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

As to his constant Preaching, it was very Substantial and Elaborate, and greatly to Edification. He used to say, he could not Starch in his Preaching; that is, he would not; as knowing that where the Language and Expression is stiff, and forced, and fine (as they call it) it doth not reach the greatest part of the Hearers. When he grew old he would say, sure he might now take a greater liberty to talk, as he called it, in the Pulpit; that is, to speak familiarly to People; yet to the last he abated not in his Preparations for the Pulpit, nor ever delivered any thing raw and undigested; much less any thing unbecoming the Gravity and Seriousness of the Work. If his Preaching were talking, it was talking to the purpose. His Sermons were not Common Place, but even when his Subjects were the most plain and […], yet his management of them was usually peculiar and surprising. In those Years as formerly, he kept for the most part in a method for Subjects, and was very seldom above one Sabbath upon a Text. And his constant Practise was, as it had been before, when he concluded a Subject that he had been a good while upon, he spent one Sabbath in a brief Rehearsal of the Marrow and Substance, of the many Sermons he had Preached upon ⟨p. 176⟩it; which he called the clenching of the Nail, that it might be as a Nail in a sure place. So very industrious was he, and no less ingenious in his endeavours, that his Hearers might be able, after his Decease, to have these things always in remembrance, 2 Pet. 1. 15. and it is hoped, that by the Blessing of God, the effect did not altogether disappoint his Expectation. In the later times of his Ministry, he would often contrive the Heads of his Sermons to begin with the same Letter, or rather two and two of a Letter; but he did not at all seem to affect or force it; only if it fell in naturally and easily, he thought it a good help to Memory, and of use, especially to the younger sort. And he would say, the chief reason why he did it, was because 'tis frequently observed in the Scripture, particularly the Book of Psalms. And though it be not a fashionable Ornament of Discourse, if it be a Scripture Ornament, that is sufficient to recommend it, at least to justify it against the imputation of Childishness; (Mr. Porter of Whitchurch very much used it, so did Mr.

As to his constant Preaching, it was very Substantial and Elaborate, and greatly to Edification. He us'd to say, he could not Starch in his Preaching; that is, he would not; as knowing that where the Language and Expression is stiff, and forced, and fine (as they call it) it doth not reach the greatest part of the Hearers. When he grew old he would say, sure he might now take a greater liberty to talk, as he call'd it, in the Pulpit; that is, to speak familiarly to People; yet to the last he abated not in his Preparations for the Pulpit, nor ever delivered any thing raw and undigested; much less any thing unbecoming the Gravity and Seriousness of the Work. If his Preaching were talking, it was talking to the purpose. His Sermons were not Common Place, but even when his Subjects were the most plain and , yet his management of them was usually peculiar and surprizing. In those Years as formerly, he kept for the most part in a method for Subjects, and was very seldom above one Sabbath upon a Text. And his constant Practise was, as it had been before, when he concluded a Subject that he had been a good while upon, he spent one Sabbath in a brief Rehearsal of the Marrow and Substance, of the many Sermons he had Preached upon