ed, yet, as the times then were, there was something of a reason for it. The way and manner of his ordination was according to the known directory of the assembly of divines, and the common usage of the presbyterians.

He applied himself diligently to his work at Worthenbury. The sphere was narrow, and too narrow for such a burning and shining light: There were but forty communicants in that parish, when he first set up the ordinance of the Lord's Supper; and they were never doubled: Yet he had such low thoughts of himself, that he not only never sought for a larger sphere, but would never hearken to any overtures of that kind made to him: And withal, he had such high thoughts of his work, and of the worth of souls, that he laid out himself with as much diligence and vigour here, as if he had had the over-sight of the greatest and most considerable parish in the country.

His carriage towards the people of his parish was very exemplary; condescending to the meanest, and conversing familiarly with them; bearing with the infirmities of the weak, and becoming all things to all men. He was exceeding tender of giving offence, or occasion of grief to any body, minding himself in his Diary upon such occasions, that the wisdom that is from above, is pure, and peaceable, and gentle, &c. Yet he plainly and faithfully reproved what he saw amiss in any, and would not suffer sin upon them; mourning also for that, which he could not mend.

He was about eight years from first to last at Worthenbury, and his labour was not altogether in vain. He had not been long at Worthenbury, but he began to be taken notice of by the neighbouring ministers, as likely to be a considerable man. Though his extraordinary modesty and humility (which even in his youth he was remarkable for) made him to sit down with silence in the lowest room, and to say as Elihu, Days shall speak, yet his eminent gifts and graces could not long be hid.

He was often called upon to preach the week-day lectures, which were set up plentifully, and diligently attended upon in those parts, and his labours were generally very acceptable and successful. The general opinion fastened upon him the epithet of Heavenly Henry, by which title he was commonly known all the country over: And his advice was sought for by many neighbouring ministers and Christians; for he was one of those that found favour and good understanding in the sight of GoD and man. He was noted at his first setting out (as I have been told by one who was then intimately acquainted with him,

and

and with his character and conversation) for three things: 1. Great piety and devotion, and a mighty savour of godliness in all his converse. 2. Great industry in the pursuit of useful knowledge; he was particularly observed to be very inquisitive, when he was among the aged and intelligent, hearing them, and asking them questions; a good example to young men, especially young ministers. 3. Great self-denial, self-diffidence, and self-abasement; this eminent humility put a lustre upon all his other graces. This character of him reminds me of a passage I have sometimes heard him speak of, as a check to the forwardness and confidence of young men : That, once at a meeting of ministers, a question of moment was started, to be debated among them; upon the first proposal of it, a confident young man shoots his bolt presently, Truly (said he) I hold it so." You hold, sir! (answered a grave minister,) It becomes you to hold your peace.'

He was ever forward to promote unanimity among Christians, and lamented the unhappy dissensions that prevailed in his time. He used to observe, "That it is not "so much the difference of opinion, that doth us the mis"chief (for we may as soon expect all the clocks in the "town to strike together, as to see all good people of a "mind in every thing on this side heaven) but the mis"management of that difference."

In March 1658-9, he was very much solicited to leave Worthenbury, and to accept of the vicarage of Wrexham, which was a place that he had both a great interest in, and a great kindness for, but he could not see his call clear from Worthenbury; so he declined it. The same year he had an offer made him of a considerable living near London; but he was not of them that are given to change, nor did he consult with flesh and blood, nor seek great things for himself.

He was a hearty well wisher to the return of the king, April A. D. 1660, and was much affected with the mercy of it." While others rejoice carnally, (saith he) Lord, "help thy people to rejoice spiritually, in our public na

tional mercies." "Twas upon that occasion that Mr. Baxter preached his sermon of Right Rejoicing, on Luke x. 20. But he and others soon saw a cause to rejoice with trembling, and to sing both of mercy and judgment; for about that time he hath this melancholy remark: "Re"ligion loses ground exceedingly, and profaneness gets it: Help, Lord!"

VOL. IV.

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As

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.

He removed from Emeral, to the house at Worthenbury, which the Judge had built for him, in February 1658-9, and then had one of his sisters with him to keep his house. Providence, having thus brought him into a l:ouse of his own, soon after provided a help meet for him. After long agitation, and some discouragement and opposition from the father, April 26, 1660, he married Katharine, the only daughter and heiress of Mr. Daniel Matthews, of Broad-Oak, in the township of Iscoyd, in Flintshire, (but in the parish of Malpus, which is in Cheshire, and about two miles distant from Whitchurch, a considerable market town in Shropshire.) Mr. Matthews was a gentleman of a very competent estate; such a one as King James I. used to say was the happiest lot of all others, which set a man below the office of 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 concerned, that she was reserved to be a blessing to this good man, in things pertaining both to life and godliness. 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 eight years: The two eldest were sons, John and Matthew; the other four were daughters, Sarah, Katharine, Eleanor, and Anne. His eldest son John died of the measles in the 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 ehurch, as what we are in our families. Religion, in the power of it, will he family-religion. He brought up bis children in the fear of GoD, with a great deal of care and tenderness, and did by his practice, as well as upon all occasions in discourses, condemn the indiscretion of those parents who are partial in their affections to their children, making a difference between them, which he observed, often proved of ill consequence in families, and lay a foundation of envy, contempt and discord, which turns

to

to their shame and ruin. His carriage towards his children was with great mildness and gentleness, as one who desired rather to be loved than feared by them. He was careful not to provoke them to wrath, nor to discourage them, as he was to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. He ruled indeed, and kept up his authority, but it was with wisdom and love, and not with a high hand. He drew up a short form of the baptismal covenant, for the use of his children; which was as follows: "I take God the Father to be my chiefest "good, and highest end. I take GOD the Son to be my "Prince and Saviour. I take GoD the Holy Ghost to "be my sanctifier, teacher, guide, and comforter. I take "the word of God to be my rule in all my actions; and "the people of God to be my people in all conditions. "I do likewise devote and dedicate unto the Lord my "whole self, all I am, all I have, and all I can do. And "this I do, deliberately, sincerely, freely, and for ever." This he taught his children, and they each of them solemnly repeated it every Lord's day in the evening, after they were catechised; he putting his amen to it, and sometimes adding, "So say, and so do; and you are "made for ever."

This moderate and excellent man was much perplexed about his ministerial duty at the restoration. Matters were unexpectedly and unwisely carried with a high hand against the late ecclesiastical establishment; whereas it is probable, a spirit of wisdom and moderation at that time in church-rulers would have left the number of nonconformists too small to make them objects of severe laws and persecutions. Had some of our leading men in the esta blishment conducted the matter with the Christian meekness that becomes their order, instead of carnal resentments, it would have put their own characters in a much higher point of view, and have afforded a blessing to the nation, the loss of which every good man of every per suasion may justly deplore.

The grand question, first set on foot, was, whether to conform or no? Mr. Henry used 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 remained; "How"ever (saith he) I dare not judge those that do conform, "for who am I, that I should judge my brother ?"

In September, A. D. 1660, Mr. Fogg and Mr. Steel and Mr. Henry, were presented at Flint assizes for not read

ing the common prayer, though as yet it was not enjoined; but there were some busy people, that would outrun the law. They entered 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."

In November, A. D. 1660, he took the oath of allegiance at Orton, before Sir Thomas Hanmer, and two other justices; of which he hath left a memorandum in his Diary, with this added, "GOD so help me, as I purpose "in my heart to do accordingly:" Nor could any more conscientiously observe that oath of God than he did, nor more sincerely promote the ends of it.

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He preached sometimes occasionally in several neighbouring places, till Bartholomew-Day, A. D. 1662, "the day (saith he) which our sins have made one of the sad"dest days to England, since the death of Edward VI. "but even this for good, though we know not how "nor which way." He was invited to preach at Bangor on this sad Bartholomew-Day, and prepared a sermon on John vii. 37. In the last day, that great day of the feast, &c. but was prevented from preaching it; and was loth to strive against so strong a stream.

He

The re-ordination, which was insisted upon, and renunciation of his former ministry, was the first and great bar to his conformity, and which he mostly insisted on. would sometimes say, "That for a presbyter to be or"dained a deacon, is at the best, suscipere gradum Simeo"nis." One thing which he comforted himself with in his nonconformity was, that, as to matters of doubtful disputation touching church-government, ceremonies, and the like, he was unsworn either on one side or the other, and so was free from those snares and bands in which so many found themselves both tied up from what they would do, and entangled that they knew not what to do. Had the moderation, which now obtains in the establishment, been then exercised, such men as Mr. Henry, however he might have disliked some non-essentials, had never been forced out of it. The true way of reducing dissensions, unless they are in arms, is to let them alone. If they are of man, they will soon crumble away of themselves.