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

1. Give thanks to God, that ever you had him or saw him, and that you had him so long, above thirty Years in this place. Do not many of you owe even your very Souls to him under God? While you Mourn, give thanks to God that you ever knew him; old and great Mercies must be thankfully remembered. 2. Rejoice in the Glory that he now enjoys; weep not for him, but weep for your selves: 'Twas the Text on which he Preached, not much above a Year ago, at the Funeral of that intelligent, holy, useful Man, Mr. William Lawrence of Wem. The Primitive Christians buried their Saints with Hymns and Psalms of Joy. Chrysostom on the Hebrews saith, we are to glorify God, and give thanks to him, that he hath Crowned the Deceased, and freed them from their Labours; and chides those that Mourned and Howl'd. And the Days of their Death were called Natalitia Martyrum & Sanctorum, the Birth-days of the Saints and Martyrs. And Hierom in his Epitaph on Holy Paula (and in the Lives of other Holy Persons, writ by him) saith, that at her Funeral no Shrieks were heard, but multitudes of Psalms and Hymns were sung in divers languages. ⟨p. 207⟩3. Bewail the Loss, the general Loss, and yours in particular, yet so as to have Hope in God. I need not tell you how great your loss is, you teel it more than I am able to express. If any rejoice that he is gone, because he tormented them, say as the Church, Mic. 7. 8, 9. 4. Seek out for a Supply; do not mourn and sit still, but up and be doing in your places; you have had a cheap Gospel hitherto; God sent you one that could Preach freely, and which is more that would do so too; one that sought not yours but you; and now God will see what you will do for your selves, that now the Shepherd is smitten, the Sheep may not be scattered. Pray to God to raise up others like him, and graciously to give you one. 5. Take heed of liking no Preacher, now he is gone. This a usual Fault among many that have had excellent Preachers, no Body can please them. But God may bless weaker means, and make your Souls live and thrive under them. 6. Hold fast that which you have; it is the advice given to Philadelphia, the best of the Churches, Rev. 3. 11. Keep that good thing which is committed to you, that savouriness of Heart, that love to Christ and to Saints, to all Saints, that Knowledge of the Truth. Keep to his sober Principles.