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…

It is not an indifferent thing to rejoice or not to rejoice, but we are commanded to rejoice, to show that we break a commandment if we rejoice not. Oh what a comfort is this when the comforter himself shall command us to rejoice? God was wont to say, repent and not rejoice because men rejoice too much, but here God commandeth to rejoice, as though some men did not rejoice enough.

It is not an indifferent thing to reioyce or not to reioice, but wee are commaunded to reioyce, to shew that wee breake a commandement if we reioyce not. Oh what a comfort is this when the comforter himselfe shall cō maund vs to reioyce? God was wont to say, repent and not reioice because men reioyce too much, but heere God commaundeth to reioyce, as though some men did not reioyce enough.

Therefore you must understand to whom he speaketh.¹ In 149. Psal. 5. It is said, Let the Saints be glad, not let the wicked be glad, and in Isaiah 40. 1.² He saith, Comfort my people, not comfort mine enemies, showing to whom this commandment of Paul is sent rejoice evermore, it is not in this as Christ sayeth that which I say unto you I say unto all, but that which I say unto you I say not unto all.³ Give wine (saith Solomon) unto him that is sorrowful; that he may forget his grief: So give comfort unto him which is penitent that he may forget his fear. Solomon saith five times that this is the portion of man under the sun, ⁴to receive the gifts of God with thankfulness and to ⟨p. 853⟩rejoice in them,