Life of Matthew Henry - Williams - VII - Chapters 7 & 8

Required reading
The life of Matthew Henry by J. B. Williams (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapters 7 and 8.

My summary
Today we read a number of long excerpts from Henry's diary.

In Chapter Seven we read of the years 1700 to 1704 about which Henry comments that 'death has made no breach among my relations' indicating a break in the pattern of previous years.  And besides his self-deprecating comments over this period, Henry remarks 'As to my ministry, that which has been most discouraging this year is, that few young ones have come into communion, I think fewer than any other year.'

Chapter Eight is concerned with the years 1704 to 1708 in which Henry experiences a major health scare and the death of his mother.

What grabbed me
I'm a little disappointed that we aren't hearing more from Williams about the work of Henry during these years. 

Although I must admit we are definitely learning that Henry was not a man of great pride.  Comments like these are common: 'October 18, 1708. To-day I have finished the forty-sixth year of my life. My infancy, however, was useless; my childhood and youth were not directed to proper objects ; and even in my maturer age, how many months and days have I spent to little purpose ! So that I have lived scarcely one tenth part of my time. Forgive, O Lord, my idleness and sloth. For me to live may it be Christ.'

If only we were more like Henry and understood how little we have served our Lord with our lives.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 9.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.