Henry (Philip, English dissenting clergyman. He was the father of Matthew Henry, the eminent English divine and commentator), 1631-1696. "O death, where is thy—" Here his speech failed, and in a few moments he breathed his last.
Henry (Matthew, commentator on the Bible), 1662-1714. "A life spent in the service of God, and communion with Him, is the most comfortable and pleasant life that any one can live in this present world."
He was twenty-five years pastor of a church at Chester, and during that time went through the Bible three times in the course of expository lectures. "At the commencement of his ministry he began with the first chapter of Genesis in the forenoon, and the first chapter of Matthew in the afternoon. Thus gradually and steadily grew his 'Exposition' of the Bible. A large portion of it consists of his public lectures, while many of the quaint sayings and pithy remarks with which it abounds, and which give so great a charm of raciness to its pages, were the familiar extempore observations of his father at family worship, and noted down by Matthew in his boyhood."
Herbert (George, author of some of the finest sacred lyrics in the English language), 1593-1632. "I am now ready to die. Lord, forsake me not, now my strength faileth me; but grant me mercy for the merits of my Jesus. And now Lord—Lord, now receive my soul."
With these words he breathed forth his divine soul, without any apparent disturbance, Mr. Woodnot and Mr. Bostock attending his last breath, and closing his eyes.
Thus he lived, and thus he died like a saint, unspotted of the world, full of alms-deeds, full of humility, and all the examples of a virtuous life; which I cannot conclude better, than with this borrowed observation:
All must to their cold graves;
But the religious actions of the just
Smell sweet in death, and blossom in the dust.
Izaak Walton.
Herder (Johann Gottfried von, court-preacher at Weimar, and one of the most brilliant and delightful of German authors), 1744-1803. He died writing an "Ode to the Deity;" his pen had just reached the last line. His last spoken words were "Refresh me with a great thought."
Hervey (James, English divine, author of the once popular book, "Meditations Among the Tombs"), 1713-1758. "Precious salvation!"
Leaning his head against the side of the easy-chair, without a sigh, or groan, or struggle, he shut his eyes and died.