sanctification of the holy rest, they were expected to spend an hour together every Saturday afternoon in devotional exercises. On these occasions Matthew presided, and gave intimations of his subsequent delight in God's service, too distinct, and too impressive to be either overlookor forgotten. If, at such times, he thought his sisters improperly curtailed their prayers, he would gently expostulate; telling them that "it was impossible, in so short a time, to include all the cases and persons they had to recommend to God." Nor were his admonitions otherwise than kindly received. Those holy women acknowledged in riper years, to the divine glory, how much they were influenced and encouraged by their brother's example and remarks. It is believed that, from his childhood, Mr. Henry had an inclination to the ministry. He discovered it by the remarkable eagerness with which he read the Bible; by a peculiar attachment to ministers; and by a pleasure in writing and repeating sermons, which was so predominant as to be almost prophetic. He loved also to imitate preaching, (a circumstance mentioned only as a fact, not as anything uncommon,) which he managed, considering his years, with great propriety, gravity, and judgment. When very young he coveted the society of those who "feared the Lord and thought upon his name;" he frequently met them in their assemblies for conference and prayer; he prayed with them and repeated sermons; occasionally, likewise, he explained the chapters read, enlarging upon them very much to the benefit and comfort of his auditors. Surprise was naturally excited; and in one of the number, it should seem, alarm also, lest he should be too forward, and fall a victim to pride. The apprehension was expressed to his judicious father."Let him go on," was the answer; "he fears God, and designs well, and I hope God will keep him, and bless him." The practice of copying sermons, which Philip Henry recommended to young people, and which he himself diligently observed, was early adopted by his son, who continued it through life. Very many volumes yet re main in proof of his indefatigable industry, his excellent memory, and discriminating attention. He fully exemplified the advice given by his father's friend, and an excellent minister, Mr. Porter,- Remember and carry away what is bread in a sermon." The same good man complained, perhaps with a mixture of sarcasm, "If there be any chaff, that usually is carried away." CHAPTER II. A. D. 1680 to A. D. 1685. Removal to Mr. Doolittle's Academy-Account of Mr. Bosier-Characters of Mr. Henry by his Cotemporaries at the Academy-His return to Broad Oak-Catalogue of Mercies-Acquaintances. THE privileges enjoyed at Broad Oak were peculiarly fitted to prepare our author for the sacred office. His father, in addition to being an admired preacher, had amassed rich treasures of polite and useful learning: from this store he was always willing to communicate; and so felicitous was he in the work of instruction, as to be seldom equalled, and, perhaps, never surpassed. It is considered no disparagement to the persons who, for a short season, had the subsequent direction of Mr. Henry's studies, to affirm, that the helps he enjoyed at home, for the acquisition of knowledge, both civil and sacred, contributed above all others to his fitness for the Christian ministry. Mr. Philip Henry having derived much advantage from being a student of Christ Church, Oxford, which he well knew how to appreciate, was led, during many years, to entertain a "kindness" for the universities, and to recommend his friends who intended their sons for scholars, to send them thither. But long experience altered his mind; and when, because of his abundant engagements, he determined to remove his son from home, instead of introducing him to either of the national seats of learning, where so many temptations were presented, he placed him in the family, and under the tuition, of that "faithful minister, Mr. Thomas Doolittle, who then lived at Islington." This was in the year 1680. The following letter fixes the date of the journey thither, and discloses some particulars which, at this distance of time, are both curious and entertaining: "Dear sisters, "I came safe, through the good Providence of God, upon Friday last into London, and have reason to say, 'It is of the Lord's mercies that I am not consumed' for he 'holdeth my soul in life,' and 'keepeth all my bones.' On Monday we [Philip Henry, himself, and his cousin Bosier] baited at Newport; went to see Mr. Edwards; and came, through Tong, to Wolverhampton, that night, about sun-set. From thence we set out, next morning, about six or seven o'clock, and came through Birmingham, to Henley, twenty miles from Wolverhampton; and there we baited, and lay at Stratford-upon-Avon, five miles from Henley. On Wednesday morning we came from Stratford to Shipston, thence to Longcompton, thence to Enston, where we baited, and then came to Oxford between five and six. At Oxford I saw the Judges come in, Sir Job for one, and next morning heard the Assize sermon, at St. Mary's. It was preached by one Mr. Lessy, a young man. The text was Hos. iv. 1, 2, 3. "On Thursday, about three o'clock, we set out from Oxford, and came twenty miles that night, viz. to Wick ham; and next day baited at Uxbridge; about three o'clock we came to Chelsea. We found my aunt Dyer not well, and my aunt Sarah come to see her. We stayed there about an hour, and then came for London, where we arrived about six. I never saw so many coaches. If I should say we met above a hundred after we came into the town before we came into our inn, I should speak within compass. "On Saturday my father went to Islington, and I went to cousin Hotchkiss', and Mr. Church's-Mr. Church came with us to see, first Bedlam, and then the monument. The monument is almost like a spire steeple, set up in the place where the great fire began. It is 345 steps high, and thence we had a sight of the whole city. Yesterday we went to Mr. Doolittel's meeting place; his church, I may call it; for I believe there is many a church that will not hold so many people. There are several galleries; it is all pewed; and a brave pulpit, a great height above the people. They began between nine and ten in the morning, and after the singing of a psalm, Mr. Doolittel first prayed, and then preached, and that was all. His text was Jer. xvii. 9. In the afternoon my father preached on Lam. iii. 22, at the same place; indeed Mr. Lawrence told him at first he must not come to London to be idle; and they are resolved he shall not; for he is to preach the two next Sabbaths, I believe, at Mr. Steel's, and Mr. Lawrence's. On Sabbath-day night, about five o'clock, cousin Robert and I went to another place, and heard, I cannot say another sermon, but a piece of another, by a very young man, one Mr. Shower; and a most excellent sermon it was, on the evil of sin. The truth was, we could scarce get any room, it was so crowded. "This morning we went to Islington, when I saw the place we are like to abide in, and do perceive our rooms are likely to be very strait and little-that Mr. Doolittel is very studious and diligent-and that Mrs. Doolittel and her daughter are very fine and gallant. "Dear sisters, I am almost ever thinking of you, and home, but dare scarce entertain a thought of returning lest it discompose me. I find it a great change. Pray do not forget me in your thoughts, nor in your prayers; but remember me in both. So, commending you all to the care and protection of Almighty God, whose kingdom ruleth over all, I rest, "Your ever-loving and affectionate Brother, Mr. Robert Bosier, who is referred to in the foregoing letter, and who accompanied the young theologian to London, was a person of great respectability and promise; he was related to Mr. Henry; and after quitting Edmund's Hall, in Oxford, of which he was a commoner, had resided for a season at Broad Oak, that he might be the better fitted for "holy orders." He was some years older than Mr. Henry; but their intercourse grew into esteem, which soon ripened into friendship; a friendship well founded, reciprocally ardent, and interrupted only by death. Mr. Tong observed of Mr. Henry, that he never heard him mention his cousin Bosier without some distinguishing mark of affection. Both the happiness Mr. Henry had promised himself at Islington in the society of his friend, and the satisfaction which his near relatives, on their separation, must have felt in a superintendence so conscientious and faithful as Mr. Boiser's, was soon blighted. Only a few weeks elapsed before that valuable young man was seized with a fever of which, to the grief of all who knew him, he died. Mr. Doolittle noticed the event in a sermon on Sabbath afternoon, September 19, 1680, from Job xxx, 23. "I know that thou wilt bring me to death." Although little appears to have been said of the deceased, the instructions offered to the living were admirably devout, impressive, and seasonable. "See," said the preacher, "the necessity of regeneration. Let the thought that you will be brought to death call off your affections from things below. Redeem the time. Make your peace with God, and be reconciled to him. You should not go to bed in wrath against others; and will you go to your graves in enmity against God? Be content with what you have. Be frequent in thinking of your removal. If you do but remove on earth, you take care. Be as useful and profitable as you can, for when you are brought to death your work will be over. Be careful to be making preparations for it. We live, to learn to die. Our business is not to get riches, honors, or pleasures, but that we may depart in peace with God. Every corpse is a ser |