A12406:1125
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…
The sermons of Master Henry Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his corrected copies in his life time.The sermons of Maister Henrie Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his corrected copies in his life time.
London: printed by Richard Field for Thomas Man, 1593
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
as though he were exceeding glad that after so many dangers through the rout of vanity, yet GOD let him see the haven of rest, and brought him to the right end, and set him upon shore, where he might see his vanities,1 as Moses looked back upon his enemies, & saw them drowned behind him.
as though hee were exceeding glad that after so many daungers through the rout of vanitie, yet GOD let him see the hauen of rest, and brought him to the right end, and set him vpon shoare, where hee might see his vanities,1 as Moses looked back vpon his enemies, & saw them drowned behind him.
The whole narration doth show that Solomon wrote this book after his fall. When he had the experience of vanities, and seen the folly of the world, what evil comes of pleasure, and what fruit groweth of sin, he was bold to say, Vanity of vanities, &c. which he avoucheth with such protestation, as though he would justify it against many adversaries: For all the world is in love with that which he calls vanity. Therefore he puts to his name in the middest of his sentence, as if he would defend it against all comers: if any man ask, who broached this strange doctrine? the Preacher (saith Solomon ) To testify his hearty conversion to God, he calls himself a Preacher, in the witness of his unfeigned repentance, as if God had said unto him Thou being converted, convert thy brethren and be a Preacher, as thou art a King: ⟨p. 822⟩so when we are converted, we should become Preachers unto other, and show some fruits of our calling, as Solomon left this book for a monument to all ages of his conversion. Therefore they which write, that Solomon dyed in his sin, and that such a famous instrument of God went to the damned, do great wrong to the worthy King which gives them such an example to repent, and would correct their rash judgement, if they considered. First, that he was the clearest figure of Christ (except Melchizedek) which passed all Kings in prosperity, and all men in wisdom. Secondly that he was inspired by the Holy Ghost like the prophets,