The legacy of Matthew Henry

This year has marked the tercentenary of the death of Matthew Henry. He was born on 18 October, 1662, just after his father, Philip Henry (1632-1696), had been ejected from his parish at Worthenbury, south of Chester in north-west England. His father had been born and educated in London, before studying at Oxford University under some of the great Puritan scholars such as Dr John Owen. At first, he served as a tutor in Worthenbury in the home of Judge and Lady Puleston, before becoming the minister of the parish in 1657. The pressures were increasing on ministers like him in regard to conformity to the Book of Common Prayer. In 1660, Philip Henry and some other pastors were imprisoned because of their refusal to be bound by it, and at the end of 1661 he was relieved of his position, lost his annuity, but was allowed to continue to live in his residence. He was even permitted to preach in other parishes for a time, but when the Act of Parliament requiring full conformity to the Book of Common Prayer came into effect on 24 August, 1662, he was forced to relocate with his family to Broad Oak, near Whitchurch, the family farm of his wife's parents. There, Matthew, the second son, was born, and also received most of his education. It was a home where the genuine godliness of his parents dominated family life, and he and his siblings clearly were deeply influenced by their Christian teaching and example.