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

It may be of use to give some account how he managed his Ministerial Work, in the latter part of his time, wherein he had as signal Tokens of the Presence ⟨p. 172⟩of God with him, as ever; enabling him still to bring forth Fruit in old Age; and to renew his Youth like the Eagles. Though what he did, he still did gratis, and would do so, yet he was not willing to have any constant Assistant, nor had he any; so much was he in his Element, when he was about his Master's Work: 'Twas his Meat and Drink to do it.

1. As to his constant Sabbath Work, he was Uniform, •nd abundant in it. He began his Morning Family-Worship on Lord's days, at 8 a Clock, when he Read and Expounded pretty largely, Sung a Psalm and Prayed; and many strove to come time enough to join with him in that Service. He began in Public just at Nine a Clock Winter and Summer. His Meeting-place was an Out-building of his own, near adjoining to his House, fitted up very decently and conveniently for the purpose. He began with Prayer, then he sung Psal. 100. without reading the Line; next he read and expounded a Chapter in the Old Testament in the Morning, and in the New Testament in the Afternoon. He looked upon the Public reading of the Scriptures in Religious Assemblies, to be an Ordinance of God; and that it tended very much to the Edification of People by that Ordinance, to have what is Read Expounded to them. The bare reading of the Word, he used to compare to the throwing of a Net into the Water; but the Expounding of it, is like the spreading out of that Net, which makes it the more likely to catch Fish; especially as he managed it with Practical profitable Observations. Some that have heard him read a Chapter with this thought; how will he make such a Chapter as this useful to us? have been surprised with such pertinent useful Instructions, as they have owned to be as much for their Edification ⟨p. 173⟩