An account of the life and death of Mr. Philip Henry, minister of the…

What he read in his Family he always expounded: and exhorted all Ministers to do so, as an excellent means of increasing their acquaintance with the Scripture. His Expositions were not so much Critical, as Plain and Practical, and Useful; and such as tended to Edification, and to answer the end for which the Scriptures were written, which is to make us wise to Salvation. And herein he had a peculiar Excellence performing that daily Exercise with so much Judgment, and at the same time with such Facility and ⟨p. 81⟩Clearness, as if every Exposition had been premeditated; and very instructive they were, as well as affecting to the Auditors. His Observations were many times very pretty and surprising, and such as one shall not ordinarily meet with. Commonly in his Expositions he reduced the Matter of the Chapter or Psalm read, to some Heads; not by a Logical Analysis, which often minceth it too small, and confounds the sense with the Terms; but by such a Distribution as the Matter did most easily and unforcedly fall into. He often mentioned that saying of Tertullian's, I adore the fullness of the Scriptures; and sometimes that; Scriptura semper habet aliquid relegentibus. When sometimes he had hit upon some useful Observation that was new to him, he would say afterwards to those about him; How often have I read this Chapter, and never before now took Notice of such a thing in it. He put his Children, while they were with him, to write these Expositions; and when they were gone from him, the Strangers that sojourned with him did the same. What Collections his Children had, though but broken and very imperfect hints; yet, when afterwards they were disposed of in the World, were of good use to them and their Families. Some Expositions of this nature, that is, plain and practical, and helping to raise the Affections and guide the Conversation by the Word, he often wished were Published by some good Hand, for the benefit of Families: But such was his great Modesty and Self-diffidence (though few more able for it) that he would never be persuaded to attempt any thing of that kind himself. As an evidence how much his Heart was upon it, to have the Word of God read and understood in Families, take this passage out of his Last Will and Testament: I give and bequeath to each of my Four Daughters Mr.

What he read in his Family he always expounded: and exhorted all Ministers to do so, as an excellent means of encreasing their acquaintance with the Scripture. His Expositions were not so much Critical, as Plain and Practical, and Useful; and such as tended to Edification, and to answer the end for which the Scriptures were written, which is to make us wise to Salvation. And herein he had a peculiar Excellence performing that daily Exercise with so much Judgment, and at the same time with such Facility and