year 1712. Those who wish to see the whole plan, which is very extensive and methodical, are referred to Mr. Tong's Life of the author; where may be seen a sketch of his lectures on a weekday, and his sacramental discourses.
Another part of Mr. Henry's constant work was catechising, in which he engaged with peculiar delight, from his affection to the young; for which he was eminently qualified, by his happy talent for adapting his instructions to the weakest capacities. The time which he set apart for this service was the Saturday afternoon, when many besides the catechumens were used to attend, and esteemed it a profitable exercise. He usually spent about an hour in it, and both began and ended with prayer, in which his expressions were very plain and affectionate. He used the Assembly's Catechism with the elder children: but did not content himself with hearing them repeat the answers, but divided them into several short propositions, and put a distinct question to each, explaining every part in a familiar manner, and supporting it by a suitable text of scripture. His method of catechising may be seen in the addition of the Assembly's Catechism which he published, which is entitled, "A Scripture Catechism in the method of the Assembly's;" a text of scripture being annexed to the answer to every subordinate question, grounded on the general answer in that system; by which means children had a large collection of scripture passages treasured up in their memories.
But we are informed that an excellent and judicious friend of Mr. Henry, "Mr. Charlton of Manchester, thinking even the Shorter Catechism of the Assembly too long for children, and some parts of it too abstruse, and quite above their capacity, desired and pressed Mr. Henry to draw up a shorter and plainer catechism for children very young," which accordingly he did; and in the collection of his works it is prefixed to the former. Its title is, "A plain Catechism for Children." To which is added, "Another for the instruction of those who are to be admitted to the Lord's Supper."
In this work of catechising, Mr. Henry was remarkably blessed of God: for he had the desire of his soul, in seeing the good work of grace begun in many of his young people, in whom he afterward had much pleasure, as they proved honourable and useful members of his church; though some, of whom he had entertained good hopes, turned out loose and vain, to his unspeakable sorrow.
The ordinance of the Lord's Supper Mr. Henry was used constantly to administer on the first Lord's day in every month, not merely as this was customary in most other churches, but in conformity to the practice of the Jews, who observed the beginnings of their months as holy, though he did not think their law about the new moons, &c. to be obligatory on christians. In the manner of administering this ordinance he was particularly excellent, and is said herein to have excelled himself. On his lecture-days in the week before the sacrament, he had a series of subjects adapted to that institution. And he followed his father's judgment and practice in encouraging young persons to come to the table of the Lord, to fulfil their baptismal covenant. Among his catechumens he marked those whom he looked upon as intelligent and serious, with this view; when he had a competent number of such in his eye, he appointed them separately to come to him, to converse with them about their spiritual state; and if he perceived good evidence of their real piety, he recommended it to them to give themselves up to the Lord and his church. For several Lord's days he catechised them publicly concerning this ordinance; and the week preceding the administration, he preached a sermon adapted to their circumstances, accompanied with suitable prayers for them, and then they were all received into the church together. This Mr. P. Henry considered as the proper confirmation, or transition into a state of adult and complete church membership; and his son, in all that was material, adopted his method, in which he had much satisfaction, from observing the great utility of it.
The other positive institution, that of baptism, he administered with equal solemnity, and he always desired to have it in public, unless there was some peculiar reason against it. Mr. Henry had as little of the spirit of a sectarian about him as any man, and he lived in great friendship and affection with many good men, who differed from him in regard to this controverted subject. But he was firm in his opinion about infant baptism, and thought it a matter of no small importance, though by no means one of the essentials of religion; as he considered it to be capable of being applied to very good purpose in a practical view, which was his grand object in his administration of it.
Mr. Tong, in this part of Mr. Henry's Life, says, "His thoughts (upon this subject) he has with great judgment digested, in an excellent treatise, which well deserves to be made public, and I hope will be in a little time. The doctrinal, historical, and practical part of the ordinance are stated and discussed with great perspicuity, seriousness, and spirituality." The writer of this narrative can attest the justice of Mr. Tong's account of the work, having had the pleasure of perusing the manuscript. It may seem surprising that so elaborate a performance, by so eminent a writer, should have been suffered to lie so long in obscurity; especially as it is written not merely in a controversial manner, but for the most part practical, and very much in the spirit of his "Treatise on the Lord's Supper." One chief reason might probably be, its prolixity; and another, his laying on some things more stress than they will bear. These circumstances rendered it highly desirable that the work should be abridged. This was accordingly undertaken, at the urgent desire of some judicious persons who were acquainted with the manuscript, by the Rev. Thomas Robins, when tutor of the academy at Daventry, who had been the pastor of some of the author's descendants, at Westbromwich; and he executed the work with such propriety, that the abridgment is better adapted to answer the worthy author's end, as a useful family book, than the original, and well deserves to be republished. This treatise is particularly calculated to lead those who approve infant baptism, both parents and children, to make the best practical use of the ordinance.
Visiting the sick Mr. Henry considered as an important part of ministerial duty, and he was diligent in the discharge of it. He never refused to attend the rich or the poor, when sent for, whether they were such as he knew, or strangers, whether resident in the town, or travellers, among whom were many passengers to or from Ireland; or whether they were persons of his own communion, or of the established church, among the latter of whom many desired his attendance in their illness. He often inquired of his friends whether they knew of any who were sick; and when bills were put up, desiring the prayers of the congregation, he requested that those who sent them would make themselves known, in order that he might properly attend to their cases. His prayers and conversation with sick persons were pertinent, affectionate, and useful. And if they recovered, he assisted them in their expressions of gratitude, reminded them of their sickbed thoughts and promises, faithfully exhorting them to improve their renewed lives to the best purposes.
