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

Upon the death of a little Child but few days old, he thus writes; The tidings of the death of your little one were afflicting to us, but the Clay must nor say to the Potter, What dost thou? If he that took be the same that gave, and what he gave and took was his own, by our own consent, it becomes us to say, Blessed be the Name of the Lord. I hope you have been learning to acknowledge God in all Events, and to take all as from his Hand, who hath given us to know Isay, to know (for Paul saith so) that all things do work ⟨p. 242⟩together, (not only shall, but do) for our good, that we may be more and more partakers of his Holiness. He can make the two left as comfortable to you as all the three, as all your five could have been. However, if all the Cisterns were drawn dry while you have your Fountain to go to, you are well; you may also by Faith look forward, and say, it was a Covenant-child, and through Mercy, we shall see it again in a better World.

Upon the sickness of a dear Child, he thus writes to the Parent; You and we are taught to say, It is the Lord; upon his Will must we wait, and to it must we submit in every thing; not upon constraint, but of choice; nor only because he is the Potter and we the Clay; and therefore in a way of Sovereignty he may do what he pleaseth with us and ours: But because he is our Father, and will do nothing but what shall be for good to us. The more you can be satisfied in this, and the more willing to resign, the more likely to have. Be strong therefore in the Grace which is in Christ Jesus; it is given for such a time of need as this. I hope your Fears and ours will be prevented, and pray they may; but thanks be to God, we know the Worst of it, and that Worst hath no harm in it, while the better part is ours, which cannot be taken away from us.

Upon the sickness of a dear Child, he thus writes to the Parent; You and we are taught to say, It is the Lord; upon his Will must we wait, and to it must we submit in every thing; not upon constraint, but of choice; nor only because he is the Potter and we the Clay; and therefore in a way of Soveraignty he may do what he pleaseth with us and ours: But because he is our Father, and will do nothing but what shall be for good to us. The more you can be satisfied in this, and the more willing to resign, the more likely to have. Be strong therefore in the Grace which is in Christ Iesus; it is given for such a time of need as this. I hope your Fears and ours will be prevented, and pray they may; but thanks be to God, we know the Worst of it, and that Worst hath no harm in it, while the better part is ours, which cannot be taken away from us.