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…

As the Lord saith to his faithful Servant, Thou shalt be ruler over much: so he saith of his slothful servant, Take his talent ⟨p. 678⟩from him. Here is one like Jacob whom God loveth, to him (he saith) shall be given: here is another like Esau whom God hateth, from him (he saith) shall be taken: so one may say like Job, The Lord hath given: and the other may say like Job, The Lord hath taken. But from whom doth he take? From him which hath not. And to whom doth he give? To him which hath. In this God seemeth not to deal his gifts charitably: for he, should give to them which want, Joseph marvelled to see Jacob lay his left hand upon Manasseh, and his right hand upon Ephraim, as though the younger should be more blessed than the elder. Ishai marvelled to see Samuel choose the least of his sons before the tallest, as though the unfittest were the fittest: so it is marvel that he which commandeth us to give unto them which want, should take from them which want, and give to them which have. Isaac would not have blessed Jacob but Esau, but God would have him bless Jacob and not Esau: Joseph would that Manasseh should have more than Ephraim, but God would that Ephraim should have more than Manasseh. As God loveth not as man loveth, so he giveth not as man giveth. Why should Abraham have three Angels, and Lot but two, and Balaam ⟨p. 679⟩but one, and Balaac none? Why should not Philip go up the mount, as well as James? Why should not Aaron behold God, as well as Moses? Why should not Moses go to Canaan, as well as Caleb?

As the Lorde saith to his faithfull Seruant, Thou shalt bee ruler ouer much: so hee saith of his slothfull seruant, Take his talent ⟨p. 678⟩from him. Heere is one like Iaacob whome God loueth, to him (hee saith) shall bee giuen: here is another like Esau whome God hateth, from him (hee saith) shall bee taken: so one may say like Iob, The Lorde hath giuen: and the other may say like Iob, The Lord hath taken. But from whom dooth he take? From him which hath not. And to whom dooth he giue? To him which hath. In this God seemeth not to deale his giftes charitablie: for he, should giue to them which want, Ioseph maruailed to see Iaacob lay his left hand vpon Manasses, and his right hand vpon Ephraim, as though the younger should bee more blessed than the elder. Ishai maruailed to see Samuel choose the least of his sonnes before the tallest, as though the vnfittest were the fittest: so it is maruaile that hee which commandeth vs to giue vnto them which want, should take from them which want, and giue to them which haue. Isaac would not haue blessed Iaacob but Esau, but God would haue him blesse Iaacob and not Esau: Ioseph would that Manasseth shoulde haue more than Ephraim, but God would that Ephraim should haue more than Manasseth. As God loueth not as man loueth, so hee giueth not as man giueth. Why should Abraham haue three Angels, and Lot but two, and Balaam