A12381:17
The sinful mans searchThe sinfull mans search
The sinful mans search: or seeking of God. Preached by Henry Smith, and published according to a true corrected copy, sent by the author to an honourable ladyThe sinfull mans search: or seeking of God. Preached by Henrie Smith, and published according to a true corrected copie, sent by the author to an honorable ladie
London: printed by T. Scarlet for Cuthbert Burby, 1592
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
So our adversary, though GOD himself do discharge us, though our conscience testify our innocency: yet he accuseth in the third Court before men, where he is bold to pour out his whole venom, and poison of his malice against us, and to forge what lies, and slanders, and Libels he list, because he knoweth they shall be received as true. Thus he accused Christ Jesus our blessed Lord and Saviour before Poncius Pilate, and caused divers false and untrue witnesses to come in against him.
So our aduersarie, though GOD himselfe doo discharge vs, though our conscience testifie our innocencie: yet hee accuseth in the third Courte before men, where hee is bolde to powre out his whole venome, and poyson of his malice against vs, and to forge what lyes, and slaunders, and Libels hee list, because hee knoweth they shall bee receiued as true. Thus hee accused Christ Iesus our blessed Lorde and Sauiour before Poncius Pilate, and caused diuers false and vntrue witnesses to come in against him.
But if he were malicious only to wish our destruction, and not mighty to wreak his malice, we should have little cause to fear:1 but he is mighty therefore he is termed a Lyon, the power of darkness, the great Dragon, which drew to the earth the third part of the stars of heaven: that is, with earthly temptation to have overthrown them, which seemed to shine in the Church of God as Lamps and stars. O then how easy is our overthrow, if the Lord did not hold us up, which shine not as stars in heaven, but creep like worms on earth!
But if hee were malicious onely to wish our destruction, and not mightie to wreake his mallice, we should haue little cause to feare:1 but hee is mightie therefore hee is termed a Lyon, the power of darknes, the great Dragon, which drew to the earth the third part of the starres of heauen: that is, with earthlye temptation to haue ouerthrowne them, which seemed to shine in the Church of God as Lampes and starres. O then how easie is our ouerthrow, if the Lord did not hold vs vp, which shine not as starres in heauen, but creepe like wormes on earth!