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

The next day being Lord's day, Mr. Owen of Oswestry Preached a most excellent Sermon in the Morning, agreeable to that sad occasion, upon that pathetical Farewell which Elisha gave to Elijah, 2 Kings 2. 12. My Father, my Father, the Chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof, and he saw him no more; and he took hold of his own Cloths, and rent them. He observed, 1. That faithful Ministers are the Fathers of a People, and their Chariots and Horsemen; the former a Metaphor taken from a Family, a peaceable Society; the latter from an Army, a warlike Body. Fathers to provide good things, Chariots and Horsemen to protect from evil things. 2. There is a time when we shall see these Fathers, these Chariots and Horsemen of Israel no more. Their time is appointed, their work cut out for them, and when those are finished they are removed. 3. When God takes away our Fathers, the Chariots of our Israel, and the Horsemen thereof, it is a proper Season for Mourning and Lamentation. Under this he did most affectionately excite us, 1. To be sensible of our Loss, which is better felt than expressed. 'Tis the loss of one that was a Father; a Father to his Family, to whom he was constant, in unfolding the Holy Oracles; a Father to the Prophets, for Counsel, and Conduct, and Example; the Sons of the Prophets never Conversed with him, but they were, or might have been the better for him; a Father to his Congregation, now left Orphans: 'Tis the loss of one of the Chariots and Horsemen of our Israel; so eminent ⟨p. 209⟩was he for Prevalency in Prayer, Courage in Duty, Conduct in Affairs, Constancy in Religion, and a firm adherence to his Ministerial Vows, and Lastly, a Contempt. of the World, in which, as he that Warreth, he did not entangle himself. 2. To be sensible of those Sins, which have provoked God to deprive us of him. Barrenness and Unfruitfulness under his Ministry; 'tis for this that God hath a Controversy with us. 3. To bless God that we enjoyed him so long; eaten Bread must not be forgotten. 4. To be Followers of him, as he was of Christ. He was a Pattern for Ministers, excelling in the knowledge of the Scriptures, which made this Man of God perfect, and industrious to advance the Honour of Jesus Christ, whom he made the Alpha and Omega of his Religion; not addicted to Controversies, but walking in the good old way, unwearied in the Work of God;

The next day being Lord's day, Mr. Owen of Oswestry Preached a most excellent Sermon in the Morning, agreeable to that sad occasion, upon that pathetical Farewel which Elisha gave to Elijah,