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 though it increased while he spake, so fast groweth this weed to worse and worse, like the Image which appeared to Nebuchadnezzar, ¹the first part was of Gold, the second of Silver, the third of Brass, the fourth of Iron, the fifth of clay, so by many changes the world grows worse and worse, and all they which follow it. When a man begins to like of pleasure, & opens the door to one vanity which he loves, straight as many vanities flock to him, as Solomon had Concubines, till the Temple of God be like a den of thieves. Therefore when Solomon beheld such a plurality, and Totquot of Vanities,² like Surges coming one upon another in pleats and in ⟨p. 834⟩folds, he spake as though he would show us Vanity hatching vanities, Vanity of Vanities, all is Vanity. The first saying doth pass without let, but the last rubs and sinks not into the hearts of men so easily as it is spoken. Me thinks I hear some dispute for Baal, and bid Solomon stay before he come to All is Vanity. It may be that sin is vanity, and pleasure is vanity: but shall we condemn all for sin and pleasure? What say you to Beauty which is natures dowry, and cheereth the eye, as sweet meat doeth the taste? Beauty is like a fair picture, take away the colour and there is nothing left. Beauty in deed is but a colour and a temptation, the colour fadeth, and the temptation snareth. But what say you to Riches which make men Lords over the rest, and allow them to go brave, and lie soft, & fare daintily, and have what they list? Riches are like painted grapes, which look as though they would satisfy a man, but do not slake his hunger, nor quench his thirst, Riches in deed to make a man covet more, and get envy, and keep the mind in care. But what say you to Honour, which sets a man a loft, and makes the knee bow, & the tongue sooth and the head stand bare, as though they were other kind of creatures above them?

as though it increased while he spake, so fast groweth this weede to worse and worse, like the Image which appeared to Nabuchadnezzar, ¹the first part was of Golde, the second of Siluer, the third of Brasse, the fourth of Iron, the fifth of clay, so by many changes the world growes worse and worse, and all they which folow it. When a man begins to like of pleasure, & opens the doore to one vanitie which hee loues, straight as many vanities floch to him, as Salomon had Concubines, till the Temple of God be like a den of theeues. Therefore when Salomon beheld such apluralitie, and Totquot of Vanities,