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…

but he which useth it not, but abuseth it, as many do, that gift which he hath shall be taken from him, as the odd Talent was from the servant which had but one: showing that one gift is too much for the wicked, and therefore it shall not stay with him. One would think it should be said: Whosoever hath not, to him shall be given: and whosoever hath, from him shall be taken: for, God biddeth us give to them which want. But this is contrary: for he taketh from them which want, & giveth to them which have. It is said, that our thoughts are not like Gods thoughts: and so our gifts are not like ⟨p. 668⟩Gods gifts: for he giveth spiritual things, and we give temporal things. Temporal things are to be given to them which have not, but spiritual things to them which have. Therefore Christ calleth none to receive his word, and spirit, and grace, but them which hunger and thirst, which is the first possession of heaven. When it is said, It shall be given: GOD showeth himself rich and bountiful, because he giveth to them which have: that is, he giveth after he hath given: for What hath any which he hath not received? Therefore none can say as Esau said to Isaac: Hast thou but one blessing my Father? For he blesseth when he hath blessed, as a spring runneth when it hath run. First, mark the growth of Gods gifts in them which use them, how he watereth his seed like a Gardener, until it spring in the earth: and then he watereth it again, until it spring above the earth: and after he watereth it again, until it bring forth fruit upon the earth: therefore GOD is called The Lord of the Harvest, because the seed,¹ and the blade, and the ear, and the corn, and all do come from him. After you shall see the wan• and the Eclipse of their gifts which use them not, how their learning and knowledge and judgement ⟨p. 669⟩doth betray them, as strength went from Sampson when he had lost his hair: till at last they may say like Zedekiah, When did the spirit depart from me? ²When did love depart from me? When did knowledge depart from me? When did my zeal depart from me? The first part of this sentence is like the gratulation to him which useth this talent in the twenty five of Matthew, Good and faithful servant, I will make thee Lord over much. The second part is like the Objurgation to him which hid his Talent, Naughty and slothful servant: