Yoked to Work for Wages Right

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Jeremy Walker 

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"I am working on a piece on Matthew Henry, born 350 years ago this year, and came across some gems of advice from his father, Philip Henry.....

From a pious aged father to his son a minister newly married

Dear Pair, whom God hath now of two made One

Suffer a Father's exhortation.

In the first Place see that with joynt indeavour -

You set yourselves to serve the Lord together,

You are yoakt to work but for work Wages write,

His Yoak is easie, & his burden light,

Love one another, Pray oft together, and see,

You never both together Angry bee -

If one speak fire t'other with water come,

Is one provok'd be tother soft or dumb -

Walk low, but aim high, spotless be your life

You are a Minister, and a Minister's Wife

Therefore as Beacons set upon a Hill -

To angels and to men a spectacle -

Your slips will falls be calld, your falls each one

Will be a blemish to Religion -

Do good to all, bee affable and meek

Your converse must be Preaching all the week -

Your Garb and Dress must not be vain or Gay,

Reckon good works your richest, best array -

Your House must be a Bethel, and your Door

Always stand open to receive the Poor

Call your estate God's, not your own, ingrave

Holiness to the Lord on all you have

Count upon suffering, or you count amis,

Sufficient to each day its evil is,

All are born once to trouble, but saints twice,

And as experience shews Min[iste]rs thrice,

But if you suffer with and for your Lord,

You'l reign with him according to his Word.

M . H. Lee, Diaries and Letters of Philip Henry (London: Kegan Paul, Trench & Co., 1882),  359-60, quoted in Allan Harman, Matthew Henry: His Life and Influence(Fearn, Ross-shire: Christian Focus, 2012) 

Incidentally, Philip Henry, from his deathbed, gave Matthew further advice in response to his son's request, "Oh, sir, pray for me that I may but tread in your steps." Philip replied, "Yea, follow peace and holiness, and let them say what they will."