reader, it is to be hoped, will slight the request which is prefixed to the discussion of that allinteresting topic. * Nor should it escape notice, in reference to the same sermons, that irrespectively of the uncommon importance of the subjects discussed, they are among the very choicest relics of their author. The date of the first is July 26, 1691, and of the last June 5, 1692. Philip Henry died June 24, 1696. So that, instead of containing any thing crude, they memorialize the piety and wisdom of that eminent man, when both were most matured. Such are some of the claims which the present volume has upon the public attention. Besides which, the responsible duties of an editor of all the manuscripts now first printed, have been most judiciously and faithfully discharged by the Rev. Edward Hickman: a gentleman who numbers no less than three of the ejected worthies in the line of his ancestry; and who is himself the fourth in his family of a regular succession of nonconformist divines. His residence at Denton, in Norfolk, so near the press, rendered this service by him especially convenient; and his attainments in the knowledge peculiar to his sacred profession; his ardent attachment to the writings of Mr. Henry; and his deep admiration of their merits; attest his particular fitness for the task, which happily for the public, and the credit of our author, he undertook. In contemplating Mr. Henry's Miscellaneous Works, in themselves a library of theology, it naturally occurs, how much less known, and consequently less esteemed, they have hitherto been than his Exposition. So far, indeed, as paramount attention to Holy Scripture is concerned, this is just as it should be; and it is not wished by any effort, either of commendation or criticism, to weaken the force of that prepossession. The Exposition is, and ever must be, regarded as the magnum opus of its author. Nor can it be any presumption to predict of it, as Ovid is reported to have done respecting the far-famed poem of Lucretius, that it will live till the dissolution of all things. Still it appears somewhat reproachful to the Christian public, that the Miscellaneous writings of our author should, in general, be, as a whole, in a comparative state of neglect: for it will be found on examination, that the same commanding excellences which have rendered Mr. Henry so celebrated as an expositor, distinguished him as a preacher; and have imparted to his Sermons, and Treatises, and Tracts, a charm not less fascinating than that which pervades the Commentary. There is, throughout, the same soundness of doctrine, the same "strange readiness, and fertility of invention," + the same novelty, the same felicity of illustration, the same pointedness of remark, the same ingenious contrivance of proverbial sentences, and the same unvarying attention to usefulness. His zeal for this latter object, like the fire of the vestal virgins, was always burning. Whatever prejudices may exist against theological compositions, in the form of Sermons, that neither accounts satisfactorily for the neglect of Mr. Henry, nor does it annul the fact— that one of the most interesting and valuable sections of English divinity, consists entirely of sermons. And the remark must not be withheld, that considering the age in which Mr. Henry lived, he is entitled, as a sermonizer, to special honour. There are few discourses, ancient or modern, which possess more intrinsic excellences; or which contain, without the slightest pretensions to greatness, more various reading, more powerful appeals, more appropriate imagery, or a purer spirit of sacredness. Having explained his text, and so explained it as to fix the attention, he commonly divides his main proposition into parts; and generally restricts his observations, sometimes avowedly, as at p. (83.), to the context. His explication of the doctrine deduced from the text discovers occasionally, as do all his applications, powers of discrimination equally uncommon and striking. The subdivisions are so managed as to • Appendix, p. 24. + Funeral Sermon, by Mr. Reynolds, p. 1291. Ditto, by Dr. Williams, p. 1301. assist the memory; as when, for instance, he describes the nature of the sacramental supper -as a commemorating ordinance; as a confessing ordinance; as a communicating ordinance; and as a covenanting ordinance.* And although these intended helps appear, frequently, too jingling and fanciful for correct taste; yet in Mr. Henry there is such an air of naturalness, even about them, as to prevent offence, if not to disarm criticism. When he comes to press the uses, and urge the motives, connected with his leading topic, he rises in instructiveness. Nor does he lose sight of a single fact or circumstance with which the truths he wishes to enforce can be associated. He seemingly exhausts the subject without exhausting the reader. Is there one, among all his discourses, which does not capitally illustrate those three qualifications of Baxter's "Best Teacher," which are essential to a good sermon?—a clear explication of the gospel; the most convincing and persuading reasonings; and a manner at once serious, affectionate, and lively. If Addison's test be true, that the secret of fine writing is, for the sentiments to be natural without being obvious, Mr. Henry, in whatever department of authorship he is considered, is entitled to a far more exalted rank among illustrious writers than he has yet attained. In funeral sermons he so excelled as to render it just occasion for regret that he published so few. They all mingle liveliness with affection in a very remarkable degree. They are grave without being dull; and seriousness is seen at the widest possible distance from gloom One of them expatiates with singular beauty upon the duty of Christians giving thanks when in sorrow; the death of "good men and good ministers" is represented in the exquisite imagery of the Scriptures; eternal realities are even familiarized; the instruction of the living is most powerfully attempted; and the ability and excitation of the biographical sketches, which are perfectly free from panegyric, cannot be estimated too highly. His sermon on the death of Mr. Tallents, is one of the finest specimens of preaching that can be instanced; the text selected by his revered friend was peculiarly appropriate, and, united with the occasion, called forth all Mr. Henry's powers. There are many passages in it of great strength and beauty; but his representation of "the delights of sense, and all earthly amusements and entertainments, as only despised crowds through which the soul of a Christian, big with expectation, presses forward in pursuit of everlasting joys," § is too noble not to be specially noticed. It is a kindred thought to that of the apostle, when he speaks of pursuing, or pressing toward the mark for the prize of the believer's high calling, or should its originality be questioned, it must be allowed the merit of a happy paraphrase. Another of those sermons is entitled, though in a different aspect, to more than incidental attention. It was preached on the death of the Rev. Daniel Burgess, || after, as the reader will perceive by the date, Mr. Henry's removal to London, a circumstance here noticed, because of the supposed influence of that event upon several of its statements. The allusions, coupled with the circumstances of the case, are, indeed, most significant; and admirably unfold our author's excellent spirit, his talents, and masterly adaptation of passing occurrences to the purposes of general instruction. The case is this: Shortly before that discourse was delivered, Mr. Henry was attacked, through the press, by the able and untiring pen of De Foe-not by name, but by inuendo; and so graphically as to appear as visible to the mind, as De Foe himself, a few years before, had been made, by a state advertisement for publishing a political squib. The delineation upon the face of it was highly honourable to Mr. Henry, but it was so completely neutralized by sarcasm, and no small portion of scorn, as to be grossly insulting. It touched with an unsparing hand the tenderest point in Mr. Henry's history; and being published so soon * P. 336, &c. + Poor Man's Family Book, p. 303. duod. 1691. Works, vol. 19. p. 510. oct. § P. 776. || P. 820. + P. 805, 806. after his settlement at Hackney, respecting which his Life fully details his distress,* was but too well adapted for his own annoyance, and the irritation of his beloved, but dissatisfied, flock at Chester.+ To De Foe's uncalled-for representation Mr. Henry opposed no express reply; still less did he again revile; he took occasion, however, from the text of the sermon now under consideration "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us"-to expatiate upon the infirmities of Christ's ministers; to acknowledge that "they have their faults, their flaws, their blemishes, as earthen vessels have ;" and to notice also, how frequently they are "despised and trampled upon," § even "loaded with reproach and calumny." || And then, applying the whole to himself and his brethren, he added, and it must have stung such a man as De Foe to the quick-" By keeping the grace of humility in its strength and exercise," we shall have "this to say to those who think and speak lightly of us, That they cannot have a meaner opinion of us than we have of ourselves, nor lay us lower before men, than we lay ourselves every day before God." ¶ The infusion of this spirit of Christianity through every part of Mr. Henry's works it is, which constitutes one of their peculiar charms. And because of it, it cannot be otherwise than gratifying to those who admire him, either as a man or a writer, that increased attention is still likely to be given to his remains. The Exposition, indeed, which has been so long a favourite with studious dissenting ministers, and plain unlettered Christians, not to mention some members of the established church, is now greatly extending its range in the latter direction; and that, notwithstanding the increasing circulation of the popular and invaluable Commentary of the Rev. Thomas Scott. The demand for that excellent work was, at one time, such as to threaten our author's exclusion from one large circle of the community; but the paroxysm being over, and reflection having succeeded excitement, Mr. Henry's unequalled work has been restored to its rightful pre-eminence; and it has lately been afresh commended by a zealous clergyman of the establishment. To prevent, as much as may be, the possibility of disappointment in any reader, who now, for the first time, may resolve upon the study of all our author's writings-the Exposition and those which are Miscellaneous-it may not be amiss to observe, how important, as well as just, it will be, to make proper allowance for the difference of the ground-work in the two classes of the publications as so distinguished; and to keep especially in constant recollection, the aids to thought which are inseparable from an exclusive consideration of the divine testimony: otherwise a comparison to the disadvantage of the latter class of authorship may easily, and even unintentionally, be formed. Without a caution so necessary, even in the absence of any thing else, our author's Exposition, like the Contemplations of Bishop Hal will be very apt to disparage his other productions; a consequence the more to be deprecated because the Miscellaneous Writings, as is the case with the Sermons of the revered prelate just mentioned, actually evince quite as extraordinary faculties, both of ingenuity and instructiveness, as the Commentary; though less obviously, because the opportunity for presenting uncommon remarks is less frequent, and because the range for observation is necessarily extended. The style of Mr. Henry, however, on every subject, as is the style of the good Bishop of Norwich, is enriched by Scriptural allusions; many of them surprising, and even delighting the reader, not less than some of those incidents, drawn from the same pure fountain, with which Milton adorned the sublimest of all poems. The habit of sprightly and apt allusion to Scripture facts, and the use of Scripture language, which Mr. Henry diligently cultivated, has not only enriched, but unspeakably enlivened Life, ut supra, p. 45, &c. + P. 825. + See De Foe's Present State of the Parties in Great Britain, p 307-309. oct. 1712. the ensuing Miscellanies; and frequently more instruction is conveyed by the manner in which he has seized the hints scattered up and down in the sacred volume, than by the lengthened and elaborated topical discussions of many celebrated writers. And-his application of such references is incomparable. In this point of view the exordiums to his sermons deserve especial regard. They are fine instances of the advantageous illustration of one scripture by another; while, as specimens of the beneficial observance of biblical phraseology, they are unrivalled. An attempt at citation would involve considerable extracts from most of the sermons in the volume. In the management of texts, as well as their illustration, every reader conversant with what are called the old divines, will perceive in Mr. Henry a vast improvement upon the canons of most preceding theologians. It is true his style, like that of the majority of the admirable persons referred to, was oftentimes too quaint, and too antithetical; but even in those respects, great advances are discoverable towards the happier modes of division and expression, which are now in use. Mr. Henry is both less strained and less excessive; as may be seen in the exordium to the "Pleasantness of a Religious Life," where, perhaps, he has put forth his antithetical prowess to the uttermost. From another fashion of his predecessors and contemporaries-the fringing of the margin, "with variety of choice reading"-Mr. Henry, except in the "Treatise on Meekness," and the sermon entitled "Christianity no Sect," has still further departed. Not that he was unequal to the task; for his reading was extensive, and various, and weil managed; and in the compositions thus mentioned, he has shown the ease with which he could have vied with even the most erudite of his brethren in citations from antiquity. But ever after those two discourses were published, wiser in this respect than many of the ancients, he deemed it sufficient to state the results, rather than the sources, of his thoughts. And so completely, from that time, were the ideas he collected from others moulded and fashioned in his own mind, as to render it almost as difficult to trace them as it would be to detect the flowers and blossoms from whence has been extracted a mass of honey. Socrates has directed mankind to limit their studies to things of real utility. And Mr. Henry, in his official capacity especially, diligently acted upon this counsel. Therefore it was, that in drawing the portraiture of a good minister, he declared he should do it "by his interest and fidelity, not by his learning, or the arts and languages" of which he was master.* And therefore it was, that instead, on the one hand, of hunting after novelties instead of the gospel; or, on the other, of borrowing largely from celebrated philosophers, and admired, but profane, classics, either to adorn his compositions, or display his learning; he bestowed all his energies to increase men's acquaintance with the Scriptures; to make, by the use of the words of truth, the "countenance of truth," as Hooker expressed it, more orient." There is not in all his writings a single attempt to resolve any one of the absurd inquiries which are so common on the lips of mere speculators and triflers. Like the apostle Paul, whom he admired more than all mere mortals, and whom he has signalized as "the most active, zealous servant that ever our Master had," + he daily studied to know nothing save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." His preaching, as was the case with his beloved friend Mr. Samuel Lawrence, tended "to bring people to Christ and heaven; to heaven as their end, and to Christ as their way." This the reader may see beautifully illustrated at the close of the sermon entitled, "Faith in Christ inferred from Faith in God." § Far from contenting himself with mere illustrations in geography, or natural history, or the "fine-spun cobwebs of school notions," or maxims of heathen ethics, Mr. Henry's whole soul was absorbed in a mighty effort to unfold the meaning of God's word; to convince * P. 739. + P. 734. P. 803. § P. 796, 797. mankind of sin; to induce reflection; to exhibit the riches of salvation; and to guard against neglecting it. Instead of glancing, now and then, at the essential parts of the Christian system, as if at a spectre; instead of treating the doctrines of the cross with reserve and hesitation, as if afraid they should do harm; he evidently gloried in them, and delighted, upon all occasions, to give to them the greatest prominence. This spirit leavens the whole of his writings; and such is his regard to the necessity of divine influence, and such the earnestness of his solicitude that all might be saved, that we seem carried back to the ministrations of the apostles themselves; the energies of the soul are called into continual exercise; and holy cheerfulness is promoted. Mr. Henry, indeed, was a happy Christian, and all his publications breathe the air of heaven. There is impressed upon them a calmness, a vivacity, a heart,* so strongly indicative of "joy and peace in believing," as to form a running commentary on his own memorable declaration, that—“ a holy, heavenly life, spent in the service of God, and communion with him, is the most pleasant and comfortable life any man can live in the world;"+ or on that other striking assertion-"I would not exchange the pleasure of converse with the Scriptures, and divine things, for all the delights of the sons and daughters of men, and the peculiar treasures of kings and princes." I It was this settled persuasion, combined with zeal that others might enjoy the same blessedness, which so urged him onward in his style of writing, as, oftentimes, to give an idea of almost breathless haste; an anxiety for the reader's good, which never seems to have allowed him to stop till all his emotions had found utterance. The reader must be struck with this in his Recommendation of Sober-mindedness to the Young; § in his Improvement of the Death of Mr. Tallents; || and, indeed, in all his published labours, treatises as well as sermons. As an author Mr. Henry is what Lord Bacon would pronounce a "full" writer. He takes many things, after the manner of Holy Scripture, for granted. There are no digressions. He never aims at making a single sermon a complete body of divinity; and still less does he waste one page after another in a dry repetition of truisms, which when pronounced are, because of their commonness, as ill calculated to move as to interest the mind. More is often implied by him than expressed; and even the most important instructions are frequently conveyed incidentally. "Gospel ordinances," he remarks, "in which we deal much in our way to heaven, are very agreeable to all the children of God." ¶ And again-"we must take up our cross, when it lies in our way, and bear it after Christ." ** The Miscellaneous Writings, like the Exposition, are full of such examples. But the most perfect and continuous of them, occurs in the 4th chapter of the Communicant's Companion, under the title of Helps for Self-examination. Whatever our author's defects may be, they are never important; nor do his writings sustain by them more injury than a fine face does by a mole. He never offends by bigotry, nor disgusts by mysticism, nor wearies by feebleness, nor puzzles by abstruseness. Some persons, notwithstanding even efforts to be intelligible, and efforts to all appearance as strenuously put forth as was the strength of certain mariners when rowing towards Tarshish, are still obscure, and full of oracle-like uncertainty. Mr. Henry, on the contrary, is perfectly lucid, and clear. His diction, always expressive, is often felicitous; and though it makes no pretension. to elegance, is both nervous and forcible. His writings are not, it is true, "embossed," like Bishop Taylor's, "with graceful ornaments;" but ordinary subjects are treated by him. in an extraordinary manner;-an attainment Horace thought so difficult. Nothing can |