TO HIS MUCH HONOURED FRIEND

SIR HENRY ASHURST,

BARONET.

SIR,

THE ministers of the gospel are, in the Scripture language, stars in the right hand of Christ, to signify their diffusive light and beneficial influences. As in the future state of the resurrection, some stars shall differ from others in glory, so in the present state of the regeneration, some ministers are distinguished from others by a brighter eminence in their endowments, and a more powerful emanation of light in their preaching. Of this select number was Mr. Philip Henry, in whom there was a union of those real excellences of parts, learning,* and divine graces, that signalized him among his brethren. This does evidently appear in the narrative of his life, drawn by one very fit to do it ;-as having had entire knowledge of him, by long and intimate conversation; and having, by his holy instructions, and the impression of his example, been made partaker of the same sanctifying Spirit. The describing the external actions of saints, without observing the holy principles and affections from whence they derived their life and purity, is a defective and irregular representation of them. It is as if an account were given of the riches and fecundity of the earth, from the flowers and fruits that grow upon it, without considering the mines of precious metals contained in its bosom. Now, only an inward Christian, that has felt the power of religion in his heart, can, from the reflection upon himself, and his uncounterfeit experience, discover the operations of grace in the breasts of others.

Mr. Henry was dedicated to the service of Christ by his mother in his tender age. His first love and desires, when he was capable to make a judicious choice, were set upon God. He entered early into the ministry, and consecrated all the powers of his soul, understanding, memory, will, and affections, with his time and strength, to the service of Christ. And such was the grace and favour of God to him, that he lost no days in his flourishing age, by satisfying the voluptuous appetites; nor in his declining age by diseases and infirmities, but incessantly applied himself to his spiritual work. He was called to a private place in Wales, but his shining worth could not be shaded in a corner. A confluence of people from other parts attended on his ministry. Indeed, the word of truth that dies in the mouths of the cold and careless, (for they are not all saints that serve in the sanctuary,) had life and spirit in his preaching; for it proceeded from a heart burning with zeal for the honour of Christ and salvation of souls. Accordingly he suited his discourses to the wise and the weak; and imitated the prophet who contracted his stature to the dead body of the widow's son, applying his mouth to the mouth of the child, to inspire the breath of life into him. The poor and despised were instructed by him with the same compassionate love and diligence as the rich, notwithstanding the civil distinction of persons which will shortly vanish for ever; for he considered their souls were of the same precious and immortal value. In the administration of the Lord's Supper, he expressed the just temperament of sweetness and severity. With melting compassion he invited all relenting and returning sinners to come to Christ, and receive their pardon sealed with his blood. But he was so jealous of the honour of Christ, that he deterred, by the most fearful consequences, the rebellious that indulged their lusts, from

* Every one knows Mr. Philip Henry was an excellent scholar; he was certainly possessed of a rich treasure of all polite and useful learning, both in languages and in the sciences. Life of the Rev. Matthew Henry, by W. Tong, oct. 1716. p. 24.

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coming to partake of the feast of the unspotted Lamb. He was not allured by temporal advantage, which is the mark of a mercenary, to leave the first place where, by the divine disposal, he was seated.

When the fatal Bartholomew-day came, though he had fair hopes of preferment, by his attendance upon the King and Duke of York in their early age, of which the remembrance might have been revived, yet he was guided by a superior spirit, and imitated the self-denial of Moses, (a duty little understood, and less practised by the earthly-minded,) rather choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the good things of this world. As the light of heaven, when the air is stormy and disturbed, does not lose the rectitude of its rays; so his enlightened conscience did not bend in compliance with the terms of conformity, but he obeyed its sincere judgment.

After his being expelled from the place of his public ministry, his deportment was becoming a son of peace. He refused not communion with the Church of England in the ordinances of the gospel, so far as his conscience permitted. Yet he could not desert the duty of his office, to which he was, with sacred solemnity, set apart. He was faithful to improve opportunities for serving the interest of souls, notwithstanding the severities inflicted on him. And after the restoring our freedom of preaching, he continued in the performance of his delightful work till death put a period to his labours.

After this account of him as a minister of Christ, I will glance upon his character as a Christian. His conversation was so holy and regular, so free from taint, that he was unaccusable by his enemies. They could only object his nonconformity as a crime;-but his vigilant and tender conscience discovered the spots of sin in himself, which so affected his soul, that he desired repentance might accompany him to the gate of heaven. An excellent testimony of humility, the inseparable character of a saint. His love to God was supreme, which was declared by his chosen hours of communion with him every day. The union of affections is naturally productive of union in conversation. Accordingly, our Saviour promises-He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father; and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. And he repeats the promise;-If a man love me he will keep my words: and Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our abode with him. To his special and singular love to God, was joined an universal love to men. He did good to all according to his ability. His forgiving of injuries, that rare and difficult duty, was eminently conspicuous in the sharpest provocations. When he could not excuse the offence, he would pardon the offender, and strive to imitate the perfect model of charity exprest in our suffering Saviour; who in the extremity of his sufferings, when resentments are most quick and sensible, prayed for his cruel persecutors. His filial trust in God was correspondent to God's fatherly providence to him. This was his support in times of trial, and maintained an equal temper in his mind, and tenor in his conversation. In short, he led a life of evangelical perfection, most worthy to be honourably preserved in the memory of future times. The following narrative of it, if read with an observing eye, how instructive and affecting will it be to ministers, and apt to transform them into his likeness!

my

Thus, Sir, I have given a short view of the life of that man for whom you had such a high veneration and dear love. It argues a clearer spirit, and a diviner temper, than is usual in persons of conspicuous quality, when holiness is so despicably mean in the esteem of carnal men, to value it above all titles and treasures, and the perishing pride of this world. I am persuaded it will be very pleasing to you, that your name, and excellent Mr. Henry's, are joined in the same papers,

*The Rev. W. Bates, D. D. died July 14, 1699, æt. 74. See the Biog. Brit. v. 1. p. 687.

A PREFACE

TO THE READER.

THAT which we aim at in this undertaking, and which we would set before us at our entrance upon it, is, not so much to embalm the memory of this good man, though that also is blessed, as to exhibit to the world a pattern of that primitive Christianity, which all that knew him well observed to be exemplified in him while he lived; and when they saw the end of his conversation, as it were with one consent, desired a public and lasting account of, or rather demanded it, as a just debt owing to the world, by those into whose hands his papers came, as judging such an account likely to conduce much to the glory of God's grace, and to the edification of many, especially of those that were acquainted with him. He was one whom the Divine Providence did not call out, as neither did his own inclination lead him, to any very public scene of action. He was none of the forward men of the age, that made themselves talked of. The world scarce knew that there was such a man in it. But in his low and narrow sphere he was a burning and shining light; and therefore we think his pious example is the more adapted to general use, especially, consisting not in the ecstasies and raptures of zeal and devotion,-which are looked upon rather as admirable than imitable;— but in the long series of an even, regular, prudent, and well ordered conversation, which he had in the world, and in the ordinary business of it, with simplicity and godly sincerity; not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God. It hath been said, that quiet and peaceable reigns, though they are the best to live in, yet they are the worst to write of, as yielding least variety of matter for the historian's pen to work upon;-but a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty, being the sum and substance of practical Christianity, the recommending of the example of such a life, in the common and familiar instances of it, together with the kind and gracious providences of God attending it, may be, if not as diverting to the curious, yet every whit as useful and instructive to the pious, readers. If any suggest that the design of this attempt is to credit and advance a party, let them know that Mr. Henry was a man of no party, but true catholic Christianity, not debauched by bigotry, nor leavened by any private opinions or interests, was his very temper and genius. According to the excellent and royal laws of this holy religion, his life was led with a strict and conscientious adherence to truth and equity; a great tenderness and inoffensiveness to all mankind; and a mighty tincture of sincere piety and devotedness to God. And according to those sacred rules, we shall endeavour, in justice to him, as well as to our reader, to represent him in the following account; and if any thing should drop from our pen, which might justly give offence to any, which we promise industriously to avoid, we desire it may be looked upon as a false stroke; and, so far, not truly representing him, who was so blameless, and harmless, and without rebuke. Much of our materials for this structure we have out of his own papers, especially his diary, for by them his picture may be drawn nearest to the life, and from thence we may take the truest idea of him, and of the spirit he was of. Those notes being intended for his own private use in the review, and never communicated to any person whatsoever; and appearing

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here as they ought to do, in their own native dress,* the candid reader will excuse it, if sometimes the expressions should seem abrupt; they are the genuine, unforced, and unstudied breathings of a gracious soul, and we hope will be rather the more acceptable to those who, through grace, are conscious to themselves of the same devout and pious motions. For, as in water face answers to face, so doth one sanctified and renewed soul to another; and as Mr. Baxter observes, in his Preface to Mr. Clark's Lives,†—“ God's graces are much the same in all his holy ones; and therefore we must not think that such instances as these are extraordinary rarities; but God hath in wonderful mercy raised up many, by whose graces even this earth is perfumed and enlightened." But, if one star be allowed to differ from another star in glory, perhaps our reader will say, when he hath gone through the following account, that Mr. Henry may be ranked among those of the first magnitude.

*Tong's Life of the Rev. Matthew Henry, p. 3. ut supra.

+ The Lives of Sundry Eminent Persons in this latter Age; in Two Parts; Part I. of Divines; Part II. Of Nobility and Gentry of both Sexes. By Samuel Clark. Fol. 1683.

POSTSCRIPT.

THIS Account of the Life and Death of my honoured father, was first published the year after he died; and in a little time, there was a second impression of it, in which many considerable errors of the first were amended, It having now been long out of print, and often inquired for, this third edition comes abroad at the request of many who have found this portraiture of a Nathaniel, an Israelite indeed,--a genuine son of faithful Jacob,-that plain man dwelling in tents,—very serviceable to themselves and others, both for direction, quickening, and encouragement in the ways of God and godliness; for even this way, as well as in conversation, as iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Frequent mention being made in the book of the comfort he had in all the branches of his family, whom, with satisfaction, he saw planted in families of their own, it may not be amiss here to mention the changes which the Divine Providence made among them, soon after the Lord had taken away our master from our head, who was a daily intercessor for us.

In the year 1697, the year after my father died, two of his four daughters died, in Chester, of a malignant fever, within three weeks one of another: two excellent Christians; and one of them, by some papers of her writing found after her death, appearing to have had such an experimental acquaintance with the principles, powers, and pleasures, of the spiritual and divine life, as few Christians, that have more than doubled her years, attain to.

In the year 1699, two of his four sons-in-law* died, likewise, in Chester, within four or five months one of another; both of them useful good men in their places, and blessings to their families. One of them was Dr. John Tylston, a physician,-like St. Luke,—a beloved physician; some time of Trinity College, in Oxford. Though he died at thirty-five years of age, he was for several years very eminent, and of great repute, in his profession. He was a universal scholar, had abundance of knowledge, and used it aright; and was a very devout, serious, conscientious Christian, and one that made it his business to do good. Many excellent papers he also left behind him, full fraught with proofs both of his learning and piety. He was greatly and generally lamented; and his memory is, and will be, very precious in this city. Having this occasion, I cannot forbear, even at this distance of time, dropping some tears afresh over his dust; thus publicly; for he was to me as my own soul; and upon every remembrance of him, I must still say, as I did then, what David said of Jonathan,—1 am distressed for thee, my brother; very pleasant hast thou been unto me.

• The one, Dr. John Tylston, died April 8, 1699. See his life in the Investigator, v. 2. p. 254, &c. The other, Mr. Samuel Radford, died August 20, 1699. See an interesting record of this event by Mrs. Savage, in the Memoirs of her Life and Character, p. 22, &c. Also Tong's Life of the Rev. Matthew Henry, p. 149. ut supra.