A26780:175
An account of the life and death of Mr. Philip Henry, minister of the…
An account of the life and death of Mr. Philip Henry, minister of the gospel near Whitechurch in Shropshire, who died June 24, 1696, in the sixty fifth year of his ageAn account of the life and death of Mr. Philip Henry, minister of the gospel near Whitechurch in Shropshire, who dy'd June 24, 1696, in the sixty fifth year of his age
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1698
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
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 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.
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 concerning 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; ⟨p. 70⟩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, O pity, and Pardon. To hear him suspecting the workings of Pride of Heart, when he gave an Account to a Friend, who enquired of him, touching the success of his Ministry, and that he should record this concerning himself, with this Ejaculation annexed, The Lord pardon and subdue: 'Twas a sign that he kept a very watchful Eye upon the Motions of his own Heart.
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 concerning it. I think, (saith he) never did any poor Creature pass through such a mixture of Hope and Fear, Ioy 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;