Matthew Henry (1662 – 1714) is best known for writing his wonderful Commentary on the Whole Bible, which he began in 1704. It was, however, left incomplete upon his death, but fortunately completed by ministerial colleagues with reference to his notes and writings.
Henry began preaching at age 23 and spent most of his adult life as a pastor in England. He, was a diligent student of the Word, a prolific writer, and a great prayer warrior. As the quotes below show, he was a deeply spiritual man who loved the Scriptures and believed that prayer was the key to communion with the Lord.1
“The Bible is a letter God has sent to us; prayer is a letter we send to him.”
“Cast not away your confidence because God defers his performances. That which does not come in your time, will be hastened in his time, which is always the more convenient season. God will work when he pleases, how he pleases, and by what means he pleases. He is not bound to keep our time, but he will perform his work, honor our faith, and reward them that diligently seek him.”
“Hope for the best, get ready for the worst, and then take what God chooses to send.”
“We should take heed of pride; it is a sin that turned angels into devils.”
“Meekness is calm confidence, settled assurance, and rest of the soul. It is the tranquil stillness of a soul that is at rest in Christ. It is the place of peace. Meekness springs from a heart of humility, radiating the fragrance of Christ.”
“Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces.”
“The more reverence we have for the Word of God, the more joy we shall find in it.”
“When Christ was about to leave the world, He made His will. His soul He committed to His father; His body He bequeathed to Joseph to be decently interred; His clothes fell to the soldiers; His mother He left to the care of John; but what should He leave to His poor disciples that had left all for Him? Silver and gold He had none; but He left them that which was infinitely better, His peace.”
“Prayer is a salve for every sore, a remedy for every malady; and when we are afflicted with thorns in the flesh, we should give ourselves to prayer. If an answer be not given to the first prayer, nor to the second, we are to continue praying. Troubles are sent to teach us to pray; and are continued, to teach us to continue instant in prayer.”
“To wait on God is to live a life of desire toward Him, delight in Him, dependence on Him, and devotedness to Him.”
“None are sent empty away from Christ but those who come to him full of themselves.”
“The riches we impart are the only wealth we shall always retain.”
“Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth.”
“The joy of the Lord will arm us against the assaults of our spiritual enemies, and, put our mouths out of taste for those pleasures with which the tempter baits his hooks.”
“Everlasting life is a jewel of too great a value to be purchased by the wealth of this world.”
“What peace can they have who are not at peace with God?”
“Anger cannot rest in the bosom where love reigns.”
“No attribute of God is more dreadful to sinners than His holiness.”
“Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions.”
“God’s promises are to be our pleas in prayer.”
“Though we cannot by our prayers give God any information, yet we must by our prayers give him honor.”
“We best oppose error by promoting a solid knowledge of the word of truth, and the greatest kindness we can do to children, is to make them early to know the Bible.”
“The flower of youth never appears more beautiful than when it bends toward the sun of righteousness.”
“Scriptures were written, not to satisfy our curiosity and make us astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints.”
“The fear of God reigning in the heart is the beauty of the soul.”
“If we would be angry and not sin, we must be angry at nothing but sin; and we should be more jealous for the glory of God than for any interest or reputation of our own.”
1 All of these quotes are from the website below:
TOP 25 QUOTES BY MATTHEW HENRY (of 207) | A-Z Quotes (azquotes.com)