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…

Now after Noah had cursed Ham, he blessed his brethren, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, &c. Of Shem came the Jews which had the first blessing, and therefore Shem is blessed first: of Japheth came the Gentiles, which had the latter blessing, and therefore Japheth is blessed after: the form of Shems blessing is; Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, &c. One which heareth this blessing would think that Noah did not bless Shem, but that he blessed God, for he saith not, blessed be Shem, but blessed be the Lord God of Shem. This is to signify that as cursed Canaan came of Ham, so the blessed Messiah should come of Shem, which though he were Shems son, yet here he is called Shems ⟨p. 618⟩Lord, as he was called Davids son, and Davids Lord. Then to show that Noah doth not bless Shem, but God doth bless him, and Noah prayed that he might be blessed, as Christ gave the spirit, and John ministered but the water. Thirdly, to show that God for blessing us, should be blessed of us; and therefore Noah said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, &c. as if he should say, blessed be the Lord which blesseth Shem. Further this showeth the difference between Shems blessing, and Japheth's blessing, that is the Jews and the Gentiles, for he saith, God persuade Japheth to dwell in the tents of Shem, as though Japheth were not blessed yet, but should be blessed; but he saith of Shem, Blessed be the Lord Gods of Shem: as if he should give him possession, and say, take thy blessing: for to assure him of Gods blessing, he calleth God Shems God: As were say, my lands, or my goods, so he might say, my God, and my Lord: such a property the faithful have in God. As Paul saith, God is not the God of the dead, but of the living: so I may say, God is not the God of the wicked, but of the righteous, and therefore he is called, The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, which were all good and righteous and holy men. The next blessing is Japheth's, the form of his blessing is, God persuade Japheth ⟨p. 619⟩to dwell in the tents of Shem, that is, God persuade the Gentiles which come of Japheth, to embrace the Religion of the Jews, which come of Shem. See how God counteth it for a blessing, to be in the true Religion, and how men should be persuaded unto it, because it is love which cannot be forced:

Now after Noah had cursed Cham, hee blessed his brethren, Blessed bee the Lord God of Shem, &c. Of Shem came the Iewes which had the first blessing, and therefore Shem is blessed first: of Iaphet came the Gentiles, which had the latter blessing, and therefore Iaphet is blessed after: the forme of Shems blessing is; Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, &c. One which heareth this blessing would thinke that Noah did not blesse Shem, but that hee blessed God, for he saith not, blessed be Shem, but blessed bee the Lord God of Shem. This is to signifie that as cursed Canaan came of Cham, so the blessed Messias should come of Shem, which though he were Shems sonne, yet heere hee is called Shems