buildings to return it, so does sorrow when reverberated by a broken ruined heart. That eye weeps most which looks oftenest on the Sun of Righteousness. Though we cannot wash in innocency, yet we must wash in penitency.+ The ingredients of true repentance are,-hearty sorrow, particular confession, faith in Christ, and general amendment. When we set our sins before our faces in repentance and confession, God casts them behind his back in pardon and remission; but if we carelessly cast them behind our back, God justly sets them before his face. §]

That year also, and the year 1681, he preached over the duties of hearing the word and prayer; of the former, from the parable of the four sorts of ground; of the latter, from Luke, xi. 1, &c. when he preached over the Lord's Prayer in above thirty excellent and elaborate discourses. He looked upon the Lord's Prayer, to be not only a directory or pattern || for prayer, but, according to the advice of the Assembly of Divines, proper to be used as a form; ¶ and, accordingly, he often used it both in publick and in his family. And as he thought it was an error on the one hand to lay so much stress upon it as some do, who think no solemn prayer accepted, nor any solemn ordinance or administration of worship complete without it, and so repeat it five or six times, and perhaps oftener, at one meeting; so he thought it an error on the other hand not to use it at all; since it is a prayer, a compendious, comprehensive prayer, and may be of use to us, at least as other scripture prayers; but he thought it a much greater error to be angry at those who do use it, to judge and censure them, and for no other reason to conceive prejudices against them and their ministry. A great strait, saith he, poor ministers are in, when some will not hear them, if they do not use the Lord's Prayer, and others will not hear them if they do.** What is to be done in this case? We must walk according to the light we have, and approve ourselves to God, either in using or not using it, and wait for the day when God will end the matter; which I hope he will do in his own due time.

He was in the close of his exposition of the Lord's Prayer, when a dark cloud was brought upon his assemblies, and he was necessitated to contract his sails.

[In the year 1680, his son and biographer, Mr. Matthew Henry, having nearly completed his eighteenth year, was conducted to London, together with his relation and friend, Mr. Robert Bosier,

SP. Henry. Life of Lieut. Illidge, by Matth. Henry. Misc. Works. p. 852.

See "A Guide to goe to God, or an explanation of the perfect Patterne of Prayer, the Lord's Prayer," by [Dr.] W. Gouge. 4to. 1636.

See the larger Catechism argued upon by the Assembly of Divines. 4to. 187.

And their Directory for publick worship. ed. 1793. p. 539.

**See Letters to and from Dr. Doddridge, published by Mr. Stedman, pp.14. 15. and Dr. Doddridge's Exposition on Luke, xi. 1. 13, n. d.

and placed under the care of that "holy, faithful, minister, Mr. Thomas Doolittle, who then lived at Islington."* This event gave rise to the following letters.

From the Rev. Philip Henry, to Mr. Matthew Henry.

My Dear Child;

Your letter to me I received, and your mother, also her's. In the former, an account of your being busy, at which we were glad; in the latter, of your being not well, and that troubles us; but we are in hope, that this night's post will bring us better tidings. However, we desire to acquiesce in the will of God, in whose hand our times are, and at whose disposal are all our ways; who doth always that which is just and righteous, always that which is best to those who love him. I am at Boreatton, where I expected your mother this morning, as we appointed, but, instead of coming herself, she sends Roger with your two letters, and her desire to me to answer them from hence by way of Shrewsbury. They are all well, blessed be God, both there and here. My Lord Paget intended to have gone from hence to-morrow, which hastened me hither a week sooner than I expected, and caused a failure at home yesterday, no chapelday; but his stay, now, is till next week. I am comforted, that you acknowledge God in your distemper, and are prepared to receive, with patience, what he appoints. The two last subjects we were upon when you left Broad Oak,-faith and repentance,-I hope were made profitable to you. He that truly repents of sin, and truly believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, nothing can come amiss to him; things present are his, things to come are his; life, death; this world, and the other world. Though you are at a distance from us, you are near to him, who, according to his promise, is a present help, to those that fear him, in every time of need. Our poor prayers for you, you may be sure, are not, shall not, be wanting,that, if the Lord please, you may have health to ply the work you came about, that you may serve the will of God in your generation; if otherwise, that you may be satisfied in what he doth; and so we, by his grace, shall endeavour to be also. Commend us to Mr. Doolittel, and his wife, whose tender love to you, and care concerning you, we shall always acknowledge with all thankfulness; also to Cousin Robert,† who, I know, will help to bear your burden

Life of Matt. Henry, p. 26, ut supra. It may be thought, indeed, that he who taught his daughter Hebrew at seven years of age, had little occasion to send his son from under the paternal roof, in order to prepare him for the church; but Philip Henry was a publick spirited man, and he found that his frequent labours in the ministry were incompatible with the constant attentions which education indispensably requires. Hist. of Dissenters. v. 2. p. 291. A list of Mr. Doolittle's pupils may be seen in Dr. Toulmin's Historical View, p. 584.

Robert Bosier.

The Lord Almighty bless you, my dear child, and cause his face to shine upon you, and send us good news in your next concerning you. Amen. This, from

Your loving father,

Aug. 16, 1680.

P. H.*

From the Rev. Philip Henry, to Mr. Robert Bosier.

Dear Cousin ;

August 28, 1680.

I received your's, of August 24; the former part whereof, which was concerning yourself, gave cause for a great deal of joy and thankfulness to our good God, that you are so well pleased in your present circumstances of improvement; and, I hope, will be so more and more. I like it well, that you are put upon the exercise of your gifts, which is the ready way to increase, and add to them; for, to him that hath, shall be given, and he shall have more abundantly; and, I doubt not, but, if you set about it, in the strength of the divine grace, and not in your own strength, you will find that grace both ready to you, and sufficient for you. Your Concordance I forbear to send till I hear from you again. Notes upon the Galatians, &c. I have none yet, else you should have them. Strive not to be large, but concise, and close, and substantial, wherein, here, you wanted an example. I pray, be careful, in a special manner, about secret communion; for, you know, as that is kept up, or falls, accordingly the soul prospers. Do not over-tire yourself with study, especially by candle; fair and softly goes far. Though you do well to bewail your loss of precious time, yet, blessed be God for what you have redeemed; and, though it is true, as things are with you, now is your time, if ever, to be busy; yet health and strength must be considered, and nothing done to over-drive.

The latter part of your letter, which was concerning Matthew, gave us some trouble, yet, I thank you, that you were so large and particular in it. We have freely yielded him up, and our interest in him, as well as we can, to our Heavenly Father; and his will be done! I have written to him, as you will see,-if he be willing and able, and there be cause, with advice of friends,-to hasten home; and, if he must so leave you, it will be an instance, -that man purposes, but God disposes.

Present my dear love and respects to Mr. Doolittel, and to his wife, to whom I am much obliged for their kindness, which I shall ever acknowledge, whatever the event be. Fail not to write as there may be occasion. Here is room only to tell you, that we are all remembered to you; and, particularly, that I am,

Your true friend,

* Orig. MS.

P. H.

This was intended for the superscription, but the paper being thin, I chose to enclose it. My two last sabbaths' absence hence, so quickly after the former three, at London, though I designed it not, hath caused reports, as if we had quite done, but I hope it is not so. To-morrow, God willing, we shall set the plough in again, begging of God, that late intermissions may quicken desires, and make the word so much the sweeter. Concerning Matthew I know not what to say more than I have said. The Lord prepare and fit us for evil tidings! I will not say, our life is bound up in the life of the lad, but much of the comfort of our life is; and yet, Father, thy will be done! Our cisterns may, and will, dry up, first or last, but our Fountain remains for ever.*]

Orig. MS.

L

CHAPTER VII.

The Rebukes he lay under, at Broad Oak; between the Years 1680 and 1687.

IN the beginning of the year 1681, in April and May, the country was greatly afflicted and threatened by an extreme drought; there was no rain for several weeks, the grass failed. Corn, that was sown, languished; and much, that was intended to be sown, could not. The like had not been known for many years. It was generally apprehended that a dearth would ensue, especially in that country, which is for the most part dry. And now it was time to seek the Lord; and, according to his own appointment, to ask of him rain in the season thereof. Several serious thinking people being together at the funeral of that worthy minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Malden, it was there said, how requisite it was that there should be some time set apart on purpose for fasting and prayer, in a solemn assembly, upon this occasion. Thomas Millington, of Weston, in Hodnet Parish, in Shropshire, desired it might be at his house; and Tuesday, June 14, was the day pitched upon. The connivance of authority was presumed upon, because no disturbance of meetings was heard of at London, or any where else. Mr. Henry was desired to come and give his assistance at that day's work. He asked upon what terms they stood with their neighbouring justices, and it was answered," Well enough." The drought continuing in extremity, some that had not used to come to such meetings, yet came thither upon the apprehensions they had of the threatening judgment, which the country was under. Mr. Edward Bury,* of Bolas, well known by several useful books he hath published, prayed; Mr. Henry prayed,

1700. Friday, May 10. This week, old Mr. Bury, of Bolas, in Shropshire, was buried, an aged nonconformist, some time a fellow-labourer and sufferer with my dear father, now gone to his reward;-few left of the old generation. Lord, pour out of thy Spirit on our sons and our daughters! Mrs. Savage's Diary. Orig. MS. Mr. Bury was born A. D. 1616. He died May 5, 1700. Noncon. Mem. v. 3, p. 141, &c.