A Way to Pray by Matthew Henry Review
For a few weeks we've been looking at books on prayer, and this one, A Way to Pray by Matthew Henry (subtitled A Biblical Method for Enriching Your Prayer Life), is one of the best of them.
Who was Matthew Henry?
Most people know Matthew Henry (1662–1714) for his commentary on the whole Bible. He was the son of Philip Henry, a minister who had been ejected from the Church of England around the time Matthew was born, and he was taught at home from his father's own books. By the age of nine he could read portions of the Greek New Testament and write Latin. He later studied law, but gave it up for theology. His commentary has shaped preachers ever since; George Whitefield is said to have read it through four times.
What the book is
This is not really a book you read for information. It's Scripture, gathered and arranged so that you can pray it. Henry works through praise, confession, petition, thanksgiving and intercession, then prayers for particular occasions (family prayer, prayers before and after meals, prayers in times of danger and deliverance), the Lord's Prayer expanded, and shorter forms of prayer.
The Banner of Truth edition was updated into modern English by O. Palmer Robertson. It isn't abridged; mostly he replaced the older Bible translation Henry quoted with a modern one. Each section ends with the references for every verse Henry drew from, and if you look them up you'll see that he really hasn't added his own opinions. It is almost entirely Scripture, arranged with great wisdom.
How to read it
The introduction gives the best advice: read it on your knees. Read a sentence, maybe twice, then close your eyes and pray it, turning "we" and "us" into "I" and "me" where that fits. It may take you a year to get through, and you'll probably want to read it more than once.
Should you buy it?
Yes. There are many good books on prayer and I wouldn't call any single one "the best." But within its own corner of the subject, praying the words of Scripture, I don't know a better book than this one. It's also beautifully made, the kind of book you could pass on to your children.
Soli Deo Gloria!
