Matthew Henry Books: A Reading Guide to His Shorter Works
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) is famous for his commentary on the whole Bible. But he also wrote a handful of short, practical books for ordinary Christians, on prayer, family worship, the Lord's Supper and a meek and quiet spirit, and many readers find these the best way to get to know him. TheWay Library has four of them, all free to read. The commentary itself isn't in the library yet. For his life story, see who was Matthew Henry.
Here's what each book is about and where to begin.
Where to start
Start with Daily Communion with God. Its main piece teaches how to begin, spend and close every day with God, and the volume also includes a short life of Henry and his sermon on family worship.
After that, choose by what you need:
- To start family worship at home: A Church in the House.
- To prepare for the Lord's Supper: The Communicant's Companion.
- If you struggle with anger, irritation or worry: A Discourse on Meekness and Quietness of Spirit.
Every quotation below is checked against the book it comes from. For more, see our collection of Matthew Henry quotes.
Daily Communion with God, and Other Discourses
This volume collects several of Henry's practical sermons. Its centerpiece is Directions for Daily Communion with God, three discourses he preached in 1712, the year he moved to Hackney. From Psalm 5:3, "in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up," he shows how to begin the day with God in prayer. From Psalm 25:5 he shows how to wait on God all the day long, in business, in company, in trouble and in ordinary meals. From Psalm 4:8 he shows how to close the day with thanks, self-examination and repentance, and lie down in peace.
You had better take time from sleep than want time for prayer.
Daily Communion with God and Other Discourses, Daily Communion with God
The rest of the volume adds Christianity No Sect, A Church in the House on family worship, an address on keeping the Lord's Day, The Promises of God and The Worth of the Soul. It opens with a biographical sketch of Henry and extracts from the sermons preached at his funeral.
This edition was restored from a scan and has some misread letters, especially at the openings of the discourses. Read Daily Communion with God.
A Church in the House; or, Family Religion
This is one sermon, on Paul's greeting from Aquila and Priscilla "and the church that is in their house" (1 Corinthians 16:19). Henry takes it as a picture of what every Christian home should be: a little church. He sets out what that means: prayer morning and evening, reading Scripture, singing psalms, teaching children the faith, and loving discipline that keeps sin out of the house. Then he gives reasons to begin, and answers the excuses people give for not doing it.
This will make your family- comforts double comforts, and your family-crosses but half crosses; it will turn a tent into a temple, a cottage into a palace.
A Church in the House; or, Family Religion
You can read it in under an hour, and it may change your home. The same sermon also appears in Daily Communion with God. Read A Church in the House. It's also one of the picks in our guide to the best Christian books on marriage and family.
The Communicant's Companion
Henry wrote this book to help believers come to the Lord's table well. In fourteen chapters he explains the names of the ordinance and what it is: a memorial of Christ's death and a seal of the new covenant. Then he invites those who hold back, and answers the fear of being unworthy. The middle chapters help with self-examination, renewing your covenant with God, and meditation and prayer beforehand. Others describe what faith sees and receives at the table, and the last ones speak of how to live afterward.
You think you have no grace, because you are not yet perfect; but why should you look for that on earth which is to be had in heaven only?
The Communicant's Companion, Chapter III
This edition, from 1828, opens with an introductory essay by a later editor before Henry's own preface. You don't need to read it all before your next communion. Chapter IV on self-examination and Chapter VIII on what faith sees at the table are good places to start. Read The Communicant's Companion.
A Discourse on Meekness and Quietness of Spirit
From 1 Peter 3:4, "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit," Henry explains what meekness is: a calm, teachable spirit that governs anger and bears wrongs without revenge. He shows why it pleases God and blesses the person who has it, confesses how rare it is among Christians, and gathers Scripture's commands and examples, above all Moses, David and Christ. Then he names the times meekness is most needed, gives arguments for it, and closes with practical rules for getting it.
The anger of a meek man is like fire struck out of steel, hard to be got out, and when it is, soon gone.
A Discourse on Meekness and Quietness of Spirit, Chapter I
It's short, wise and very practical, and it's full of the kind of sentences people underline. Read A Discourse on Meekness and Quietness of Spirit.
A suggested order
- Daily Communion with God, for your own daily walk.
- A Church in the House, to bring that walk into your home.
- A Discourse on Meekness, for the heart and the temper.
- The Communicant's Companion, before your next communion Sunday.
Why read Henry today
Henry writes like a pastor who knows his people. He's plain, warm and practical, and he makes the Christian life sound like what it is: walking with God every day, in your house and in your work. Begin with Daily Communion with God, then read A Church in the House with your family in mind. All four books are on the Matthew Henry author page.