yielded him much satisfaction, John, iii. 35, The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hands. If Christ be not only the Head of the church, but Head 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 into his heart to preach upon on the day of publick thanksgiving for the King's restoration, was very comfortable to him, Proverbs, xxi. 1, The King's heart is in the hand of the Lord. His sense of that great mercy of God to the nation, in the unbloody, peaceable, and legal settlement of King Charles II. 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 pressed 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 myself if thou callest me. Here, or any where, it is no great matter where, I am. Many years after the King's return, he dated a letter, May 29. Τῇ ἡμέρα αὐτῇ τῇ γλύκυπικρᾳ.

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.

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 chain. § 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

See Eph. v. 23. Col. i. 18. Ephes. i. 22. Rom. viii. 28.

See the Plan of the Sermon in the Evan. Mag. v. xxvii. p. 399.

The Synod of St. Foy, in France, A. D. 1578, witnesseth against Ministers dwelling long upon a text, and would have them expound and treat of as many in their ministry as they can, fleeing all ostentation and long digressions. Quick's Synodic. v. 1, p. 117. Life of P. Henry by Matthew Henry. Orig. MS.

Appendix, No. VIII.

A like testimony is borne of another contemporary." He did not soar aloft in high expressions, shooting over his hearers, but did condescend to the capacities of the meanest, which is an excellence in any." Works of Mr. John Murcot, 4to, 1657. Ep. Ded. by Dr. Samuel Winter, p. 3. See also Clark's Lives annexed to the Martyrologie, p. 176, ut supra.

hearts, in close and lively applications. His delivery was very graceful and agreeable, far from being either noisy 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 wondered 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. But even when he had put his last hand to them, he commonly left many imperfect hints, which gave room for enlargement in preaching, wherein he had a great felicity. And he would often advise ministers not to tie 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 raised, will be apt to furnish him with. But for this no certain rule can be given, there are diversities of gifts, and each to profit withal.

He kept his sermon-notes in very neat and exact order; sermons in course, according to the order of the subject; and occasional sermons according to the scripture-order of the texts; so that he could readily turn to any of them. And yet, though afterwards he was removed to a place far enough distant from any of that auditory, yet, though some have desired it, he seldom preached any of those hundreds of sermons which he had preached at Worthenbury, no not when he preached never so privately, but to the last he studied new sermons, and wrote them as elaborately as ever; for he thought a sermon best preached when it was newly meditated. Nay, if sometimes he had occasion to preach upon the same text, yet he would make and write the sermon anew; and he never offered that to God which cost him nothing.+

When he went to Oxford, and preached there before the University in Christ Church, as he did several times, his labours were not only very acceptable, but successful too; particularly one sermon which he preached there, on Proverbs, xiv. 9; Fools make a mock at sin; for which sermon a young Master of Arts came to his chamber afterwards to return him thanks, and to acknowledge the good impressions which divine grace, by that sermon, had made upon his soul, which he hoped he should never forget.

In his Diary he frequently records the frame of his spirit in studying and preaching. Sometimes blessing God for signal help vouchsafed, and owning him the Lord God of all his enlargements; at other times, complaining of great deadness and straitness.-It is a wonder, saith he, that I can speak of eternal things, with so little sense of the reality of them. Lord, strengthen that which remains, which is ready to die! And he once writes thus, upon a studying

ul

*See Deut. xxxii, 2. Luke iv. 22.

See the Lives of Dr. Staunton, p. 36, ut supra; and Dr. Rob. Harris, p. 88, supra. Also the Life of Demosthenes, Plutarchi, v. 5. p. 273, ut supra.

day. "I forgot explicitly and expressly when I began, to crave help from God,* and the chariot-wheels drove+ accordingly. Lord, forgive my omissions, and keep me in the way of duty.

In June, 1657, he writes,-This month I had the remembrance of much guilt set home upon my conscience in reference to the sabbath day. I used to lie longer in bed than I ought, which hath been occasioned by sitting up over late the night before, and that by neglecting to make preparations for preaching sooner in the week. I am often put to it to hurry over truths. So that two sermons were provided, I have not cared how poorly. Lord, I confess it to thee with shame, and beg thy grace that it may be so no more. §]

As to the state of his soul in these years, it should seem by his Diary, that he was exercised with some doubts and fears respecting it. I think, saith he, never did any poor creature pass through such a mixture of hope and fear, joy and sadness, assurance and doubting, down and up, as I have done these years past The notice of this may be of use to poor drooping Christians, that they may know their case is not singular; and that, if God for a small moment hide his face from them, he deals with them no otherwise than as he useth sometimes to deal with the dearest of his servants. It would affect one, to hear one that lived a life of communion with God, complaining of great straitness in prayer.No life at all in the duty, many wanderings; if my prayers were written down, and my vain thoughts interlined, what incoherent nonsense would there be! I am ashamed, Lord, I am ashamed! Oh, pity, and pardon!

[I find in nothing more of the deceitfulness of my heart than in secret worship. Oh, how hardly am I brought to it, and how little sweetness and delight do I for the most part find in it! I blush, and am ashamed. Lord, pity, and pardon, and help; for, with my mind, I serve the law of God, though, with my flesh, the law of

sin.

I have a froward peevish spirit unto this day, impatient of contradiction. Oh, that it were mortified, that the grace of meekness might abound in me more and more. ||]

To hear him suspecting the workings of pride of heart, when he gave an account to a friend, who inquired of him, touching the

He that prays most will preach best. Spiritual beggars are special preachers. Mr. Porter; from a MS. in P. Henry's hand-writing.

+ See Exod. xiv. 25.

Mr. Shephard, of New England, usually had his sermons finished upon Friday night. "He hath sometimes exprest himself thus in publicke :-God will curse that man's labours that lumbers up and down in the world all the week, and then upon Saturday, in the afternoon, goes to his study, when, as God knows, that time were little enough to pray and weep in, and to get his heart in frame." Address to the Reader, signed William Greenhill and Samuel Mather, and prefixed to Mr. Shephard's Subjection to Christ in all his Ordinances and Appointments, duod. 1652. § P. Henry. Diary. Orig. MS.

P. Henry. Diary. Orig. MS.

success of his ministry, and that he should record this concerning himself, with this ejaculation annexed,-The Lord pardon and subdue! It was a sign that he kept a very watchful eye upon the motions of his own heart.

[At another time he writes:-These following sins were set home with power upon my conscience:

1. Omissions innumerable. I fall short of duty in every relation. 2. Much frowardness upon every occasion, which fills my way with thorns and snares.

3. Pride; a vein of it runs through all my conversation.

4. Self-seeking. Corrupt ends in all I do. Applause of men oftentimes regarded more than the glory of God.

5. My own iniquity. Many bubblings up of heart-corruption, and breakings forth too. O Lord, shame hath covered my face. Pardon and purge for Jesu's sake!*]

To hear him charging it upon himself, that he was present at such a duty in the midst of many distractions, not tasting sweetness in it, &c. When a fire is first kindled, saith he, there is a deal of smoke and smother, that afterwards wears away; so, in young converts, much peevishness, frowardness, darkness; so it hath been with my soul, and so it is yet in a great measure. Lord, pity, and do not quench the smoking flax; though as yet it doth but smoke, let these sparks be blown up into a flame!

Great mercies, but poor returns; signal opportunities, but small improvements; such are his complaints frequently concerning himself. And though few or none excelled him in profitable discourse, yet in that he often bewails his barrenness and unprofitableness.Little good done or gotten such a day, for want of a heart; it is my sin and shame. O that I had wings like a dove! [Lord, cleanse me from my omissions. The world thinks better of me than I do of myself, God knows. At another time he writes,-Nothing troubles me so much as that I am so unprofitable in my generation. Lord, give me wisdom, that I may preach in all my discourses!+]

Yet when he wanted a faith of assurance, he lived by a faith of adherence. Such a day, saith he, a full resignation was made of all my concernments into the hands of my Heavenly Father; let him deal with me as seemeth good in his eyes. I am learning and labouring to live by faith. Lord, help my unbelief! Another time he notes that many perplexing fears being upon his spirit, they were all silenced with that sweet word, which was seasonably brought to his remembrance,-Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer.

[There is no living by a dead faith, he observes; no, nor by a living faith, unless lively. Help, Lord, thy poor servant, that my

* Palmer's Noncon. Mem. v. 3, p. 489, stated to be from Mr. Henry's Diary.

P. Henry. Diary. Orig. MS.

Appendix, No, IX.

faith fail not! I do not know that I ever saw my way clearer. Then, Why art thou cast down, O my soul ?*

At the commencement of a new year he thus writes, and it is only a specimen of his usual devotion at such seasons:

1671. January 1. Covenants of new obedience solemnly renewed with God, and sealed, this New Year's Day, in the blood of Jesus Christ. Amen! Lord, be Surety for thy servant for good! I yield myself, and all my concerns, to be at thy disposal; and I am heartily glad that my times are in thy hand, and not my own. Do with me, and mine, this year, as seemeth good in thine eyes! So be it!+

Again, he says,-I met with a friendly, seasonable, admonition. Blessed be God! My heart was then somewhat in a better frame than ordinary for the receiving of it, and I hope it hath done me good. The Lord is very gracious, in that he follows me thus from time to time.

The eyes of many are upon me; some for one end, some for another; some for good, some for evil. I had need to be watchful. Lord, hold up my goings in thy path, that my footsteys slip not! Thou tellest all my wanderings. For Jesu's sake, let them be forgotten!]

He very frequently kept days of fasting and humiliation in secret, which he calls his days of atonement. Sometimes he observed these monthly, and sometimes only upon special occasions; but the memorandums in his Diary, not only while he was at Worthenbury, but often after, shew what sweet communion he had with God in those solemn duties, which no eye was witness to, but his who seeth in secret, and will reward openly. Remember, O my soul, such a day, as a day of more than ordinary engagements entered into, and strong resolutions taken up of closer walking, and more watchfulness! O my God, undertake for me! And upon another of those days of secret prayer and humiliation, he notes,If sowing in tears be so sweet, what then will the harvest be, when I shall reap in joy? Bless the Lord, O my soul, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, and will, in due time, heal all thy diseases.

[It is good for me to draw near to God. The oftener and the nearer the better. How sweet is heaven indeed, if heaven upon earth hath so much sweetness in it !§]

• P. Henry, Diary, Orig. MS.

+ Ibid.

+ Ibid.

§ Ibid.