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…

So they will say of the world, It is naught, It is naught, before men ⟨p. 837⟩and swear that all is vanity, but when they are gone apart, they reconcile themselves unto it and kiss it, and promise to be vain still, but they cannot abide to be counted vain, the vainest man that is. This shows that the folly of the world is so open and shameful, that her loves must needs condemn her. You shall hear them say often times: It is a vain world, a wicked world, a naughty world, yet they will not forsake it to die, like dastard soldiers, who rail against the enemy, but dare not fight against him. Al is vanity, but this is vanity of vanities, that men will follow that which they condemn. But this is that every sinner might condemn himself: for the conscience must judge first and then God,¹ as our Saviour sayeth: Out of thine own mouth, and so out of thine own heart I will condemn thee, naughty servant, Showing that the wicked condemn themselves before they are condemned of God. These are the worlds fools, which care not what is their end, so that their way be pleasant.

So they will say of the worlde, It is naught, It is naught, before men ⟨p. 837⟩and sweare that all is vanitie, but when they are gone apart, they reconcile themselues vnto it and kisse it, and promise to be vaine still, but they cannot abide to be counted vaine, the vainest man that is. This shewes that the follie of the worlde is so open and shamefull, that her loues must needes condemne her. You shall heare them say often times: It is a vaine world, a wicked world, a naughty world, yet they will not forsake it to die, like dastard souldiers, who raile against the enemie, but dare not fight against him. Al is vanitie, but this is vanitie of vanities, that men wil follow that which they cōdemne. But this is that euery sinner might cōdemne himselfe: for the conscience must iudge first and then God,¹ as our Sauiour saieth: Out of thine owne mouth, and so out of thine owne heart I wil condemne thee, naughty seruaunt, Shewing that the wicked condemne themselues before they are condemned of God. These are the worldes fooles, which care not what is their end, so that their way be pleasant.