Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/31

Rh Mr. Henry was considered by his people as a wise and faithful counsellor; they therefore often sent for him, to consult with him on affairs of importance relating to themselves or their families, on which occasions he was always ready to interest himself in their concerns, and to give them his best advice, which he followed with his prayers for their direction and success. But it was not merely on special occasions that he visited his flock; he maintained habitual intercourse with them, and promoted christian conference among them. Some of the more considerable and intelligent of his congregation had meetings at their own houses, to partake of a friendly entertainment, and enjoy rational and useful conversation. On these occasions, Mr. Henry was usually of the party, and he was one of the best companions in the world. His extensive knowledge, his good sense and ready wit, his cheerfulness of temper, his readiness to communicate what was entertaining and useful, together with his unaffected piety and humility, rendered his conversation highly agreeable; and these interviews contributed greatly to promote knowledge, christian friendship, and real religion; for they were always closed with prayer, and he had no relish for any visits without it.

But besides these friendly meetings, he had others more stated, especially appointed for christian conference and prayer, particularly with young persons of his congregation, in which he always presided. The subjects of these conferences "were not unprofitable questions, or matters of doubtful disputation, but points of faith and cases of conscience; and care was taken to prevent all vain jangling, and whatever might tend to puff up the minds of young people, or make them despise [or envy] one another;" which, as Mr. Tong observes, "every one who has made the trial, has found to require much wisdom." That wisdom Mr. Henry (as appears from his diary) was very desirous to obtain; and as his heart was much set upon this business, so he was very prudent and successful in it.

He was also a great example of ministerial wisdom and fidelity in general. He carefully watched over his flock, and attended with diligence to the respective cases of individuals in it. When he heard an ill report of any, he would go to them, or send for them, and inquire impartially into the truth of the case. If he found the persons guilty, he would deal plainly and faithfully with them in his admonitions, and urge a speedy repentance, in which he was in most instances happily successful; and there were, comparatively, few whom he was obliged to cast out of his church. When any such case occurred, his diary shows how much his soul was grieved, and what a discouragement it was to him in his ministerial labours. But his sorrow for such awful instances of apostacy was abundantly overbalanced by the joy he felt on the success of the ministry with the far greater part of his people, whom he saw growing up in wisdom and holiness, adorning the doctrine of God their Saviour, and strengthening the hands of their pastor.

One uncommon instance of his zeal, and his love to souls, was, the pains he took in visiting the prisoners and malefactors in the jail of Chester castle; which, it is said, he was first led to do on the request of the jailer's wife, who was a pious woman, and was much concerned at the remissness of those whose province it was to attend these unhappy objects, to whom she showed so much tenderness in other instances, that they yielded to her proposal to send for Mr. Henry to instruct and pray with them. This he did with constancy, and the most tender compassion, for the space of twenty years. And sometimes he preached to them, especially to the condemned malefactors, not without some good appearance of success. The subjects on which he discoursed were admirably appropriate to their condition. At one time three women were under sentence of condemnation for the murder of their bastard children, when he preached on James i. 5. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. The persons who attended on this occasion (as many were wont to do) were dissolved in tears, and the poor wretches themselves trembled exceedingly. He repeated his visits to them till the day of their execution, and they thanked him for his compassion to their souls; as also many other prisoners did, who were acquitted or pardoned. The last time he performed this humane office, was in the year 1710, when he was sent for by one who was condemned to death, and by the desire of the other prisoners. He had consented to go in the morning, but the curate of St. Mary's, in order to prevent it, sent word that he would go and preach himself, which he accordingly did. However, Mr. Henry went in the evening, and preached respecting the thief upon the cross. Upon which the governor of the castle was prevailed with to interpose, and prevent any more preaching there, except by the proper chaplain; and thus Mr. Henry was discharged from the arduous service which he had so long performed, without any other recompense than the pleasure of doing good to the souls of these wretched creatures, who greatly lamented their loss—a loss which was never made up, for no man in like manner ever cared for their souls.

Another useful service in which Mr. Henry zealously engaged in Chester, (beside many occasional discourses on fast days, and others relative to public affairs, in which he took great interest,) was, his concurrence with the clergy in forming a society for the reformation of manners, similar to that in London. This good work was promoted by the bishop and the dean, who had the interest of religion much at heart. A monthly lecture on a Friday was set up at St. Peter's church, which Mr. Henry constantly attended. The good bishop preached the first sermon, which afforded him great satisfaction. Dr. Fogg, the dean, preached next, on which Mr. Henrv writes, "It was an excellent discourse, much to the purpose. I bless God for this sermon; and as I have from my heart forgiven, so will I endeavour to forget, all that the dean has at any time said against dissenters, and me in particular. Such preaching against sin, and such endeavours to suppress it, will contribute, as much as any thing, to heal differences among those that fear God." Mr. Henry, the same year, began a course of reformation sermons on his lecture-day; and the dissenting ministers in Chester settled a reformation lecture in several parts of the country, the first of which was at Macclesfield, when Mr. Henry preached on the sanctification of the sabbath. Though the monthly sermons were carried on for some time at St. Peter's in Chester, the good work had many enemies, some of whom began openly to deride it, and form parties against it. Mr. Henry Newcomb, of Manchester, (though a son of the eminent nonconformist,) in a sermon which he preached at that church, broke out into severe invectives against the dissenters; suggesting, that because they did not conform to the church, they hardened the profane, and disabled themselves to reform them. On which Mr. Henry writes, "The Lord be Judge between us: perhaps it will be found that the body of dissenters have been the strongest bulwark against profaneness in England." The bishop and dean much lamented such obstructions to the work of reformation, but met with such discouragements from the misconduct of those who should have been most active in promoting the design, that at length it was