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when he heard of the death of one that had been his professed enemy, he said, "God knows that I have often prayed for him.”

Some have wondered to see how courteously he would speak to such as had injured him, when he met with them, being as industrious to discover his forgiving of wrongs, as some are to discover their resentments of them. It was said of archbishop Cranmer, that the way to have him for one's friend, was, to do him an unkindness; and it might surely be said of Mr. Henry, that the doing him an injury would not make him an enemy. In this he resembled his worthy friend, Mr. Lawrence, who in company with some of his sons, passing by the house of a gentleman that had been injurious towards him, he gave a charge to his sons that they should never think or speak ill of that gentleman, for the sake of any thing he had done against him; but whenever they went by his house, to lift up their hearts in prayer to God for him, and his family. And who is he that will harm those who are thus followers of him that is good in his goodness.

CHAPTER VIII.

The last nine years of his life, when he enjoyed liberty and enlargement at Broad Oak. From the year 1687.

WHEN Out of favour to the Roman Catholics, King James II. gave a general indulgence to all dissenters, it was a question much agitated, whether conscientious men could with propriety avail themselves of this liberty, since it was no longer doubtful what the motives were which induced the government to remove the restraints which had been laid upon them. Mr. Henry, after a full consideration of the subject in the light of the examples of the saints recorded in Scripture, came to the conclusion that it was lawful and right for him to use the liberty granted in preaching the gospel. He said, “whatever men's ends are in it, I believe God's ends are to do us good." Another maxim which he applied to existing circumstances was, "Duty is ours, events are God's." He remembered, that the indulgence granted in King Charles' time had been the occasion of good; and why might not this do so too? "Did Jeremiah sit still in the prison because

his liberty was granted by the king of Babylon? Did not Paul appeal to Cæsar, when persecuted by his own countrymen for preaching the gospel, and find more kindness at Rome, than he did at Jerusalem? And although he believed that the repeal of the penal laws was intended to introduce popery; yet he thought that there could be no more effectual barrier against popery, than the powerful and faithful preaching of the gospel; and the refusal of the indulgence by the dissenters would have no effect in preventing its effect in favour of the papists. Commissioners were sent through the country to ascertain the losses sustained by dissenters, in consequence of the execution of the act of uniformity, and the five mile, and conventicle acts, and they applied to him to furnish an account of his damages, but he declined giving any, saying that he had long since forgiven those that injured him. A commission was also sent to him to be a justice of the peace, which office he respectfully declined, as he felt himself to be unworthy of the honour, and unfit for the office.

It was with much fear and trembling, that Mr. Henry received the account of the land

ing of the prince of Orange, in 1688, as being somewhat in the dark concerning the clearness of his call, and dreading what might be the consequence of it. He used to pray, "Give peace in our time, O Lord." But when secret things were brought to light, and a regular course was taken to fill the throne with such a king, and such a queen, none rejoiced in it more heartily than he did. He celebrated the national thanksgiving with an excellent sermon, from Rom. viii. 31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?"

Soon after the revolution was accomplished, there was a scheme set on foot to comprehend the moderate dissenters, in the establishment of the church of England, which Mr. Henry most earnestly desired and wished for, if it could be had on any terms less than sinning against his conscience; for never was any man more averse to every thing which tended to separation. To promote this desirable object his prayers and endeavours were unceasing, until it was found to be impracticable. Despairing, therefore, to see an accommodation, he set himself the more vigorously to improve the present liberty. In the year 1689, the act of tolera

tion was passed, which not only allowed the dissenters' meetings, but took them under the protection of the government.

It may be of use to give some account how he managed his ministerial work in the latter part of his time, wherein he had as signal tokens of the presence of God with him, as ever, enabling him still to bring forth fruit in an old age, and to renew his youth like the eagles. Though what he did he still did gratis and would do so, yet he was not willing to have any constant assistant, nor had he any; so much was he in his element, when he was about his Master's work: 'twas his 'meat and drink to do it.

1. As to his constant Sabbath work, he was uniform and abundant in it. He began his morning family worship on Lord's days, at eight o'clock, when he read and expounded pretty largely, sung a psalm and prayed; and many strove to come time enough to join with him in that service. He began in public just at nine o'clock winter and summer. His meeting place was an out-building of his own, near `adjoining to his house, fitted up very decently and conveniently for the purpose. He, begun with prayer, then

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