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…

What a shame is this to remember every clause in your Lease, and every point in your Fathers will, nay, to remember an old tale so long as you live, though it be long since you heard it, and the lessons which ye hear now, will be gone within this hour, that you may ask what hath stolen my sermon from me? Therefore that you may not hear us in vain, as you have heard others, my exhortation unto you, is, to record when you are gone, that which you have heard. If I could reach you a better way, I would: but Christs Disciples used this way when their thoughts ran upon his speech,¹ and made them come again to him to ask the meaning: the Virgin his Mother useth this way when she pondered his sayings,² and laid them up in her heart:³ the good hearers of Beroea used this way, when they carried Pauls Sermon home with them, that they might examine it by the Scriptures. This difference is noted between Jacob and his sons, when Joseph uttered his dream, his brethren gave no regard to it: but it is said that Father Jacob noted the saying. Therefore this must needs be ⟨p. 660⟩an excellent way.⁴ For if Joseph, and Mary, and Christs Disciples should speak unto you as I do, and show you a way to hear, they would show you the same way that they used themselves. You cannot tell how much it will profit you until you practise it: do but try it one month, and if you love knowledge, I am sure you will use it while you live. But if you will not use it for all that can be said, truly you shall be like the old women which S. Paul speaks of, which were always learning, and were never the wiser.

What a shame is this to remember euerie clause in your Lease, and euery poynt in your Fathers will, nay, to remember an old tale so long as you liue, though it bee long since you heard it, and the lessons which ye heare now, will bee gone within this houre, that you may aske what hath stollen my sermon from me? Therefore that you may not heare vs in vaine, as you haue heard others, my exhortation vnto you, is, to recorde when you are gone, that which you haue heard. If I could reach you a better way, I would: but Christs Disciples vsed this way when their thoughts ranne vpon his speech,