Life of Matthew Henry - Williams - XII - Chapter 13 and Section I

Required reading
The life of Matthew Henry by J. B. Williams (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 13 and Section I.

My summary
This week we firstly read some comments about Henry's private character in Chapter 13.  We learn of his behaviour as:
(i) husband;
(ii) father;
(iii) son;
(iv) son in law;
(v) brother;
(vi) friend;
(vii) fellow minister.

Then in Section I we hear of Henry's heavy schedule by which he redeemed the time for his Lord.

What grabbed me
I always love hearing about the diligence of ministers with their time.

I particularly enjoyed Henry's comments about sleep: 'In advising others, he would say, "Do not lose the morning."  And he practised as well as taught. Like his divine Master, he often rose,  "a great while before day." He was commonly in his study at five, and some times at four o'clock. There he remained till seven or eight. After family worship, and some slight refreshment, he returned till noon ; and oftentimes, again, after dinner, till four in the afternoon . He then visits the sick , or his friends, and attended to other business. In the evening, after his family were dismissed, and before he yielded himself to sleep, he again retired to his study. Of sleep, he remarked—that if is God's gift to those he loves ; nature requires it ; grace gives thanks for it ; but those who love it more than their business, when they should love it only in order to their business, expose themselves to a great deal of sin." "I desire," he writes, '' to close the day with—return to thy rest, O my soul; to begin the day with— Return to thy work, O my soul ; rest in the arms of God's mercy ; work in the strength of his grace."'

Sleep for work's sake, don't sleep for sleep's sake.

Next week's reading
Read Section II.

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