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…

They which should season others are become like the white of an egg which hath no taste: once they seemed to have fruit, but now they are not hanged with leaves. As God cried unto Adam, Adam where art thou? so they may cry Zeal where art thou? Learning where art thou? Conscience where art thou? Love where art thou? They which shined like the Sun when they rose, seem now to be eclipsed of their light. The world hath won the flesh, the flesh hath ⟨p. 691⟩won the spirit, and Jordan is turned back. As God took heat from the fire when it would burn his Children, so he taketh knowledge from the learned when they turn it to evil. Now, when they see such ruins of their gifts, with what heart can they think, I am the tree whom Christ accurseth, or I am the servant of whom it is said, Take his Talent from him? Therefore I say to you as Christ said, remember Lots wife, as her body was turned into salt: so your wisdom may turn into folly, your knowledge may turn into ignorance, your understanding may turn into blindness; your zeal may turn into coldness: therefore let all which have a Talent take heed how they use it. Three things I note in these words, & then end. First, Christ saith not, It shall be taken from them which have, but from them which seem to have: Lest they which stand should fear to fall. Paul saith not, Let him which standeth, take heed lest he fall, but let him which thinketh he standeth: so lest they which have the Spirit should fear, Christ saith, It shall be taken from them which seem to have. Mark how warily the Scripture speaketh, for this speech doth show that many shall fall, and yet it doth show that none shall fall but they which seem to stand, that none shall lose the spirit but they which ⟨p. 692⟩seem to have it. For if Christ would take from them which have, as he giveth to them which have, he would not say, they which seem to have at his taking, no more then he said it at his giving. So we have a comfort in this terror, like the Honey which Sampson found in the Lions jaws: for if God will take from none but them which seem to have, then we need not fear unless we be hypocrites: for the threatening is made to none but them which seem. Secondly, this speech doth show that many have that show of holiness which Paul speaketh of, wherewith they would deceive God and deceive themselves:

They which should season others are become like the white of an egge which hath no taste: once they seemed to haue fruite, but now they are not hanged with leaues. As God cryed vnto Adam, Adam where art thou? so they may cry Zeale where art thou? Learning where art thou? Conscience where art thou? Loue where art thou? They which shined like the Sun when they rose, seeme now to be eclipsed of their light. The world hath won the flesh, the flesh hath