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…

This is our first lesson unto you, Take heed how you hear: I may say now, Take heed how you read too. For there are books abroad like Ishmaels scoffs,¹ like Rabshekeh his railings, like the songs which were made against David, which may write for the title of their Books,² Fools in print. If Hiel had not built Jericho again, these might be fit work-men for such a frame. If you must Take heed how you hear: then we must take heed how we preach, for you hear that which we preach.³ Therefore Paul putteth none amongst the number of Preachers, but they which cut the Word aright: that is, in right words, in right sense, and in right method: and because none can do this without study and meditation, therefore he teacheth ⟨p. 661⟩Timothy to give attendance to Doctrine▪ that is, to make a study and labour of it: for as Paul saith, that in Peters Epistles there be many things hard to understand: so in Pauls Epistles, and Johns Epistles, and James Epistle, there be many hard things too, which David before called, The wonders of the Law, and Paul calleth The mystery of salvation, and Christ calleth A Treasure hid in the ground. Therefore Solomon confesseth that he studied for his Doctrines, Eccl. 12. 10. Although he was the wisest and learnedst man that ever was, yet he thought, that without study he could not do much good. Daniel was a Prophet, and yet he desired respite to interpret Nebuchadnezzars Dream.⁴ Is the Scripture lighter then a Dream, that we should interpret it without meditation? It seems then that Solomon and Daniel would not count them Sermons, which come forth like untimely births from uncircumcised lips, and unwashen hands, as though they had the spirit at commandment. Wheat is good, but they which sell the refuse thereof, are reproved: Amos. 8. 6. So preaching is good, but this refuse of preaching is but like swearing: for one takes the name of God in vain, and the other takes the word of God in vain. As every sound is not music, so every Sermon