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…

take his Talent from him. So GOD beginneth here to separate between the sheep and the Goats. Jacob shall not be cursed, because Esau is cursed. Neither shall Esau be blessed because Jacob is blessed: But the Lord Knoweth who are his, and who are not: and therefore he saith, whosoever hath, and whosoever hath not: as though he knew them all, whosoever they be. This Scripture was performed before it was written. For when Adam served GOD, God served him: he consulted for a Mansion for him: he consulted for meat for him: he consulted for a companion for him, until Adam rebelled against God, we read of nothing that God did, but his works for Adam six days together, as though he ⟨p. 670⟩had been hired to labour for him. But when he left his innocency, then God began to take again that which he had given: he lost his wisdom, he lost his quietness, he lost his liberty, he his glory, he lost his dwelling, like the man which fell amongst thieves. Thus while Adam had righteousness, it might be said of him: Whosoever hath, to him shall be given. And when he had not righteousness, it might be said of him too: From him which hath not, shall be taken. God is called a Father, because he is like a Father, which taketh a pleasure to see his son thrive, and grieveth to see him an unthrift. First he giveth us a stock, to prove our husbandry: and then, if we thrive with that, he doth add more unto it, now a little, and then a little, until at last the inheritance come too: As they which try a vessel, first put water into it, to see whether it will hold water, then they commit wine unto it: so, first God giveth us one grace, if we use that well, then he giveth another, & another, and another according to that, He which is found faithful in a little, shall be made Lord over much. My Father (saith Christ) is an husbandman, John 15. showing that as we dress the ground, that it may bring forth fruit, so God dresseth us, that we may bring ⟨p. 671⟩forth fruit. All cometh not at once, but as the body groweth, so the spirit groweth: first good thoughts, and then good speeches, and then good works: as the blade followeth the seed, and the ear the blade, and the corn the ear. Look how in our first generation one thing comes after another, so it is in our second generation:

take his Talent from him. So GOD beginneth here to separate betweene the sheep and the Goats. Iacob shall not be cursed, because Esau is cursed. Neither shall Esau bee blessed because Iacob is blessed: But the Lord Knoweth who are his, and who are not: and therefore he saith, wosoeuer hath, and whosoeuer hath not: as though he knew them all, whosoeuer they bee. This Scripture was performed before it was written. For when Adam serued GOD, God serued him: he consulted for a Mansion for him: he consulted for meat for him: hee consulted for a companion for him, vntill Adam rebelled against God, wee read of nothing that God did, but his workes for Adam sixe dayes together, as though he