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

On the 3d of March, 1676/7. being Saturday night, the Town of Wem in Shropshire (about six Miles from him) was burnt down; the Church, Market House, and about One hundred twenty six dwelling Houses, and one Man, in little more than an Hours time, the Wind being exceeding violent; at which time Mr. Henry was very helpful to his Friends there, both for their support under, and their improvement of this sad Providence. It was but about half a Year before, that a threatening Fire had broke out in that Town, but did little hurt; some serious People there, presently after Celebrated a Thanksgiving for their Deliverance, in which Mr. Henry imparted to them a Spiritual Gift (Oct. 3. 1676) from Zech. 3. 2. Is not this a brand plucked out of the Fire? In the close of that Sermon, pressing them from the consideration of that remarkable Deliverance, to personal Reformation and Amendment of Life: That those who had been Proud, Covetous, Passionate, Liars, Swearers, Drunkards, Sabbath-breakers, would be so no more; and urging Ezr. 9. 13, 14. he added, If this Providence have not this effect upon you, you may in reason expect another Fire; for when God judgeth he will overcome; and minded them of Lev. 26. where 'tis so often threatened against those who walk contrary to God, that he would punish them yet seven times more. The remembrance of this could not but be affecting, when in so short a time after, the whole Town was laid in Ruins. The first time he went thither after that Calamity, a Neighbouring Justice having Notice of it, sent to forbid him to Preach, to his own Grief, as well as to the Grief of many others, who came expecting. But (saith he in his Diary) there was a visible Sermon before us, the Ruins Preaching, that Sin is an evil thing, and God a terrible God. However, a few days after, he got ⟨p. 143⟩an opportunity of Preaching to them a word in Season, which some will not forget, from Hos. 6. 1. Come, and let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torn—And at the return of the Year, when the Town was in the Rebuilding, he gave them another very suitable Sermon, from