The sermons of Master Henry Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…The sermons of Maister Henrie Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…

Thus you have heard what the bad Son did, and what the good sons did: now we come to Noah again: Then Noah awoke and knew what his younger son had done unto him, and said unto him, Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. He said moreover, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant, &c.

Thus you haue heard what the badde Sonne did, and what the good sonnes did: now wee come to Noah againe: Then Noah awoake and knew what his yonger sonne had done vnto him, and said vnto him, Cursed be Canaan, a seruant of seruants shall he be vnto his brethren. He said moreouer, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, and let Canaan bee his seruant, &c.

First he showeth, how Noah cometh to himself, then how he knew what his sons had done unto him; then how he curseth one and blesseth another. As his sons were ashamed of his nakedness when he was drunken, so now he is sober, he is ashamed of it himself, therefore he is said to awake from his wine, as though he had ⟨p. 611⟩been a sleep; for The drunkard (saith Solomon) is as one that sleepeth, Proverbs 23. 34. When the belly is full, the bones are at rest, so when Noah was full, his thoughts were at rest: therefore being as it were lulled a sheep, with overmuch wine, he may be said to awake. Here Moses would exhort all them that sleep with Noah, to awake with Noah. Noah was once intemperate, and many follow him in that, Noah was but once intemperate, and few follow him in that: David was once incontinent, and many follow him in that; David was but once incontinent, and few follow him in that: Peter was once unfaithful, and many follow him in that; Peter was but once unfaithful, and few follow him in that. This the difference between the faithful and the wicked, both fall, and but one riseth again. It followeth. He knew what his younger son had done unto him: either by the spirit of God, which suggested him, or else by some other that told him; for a drunken man doth not remember what is said or done: and therefore the drunkard saith, I was beaten, but when I awaked, I knew it not,