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…

Yet there are preachers risen lately up, which shroud every absurd sermon under the name of the simple kind of teaching, like the Popish Priests, which made ignorance the mother of devotion: but indeed to preach simply, is not to preach unlearnedly, nor confusedly, but plainly and perspicuously, that the simplest which doth hear, may understand what is taught, as if he did hear his name.

Yet there are preachers risen lately vp, which shrowde euery absurd sermon vnder the name of the simple kinde of teaching, like the Popish Priests, which made ignorance the mother of deuotion: but indeede to preach simply, is not to preach vnlearnedly, nor confusedly, but plainly and perspicuously, that the simplest which doth heare, may vnderstand what is taught, as if he did heare his name.

But if you will know why many preachers preach so barely, loosely, & simply, it is your own simplicity which makes them think that if they go on and say something all is one, and no fault will be found, because you are not able to judge in or out: and so because they give no attendance to doctrine, as Paul teacheth them, it is almost come to pass, that in a whole Sermon, the hearer cannot pick out one note more then he could gather himself: and many loathe preaching, as the Jews abhorred the sacrifice, for the slubbering Priests which cared not what they offered: and the greater sort imagine that there ⟨p. 663⟩is no more wisdom in the word of GOD, then their teachers show out of it. What a shame is this that the preachers should make preaching be despised? In the 48. of Jeremiah, there is a curse upon them which do the business of the Lord negligently: if this curse do not touch them which do the chiefest business of the Lord negligently, it cannot take hold of any other. Therefore let every preacher first see how his notes doth move himself, and then he shall have comfort to deliver them to other, like an experienst medicine, which himself hath proved.

But if you will know why many preachers preach so barely, loosely, & simply, it is your owne simplicitie which makes them thinke that if they goe on and say something all is one, and no fault will be found, because you are not able to iudge in or out: and so because they giue no attendance to doctrine, as Paul teacheth thē, it is almost come to passe, that in a whole Sermon, the hearer cannot picke out one note more then he could gather himselfe: and many loathe preaching, as the Iewes abhorred the sacrifice, for the slubbering Priests which cared not what they offered: and the greater sort imagine that there