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…

For this cause the Israelites prayed before they fought: and for this cause we pray before we preach. It is a good thing to preach, and yet you see we do not presume to preach before we pray, because Paul planteth, ¹and Apollo watereth, but GOD giveth the increase. Even so, we should not presume to give Alms, nor to give counsel, nor to give help before we have prayed that it may do good. Nay, we should not presume to exercise our faith, nor our repentance, nor our obedience without prayer, because there is no faith so Perfect, but it had need of Prayer to strengthen it.

For this cause the Israelites praied before they fought: and for this cause wee pray before we preach. It is a good thing to preach, and yet you see wee doe not presume to preach before wee pray, because Paule planteth, ¹and Apollo watereth, but GOD giueth the increase. Euen so, wee should not presume to giue Almes, nor to giue counsell, nor to giue helpe before wee haue prayed that it may doe good. Nay, wee shoulde not presume to exercise our faith, nor our repentance, nor our obedience without prayer, because there is no faith so Perfect, but it had neede of Prayer to strengthen it.

1. 11. Cor. 3. • ▪

Also, there is no love so perfect, but it had need of prayer to confirm it. There is no repentance so perfect, but it had need of prayer to continue it. There is no obedience so perfect, but it had need of prayer to direct it. Therefore he doth sin which presumeth to do any good work without prayer, because he seems to do it by his own power, for that he craveth not assistance from GOD which giveth power to faith to bring forth works, as well as he doth to trees to bring forth fruits, or to Physic to bring forth health. Therefore no virtue