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…

Again, for another sort of Gods: Doth iniquity become Gods? ¹Doth partiality become Gods? do bribes become GODS? They are greedy Gods, ²Idol Gods, belly Gods, and may be termed Gods, because they are like the God of this world, which do but stay (like Nebuchadnezzar) until their iniquities be full,³ that they may be cast out like beasts, as a derision to them they govern. But they which regard this honourable testimony of God,⁴ as Nehemiah said when he was tempted to fly, Should such a man as I fly? so when they are tempted with bribes, should such a man as I take bribes? should such a man as I do wrong? should such a man as I be a liar, or a swearer, or a scoffer, or a drunkard, or a gamester, or a usurer, or a profaner, upon whom all eyes are set to ⟨p. 708⟩take their example, and would hearken sooner than to God himself? Then he resolveth to rule according to his name, knowing that all the souls which might be won by him, shall be required of him, as the sins of Israel were imputed to Jeroboam. Thus GOD doth catechize them in their own names, and calls them Gods, ⁵to teach them their duty to God. All should be godly, but they should be like Gods: that is, (as I may say) more then godly, or the next to GOD in godliness. If any come between them, they lose of their honour, and would think themselves put down, like a guest which is set lower, or a Justice which is turned out of office. For so GOD doth humble them and disgrace them, which dishonour their calling, as he did Saul: when the princely Spirit departed from him,⁶ his sons, and his daughters, and his subjects did favour David more than him,⁷ that he could do nothing with them,⁸