World but saith he I have not yet subdued the little World my self At his Thirty third Year he hath this Humble Reflection A long time lived to small purpose What shall I do to redeem it And at another I may Mourn as Caesar did when he Reflected upon Alexander ' s early Atchievements that others younger than I am have done much more than I have done for God the God of my life And to mention no more when he had lived Forty two Years he thus writes I would be loth to live it over again least instead of making it better I should make it worse and besides every Year and Day spent on Earth is lost in Heaven This last Note minds me of a Passage I have heard him tell of a Friend of his who being grown into Years was asked how old he was and answer'd On the wrong side of Fifty Which said Mr. Henry he should not have said for if he was going to Heaven it was the right side of Fifty He always kept a Will by him ready made and it was his Custom yearly upon the return of his Birth-day to Review and if occasion were to Renew and Alter it For it is good to do that at a set time which it is very good to do at some time The Last Will he made bears Date This 24th day of August 1695. being as he said the day of the Year on which I was Born 1631. and also the day of the Year on which by Law I Died as did also near Two thousand Faithful Ministers of Iesus Christ 1662. alluding to that Clause in the Act of Uniformity which disposeth of the Places and Benefices of Ministers not Conforming as if they were naturally Dead His Father's Name was Iohn Henry the Son of Henry Williams of Brittons Ferry betwixt Neath and Swansey in Glamorganshire According to the old Welsh Custom some say conformable to that of the ancient Hebrews but now almost in all Places laid aside the Father's Christian Name was the Sons Sirname He had left his Native Country and his Father's House very Young unprovided for by his Relations but it pleased God to bless his Ingenuity and Industry with a considerable Income afterwards which enabled him to live Comfortably himself to bring up his Children well and to be kind to many of his Relations but Publick Events making against him at his latter End when he Dy'd he left little behind him for his Children but God graciously took care of them Providence brought this Mr. Iohn Henry when he was Young to be the Earl of Pembroke'â—… Gentleman whom he served many Years The Earl coming to be Lord Chamberlain preferred him to be the King's Servant He was first made Keeper of the Orchard at White-hall and afterwards Page of the Back Stairs to the King 's Second Son Iames Duke of York which place obliged him to a Personal Attendance upon the Duke in his Chamber He liv'd and dy'd a Courtier a hearty Mourner for his Royal Master King Charles the First whom he did not long survive He continued during all the War time in his House at White-Hall though the Profits of his Places ceased The King passing by his Door under a Guard to take Water when he was going to Westminster to that which they call'd his Tryal enquir'd for his old Servant Mr. Iohn Henry who was ready to pay his due respects to him and pray'd God to Bless his Majesty and to Deliver him out of the Hands of his Enemies for which the Guard had like to have been rough upon him His Mother was Mrs. Magdalen Rochdale of the Parish of St. Martins in the Fields in Westminster She was a vertuous pious Gentlewoman and one that fear'd God above many She was altogether dead to the Vanities and Pleasures of the Court tho' she liv'd in the midst of them She look'd well to the ways of her Houshold Prayed with them daily Catechized her Children and taught them the good Knowledge of the Lord betimes I have heard him speak of his Learning Mr. Perkins his Six Principles when he was very Young and he often mentioned with Thankfulness to God his great Happiness in having such a Mother who was to him as Lois and Eunice were to Timothy acquainting him with the Scriptures from his Childhood And there appearing in him early inclinations both to Learning and Piety she devoted him in his tender Years to the Service of God in the work of the Ministry She Dyed of a Consumption March 6. 1645. leaving behind her only this Son and Five Daughters A little before she Dyed she had this saying My Head is in Heaven and my Heart is in Heaven it is but one step more and I shall be there too His Susceptors in Baptism were Philip Earl of Pembroke who gave him his Name and was kind to him as long as he lived as was also his Son Philip after him Iames Earl of Carlile and the Countess of Salsbury Prince Charles and the Duke of York being somewhat near of an Age to him he was in his Childhood very much an Attendant upon them in their Play and they were often with him at his Father's House and were wont to tell him what Preferment he should have at Court as soon as he was fit for it He kept a Book to his Dying Day which the Duke of York gave him and I have heard him bewail the loss of Two curious Pictures which he gave him likewise Arch-bishop Laud took a particular Kindness to him when he was a Child because he would be very officious to attend at the Water-Gate which was part of his Fathers Charge in White-hall to let the Arch-Bishop through when he came late from Council to cross the Water to Lambeth These Circumstances of his Childhood he would sometimes speak of among his Friends not as glorying in them but taking occasion from thence to bless God for his Deliverance from the Snares of the Court in the midst of which it is so very hard to maintain a good Conscience and the Power of Religion that it hath been said though Blessed be God it is not a Rule without exception Exeat ex aulâ qui velit esse pius The breaking up and scattering of the Court by the Calamities of 1641. as it dashed the expectations of his Court Preferments so it prevented the danger of Court Entanglements And though it was not like Mofes's Choice of his own when come to Years to quit the Court yet when he was come to Years he always expressed a great Satisfaction in his Removal from it and blessed God who chose his Inheritance so much better for him Yet it may not be improper to observe here what was obvious as well as aimable to all who Convers'd with him viz. that he had the most sweet and obliging air of Courtesie and Civility that could be which some attributed in part to his early Education at Court His Meen and Carriage was always so very
were not in us and yet this withal we can say and have said it some of us with Tears We are grieved that we have sinned 〈◊〉 For time to come we are resolâ—…ed by God's Gâ—…ce to walk in new Obedience and yet leâ—…g we are not Angels but Men and Women compassed about with Infirmities and Temptations it is possible we may fall but if we do it is our declared Resolution to submit to Admonition and censure according to the Rule of the Gospel And all along he took care so to manage his Admissions to that Ordinance as that the weak might not be discouraged and yet the Ordinance might not be profaned He would tell those whom he was necessitated to debar from the Ordinance for Ignorance that he would undertake if they were but truly willing they might in a Weeks time by the Blessing of God upon their diligent use of Means Reading Prayer and Conference get such a competent Measure of Knowledge as to be able to â—…scern the Lord's Body And those that had been scandalous if they would but come in and declare their Repentance and Resolutions of new Obedience they should no longer be excluded To give a Specimen of his lively Administrations of that Ordinance let me transcribe the Notes of his Exhortationat the first Sacrament that ever he administred Nov. 27. 1659. I suppose they are but the Hints of what he enlarged more upon for he had always a great fluency upon such occasions Dearly beloved in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ We are met together this day about the most solemn weighty Service under Heaven we are come to a Feast where the Feast-maker is God the Father the Provision God the Son whose Flesh is Meat indeed and whose Blood is Drink indeed the Guests a company of poor Sinners unworthy such an Honour the Crumbs under the Table were too good for us and yet we are admitted to tast of the Provision upon the Table and that which makes the Feast is hearty welcome God the Father bids you welcome and ten Thousand Welcomes this day to the Flesh and Blood of his Son think you hear him saying it to you ô believing Souls Cant. 5. 1. Eat O Friends drink yea drinkabundantly O Beloved The end of this Feast is to keep in remembrance the Death of Christ and our Deliverance by it and thereby to convey spiritual Nourishment and Refreshment to our Souls But withal give me leave to ask you one Question What Appetite have you to this Feast Are you come hungring and thirsting such have the Promise they shall be filled He filleth the Hungry with good things but the Rich are sent empty away a Honey-Comb to a full Soul is no Honey-Comb Canst thou say as Christ said With desire I have desired to eat this In this Ordinance here 's Christ and all his Benefits exhibited to thee Art thou weak here 's Bread to strengthen thee Art thou sad here 's Wine to comfort thee What is it thou standest in need of a Pardon here it is seal'd in Blood take it by Faith as I offer it to you in the Name of the Lord Jesus though thy Sins have been as Scarlet they shall be as Wool if thou be willing and obedient It may be here are some that have been Drunkards Swearers Scoffers at Godliness Sabbath-breakers and what not And God hath put it into your Hearts to humble your selves to mourn for and turn from all your Abominations O come hither here 's forgiveness for thee What else is it thou wantest O saith the poor Soul I would have more of the Spirit of Grace more Power against Sin especially my own Iniquity why here it is for thee from the fulness that is in Jesus Christ we receive and Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. We may say as David did Psal. 108. 7 8. God hath spoken in his Holiness and then Gilead is mine and Manasseh mine So God hath spoken in his Word sealed in his Sacrament and then Christ is mine Pardon is mine Grace is mine Comfort mine Glory mine here I have his Bond to shew for it This is to those among you that have engaged their Hearts to approach unto God this Day But if there he any come hither with a false unbelieving filthy hard Heart I do warn you seriously and with Authority in the Name of Jesus Christ presume not to come any nearer to this sacred Ordinance you that live in the practice of any Sin or the omission of any Duty against your Knowledge and Conscience you that have any Malice or Grudge to any of your Neighbours leave your Gift and go your ways be reconcil'd to God be reconciled to your Brother and then come Better shame thy self for coming so near than damn thy self by coming nearer I testifie to those who say they shall have Peace though they go on still in their Trespasses that there 's Poyson in the Bread take it and eat it at your own Peril there 's Poyson in the Cup too you drink your own Damnation I wash my Hands from the guilt of your Blood look you to it On the other hand you poor penitent Souls that are lost in your selves here 's a Christ to save you Come O come ye that are weary and heavy laden c. It may not be amiss to transcribe also some Hints of preparation for the administring of the Ordinance of Baptism which I find under his Hand at his first setting out in the Ministry as follows It is a real Manifestation of the Goodness and Love of God to Believers that he hath not only taken them into Covenant with himself but their Seed also saying I will be thy God and the God of thy Seed Tho' to be born of such doth not necessarily intitle Infants to the spiritual Mercies of the Covenant for Grace doth not run in a Blood we see the contrary many times even godly Parents have wicked Children Abraham had his Ishmael and Isaac his Esau yet questionless it doth entitle them to the external Priviledges of the Covenant The like Figure unto Noah's Ark even Baptism doth also now save us Noah and all that were his entred into the Ark though we have cause to doubt whether they all entred into Heaven While our Lord Jesus was here upon the Earth they brought little Children to him and he laid his Hands on them and blessed them and said moreover Suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not there are many at this day that forbid little Children to come to Christ he adds the reason for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven Whether it be meant of the visible Church often so called in the Gospel or of the state of Glory in another World either way it affords an Argument for Proof of Infant Baptism When either Parent is in Covenant with God their Children also are in Covenant with him and being in Covenant they have an undoubted Right and Title to this Ordinance of
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
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
However you cannot but say that you had a Kindness done you to have your lives put into it Thus did he frequently deal with his Children and even Travel in Birth again to see Christ formed in them and from this Topick he generally Argued and he would often say If Infant Baptism were more improved it would be less disputed He not only taught his Children betimes to pray which he did especially by his own Pattern his Method and Expressions in Prayer being very easie and plain But when they were young he put them upon it to pray together and Appointed them on Saturdays in the Afternoon to spend some time together none but they and such of their Age as might occasionally be with them in Reading good Books especially those for Children and in singing and praying and would sometimes tell them for their Encouragement that the God with whom we have to do understands broken Language And if we do as well as we can in the Sincerity of our Hearts we shall not only be accepted but taught to do better To him that hath shall be given He sometimes set his Children in their own reading of the Scriptures to gather out such Passages as they took most notice of and thought most considerable and write them down Though this Performance was very small yet the Endeavour was of good use He also directed them to insert in a Paper Book which each of them had for the purpose Remarkable Sayings and Stories which they met with in Reading such other good Books as he put into their hands He took a Pleasure in relating to them the remarkable Providences of God both in his own time and in the days of Old which he said Parents were taught to do by that Appointment Exod. 12. 26 27. Your Children shall ask you in Time to come what mean you by this Service and you shall tell them so and so What his pious Care was concerning his Children and with what a godly Jealousie he was jealous over them take in one Instance when they had been for a week or Fortnight kindly entertained at B. as they were often he thus writes in his Diary upon their Return home My Care and Fear is lest Converse with such so far above them Though of the best should have Influence upon them to lift them up when I had rather they should be kept low For as he did not himself so he was very Sollicitous to teach his Children not to mind high Things not to desire them not to expect them in this World We shall conclude this Chapter with another Passage out of his Diary Apr. 12. 1681. This Day fourteen Years the Lord took my First-born Son from me the Beginning of my Strength with a Stroke In the Remembrance whereof my heart melted this Evening I beg'd pardon for the Jonah that raised that Storm I blessed the Lord that hath spar'd the Rest I beg'd Mercy Mercy for every one of them and absolutely and unreservedly devoted and dedicated them my self my whole self Estate Interest Life to the will and Service of that God from whom I received all Father Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come c. CHAP. V. His Ejectment from Worthenbury His Non-conformity his Removes to Broad-Oak and the Providences that were concerning him to the Year 1672. HAving thus laid together the Instances of his Family Religion we must now return to the History of Events that were concerning him and are obliged to look back to the first Year after his Marriage which was the Year that King Charles the Second came in a Year of great Changes and struggles in the Land which Mr. Baxter in his Life gives a full and clear and Impartial Idea of by which it may easily be guess'd how it went with Mr. Henry in his low and narrow Sphere whose Sentiments in those things were very much the same with Mr. Baxter's Many of his best Friends in Worthenbury Parish were lately removed by Death Emeral Family contrary to what it had been and the same Spirit which that Year reviv'd all the Nation over was working violently in that Country viz. a Spirit of great Enmity to such Men as Mr. Henry was Worthenbury upon the Kings coming in returned into its former Relation to Bangor and was look'd upon as a Chappelry dependant upon that Mr. Robert Fogg had for many Years held the sequestred Rectory of Bangor to which now Dr. Henry Bridgman Son to Iohn Bishop of Chester and Brother to the Lord Keeper Bridgeman return'd to the Possession of By which Mr. Henry was soon Apprehensive that his Interest at Worthenbury was shaken but thus he writes The will of the Lord be done Lord If my Work be done here provide some other for this People that may be more Skilful and more Successful and cut out Work for me elsewhere However I will take nothing ill which God doth with me He laboured what he could to make Dr. Bridgman his Friend who gave him good words and was very civil to him and assured him that he would never remove him till the Law did But he must look upon himself as the Doctors Curate and depending upon his Will which kept him in continual expectation of a removal however he continued in his Liberty there above a Year though in very ticklish and precarious Circumstances The Grand Question now on foot was whether to conform or no. He us'd all means possible to Satisfy himself concerning it by reading and discourse particularly at Oxford with Dr. Fell afterwards Bishop of Oxford but in vain his dissatisfaction remain'd however saith he I dare not judge those that do conform for who am I that I shall judge my Brother He hath noted that being at Chester in discourse with the Dean and Chancellor and others about this time the great Argument they used with him to perswade him to conform was that else he would lose his Preferment and what said they you are a young Man and are you wiser then the King and Bishops But this is his reflection upon it afterwards God grant I may never be left to consult â—…ith Flesh and Blood in such matters In September 1660. Mr. Fogg and Mr. Steel and Mr. Henry were Presented at Flint-Assizes for not Reading the Common Prayer though as yet it was not enjoyn'd but there were some busie People that would out-run the Law They entred their Appearance and it fell for soon after the King's Declaration touching Ecclesiastical Affairs came out which promised Liberty and gave hopes of Settlement but the Spring-Assizes afterwards Mr. Steel and Mr. Henry were presented again On this he writes Be merciful to me O God for Man would swallow me up The Lord shew me what he would have me to do for I am afraid of nothing but Sin It appears by the Hints of his Diary that he had Melancholy Apprehensions at this Time about publick Affairs seeing and hearing of so many faithful Ministers distur'b silenced and ensnared the ways
that judgeth in the Earth In the Beginning of the Year 1665. when the Act for a Royal Aid to his Majesty of two Millions and a half came out The Commissioners for Flintshire were pleas'd to nominate Mr. Henry Sub-collector of the said Tax for the Township of Iscoyd and Mr. Steel for the Township of Hanmer They intended thereby to put an Affront and disparagement upon their Ministry and to shew that they look'd upon them but as Lay-men His note upon it is It is not a Sin which they put us upon but it is a Cross and a Cross in our Way and therefore to be taken up and born with patience When I had better work to do I was wanting in my Duty about it and now this is put upon me the Lord is righteous He procured the gathering of it by others only took account of it and saw it duly done and deserv'd as he saith he hoped he should that Inscription mentioned in Suetonius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the Memory of an honest Publican In September the same Year he was again by warrant from the Deputy Lieutenant's fetch'd Prisoner to Hanmer as was also Mr Steel and others He was examined about private Meetings some such but private indeed he own'd he had been present at of late in Shropshire but the Occasion was extraordinary the Plague was at that Time raging in London and he and several of his Friends having near Relations there thought it time to seek the Lord for them and this was imputed to him as his Crime He was likewise charged with Administring the Lord's Supper which he denied having never Administred it since he was disabled by the Act of Uniformity After some Days Confinement seeing they could prove nothing upon him he was discharged upon Recognizance of 20 l. with two Sureties to be forth-coming upon Notice and to live Peaceably But saith he our Restraint was not Strict for we had liberty of Prayer and Conference together to our mutual Edification thus out of the Eater came forth meat and out of the strong Sweetness and we found Honey in the Carcase of the Lion It was but a little before this that Mr. Steel setting out for London was by a Warrant from the Justices under Colour of the report of a Plot stop't and search'd and finding nothing to accuse him of they seiz'd his Almanack in which he kept his Diary for that Year and it not being written very legibly they made what malicious readings and comments they pleas'd upon it to his great Wrong and Reproach though to all sober and sensible people it discover'd him to be a Man that kept a strict Watch over his own heart and was a great Husband of his time and many said they got good by it and should love him the better for it Psal. 37. 5 6. This Event made Mr. Henry somewhat more cautious and sparing in the Records of his Diary when he saw how evil Men dig up Mischief At Lady-day 1666. The Five-mile Act commenced by which all Nonconformist Ministers were forbidden upon pain of Sixth Months imprisonment to come or be within five Miles of any Corporation or of any plaâ—…e where they had been Ministers unless they would take an Oath of which Mr. Baxter saith 't was credibly reported that the Earl of Southampton then Lord High Treasurer of England said no honest Man could take it Mr. Baxter in his Life hath set down at large his Reasons against taking this Oxford Oath as it was called part 2. p. 396. c. part 3. p. 4. c. Mr. Henry set his down in short 'T was an Oath not at any time to endeavour any Alteration of the Government in the Church or State He had already taken an Oath of Allegiance to the King and he look'd upon this to amount to an Oath of Allegiance to the Bishops which he was not free to take Thus he writes March 22. 1665 6. This Day methoughts it was made more clear to me than ever by the Hand of my God upon me and I note it down that I may remember it 1 That the Government of the Church of Christ ought to be managed by the Ministers of Christ. It appears Heb. 13 7. that they are to rule us that Speak to us the Word of God 2 That under Prelacy Ministers have not the Management of Church-Government not in the least being only the Publishers of the Prelates Decrees as in Excommunication and Absolution which Decrees sometimes are given forth by Lay Chancellors 3 That therefore Prelacy is an Usurpation in the Church of God upon the Crown and Dignity of Jesus Christ and upon the Gospel-Rights of his Servants the Ministers And therefore 4 I ought not to subscribe to it nor to swear not to endeavour in all lawful ways the Alteration of it viz. by Praying and Perswading where there is opportunity But 5 that I may safely venture to suffer in the refusal of such an Oath committing my Soul Life Estate Liberty all to him who judgeth righteously And on March 25. the day when that Act took place he thus writes A sad day among poor Ministers up and down this Nation who by this Act of Restraint are forced to remove from among their Friends Acquaintance and Relations and to sojurn among strangers as it were in Mesech and in the Tents of Kedar But there is a God who tells their wandrings and will put their Tears and the Tears of their Wives and Children into his Bottle are they not in his Book The Lord be a little Sanctuary to them and a place of Refuge from the Storm and from the Tempest and pity those Places from which they are ejected and come and dwell where they may not He wished their Removes might not be figurative of Evil to these Nations as Ezekiel's were Ezek. 12. 1. 2. 3. This severe Dispensation forced Mr. Steel and his Family from Hanmer and so he lost the comfort of his Neighbourhood but withal it drew Mr. Laurence from Baschurch to Whitchurch Parish where he continued till he was driven thence too Mr. Henry's house at Broad Oâ—…k was but four reputed Miles from the utmost Limits of Worthenbury Parish but he got it measured and accounting 1760 Yards to a Mile according to the Statute 35 Eliz. cap. 6. it was found to be just five Miles and threescore Yards which one would think might have been his Security but there were those near him who were ready to stretch such Laws to the utmost rigor under Pretence of construing them in Favour of the King and therefore would have it to be understood of reputed Miles this obliged him for some time to leave his Family and to sojurn among his Friends to whom he endeavoured wherever he came to impart some Spiritual Gift At last he ventured home presuming among other things that the Warrant by which he was made Collector of the Royal Aid while that continued would secure him according to a Promise in the
Heavenly Father and a cheerful acquiescence in his Heavenly Will I am ashamed saith he of these Groans I want Virtue O for Virtue now when I have need of it referring to his Subject the Lord's day before For give me that I groan thus and I will endeavour to silence them But indeed my stroak is heavier than my groaning It is true what Mr. Baxter said in his Pain there 's no disputing against sense It was his trouble as it was Mr. Baxter's that by reason of his bodily pain he could not express his inward comfort however that was it with which God graciously strengthned him in his Soul He said to those about him they must remember what Instructions and Counsels he had given them when he was in Health for now he could say but little to them only to refer them to what he had said as that which he would live and dye by It was two or three Hours after he was taken ill before he would suffer a Messenger to be sent to Chester for his Son and for the Doctor saying he should either be better or dead before they could come but at last he said as the Prophet did to his importunate Friends Send About eight a Clock that Evening they came and found him in the same Extremity of Pain which he had been in all day And Nature being before spent with his constant and indesatigable Labours in the Work of the Lord now sunk and did perfectly suceumb under its Burthen and was qâ—…ite disabled to grapple with so many Hours uncessant pain What further means were then us'd proved fruitless and did not answer the intention He apprehended himself going a pace and said to his Son when he came in O Son you are welcome to a dying Father I am now ready to be offered and the time of my Departâ—…e is at Hand His pain continued very acute but he had Peace within I am tormented said be once but blessed be God not in this Flame and soon after I am all on Fire when at the same time his extreme parts were cold but he presently added Blessed be God it is not the Fire of Hell To some of his next Neighbours who came in to see him for those at a distance had not notice of his illness he said O make sure work for your Souls by getting an Interest in Christ while you are in Health for if I had that work to do now what would become of me but I bless God I am satisfied It was a Caution he was often wont to give See to it that your work be not undone when your time is done lest you be undone for ever Towards ten or eleven a Clock that Night his Pulse and Sight began to fail of the latter he himself took notice and inferred from it the near approach of his Dissolution He took an affectionate farewel of his Dear Yoke-fellow with a thousand thanks for all her Love and Care and Tenderness left a Blessing for all his dear Children and their dear Yoâ—…e-fellows and little ones that were absent He said to his Son who sat under his head Son the Lord bless you and grant that you may do worthily in your Generation and be more serviceable to the Church of God than I have been such was his great Humility to the last And when his Son reply'd O Sir pray for me that I may but tread in your steps he answered yea follow Peace and Holiness and let them say what they will More he would have said to bear his Dying Testimony to the way in which he had walked but Nature was spent and he had not strength to express it His Understanding and Speech continued almost to the last Breath and he was still in his dying Agonies calling upon God and committing himself to him One of the last words he said when he found himself just ready to depart was O Death where is thy with that his Speech falter'd and within a few Minutes after about sixteen Hours illness he quietly Breathed out his precious Soul into the Embraces of his dear Redeemer whom he had trusted and faithfully served in the work of the Ministry about forty three Years He deparetd betwixt twelve and one a Clock in the Morning of Iune 24. Midsummer-day in the Sixty fifth Year of his Age. Happy thrice Happy he to whom such a sudden Change was no surprize and who could Triumph over Death as an unstung disarmed Enemy even when he made so fierce an onset He had often spoke of it as his desire that if it were the Will of God he might not out-live his usefulness and it pleased God to grant him his desire and give him a short passage from the Pulpit to the Kingdom from the height of his usefulness to receive the recompence of Reward So was it ordered by him in whose Hands our Times are After the Account we have given of his great Usefulness it is easie to imagine what sorrow and Mourning there was among his Friends when they heard that the Lord had taken away their Master from their Head One that liv'd so much desir'd could not but dye as much lamented The surprize of the stroke put People into a perfect astonishment and many said the Lord remov'd him so suddenly because he would not deny the many Prayers that would have been put up for his Recovery had it been known that he was in Peril One thing that aggravated this severe Dispensation and made it in the apprehension of many look the more dismal was that this powerful Intercessor was taken away just before a Fast-day when he would have been Wrestling mightily with God for Mercy for the Land However it proved a Fast-day indeed and a day of Humiliation to that Congregation to whom an empty Pulpit was an awakening Sermon The Broad-Oak was then like that under which Rebekah's Nurse was buried Gen. 35 8. Allon-bacuth Bochim a place of Weepers They who had many a time fitten with dry Eyes under melting Ordinances could not sit so under such a melting Providence by which the Lord God call'd so loudly to weeping and to mourning and to girding with Sack cloth But because Mr. Henry had been wont to give it for a Rule that Weeping must not hinder Sowing a Mite was cast into the Treasury of the Nations Prayers and a word spoken to bring the Work of the day and the event of the day together from 2 Kings 13. 20. The day following being Saturday Iune 27. the Earthen Vessel in which this Treasure had been lodg'd was laid up in the Grave in Whitchurch Church attended thither with a very great Company of true Mourners all the Country round many from Chefler and Shrewsbury and the Towns about came to do him Honour at his Death And besides the Floods of Tears that were shed there were abundance of Testimonies given to him by Persons of all sorts like that Iehojadah 2 Chron 24. 16. That he was one that had done good
an unchangeable God and an unchangeable Heaven And while these three remain the same yesterday to day and for ever Welcome the Will of our Heavenly Father in all Events that may happen to us come what will nothing can come amiss to us Keep the Invisible things of the other World always in your Eye He that ventures the loss of an Eternal Crown and Kingdom for a Cup or two of puddle Water such as all terâ—…ene pleasures in Comparison are makes a bargain which no less a space than that which is Everlasting will be sufficient to bewail and repent of How much better is it to lay up in store now a good Foundation for time to come and to lay hold on Eternal Life doing those Works which we would be willing should hereafter follow us yet still making the blessed Jesus our All in all The further Progress you make in your Studies you will find them the easier 't is so with Religion the worst is at first It is like the Picture that frown'd at first entrance but afterwards smiles and looks pleasant They that walk in sinful ways meet with some Difficulties at first which Custom conquers and they become as nothing 'T is good accustoming our selves to that which is good The more we do the more we may do in Religion Your Acquaintance I doubt not increaseth abroad and accordingly your watch must be for by that oftentimes e're we are aware we are ensnar'd He that walketh with wise men shall be wise The return of the Spring invites our Thanksgiving for the mercy of it The Birds are singing early and late according to their Capacity the Praises of their Creator but Man only that hath most cause finds something else to do 'T is Redeeming Love that is the most admirable Love less than an Eternity will not suffice to adore it in Lord how is it Lord what is man As the Streams lead to the Fountain so should all our Mercies lead us to that We both of us send you our most affectionate Love and Blessing Blessing That is we pray and beseech the most Blessed God even our own God to give you his Blessing for he only can command the Blessing and those whom he Blesseth are Blessed indeed Let us still hear to our comfort that you walk in the Truth living above the things of the World as dead to them The Lord in Mercy fit us for his Will in the next Providence Publick and Personal for Time is always teeming Your Improvement is our Ioy. Be sincere and serious cloathed with Humility abounding always in the work of the Lord and when you have done all saying I am an unprofitable Servant 'T was the good advice of the Moral Philosopher in your Converse with Men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Distrust but I must add in every thing towards God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Believe expect Temptation and a Snare at every turn and walk accordingly We have a good Cause a vanquished Enemy a good Second and extraordinary Pay for he that overcomes needs not desire to be more happy than the second and third of the Revelation speaks him to be The God of all Mercy and Grace compass you about always with his Favour as with a shield I would have you redeem time for hearing the word in Season and out of Season your other studies will prosper never the worse especially if you could return immediately from it to the Closet again without cooling Divertisements by the way See your need of Christ more and more and live upon him no Life like it so sweet so safe Christus meus mihi in omnia We cannot be discharged from the Guilt of any Evil we do without his Merit to satisfie we cannot move in the performance of any good required without his Spirit and Grace to assist and enable for it and when we have done all that All is nothing without his Mediation and Intercession to make it acceptable so that every day in every thing he is All in All. Though you are at a distance from us now we rejoyce in the good hope we have through Grace of meeting again in the Land of the Living that is on Earth if God see good however in Heaven which is the true Land of the truly Living and is best of all The Lord God Everlasting be your Sun and Shield in all your ways See time hasting away a pace towards Eternity and the Judge even at the Door and work accordingly where-ever you are alone or in Company be always either doing or getting good Sowing or Reaping As for me I make no other Reckoning but that the Time of my Departure is at hand and what Trouble I may meet with before I know not the Will of the Lord be done One of my chief Cares is that no Iniquity of mine may be laid up for you which God grant for his Mercy sake in Christ Jesus Amen Be careful of your Health Remember the Rule Venienti occurrere but especially neglect not the main matter The Soul is the Man if that do well all 's well Worship God in the Spirit rejoyce in Christ Iesus and have no Confidence in the Flesh. God be gracious unto thee my Son Redeem Time especially for your Soul Expect Trouble in this World and prepare for it expect Happiness in the other World and walk worthy of it unto all pleasing A good Book is a good Companion at any time but especially a good God who is always ready to hold Communion with those that desire and seek Communion with him Keep low and humble in your Thoughts and Opinion of your self but aim high in your Desires and Expectations even as high as the Kingdom of Heaven it self and resolve to take up with nothing short of it The Lord guide you in all your ways and go in and out before you and preserve you blameless to his Heavenly Kingdom Immediately after his Son was Ordained to the Work of the Ministry at London in the Year 1687. he thus wrote to him Are you now a Minister of Jesus Christ Hath he counted you Faithful putting you into the Ministry then be Faithful out of love to him feed his Lambs Make it your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as a workman that needs not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of Truth I hope what you Experienced of the presence of God with you in the Solemnity hath left upon you a truly indelible Character and such Impressions as neither time nor any thing else shall be able to wear out Remember Psal. 71. 16. It is in the Eye of Sense a bad time to set out in but in Sowing and Reaping Clouds and Wind must not be heeded The Work is both Comfortable and Honourable and the Reward rich and sure and if God be pleased to give Opportunity and a Heart though there may be Trouble attending it 't will be easily born If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him I am and shall be
according to my Duty and Promise earnest at the Throne of Grace on your behalf that the Lord will pour out upon you of his Holy Spirit that what he calls you to he would fit you for especially that he would take you off your own bottom and lay you low in the Sense of your own Unworthiness Inability and Insufficiency that you may say with the Evangelical Prophet Wo is me I am undone And with Ieremiah I am a Child and with Paul I am nothing where this is not the main thing is wanting for God resists the Proud but gives Grace to the Humble Now the Lord give you that Grace to be Humble and then according to his Promise he will make you rich in every other Grace It were very easie to Transcribe many more such Lines as these out of his Letters to his Son but these shall suffice We shall next gather up some few passages out of some of his Letters to a Person of Quality in London such of them as are come to our Hands which are but few of many The beginning of his Correspondence with that Gentleman which continued to his Death and was kept up Monthly for a great while was in the Year 1686. and the following Letter broke the Ice Honour'd Sir HOping you are by this time as you intended returned to London to your Home and Habitation there I make bold according to my Promise to Salute you in a few Lines In the first place to be your Remembrancer of the Vows of God which are upon you upon the account of the many Mercies of your Journey both in your going out and in your coming in Was not every step you took hedg'd about with special Providence Had not the Angels charge over you Did not they pitch their Tents where you pitched yours Did not Goodness and Mercy follow you and should it not then be had in thankful Remembrance Where Mercy goes before should not Duty follow after If you have Mr. Angier's Life you will find there Page 88 89. a Collection out of his Diary of ten Heads of Mercies acknowledged in a Journey to heighten God's Praises and to quicken his own and others Hearts therein and they are certainly very affecting Next Sir I am to acquaint you that I have faithfully dispos'd of the Money you left with me at parting to eight poor praying Widows in this Neighbourhood as you appointed And this among all the rest of your Alms Deeds is had in Memorial before God 't is Fruit that will abound to your Account Bread sent a Voyage upon the Waters which you and yours will find again after many Days for he is Faithful that hath promised The Apostles Prayer shall be mine 2 Cor. 9 10. Now he that ministreth Seed to the Sower both Minister Bread for your Food and multiply your Seed sown and increase the Fruits of your Righteousness Amen And some time after he writes Your Acknowledging God in all your Affairs I cannot but rejoyce in as an evidence of the uprightness of your Heart towards him 't is the Life and Soul of all Religion 't is indeed to walk with God That includes as much as any other Scripture command in so few words In all thy ways acknowledge him in every thing thou dost have an Eye to him make his Word and Will thy Rule his Glory thy End fetch in strength from him expect success from him and in all Events that happen which are our ways too whether they be for us or against us he is to be acknowledged that is ador'd if prosperous with Thankfulness if otherwise with Submission as Iob The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken and blessed be the Name of the Lord. This is to set the Lord always before us to have our Eye ever towards the Lord where this is not we are so far without God in the World In another Letter As to the Accession lately made to your Estate much good may it do you that is much good may you do with it which is the true Good of an Estate The Lady Warwick would not thank him that would give her a Thousand a Year and tye her up from doing good with it I rejoyce in the large Heart which God hath given you with your large Estate without which Heart the Estate would be your Snare I have lately met with a Letter of Mr. Henry's to a Couple related to him who in a very short time had Buryed all their Children of the Small Pox to their great Grief 't was in the Year 1679. What Comfort and Counsels he Administred to them may be of use â—…o others in their Afflictions and therefore I shall Transcribe the whole Letter though it be long Dear Cosins THis is to you both whom God hath made one in the Conjugal Relation and who are one also in the present Affliction only to signifie to you that we do heartily Sympathize with you in it The Trial is indeed sharp and there will be need of all the Wisdom and Grace you have and of all the help of Friends you can get both to bear and to improve it aright You must bear it with Silence and Submission Surely it is meet to be said unto God I have born Chastisement He is Sovereign Lord of all and may do with us and ours as pleaseth him It is not for the Clay to quarrel with the Potter It was Mercy you had Children and comfort in them so long it is Mercy that yet you have one another and your Children are not lost but gone before a little before whither you your selves are hastning after And if a Storm be coming as God grant it be not it is best with them that put first into the Harbour Your Children are taken away from the Evil to come and you must not Mourn as they that have no hope Sensible you cannot but be but dejected and sullen you must not be that will but put more bitterness into the Cup and make way for another perhaps a sharper stroke You must not think and I hope you do not that there cannot be a sharper stroke for God hath many Arrows in his Quiver he can heat the Furnace seven times hotter and again and again seven times hotter till he hath Consumed us and if he should do so yet still we must say he hath punished us less than our Iniquities have deserved For Examples of Patience in the like kind we have two eminent ones in the Book of God those are Iob and Aaron of the latter it is said Lev. 10. 3 He held his Peace and that which quiered him was what his Brother Moses said to him This is that which the Lord hath said I will be sanctified and if God be Sanctified Aaron is Satisfied if God have Glory from it Aaron hath nothing to say against it Of the former it is said Iob 1. 20. he fell down but it was to Worship and we are told how he expressed himself The Lord gave
c. He acknowledgeth God in all And indeed after all this is it my dear Cosins that you must satisfie your selves with under this sad Providence that the Lord hath done it and the same Will that ordered the thing it self ordered all the Circumstances of it and who are we that we should dispute with our Maker Let the Potsherds strive with the Potsherds of the Earth but let not the thing formed say to him that formed it Why hast thou made me thus And as for the Improvement of this Affliction which I hope both of you earnestly desire for it is a great Loss to lose such a Providence and not be made better by it I conceive there are four Lessons which it should teach you and they are good Lessons and should be well learned for the advantage of them is unspeakable 1. It should for ever imbitter Sin to you you know what she said to the Prophet 1 Kings 17. 18. Art thou come to call my Sin to remembrance and to slay my Son 'T is Sin Sin that is the old Kill-Friend the Ionah that hath raised this Storm the Achan that hath troubled your House then how should you grow in your hatred of it and endeavours against it that you may be the Death of that which hath been the Death of your dear Children I say the Death of it for nothing less will satisfie the true Penitent than the Death of such a Malefactor 2. It should be a Spur to you to put you on in Heavens way It may be you were growing remiss in Duty beginning to slack your former pace in Religion and your Heavenly Father saw it and was grieved at it and sent this sad Providence to be your Monitor to tell you you should remember whence you were fallen and do your first Works and be more Humble and Holy and Heavenly and self-denying and Watchful abounding always in the work of the Lord. O Blessed are they that come out of such a Furnace thus resined they will say hereafter 't was a happy day for them that ever they were put in 3. You muâ—… learn by it as long as you live to keep your Affections in due Bounds towards Creature Comforts How hard is it to love and not to over-love to delight in Children or Yoke-fellows and not over-delight now God is a jealous God and will not give his Glory to any other and our excess this way doth often provoke him to remove that Mercy from us which we do thus make an Idol of and our Duty is to labour when he doth so to get that matter mended and to rejoyce in all our Enjoyments with Trembling and as if we rejoyced not 4. It should be a means of drawing your Hearts and Thoughts more upwards and home-wards I mean your Everlasting-Home You should be looking oftner now than before into the other World I shall go to him saith David when his little Son was gone before It is yet but a little while e're all the things of Time shall be swallowed up in Eternity And the matter is not great whether we or ours die first whilst we are all dying in the midst of Life we are in Death What manner of persons then ought we to be Now our Lord Iesus Christ himself and God even our Father be your support under and do you good by this Dispensation and give you a Name better than that of Sons and Daughters We are daily mindful of you at the Throne of Grace in our poor measure and dearly recommended to you c. We shall next gather up some Passages out of his Letters to his Children after they were married and gone from him To one of his Daughters with Child of her first Child he thus writes You have now one kind of Burthen more than ever you had before to cast upon God and if you do so he will sustain you according to his Promise And when the time of Travel was near thus You know whom you have trusted even him who is true and faithful and never yet did noâ—… ever will forsake the Soul that seeks him Though he be Almighty and can do every thing yet this he cannot do he cannot deny himself nor be worse than his Word But what is his Word Hath he promised that there shall be always a safe and speedy delivery that there shall be no Iabez no Benoni No but if there be he hath promised it shall work together for good hath promised if he doth not save from he will save through If he call to go even through the valley of the shadow of death and what less is Child-bearing 〈◊〉 he will be with you his Rod and his Staff shall comfort you and that 's well Therefore your Faith must be in those things as the Promise is either so or so and which way soever it be God is good and doth good Therefore my dear Daughter lift up the Hands that hang down cast your Burthen upon him trust also in him and let your Thoughts be established We are mindful of you in our daily Prayers but you have a better Intecessor than we who is heard always To another of them in the same Circumstance he thus writes Your last Letter speaks you in a good Frame which rejoyced my Heart that you were fixed fixed waiting upon God that your Faith was uppermost above your Fears that you could say Behold the handmaid of the Lord let him do with me as seemeth good in his eyes We are never fitter for a Mercy nor is it more likely to be a Mercy indeed than when it is so with us now the Lord keep it always in the Imagination of the Thoughts of your Heart And he concludes ' Forget not 1 Tom. 2. last When one of his Daughters was safely delivered in a Letter to another of them that was drawing near to that needful Hour he observ'd that when David said Psal. 116. 12. What shall I render He presently adds v. 13. I will call upon the Name of the Lord. As if saith he calling upon the Name of the Lord for Mercy for you were one way of rendring unto the Lord for the great Benefit done to your Sister On occasion of affliction in their Families by the sickness or Death of Children or otherwise he always wrote some word in season In the Furnace again saith he but a good Friend sits by and it is only to take away more of the Dross If less Fire would do we should not have it so much and so often O for Faith to trust the Refiner and to refer all to his Will and Wisdom and to wait the Issue for I have been young and now am old but I never yet saw it in vain to seek God and to hope in him At another time he thus writes Tough and knotty Blocks must have more and more Wedges our heavenly Father when he judgeth will overcome We hear of the death of dear S. T. and chide ourselves for being so
often pleased with his little pretty fashions lest we offended therein by being too much so No Rival must sit with him in his Throne who deserves all our Love and Ioy and hath too little of it At another time upon the death of another little one The dear little one saith he made but a short Passage through this to another World where it is to be for ever a living Member of the great Body whereof Jesus Christ is the ever-living Head but for which Hope there were cause for Sorrow indeed If he that gives takes and it is but his own why should we say What dost thou At another time upon the like occasion Our Quiver of Childrens Children is not so full but God can soon empty it O for Grace Grace at such a time which will do that that Nature cannot The God of all Grace supply your Need and ours according to his Riches in Glory The Lord is still training you up in his good School and though no Affliction for the present be joyous but grievous nevertheless afterwards it yields well your Work is in every thing to bring your Will to the Will of God To one of his Daughters concerning her little one he thus writes They are but Bubbles we have many warnings to sit loose the less we rely upon them in our Ioys and Hopes the more likely to have them continued to us Our God is a jealous God nor will he suffer the Creature to usurp his Throne in our Affections Upon the death of a little Child but few days old he thus writes The tidings of the death of your little one were afflicting to us but the Clay must nor say to the Potter What dost thou If he that took be the same that gave and what he gave and took was his own by our own consent it becomes us to say Blessed be the Name of the Lord. I hope you have been learning to acknowledge God in all Events and to take all as from his Hand who hath given us to know Isay to know for Paul saith so that all things do work together not only shall but do for our good that we may be more and more partakers of his Holiness He can make the two left as comfortable to you as all the three as all your five could have been However if all the Cisterns were drawn dry while you have your Fountain to go to you are well you may also by Faith look forward and say it was a Covenant-child and through Mercy we shall see it again in a better World Upon the sickness of a dear Child he thus writes to the Parent You and we are taught to say It is the Lord upon his Will must we wait and to it must we submit in every thing not upon constraint but of choice nor only because he is the Potter and we the Clay and therefore in a way of Soveraignty he may do what he pleaseth with us and ours But because he is our Father and will do nothing but what shall be for good to us The more you can be satisfied in this and the more willing to resign the more likely to have Be strong therefore in the Grace which is in Christ Iesus it is given for such a time of need as this I hope your Fears and ours will be prevented and pray they may but thanks be to God we know the Worst of it and that Worst hath no harm in it while the better part is ours which cannot be taken away from us To one of his Children in affliction he writes thus T is a time of Trial with you according to the Will of your and our Heavenly Father Though you see not yet what he means by it you shall see He means you good and not hurt he is shewing you the vanity of all things under the Sun that your happiness lies not in them but in himself only that they and we are passing away withering Flowers that therefore we may learn to die to them and live above them placing our Hope and Happiness in better things trusting in him alone who is the Rock of Ages who fails not neither can fail nor will fail those that fly to him I pray you think not a hard thought of him no not one hard thought for he is good and doth good in all he doth and therefore all shall work for good but then as you are called according to his purpose blessed be his Name for it so you must love him and Love you know thinks no evil but puts the best construction upon all that the Person loved saith or doth and so must you though now for a Season if need be you are in Heaviness And at another time Your Times and the Times of yours are in the Lord 's good Hand whose Will is his Wisdom 'T is one thing as we read and observ'd this Morning out of Ezek. 22 to be put into a Furnace and left there as Dross to be consumed and another thing to be put in as Gold or Silver to be melted for use and to have the Refiner set by You know whom you have believed keep your hold of the everlasting Covenant He is faithfull that hath promised We pray for you and we give Thanks for you daily for the Cup is mixed therefore trust in the Lord for ever and rejoyce in the Lord always again I say rejoyce To one of his Sons in Law that was a little engaged â—…n building he thus writes Be sure to take God along with you in this as in all other your Affairs for except he build the House they labour in vain that build it Count upon troublesome Oâ—…crrences in it and keep the Spirit quiet within And lâ—… nor God's Time nor Dues be entrenched upon and then all will be well 'T was but a little before he died that he wrote thus to one of his Children We rejoyce in God's goodness to you that your Distemper hath been a Rod shaken only and not laid on He is good and doth good and should we not love him and rest in our love to him He saith he doth in his to us and rejoyceth over us with singing Zeph. 3. 17. And have not we much more cause What loveliness in us What not in him I pray let me recommend him to your Love love him love him with all the Powers of your Soul and out of love to him please him He is pleas'd with honest Endeavours to please him though after all in many things we come short for we are not under the Law but under Grace To one of his Children recovered from Sickness he gives this hint Remember that a New Life must be a New Life indeed Reprieves extraordinary call for Returns extraordinary The last Journey he made to London was in August 1690. before he went he sent this Farewel-Letter to his Son at Chester I am going forth this Morning towards the great City not knowing but it may be Mount Nebo to me
Therefore I send you this as full of Blessings as it can hold to your self my Daughter your Wife all the rest of my Daughters their Husbands and all the little ones together and severally If I could command the Blessings I would but I pray to him that hath and doth and I trust will The Lord bless you and keep you and lift up the light of his countenance upon you As you have received and you for your part preached Christ Iesus the Lord so walk in him keeping Conscience always void of offence both towards God and towards all Men. Love your Mother and be dutiful to her and live in love and peace among your selves and the God of Love and Peace that hath been will be with you Amen To one who desired his Direction for the attaining of the Gift of Prayer he wrote the following Letter of Advice If you would be able in words and Expressions of your own without the help of a Form to offer up Prayers to God observe these following Rules of Direction in the use whereof by God's Blessing you may in time attain thereunto 1. You must be throughly convinced that where such a Gift is it is of great use to a Christian both very comfortable and very profitable and therefore very desiâ—…able and worth your serious endeavours this must first be or else all that follows will signifie nothing For it is as the wise Man saith Prov. 18. 1. Through desire a Man having separated himself seeketh and intermedleth with all wisdom that is till we are brought in some good measure to desire the end we shall never in good earnest apply our selves to the use of means for the obtaining of it It is a Gift that fits a Person to be of use to others in the Duty of Prayer according as there is occasion either in a Family or in Christian Communion It is also of great advantage to our selves For how can any Form though never so exact be possibly contrived so as to reach all the Circumstances of my particular case and yet it is my Duty in every thing to make my Requests known to God 2. As you should be perswaded of the excellent use of it where it is attained so also you should believe that where it is not it may be attained and that without any great difficulty No doubt but many are discouraged from endeavouring after it by an Opinion they have that it is to no purpose they think it a thing so far above their Abilities that they were as good sit still and never attempt it This is of very bad Consequence as in other matters of Religion so particularly in this and therefore watch against this Suggestion and conclude that though it may be harder to some than others yet it is impossible to none Nay this wisdom is easie to him that understandeth where means are used in the fear of God 2. You must rightly understand and consider who it is with whom you have to do in Prayer for your incouragement to come to him though in the midst of many Infirmities and Imperfections He is your Father your loving tender hearted Father who knows your Frame and remembers you are but dust who is not extream to mark what we do amiss in manner and expression where the Heart is upright with him You may judge a little concerning his Love by the Disposition that is in you towards your Children when they come to ask things needful of you And believe him to be infinitely more merciful and compassionate than the most merciful and compassionate of Fathers and Mothers are or can be especially remembring that we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous who is the great High Priest of our Profession and whom he heareth always 4. You must pray that you may pray beg of God the Father of Lights from whom every good and perfect Gift comes to bestow this Gift upon you We read Luke 11. 1. that one of the Disciples came to Jesus Christ upon this Errand Lord teach us to pray and he had his Request granted presently Go you to him on the same Errand You may plead the Relation of a Child from that Scirpture Gal. 4. 6. And because you are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts crying Abba Father And the Promise also from that Scripture Zech. 12. 10 I will pour upon the House of David and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and of Supplication which two Relation and a Promise if they be not sufficient to encourage your Faith and Hope in this Address what is or can be 5. It is good before you address your self to the Duty to read a portion of Holy Scripture which will be of great use to furnish you both with matter and words for Prayer especially David's Psalms and Paul's Epistles The Holy Spirit hath provided for us a Treasury or Store house of what is suitable for all occasions and where both the word and the matter are his own and of his own framing and inditing if affections be stirring in us accordingly we have great reason to believe he will accept of us In divers places he hath himself put words into our Mouths for the purpose as Hos. 14. 2. Take with you words Matth. 6. 9. After this manner therefore pray ye and often elsewhere 6. There must be some acquaintance with our own Hearts with our Spiritual State and Condition our Wants and Ways or else no good will be done in this Matter 'T is sence of Need Hunger Thirst Cold Nakedness that supplies the poor Beggar at your Door with pertinent Expressions and Arguments he needs not the help of any Friend or Book to furnish him so if we know our selves and feel our Condition and set God before us as our God able and ready to help us words will easily follow wherewith to offer up our Desires to him who understands the Language even of Sighs and Tears and groanings which cannot be uttered Rom. 8. 26. 7. It is of use in stated Prayer ordinarily to observe a Method according to the several parts of Prayer which are these Four 1. Compellation or Adoration which is the giving of due Titles to God in our Addresses to him and therein ascribing to him the Glory due unto his Name With this we are to begin our Prayers both for the working of a Holy aw and dread upon our Hearts towards him on the account of his Greatness and Majesty as also for the strengthning of our Faith and Hope in him upon the account of his Goodness and Mercy 2. Confession Sin is to be confessed in every Prayer Original Sin as the Root Spring head and Fountain and Actual Sin as the Fruit and Stream proceeding from it Herein you must not rest in generals as the most do but especially when you are in secret before the Lord you must descend to particulars opening the whole Wound hiding nothing from him