and character. The means of gratifying so natural a desire are furnished in the volume before us.

Matthew Henry was the second son of the excellent Philip Henry, and was born at Broad Oak, in Flintshire, Oct. 18, 1662. His father was one of the two thousand confessors, who were ejected from their livings, and forbidden "to exercise their high vocation," by the famous act of uniformity. Matthew was born only a few months after this sweeping act was enforced against them. "At a very early period, his mind displayed the vigor and acuteness for which, through life, it was remarkable; and it is credibly stated, that, at the age of three years, he could read in the Bible with distinctness and observation." His early education was systematically religious, and the means used with him were signally blessed. While yet a child, before he was eleven years. old, he was brought to a saving knowledge of himself, and of the way of salvation by a Redeemer. The account which he has left of his religious exercises at that period, and of his careful and scriptural examination of his hope in Christ, is highly pleasing and satisfactory. Under date of Dec. 7, 1673, he says,

"I, having been engaged in serious examination what hope I have, that when I die, and leave this earthly tabernacle, I shall be received into heavenhave found several marks that I am a child of God. His ministers say there is true conversion, where there have been covenant transactions between God and the soul. And 1 found that there have been such between God and my soul, and I hope in truth and righteousness. If I never did this before, I do it now; for I take God in Christ to be mine. I give up myself to be his in the bond of an everlasting covenant never to be forgotten. But hath it been in truth? As far as I know my own heart, I do it in truth and sincerity. I did it December 7, and September 5, and October 13, and many other times. I do it every day. Where there hath been true repentance for sin; and grief, and shame, and sorrow for it, as to what is past; with all the ingredients of it, as confession, aggravation, self-judging, self-condemning, &c. And I have found this in me, though not in that measure that I could desire. I have been heartily sorry for what is past. I judge myself before the Lord, blushing for shame that I should ever affront him as I have done.-But hath this sorrow been true? As far as I know my own heart, it hath been true. But I sin often.' I lament and bewail it before the Lord, and I endeavor, by the grace of God, to do so no more. Where there is true love of God. For to love the Lord our God with all our soul, and with all our strength, is better than whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices. Now, as far as I know my own heart, I love God in sincerity. But is that love indeed sincere? As far as I can judge, it is so: for,

"1. I love the people of God; all the Lord's people shall be my people. And,

"2. I love the word of God. I esteem it above all. I find my heart so inclined. I desire it as the food of my soul. I greatly delight in it, both in reading and hearing of it; and my soul can witness subjection to it in some meas

ure."

Our readers will bear in mind, that these are the words of a child only eleven years old; and that he here refers to what he had experienced some considerable time previous. Let none persuade themselves that they are too young to be converted, to examine their own hearts, and to indulge a well founded hope in the Saviour.

As young Henry had given his heart to God, it was one of the first purposes of his life to serve him in the Gospel of his Son. Being cut off, as a dissenter, from the honors and privileges of the University, his preparatory education was acquired under the direction of his honored father, and by such other private means as the age afforded. With the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages he was quite familiar, having been instructed in them from his childhood. He afterwards acquired a knowledge of the French; and, as was not uncommon in those times, he added the study of law to that of divinity, before he entered on the work of preaching. He was ordained in London privately, (such were the difficulties of the times) in May, 1687, and in June of the same year, commenced his public ministry at Chester. This city, with the surrounding villages, constituted the scene of nearly all his labors. He continued here until 1712, a period of twenty-five years. At this time, by the pressing importunity of a destitute congregation, and the advice of many friends, he was induced to remove to Hackney, near London. But his course on earth was drawing to a close. Already worn out with long-continued, unremitted studies and labors, he survived his removal but about two years. He died of apoplexy, while on his return from Chester to London, June 22, 1714. His remains were removed to Chester, to rest with those of a deceased wife, and of his former beloved people.

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This brief sketch details some of the leading incidents in the life of Henry The filling up will be found in the volume before us. A memoir of him was published soon after his decease by Mr. Tong, a cotemporary minister, and an intimate friend; but this, we are told, was not quite satisfactory, either to his family or the public. The memoir before us is very full and complete; and it is matter of surprise, that, after the lapse of more than century, so abundant materials remained for its compilation.

Mr. Henry's published works are numerous. Those by which he is chiefly known in this country are, his Commentary, his Discourse on Meekness, and his Communicant's Companion. The Commentary was commenced in Nov. 1704; but the author lived to complete it only through the Acts. Dr. Watts, in his copy of this work, upon a blank leaf at the beginning of the last volume, wrote the following statement:

"The Reverend Mr. Matthew Henry before his death had made some small preparations for this last volume. The Epistle to the Romans, indeed, was explained so largely by his own hand, that it needed only the labor of epitomizing. Some parts of the other Epistles were done, but very imperfectly, by himself; and a few other hints had been taken in short-hand from his public and private Expositions on some of the Epistles.

"By these assistances the ministers, whose names are here written, have endeavored to complete this work in the style and method of the author: viz. "Romans, Mr. [afterwards] Dr. John Evans; 1 Corinthians, Mr. Simon Browne; 2 Corinthians, Mr. David Mayo; Galatians, Mr. Joshua Bayes;

Ephesians, Mr. Samuel Rosewell; Philippians and Colossians, Mr. [afterwards Dr.] William Harris; 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians, Mr. Daniel Mayo; 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy, Mr. Benjamin Andrews Atkinson; Titus and Philemon, Mr. Jeremiah Smith; Hebrews, Mr. William Tong; James, Mr. William Wright; 1 Peter, Mr. Zech. Merrill; 2 Peter, Mr. Joseph Hill; 1, 2, and 3 John, Mr. John Reynolds of Shrewsbury; Jude, Mr. John Billingsley; Revelation, Mr. William Tong."

Upon all that bears the name of Henry, "the image and superscription of originality is fixed, strongly and indelibly;" so that the last volume of the Commentary will be found very different from those which precede it, and in our estimation much inferior. The style of Henry is thus characterized by his biographer :

"There is, in all his works, an entire absence of garishness and puerility; they never pander to the odious impertinence of vain and mere curious speculators; neither are there any meretricious ornaments; instruction is never made contemptible by empty declamation. No inquisitive theologian, how rigid soever his fancy, need fear discovering in them the mawkish effusions of scholastic pedantry. He may be amused sometimes by colloquialisms approaching to undue familiarity; by associations bordering upon the ludicrous; by antitheses, too frequent and too jingling; and, occasionally perhaps, he may be surprised by typical and allegorical interpretations carried to excess. But he is in no danger of being provoked by silly airs, and self-complacent tones; and, least of all, being fatigued by monotonous stupidity. All is modest and serious'; intimately connected with the conscience; and, without the slightest parade, evidentia! of extensive knowledge, both of books and men; of accurate and learned research; and true genius. It is by no means necessary to maintain that he equals Dr. Owen in profound and continuous thinking; or Dr. Barrow, in accuracy and elaboration; or Dr. Bates, in affluent phraseology; or Jeremy Taylor, and John Howe, in noble daring and seraphic elevation. It is praise sufficient to claim for him the fancy of Quarles, the affection of Flavel, the gentleness of Herbert, the good sense of Tillotson, and the terse sententiousness and antithetical point of Bishop Hall."

The private character of Mr. Henry is represented as irreproachable. As a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a neighbor, a citizen, a friend, he was a shining example to all around him.

"He was, in every sense of the phrase, a domestic man. He rejoiced 'in the wife of his youth;' and studiously contributed to the happiness of his household. Instead, like many, of going abroad for enjoyment, he sought and found it in his own habitation. Recording a journey to a distance to preach, he says In the evening I came to Chester late, and through much rain; but it was home.'

"His whole conduct to his offspring was marked by kindness. The advice he gave to others, he acted upon himself. 'Do all you can to make your children love home.' 'Continual chiding and finding fault,' he abhorred. Remember,' he would say, 'that children are but children. If parents would not correct them except in a praying frame, when they can lift their hands without wrath,' it would neither provoke God nor them.-He labored to counteract the first risings of evil tempers in his children. He often asked them, and he advised others to do the same- Whom is it that God resists ?* What is the first of the seven things which the Lord hates?'t

Mr. Henry was a model of diligence in the improvement of time.

"Value your souls," said he, and you will value your time. Whatever you do, take heed of idleness. That is the devil's anvil, on which he hammers out many temptations.'-Of sleep, he remarked, that it is God's gift to

those he loves; nature requires it; grace thanks for it; but those who love it more than their business, when they should love it only in order to their business, expose themselves to a great deal of sin.' 'I desire,' he writes, to close the day with-Return to thy rest, O my soul; to begin the day with-Return to thy work, O my soul; rest in the arms of God's mercy; work in the strength of his grace."

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In one year, Mr. Henry "preached two hundred and eleven times, besides his expoundings" and more private exhortations. In some years, he probably did much more than this. He very frequently "preached seven times a week." For about twenty years, he continued a stated lecture to the convicts and other prisoners confined at Chester, until his meeting with them was broken up by the interference of a curate. In his zealous ministrations, the surrounding villages also largely participated. Scarcely a week passed, in which he may not be traced, by his diary, to soine place in the vicinity, publishing the Gospel of the kingdom. His success among his own people was such as might have been anticipated, from the zeal and fidelity with which he served them. He saw "the Lord's work uniformly prospering in his hands. The congregation became so numerous, as to render necessary the erection of a new and much enlarged " house of worship, in 1699. In a few years after, it became necessary to enlarge upon "We know," said the good man, "how to enlarge the straitness of the place. May God, by his grace, enlarge the straitness of our hearts." The number of communicants also rose to above three hundred and fifty; unanimity prevailed;" and Mr. Henry's consolations abounded.

this.

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As a specimen of the manner in which he was accustomed to address his congregation, the following may be given. "It is taken from one of his ordinary sermons, and will remind many readers of the impassioned and fervid eloquence of Baxter,* if not of the address and ardor of Paul."

"It is no time to dally and trifle, and speak softly, when precious souls lie at stake, and their eternal condition is so nearly concerned. We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. The blood of your souls would lie at our door, if we should not give you warning. What shall I say to startle you? That I am sure which is weighty enough, though neither new nor unheard of.

"1. That the God with whom we have to do, is a holy, righteous, all-seeing God. That which makes sinners secure is their mistake concerning this. They think of the Almighty as if he were easily imposed upon, altogether such an one as themselves. Thus, they cheat themselves. But be not deceived. Know that God's eye is always upon you. He is acquainted with your secret sins. He hates every sin; and to all who are impenitent he is a consuming fire.' He is too wise to be deceived. He is true to his threatenings.

"2. That you have precious and immortal souls within you, which must shortly appear before God in judgment, to be determined by a righteous doom to an unchangeable condition. You have a jewel in your hand of inestimable value. It is thy soul, man, thy precious soul, that is concerned. It is not a trifle, or a thing of nought, but thy own soul, which should be dear to thee.

* While young Henry was a student in London, he visited the venerable Baxter, then in prison, and received his counsel and blessing. 31

VOL. III.NO. V.

Thou hast but one, and once lost, it is irrecoverably lost. The gain of all the world cannot compensate it.

"3. That if you live and die in a graceless, unsanctified state, as sure as God is in heaven, you will be to all eternity in the lowest hell. Though you make never so great a profession; though you attain never so high a reputa tion among men; though you prophesy in Christ's name; though you excel in gifts; though you abound in usefulness; yet all this, without a living principle of grace in your hearts, will never bring you to heaven.

"4. That there are thousands in hell who, when alive in the world, thought themselves as safe, and in as good a condition, as you do. Multitudes have been deceived with counters for gold-have thought they were rich, when they were not so. There is a generation of such. We have reason, then, to be jealous of a cheat in that in which so many have been cheated before us. This should startle us. Take heed lest, while you sleep as others did, you perish as they did.

5. That the unsanctified heart may have a great deal of peace, while yet it is the devil's palace; and while he, as a strong man armed, keepeth it.

"6. That while you are asleep in carnal security your damnation slumbereth not. The Judge stands before the door. Death is at hand, perhaps within a few days, a few hours, of you. You have no lease of your lives. The veil of flesh is easily and quickly rent, and then appears the awful scene of eternity: eternity. A criminal who is condemned to die to-morrow, cannot forget it. It fills him, eating, drinking, sleeping. And can we forget the amazing doom, the amazing sight, the amazing gulf, that we are just upon the brink of, just ready to step into?

7. That as the tree falls, so it lies, and so it must lie, to eternity. As death leaves us, judgement finds us. The doom is irreversible, the sentence irrevocable, the condition on the other side death unchangeable. A great gulf will be fixed. It is too late to repent in the grave. Up and bestir yourselves, for you have only a little inch of time in which to be doing."

With all his devotedness and success, Mr. Henry was distinguished for his humility. He had a deep sense of the evil of his heart, and of the affecting distance, after all his endeavors, between his attainments and his obligations.

"I have great reason," says he, "to lament my slothfulness, my distractions in prayer, and the coldness of my zeal for God.

"Owhat reason have 1 to mourn over my dulness and deadness, and that I am not more affected myself with those things of God with which I desire to affect others. A trifling world, and a trifling heart, are my great grievances.

"I am come to the close of another year; but my works have not been filled up; there are many empty spaces in my time; and in my duties much amiss; little done; little gained for my soul; though much mercy received; yet my talents have not been traded with aright. It is the blood of Christ that must set all straight between me and my God. There I rest my precious soul."

In the character of Henry, true Christian candor and moderation were united with an invincible love of truth.

"He never temporized; nor did he confound things that differ; and still less, did he mistake the tameness of cowardice, or selfishness, or a love of ease, for commanded charity. He knew that that divine virtue can have no legitimate operation apart from, any more than in opposition to, the essential truths of the Bible.

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"Noticing the release of the Rev. Thomas Emlyn, (whose popularity was increased by persecution,) from prison, after two years' unjust confinement, Mr. Henry says; He was with me to-day, Sept. 1, 1705, and adheres to the Arian heresy. I perceive he not only retains his corrupt opinions, but seems to speak favorably of deism. He tells me there are many deists; and he finds, in conversation, that they triumph in this-that when they meet with such as condemn them, they cannot get them to enter into a fair argument.'

"In reference to certain schemes of miscalled rationality, Mr. Henry shrewdly remarked, that 'pride is the cause of heresy;' and immediately added—' It