makes of these that were the Guides and Instructors of his Childhood and Youth brings to mind that French Proverb to this purpose To Father Teacher and God All-sufficient none can render Equivolent But in the Year 1643. when he was about Twelve Years old he was admitted into Westminster-School in the Fourth Form under Mr. Thomas Vincent then Usher whom he would often speak of as a most able diligent School-master and one who grieved so much at the Dulness and Non-proficiency of any of his Scholars that falling into a Consumption I have heard Mr. Henry say of him that he even killed himself with false Latin A while after he was taken into the upper School under Mr. Richard Busby afterwards Dr. Busby and in October 1645. he was admitted King's Scholar and was first of the Election partly by his own Merit and partly by the Interest of the Earl of Pembroke Here he profited greatly in School-Learning and all his Days retained his Improvements therein to admiration When he was in Years he would readily in Discourse quote Passages out of the Classic Authors that were not common and had them ad unguem and yet rarely us'd any such things in his Preaching though sometimes if very apposite he inserted them in his Notes He was very ready and exact in the Greek Accents the Quantities of Words and all the several kinds of Latin Verse and often pressed it upon young Scholars in the midst of their University Learning not to forget their School-Authors Here and before his usual Recreation at vacant times was either reading the printed accounts of Publick Occurrences or attending the Courts at Westminster-hall to hear the Trials and Arguments there which I have heard him say he hath often done to the loss of his Dinner and oftner of his Play But Paulo major a canamus Soon after those unhappy Wars begun there was a daily Morning Lecture set up at the Abby-Church between Six and eight of the Clock and Preached by Seven worthy Members of the Assembly of Divines in Course viz. Mr. Marshal Mr. Palmer Mr. Herl Dr. Staunton Mr. Nye Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Hill It was the Request of his pious Mother to Mr. Busby that he would give her Son leave to attend that Lecture daily which he did not abating any thing of his School-Exercise in which he kept pace with the rest but only dispensing with his absence for that Hour And the Lord was pleas'd to make good Impressions on his Soul by the Sermons he heard there His Mother also took him with her every Thursday to Mr. Case's Lecture at St. Martins On the Lord's Days he sat under the powerful Ministry of Mr. Stephen Marshal in the Morning at New Chappel in the Afternoon at St. Margarets Westminster which was their Parish Church in the former place Mr. Marshal Preached long from Phil. 2. 5 6 c. in the latter from Ioh. 8. 36. of our Freedom by Christ. This Minister and this Ministry he would to his last speak of with great Respect and Thankfulness to God as that by which he was through Grace in the beginning of his Days begotten agāin to a lively hope I have heard him speak of it as the saying of some wise Men at that time That if all the Presbyterians had been like Mr. Stephen Marshal and all the Independents like Mr. Ieremiah Burroughs and all the Episcopal Men like Arch-bishop Usher the Breaches of the Church would soon have been heal'd He also attended constantly upon the Monthly Fasts at St. Margarets where the best and ablest Ministers of England Preached before the then House of Commons and the Service of the Day was carried on with great strictness and Solemnity from Eight in the Morning till Four in the Evening It was his constant Practice from Eleven or Twelve Years old to write as he could all the Sermons he heard which he kept very carefully Transcribed many of them fair over after and notwithstanding his many Removes they are yet forth-coming At these monthly Fa◅s as he himself hath Recorded it he had often Sweet Meltings of Soul in Prayer and Con◅ession of Sin particularly once with special Remark when Mr. William Bridg of Yarmouth Prayed and many warm and lively Truths came home to his Heart and he daily increased in that Wisdom and Knowledge which is to Salvation Read his Reflections upon this which he wrote many Years after If ever any Child saith he such as I then was between the Tenth and Fifteenth year of my Age enjoy'd Line upon Line Precept upon Precept I did And was it in vain I trust not altogether in vain My Soul rejoyceth and is glad at the remembrance of it the word distilled as the Dew and Dropt as the Rain I lov'd it and lov'd the Messengers of it their very Feet were beautiful to me And Lord what a Mercy was it that at a time when the poor Countries were laid waste when the noise of Drums and Trumpets and the clattering of Arms was heard there and the way to Sion Mourn'd that then my Lot should be where there was Peace and Quietness where the voice of the Turtle was heard and there was great plenty of Gospel Opportunities Bless the Lord O my Soul as long as I live I will bless the Lord I will praise my God while I have my Being Had it been only the restraint that it laid upon me whereby I was kept from the common Sins of other Children and Youths such as Cursing Swearing Sabbath breaking and the like I were bound to be very Thankful But that it prevailed through Grace effectually to bring me to God How
hitherto find though there be that within me that would seek great things for my self if indeed they were to be found in this Calling yet with my Mind I seek them not But the Improvement of the Talent which I have Received in the Service of the Gospel for the Glory of God and the Salvation of Souls I hope is in my Eye if there be any thing else I own it not I allow it not while so many seek their own it is my desire and shall be my endeavour to seek the things of Jesus Christ. Qu. 2. What are your purposes as to Diligence and Industry in this Calling Answ. I do purpose and resolve by the help of God to give my self wholly to these things to Prayer Reading Meditation instant Preaching in Season and out of Season wherein I shall very gladly spend and be spent if by any means I may both save my self and them that hear me And when at any time I fail herein I desire God by his Spirit and my Christian Friends Neighbours and Brethren by seasonable Reproof and Admonition to put me in mind of this Engagement now made in the presence of this great Congregation Qu. 3. Do you mean to be Zealous and Faithful in the Defence of Truth and Unity against Error and Schism Answ. I believe what the Spirit hath foretold that in the last days perilous times shall come wherein Men will not endure sound Doctrin but after their own lusts shall heap unto themselves Teachers 'T is my resolution by the Grace of Christ to watch in all things to contend earnestly for the Faith to hold fast the Form of sound and wholsom Words even the Words of our Lord Jesus and the Doctrine which is according to Godliness in Meekness as I am able instructing those that oppose themselves And for Peace and Unity if my heart deceive me not I shall rather chuse to hazzard the loss of any thing that is most dear to me than be any way knowingly accessary to the disturbance of these in the Churches of Christ. Qu. 4. What is your Perswasion of the Truth of the Reformed Religion Answ. My perswasion is that the Bishop of Rome is that Man of Sin and Son of Perdition whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and whom he will destroy by the Brightness of his coming And the Separation which our first Reformers made I do heartily rejoyce in and bless God for for had we still continued to partake with him in his Sins we should in the end have partaked with him also in his Plagues Qu. 5. What do you intend to do when the Lord shall alter your condition and bring a Family under your charge Answ. When the Lord shall please in his Providence to bring me into new Relations I hope he will give me Grace to fill them up with Duty it is my purpose to wait upon him and to keep his way to endeavour in the use of means that all that are mine may be the Lords Qu. 6. Will you in Humility and Meekness submit to Admonition and Discipline Answ. I believe it to be a Duty incumbent upon all that profess the Name of Christ to watch over one another and that when any is overtaken in a fault those that are Spiritual are to set him in joynt again with the Spirit of Meekness It shall be my endeavour in the strength of Jesus Christ to walk without rebuke and when at any time I step aside for who is there that lives and sins not I shall account the smitings of my Brethren kindness and their wounds Faithful Qu. 7. What if Troubles Persecutions and Discouragements arise will you hold out to the end notwithstanding Answ. Concerning this I am very jealous over my own heart and there is cause I find a great want of that Zeal and courage for God which I know is requir'd in a Minister of the Gospel nevertheless I perswade my self that no Temptation shall befall me but such as is common to Man and that God who is faithful will not suffer me to be tempted above that which I am able but that with the Temptation he will also make a way to escape that I may be able to bear it I promise faithfulness to the Death but I rest not at all in my promise to God But in his to me when thou goest through the Fire and through the Water I will be with thee When this was done Mr. Parsons Pray'd and in Prayer he and the rest of the Presbyters Mr. Porter Mr. Houghton Mr. Malden and Mr. Steel laid their hands upon him with words to this purpose Whom we do thus in thy Name set apart to the Work and Office of the Ministry After him there were five more after the like previous Examinations and Trials Professions and Promises at the same time in like manner set apart to the Ministry Then Mr. Malden of Newport clos'd with an Exhortation directed to the newly Ordained Ministers in which saith Mr. Henry in his Dairy this word went near my heart As the Nurse puts the Meat first into her own mouth and chews it and then feeds the Child with it so should Ministers do by the Word Preach it over before-hand to their own hearts it loses none of the vertue hereby but rather probably gains As that Milk nourisheth most which comes warm from the warm Brest so that Sermon which comes warm from a warm heart Lord quicken me to do thy will in this thing The Classes gave him and the rest Instruments in Parchment certifying this which it may satisfy the curiosity of some to read the Form of Whereas Mr. Philip Henry of Worthenbury in the County of Flint Master of Arts hath addressed himself unto us Authorised by an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament of the 29th of August 1648 for the Ordination of Ministers desiring to be Ordain'd a Presbyter for that he is chosen and appointed for the Work of the Ministry at Worthenbury in the County of Flint as by a Certificate now remaining with us touching that his Election and Appointment appeareth And he having likewise exhibited a sufficient Testimonial of his deligence and proficiency in his Studies and unblameableness of his Life and Conversation he hath been examin'd according to the Rules for Examination in the said Ordinance expressed and thereupon approved there being no just exception made nor put in against his Ordination and Admission These may therefore testifie to all whom it may concern that upon the Sixteenth day of September 1657. We have proceeded solemnly to set him apart for the Office of a Presbyter and work of the Ministry of the Gospel by laying on of our hands with Fasting and Prayer By virtue whereof we do declare him to be a lawful and sufficiently authoriz'd Minister of Iesus Christ And having good Evidence of his lawful and fair Calling not only to the Work of the Ministry but to the Exercise thereof at the Chappel of
Baptism which is the Seal of the Covenant So that in the Administration of this Ordinance this Day according to the Institution of Jesus Christ we look upon you who are the Father of this Child as a Person in Covenant with God How far you have dealt unfaithfully in the Covenant is known to God and your own Conscience but this we know the Vows of God are upon you and let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity But before we Baptise your Child I am to acquaint you in a few words what we expect from you Q. 1. Do you avouch God â—…n Jesus Christ this Day to be your God See to it that this be done in Truth and with a perfect Heart you may tell us you do so and you may deceive us but God is not mocked Q 2. And is it your desire that your Children also may be received into Covenant with the Lord and that the Lord 's Broad-seal of Baptism may be set to it Q. 3. And do you promise in the presence of God and of this Congregation that you will do your endeavour towards the training of it uâ—… in the way of Godliness that as it is by you through Mercy that it lives the Life of Nature so it may by you also through the same Mercy live the Life of Grace else I must tell you if you be wanting herein there will be a sad Appearance one Day when you shall meet together before the Judgment-seat of Christ and this solemn Engagement of yours will be brought in to witness against you These were but the first Instances of his Skilfulness in dispensing the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God He declin'd the private Administration of the Lord's Supper to sick Persons as judging it not consonant to the Rule and Intention of the Ordinance He very rarely if ever Baptised in private but would have Children brought to the solemn Assembly upon the Lord's Day that the Parents Engagement might have the more Witnesseâ—… to it and the Child the more Prayers put up for it and that the Congregation might be edified And yet he would say there was some inconvenience in it too unless People would agree to put off the Feasting part of the Solemnity to some other time which he very much perswaded his Friends to and observed that Abraham made a great Feast the same Day that Isaac it is weaned Gen. 21. 8. not the same Day that he was circumcised His Carriage towards the People of his Parish was very exemplary condescending to the meanest and conversing familiarly with them bearing with the Infirmites of the weak and becoming all things to all Men. He was exceeding tender of giving Offence or occasion of Grief to any body minding himself in his Diary upon such occasions that the Wisdom that is from above is pure and peaceable and gentle c. Yet he plainly and faithfully reproved what he saw amiss in any and would not suffer Sin upon them mourning also for that which he could not mend There were some untractable People in the Parish who sometimes caused Grief to him and exercised his Boldness and Zeal in reproving Once hearing of a merry Meeting at an Ale-house on a Saturday Night he went himself and broke it up and scattered them At another time he publickly witnessed againt 〈◊〉 â—…rolick of some vain People that on a Saturday Night came to the Church with a Fidler before them and dress'd it up with Flowers and Garlands making it as he told them more like a Play-house And was this their preparation for the Lord's Day and the Duties of it c. He minded them of Eccl. 11. 9. Rejoyce O young Man in thy Youth but know thou Many out of the neighbouring Parishes attended upon his Ministry and some came from far though sometimes he signifi'd his dislike of their so doing so far was he from glorying in it But they who had spiritual Senses exercised to discern things that differ would attend upon that Ministry which they found to be most edifying He was about Eight Years from first to last labouring in the Word and Doctrine at Worthenbury and his Labour was not altogether in vain He saw in many of the travel of his Soul to the rejoycing of his Heart but with this particular Dispensation which I have heard him sometimes speak of that most or all of those in that Parish whom he was through Grace instrumental of Good too died before he left the Parish or quickly after so that within a few Years after his removal thence there were very few of the visible Fruits of his Ministry there and a new Generation sprung up there who knew not Ioseph Yet the opportunity he found there was there of doing the more good by having those that were his Charge near about him made him all his days bear his Testimony to Parish Order where it may he had upon good Terms as much more elegible and more likely to answer the end than the Congregational way of gathering Churches from places far distant which could not ordinarily meet to worship God together From his Experience here though he would say we must do what we can when we cannot do what we would he often wished and prayed for the opening of a Door by which to return to that Order again He had not been long at Worthenbury but he began to be taken notice of by the neighbouring Ministers as likely to be a considerable Man Though his extraordinary Modesty and Humility which even in his Youth he was remarkable for made him to sit down with silence in the lowest Room and to say as Elihu Days shall speak yet his eminent Gifts and Graces could not long be hid the Ointment of the Right-hand will betray it self and a Person of his Merits could not but meet with those quickly who said Friend go up higher and so that Scripture was fulfilled Luke 14. 10. He was often called upon to preach the Week-day Lectures which were set up plentifully and diligently attended upon in those parts and his Labours were generally very acceptable and successful The Vox Populi fasten'd upon him the Epithet of Heavenly Henry by which Title he was commonly known all the Country over and his Advice was sought for by many neighbouring Ministers and Christians for he was one of those that found Favour and good Understanding in the sight of God and Man He was noted at his first setting out as I have been told by one who was then intimately acquainted with him and with his Character and Conversation for three things 1. Great Piety and Devotion and a mighty savor of Godliness in all his Converse 2. Great Industry in the pursuit of useful Knowledge he was particularly observed to be very inquisiâ—…ive when he was among the Aged and Intelligent hearing them and asking them Questions a good Example to young Men especially young Ministers 3. Great Self-denial Self-diffidence and Self-abasement this eminent Humility
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
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
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
the plain and powerful Preaching of the Gospel and thus they who granted that liberty were out-shot in their own Bow which manifestly appear'd in the Event and Issue And as they did good Service to the Protestant Religion among Scholars who wrote so many Learned Books against Popery at that time for which we return them our best thanks so they did no less Service among the Common People who are the Strength and Body of the Nation that Preached so many good Sermons to arm their Hearts against that strong Delusion which Mr. Henry as the rest of the Nonconformists generally did took all occasions to do How often would he commend his Hearers as Dr. Holland Divinity Professor in Oxford was wont to do to the Love of God and the Hatred of Popery Besides his Preaching professedly to discover the Errours and Corruptions of the Church of Rome which he would have taken occasion to do more fully had he seen those he Preached to in any immediate danger of the Infection there could not be a more effectual Antidote against Popery than the instructing and confirming of People in the Truth as it is in Jesus and advancing the Knowledge of and a Value and Veneration for the Holy Scriptures to which how much Mr. Henry in his place did contribute all that knew him well bear Record He us'd to observe that the Fall of Babylon followed upon the free and open Preaching of the Everlasting Gospel Rev. 14. 6 7. He apprehended this Liberty likely to be of very short continuance and to end in trouble and because he could not see how his not using of it would help to prevent the Trouble but he did see that his vigorous improvement of it would help to prepare for the Trouble he set himself with all diligence to make the best use he could of this Gleam both at home and abroad on Sabbath-days and Week-days to his Power yea and beyond his Power The great Subject of Debate at this time in the Nation was concerning the Repeal of Penal Laws and Tests Mr. Henry's thoughts were as to the Penal Laws that if those against the Dissenters were all Repeal'd he would Rejoyce in it and be very thankful both to God and Man for he would sometimes say without Reflection upon any he could not but look upon them as a National Sin and as for those against the Papists if our Law-givers see cause to Repeal them in a regular way I will endeavour saith he to make the best of it and to say The Will of the Lord be done When King Iames came his Progress into that Country in September 1687. to court the Compliments of the People Mr. Henry joined with several others in and about Whitchurch Nantwich and Wem in an Address to him which was presented when he lay at Whitchurch the purport of which was not to Sacrifice their Lives and Fortunes to him and to his Interest but only to return him thanks for the Liberty they had with a promise to demean themselves quietly in the use of it Some time after Commissioners were sent abroad into the Country to enquire after the Trouble that Dissenters had sustain'd by the Penal Laws and how the Money that was Levy'd upon them was disposed of little of it being found paid in the Exchequer they sent to Mr. Henry to have an account from him of his Sufferings he returned Answer by Letter that he had indeed been Fined some Years before for a Conventicle and Distreyn'd upon and his Goods carried away which all the Country knew to which he referred himself But being requir'd particularly to give account of it upon Oath though he said he could be glad to see such Instruments of Trouble legally removed yet he declin'd giving any further Information concerning it having as he wrote to the Commissioners long since from his Heart forgiven all the Agents Instruments and Occasions of it and having purposed never to say any thing more of it It was on Tuesday Iune 14. 1681. that he was disturb'd at Weston in Shropshire when he was Preaching on Psal. 66. 18. and on Tuesday Iune 14. 1687. that day Six Years he Preached there again without disturbance finishing what he was then prevented from delivering concerning Prayer and going on to v. 19. 20. But verily God hath heard me Blessed be God Concerning the Duty of Thanksgiving This Seventh Year of their Silence and Restraint prov'd through God's wonderful good Providence the Year of Release In May 1688. a new Commission of the Peace came down for the County of Flint in which by whose Interest or procurement was not known Mr. Henry was nominated a Justice of Peace for that County It was no small surprize to him to receive a Letter from the Clerk of the Peace Directed to Philip Henry Esquire acquainting him with it and appointing him when and whither to come to be Sworn To which he return'd answer that he was very sensible of his Unworthiness of the Honour and his unfitness for the Office which he was nominated to and therefore desired to be excus'd and he was so and did what he could that it might not be spoken of in the Country There were some who upon this occasion unhappily remembred that a few Years before a Reverend Clergy-man in Shropshire told Mr. Henry to his Face that he had done more mischief in the Country than any man that ever came into it and that he himself hoped shortly to be in the Commission of Peace and then he would rid the Country of him But alas he â—…as quite disappointed Thus Honour is like the shadow which flies from those that pursue it and follows those that flee from it For two Years after this Liberty began Mr. Henry still continued his Attendance as usual at Whitewel-Chappel whenever there was Preaching there and he Preached at his own House only when there was no supply there and in the Evening of those days when there was For doing thus he was greatly clamour'd against by some of the rigid Separatists and call'd a Dissembler and one that halted between two and the like Thus as he Notes in his Diary one side told him he was the Author of all the mischief in the Country in drawing People from the Church and the other side told him he was the Author of all the mischief in drawing People to the Church And which of these saith he shall I seek to please Lord neither but thy self alone and my own Conscience and while I can do that I have enough In a Sermon at Whitewel-Chappel one Lord's-day in the Afternoon where he and his Family and many of his Congregation were attending much was said with some keen Reflections to prove the Dissenters Schismaticks and in a damnable State When he came immediately after to Preach at his own House before he begun his Sermon he expressed himself to this purpose Perhaps some of you may expect now that I should say something in answer to what we
a Traveller without a Guide How earnest therefore should we be in praying to God for Grace both for our selves and for our Relations He had intended to preach upon that Text when he was at Chester the Year before but was then prevented by a particular sad occasion which obliged him to a Funeral Sermon Divine Providence reserving that Benediction which his Heart was much upon for his Valediction The Thursday following being kept as a Fast in his Sons Congregation at Chester he Preached on Luke 19. 41. He beheld the City and wept over it which proved his Farewel to the Town as the former was his Farewel to his Friends and Relations in it It was not many Weeks before he dyed that he wrote thus to one of his Children We are well here thanks be to God and are glad to hear that you and yours are well also God in Mercy continue it But why should we be well always Do we deserve it Are there no mixtures in our Obedience Are there any Persons or Families at whose door Sickness and Death never knock'd Must the Earth be forsaken for us or the Rock removed out of its place Is it not enough that we be dealt with according to the manner of Men and that we have a Promise that it shall end well everlastingly well To another of his Children about the same time he writes We are sensible that we decline a pace but the best of it is that as Time goes Eternity comes and we are in good hope through Grace that it will be a comfortable Eternity It was in April 1696. a few Weeks before he dy'd that his Sons Father-in-Law Robert Warbinton Esq was gather'd to his Grave in peace in a good old Age Upon the tidings of whose Death Mr. Henry wrote thus to his Son Your Fathers Where are they Your Father-in-Law gone and your own Father going but you have a God-Father that lives for ever He was wont sometimes to subscribe his Letters Your ever-loving but not ever-living Father It was not a Month before he Dy'd that in a Letter to his very dear and worthy Friend and Brother Mr. Tallents of Shrewsbury he had this passage Methinks it is strange that it should be your Lot and mine to abide so long on Earth by the Stuff when so many of our Friends are dividing the Spoil above but God will have it so and to be willing to live in obedience to his Holy Will is as true an Act of Grace as to be willing to dye when he calls especially when Life is Labour and Sorrow But when it is Labour and Joy Service to his Name and some measure of Success and Comfort in serving him When it is to stop a Gap and stem a Tide it is to be rejoyced in 't is Heaven upon Earth nay one would think by the Psalmists oft repeated Plea Psal. 6. 30. 88. and 115. and 118. that it were better than to be in Heaven itself and can that be A little before his Sickness and Death being Summer time he had several of his Children and his Childrens Children about him at Broad-Oak with whom he was much refreshed and very cheerful but ever and anon spoke of the fashion he was in as passing away and often told them he should be there but a while to bid them welcome And he was observed frequently in Prayer to beg of God that he would make us ready for that which would come certainly and might come suddenly One asking him how he did he answer'd I find the Chips fly off apace the Tree will be down shortly The last time he Administred the Lord's Supper a Fortnight before he dy'd he closed the Administration with that Scripture 1 Ioh. 3. 2. It doth not yet appear what we shall be not yet but it will shortly The Sabbath but one before he dy'd being in the course of his Exposition come to that difficult part of Scripture the 40th of Ezekiel and the following Chapters he said he would endeavour to explain those Prophecies to them and added If I do not do it now I never shall And he observed that the only Prophetical Sermon which our Lord Jesus Preached was but a few days before he dy'd This many of his Hearers not only Reflected upon afterwards but took Notice of at that time with a Concern as having something in it more than ordinary On the Lord's Day Iune 21. 1696. he went through the work of the Day with his usual vigor and liveliness He was then Preaching over the first Chapter of St. Peter's second Epistle and was that day on those words add to your Faith Virtue v. 5. he took Virtue for Christian Courage and Resolution in the Exercise of Faith and the last thing he mentioned in which Christians have need of Courage is in Dying for as he was often us'd to say It is a serious thing to dye and to dye is a work by itself That day he gave Notice both Morning and Afternoon with much Affection and Enlargement of the Publick Fast which was appointed by Authority the Friday following Iune 26. pressing his Hearers as he us'd to do upon such occasions to come in a prepared Frame to the solemn Services of that day The Tuesday following Iune 23. he rose at Six a Clock according to his Custom after a better Nights Sleep than ordinary and in wonted Health Between seven and eight a Clock he performed Family Worship according to the usual manner he Expounded very largely the former half of the 104th Psalm and sung it but he was somewhat shorter in Prayer than he us'd to be being then as it was thought taken ill Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he comes shall find so doing Immediately after Prayer he retired to his Chamber not saying any thing of his illness but was soon after found upon his Bed in great Extremity of pain in his Back Breast and Bowels it seem'd to be a complicated Fit of the Stone and Cholick together with very great Extremity The means that had been us'd to give him Relief in his illness were altogether ineffectual He had not the least intermission or remission of Pain neither up nor in Bed but in a continual toss He had said sometimes that God's Israel may find Iordan rough but there 's no Remedy they must through it to Canaan and would tell of a good Man who us'd to say He was not so much afraid of Death as of Dying We know they are not the Godly People part of the Description of whose Condition it is that there are no Bands in their Death and yet their End is Peace and their Death Gain and they have Hope in it In this Extremity he was still looking up to God and calling upon him who is a present Help in the needful Hour When the Exquisiteness of his Pain forced Groans and Complaints from him he would presently Correct himself with a patient and quiet submission to the Hand of his
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
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