tions. He would sometimes say, "the more we do in the service of God, the more we may do." When his work bore more than usually hard upon him, instead of complaining, he would say, "Thou knowest, Lord, how well contented I am to spend and be spent,' in thy service; and if the outward man decay, O let the inward man be renewed." When his bodily indisposition increased, his greatest solicitude, was, to make a proper improvement of the dispensation; for he said, "it is a great loss to lose an affliction." And he considered every return of disease, as a summons to the grave. "I find," said he, "my earthly tabernacle tottering, and when it is taken down, I shall have a building in heaven, that shall never fail. Blessed be God the Father, and my Lord Jesus Christ, and the good Spirit of grace." Amen.

While he resided at Worthenbury, he constantly laid up one tenth of his means for the poor, which he carefully and faithfully disposed of in the liberal things which he devised; especially, in the teaching of poor children. And he recommended it as a good rule, to lay by for charity, in some propor

tion as our circumstances are, and then it will be the easier to lay out in charity. We shall be more likely to seek for opportunities of doing good, when we have money lying by us, for which we have said, "This is not our own, but the poor's." To encourage himself and others to works of charity, he would say, "He is no fool, who parts with that which he cannot keep, when he is sure to be recompensed by that which he cannot lose." But to exclude all boasting, he would often use the words of David, “Of thine own hand, have we given thee."

In the year 1658, the ministers in Mr. Henry's vicinity began to enlarge their correspondence with those of North Wales. Several meetings were held for the promotion of unity, love, and good understanding among themselves, by entering into an association, similar to what had some years before existed in Cumberland and Worcester. And though they differed considerably respecting matters of church government, some being Episcopal, some Presbyterian, and some Congregational in their views; yet they agreed to lay aside the thoughts of matters in variance, and to give each other the right

hand of fellowship; that with one shoulder and one consent, they might study in their respective places, to promote the common interests of Christ's kingdom, and the common salvation of precious souls.

He remarked that the year after the death of Oliver Cromwell, there was generally a great change throughout the nation, in the temper of God's people, and a mighty tendency towards peace and unity; as if by consent, they were weary of their long clashings. With this prospect, he was much delighted, and entertained the pleasing hopes, that the time was at hand, "when Judah should no longer vex Ephraim, nor Ephraim envy Judah; neither should they learn war any more." And although the bright prospect was soon obscured; yet he often spoke of the experience of that and the following year, as a specimen of what may yet be expected, when the Spirit shall be poured out upon us from on high. From this experience also, he gathered this observation: "That it is not so much our difference of opinion that doth the mischief-for we may as soon expect all the clocks in the town to strike together, as to see all good people of a mind in

1

every thing, on this side heaven-but the mismanagement of that difference."

In the association of ministers, now formed, he was appointed to draw up that part of their agreement which related to the worship of God, which task he performed to their satisfaction. In his introduction to this paper, he says, "Though the main of our desires and endeavours be after unity, in the greater things of God; yet we judge uniformity in the circumstances of worship, a thing not to be altogether neglected by us: not only in respect to that influence, which external, visible order hath upon the beauty and comeliness of the churches of Christ, but also as it hath a direct tendency to the strengthening of our hands in ministerial services, and withal to the removing of those prejudices which many peohave conceived even against religion and worship itself. We bless God from our very souls, for that whereunto we have already attained; and yet we hope something further may be done, in reference to our walking more closely by the same rule, and minding the same things. The word of God is the rule which we desire and resolve to walk by in the administration of ordinances; and for

those things wherein the word is silent, we think we may and ought to have recourse to Christian prudence, and the practice of the reformed churches, agreeing with the general rules of the word; and therefore we have had-as we think we ought-a special eye to the DIRECTORY, in our present agreement."

There was the more reason to hope for good fruit from these associations, because they were set up with prayer and days of fasting and humiliation, to implore the Divine blessing, to seek God for direction in their ministerial work, and to bewail their ministerial failings.

September 29, 1658, the lady Puleston died. "She was," says he, "the best friend I ever had upon earth, but my best friend in heaven, is still where he was, and he will never leave me nor forsake me." He preached her funeral sermon, from Isa. iii. "Cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils.” Among her last words he mentions these, "My soul leans to Jesus Christ, lean to me, sweet Saviour."

After a year, Judge Puleston died, and all Mr. Henry's interest in the Emeral family was buried in the grave. He preached the