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…

Be not secure for thy wealth, as though it would last always: for thou shalt die, and then another shall take thy riches, and thou shalt go to give account how thou comest by them. How many things doth he imply when he saith, ye shall die? This is a Bar in their arms, which makes the proudest peacock ⟨p. 716⟩lay down his feathers when he thinks upon it, though he prick them up again: whereby the holy ghost would have them learn, that nothing will make them live, and rule and deal so well in their thrones, as to remember that they shall die, and shortly give account for all: signifying, that prosperity makes us forgetful of our ends, and that these mortal Gods, live as though they were immortal. A hard thing for Princes to remember death: they have no leisure to think of it, but chop into the earth before they beware, like a man which walketh over a field covered with snow, and sees not his way, but when he thinketh to run on, suddenly falls into a pit: even so they which have all things at will, and swim in pleasure, which as a snow covereth their way, and dazzleth their sight: while they think to live on, and rejoice still, suddenly rush upon death, and make shipwreck in the calm sea.

Be not secure for thy wealth, as though it would last alwaies: for thou shalt die, and then another shall take thy riches, and thou shalt goe to giue account how thou commest by them. How many things dooth hee implie when he saith, yee shall die? This is a Barre in their armes, which makes the proudest peacocke ⟨p. 716⟩laye downe his feathers when hee thinkes vpon it, though he pricke them vp againe: whereby the holy ghoste woulde haue them learne, that nothing will make them liue, and rule and deale so well in their thrones, as to remember that they shall die, and shortlie giue account for all: signifying, that prosperitie makes vs forgetfull of our endes, and that these mortall Gods, liue as though they were immortall. A hard thing for Princes to remember death: they haue no leasure to thinke of it, but chop into the earth before they beware, like a man which walketh ouer a field couered with snow, and sees not his way, but when hee thinketh to runne on, sodainly falles into a pit: euen so they which haue all things at will, and swim in pleasure, which as a snowe couereth their waie, and dazeleth their sight: while they thinke to liue on, and reioyce still, sodainely rush vpon death, and make shipwrack in the calme sea.