A12406:1138
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.
Honour is like a King in a play: when his part is done, his ornaments are taken from him, and he which held the basin to him is as good as he. Honour in deed may command all but life: he makes a fair show now: but when death comes, all is one.
Honour is like a King in a play: when his part is done, his ornamentes are taken from him, and hee which helde the bason to him is as good as hee. Honour in deed may commaund all but life: hee makes a faire shewe now: but when death comes, all is one.
But what say you to profound Knowledge in deep mysteries, which makes men sought unto,1 and called deep Clerks, and great Doctors? Knowledge is like the Letters which Uriah carried against himself: so Knowledge draweth a greater judgement, and oftentimes condemns the bearer. Knowledge without Virtue, leaves a man without excuse, and is a witness against him, because he understands what is good, and will not do it. Yet there is another darling of account behind:2 what say you to Long life, which causeth a man to see his children's children, and makes him reverent before the people? Long life is like a long night, when a man cannot sleep: so age is wearisome with sickness, and strives with it self because it cannot walk, nor talk, nor hear, nor see, nor taste, nor sleep, as it was wont: therefore wisheth often the night were gone, that the pain were past. Indeed he that sees many days, sees many miseries: and therefore what is not vain in life, sith life it self is vain? Show me the light which will not darken, ⟨p. 836⟩show me the flower which will not fade, show me the fruit which will not corrupt, show me the garment which will not wear, show me the beauty which will not wither, show me the strength which will not weaken, show me the time which will not pass, and I will reclaim that All is vanity? but if all things vanish, then all things are vain, yet this will not go for truth, before men have smarted for the trial. Some are so vain that they count nothing vanity. but that which is vainer than the rest delights them most,