Appendix I: Death of the Mother of Mrs. Savage

Of the excellent wife of Philip Henry, little, comparatively, is known. What she was may, how. ever, be gathered, though nothing is particularly said of her, from her son’s (Matthew Henry) sermon on her death. She died May 25th, 1707, in the 79th year of her age. The following extracts from Mrs. Savage’s diary are interesting. — The memory of the just is blessed.’

1707. Monday morning, 28th of April. I went to Broad Oak to visit my dear aged mother; very sensible of the honour and duty I owe her while she lives, though not in a capacity to pay it as I would. I found her weak in body, yet strong in the graces of the Spirit — faith, love, and thankfulness — contempt of the world, and longing for heaven. O that I may tread in her steps. She said to me — ‘I have been a great while here, to what end should I desire to live longer?’

“Friday, May 2. I went to Broad Oak. Found my dear mother very weak. Some days in bed all (Jay. But, blessed be God, her faith and hope not shaken. It is a great confirmation to me of the reality of invisible things, to see a holy life end so well. ‘The end of that man (or woman) is peace.’

Sabbath. May 4. I spent at dear Broad Oak, the place of niy solemnities, where I have had many a comfortable Sabbath. Blessed be God for the opportunity of this, though not as formerly. Weeping should not hinder sowing. We had Mr. Doughty to be our good helper, from Gal. vi. 9. — ‘Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.’ A very good caution. Alas! I am apt to faint, to flag, and tire. But I have a great deal of reason to hold on and hold out, forasmuch as in due season — in God’s due time — I shall reap. When I told dear mother the subject, she replied — ‘nor in evil suffering.’ Let this be a quickening consideration to me when I faint and tire — a blessed, glorious harvest is before me, I trust, which will make amends for all.

Wednesday, 7th, I went again. Dear brother came from Chester. We had a very affectionate prayer at meeting at our dear mother’s bed-side. He had this expression in pleading with God for mercy for her — ‘Ilcr children do rise up and call her blessed; Lord, do thou command the blessing.’ He preached the lecture there. We had a comfortable opportunity from 1 Cor, xv. 19. ‘If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.’ A Christian’s hope in Christ looks above, and beyond this life, or else their case were very sad. He shewed that true Christians have hope in Christ for righteousness, strength, everlasting happiness. They have hope in Christ in this life, in reference to daily sins, daily services, daily sorrows. But not in this life only — their comfort looks above and beyond this life — ‘We hope in Christ’ — That he will be with us in our dying agonies: he is not like the master of that poor Amalekite, 1 Sam. xxx. 13. who left him ’ because he fell sick’ — That he will receive our precious souls into glory — That he will bring us off in the judgment — That he will make us eternally happy in the vision and fruition of God.

May 11th. I heard yesterday that my dear mother continues as she was. Lord, support. Put under thy everlasting arm.

Friday. I went to see my dear mother: found her still declining, yet very sensible. That afternoon I was much revived by brother Henry coming and praying with her, and the family — all coming to her bed-side, as she desired. The chapter in course to read was 1 John v. 5. When he came to the 11th verse — “And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life.” she attended heedfuUy, and said — ‘And that’s enough,’ — Afterwards she joined in singing some verses of the 23d Psalm. Afterwards he prayed — short, but full of pious aficctions — and she solemnly blessed us all. And it was the last time.

The Sabbath, May 18th, I spent at Broad Oak. — Dear mother still declining. Finding her memory fail she said — ‘This day I am afraid of speaking much, lest I should not speak well.’ — She often spoke with much cheerfulness of the happiness she was almost arrived at. When some were about to pray by her she requested them ’ not to desire her life, for she was full of days. I have,’ said she, ’ as many of the comforts of this life as I can desire, and now want nothing but the comforts of a better.’

Wednesday. Mr. Pell, their late minister, died of a consumption, at Whixall, to whom she had pleasantly sent this message some weeks before — ‘Desire Mr. Pell not to be angry if I get to heaven before him.’ — But it proved that she (though he was but five-and-twenty, she seventy-eight) stayed a few days longer. — Towards the end of the week we saw her decline apace: her memory often failing, she did not speak with that coherence she always used to do. As one said on a like occasion, it could not but grieve me to hear one that was not wont to speak an incoherent word, lot drop some now when so near eternity. But God’s ’ way is in the sea.’ It is a quickening to us to be busy, while senses and understanding, and memory are continued, because we know not how they may fail us.

On Saturday, sometimes, she would be cheerful. — When asked how she did, she would say — ‘Pretty well’ — but more often, ‘Pray for a poor, dying, senseless creature.’ About a quarter after twelve that night, without so much as a groan, she gradually expired — began her everlasting Sabbath. ‘At midnight the cry was made — the bridegroom came.’

‘A poor beheaded family,’ (said brother Henry in one prayer) ’ but thou, O Lord, art the ever-living head of all the families of the earth.’ Lord, thou art righteous. I will lay my hand on my mouth. She hath finished well — come to her grave in a full age — like a shock of corn in its season. Lord, make me to know my end. I find this stroke, coming so gradually, much easier borne by me, than that of dear father eleven years ago. O what a glorious Sabbath do they keep together in heaven, who kept so many solemn, comfortable ones on earth! What glorious sights are opened to the eye of the soul of a believer, while we are closing the eyes of the body with floods of tears! I heartily bless my God for all the good I have got, though far short of what

I might, from her excellent example, especially humility, contentedness, contempt of the world, zeal, and life in holy duties.

Wednesday, May 28th, we accompanied the dear remains to the ship of the grave. And further we cannot go. Dr. Benion preached the sermon at Broad Oak, at ten o’clock, from Heb. vi. 12. ‘That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.’ A very suitable subject, wherein he gave her her due character. Among other things he said (than which nothing could be more true) ‘She was always well satisfied with whatever God and her friends did for her.’ She hath run out a comfortable race — having, from her youth, chosen the narrow way, not suffering the concerns of earth to swallow up the main matter; yet she hath been continued head of a large family for sixty years. Lord, grant some one may stand up to do something towards filling up the gap. She hath left only three children, and twenty-two grand-children. O that the prayers that are upon the file for them may descend in showers of blessings: Amen. Amen.

I cannot here omit Mr. Baxter’s epitaph which he placed on his dear wife in Christ Church, London: —

Thus must thy flesh to silent dust descend Thy rairtli and worldly pleaeurcs thus will end;

Then happy, holy souls: but, wo to those Who heaven forgot, and earthly pleasures chose. Hear now this preaching grave, without delay; Believe, repent, and work while it is day.

Upon this I was thinking while we stood by dear mother’s grave, in Whitchurch church.

June 3d. We went once more to dear Broad Oak. A headless family.

4lh. Wednesday. Brother preached a funeral sermon for dear mother, on Prov. xxxi. 28. Her children arise up and call her blessed.’ Whence he drew an exhortation to parents, so to carry it that their children might have reason to call them blessed for their kindness, wisdom, charity, prudence, and, especially, piety. To children, to own with thankfulness the great mercy of having such parents. Bless them, that is, honour and reverence them while we have them; and bless God for them, when gone, that ever we had them — rthat we had them so long.

And, surely, if ever any children in the world had reason to rise up and call a parent blessed, we have. — So wise, so kind, so tender, charitable, prudent, provident, and above all, so pious. Sure we can never say enough in her praises; all that knew her, will with us bear record.

What we have to do is to rise up, and study daily in every thing to follow her example; that we be not slothful — for we all know she was not.

These things do, for the present, make a good impression on me. God grant it do not wear ofl”, but that they may sink into my heart, that I may now be gathering, and lay up for myself in store a good foundation — forasmuch as I see the end of those who are holy and useful.”