A12406:1226
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.
As a Bird stayed with a little string, or a strong man in swimming held back by a small twig: so a little sin stayeth this great Captain that he cannot come within the land of Canaan. First God is angry with him & envies him altogether, as though he were not worthy so much as to go up the mount: thus we may see how one of the least sins is able to turn from us all the goodness, & all the favour which God beareth to us.
As a Bird staied with a little string, or a strong man in swimming held backe by a small twig: so a little sinne staieth this great Captaine that he cannot come within the land of Canaan. First God is angry with him & enuies him altogether, as though hee were not worthy so much as to go vp the mount: thus we may see how one of the least sinnes is able to turne from vs all the goodnes, & all the fauour which God beareth to vs.
After God commands Moses to go up the mount. Here Moses obeyeth Gods commandment, but if he had bin like many a murmuring man, he would have denied to go up the mount, saying, what banquet is this to me, but a dainty dish set before one forbidden to eat? ⟨p. 910⟩but Moses had rather die than anger the Lord again, when he had bid him be content. Thus we may learn of Moses to be content with our calling whether we have little or much: For God contented Moses as well with the sight of Canaan, as those who possessed it. So when GOD hath not ordained us to see great substance as he hath some of our brethren: yet because we should not be discontent, he will give us as much pleasure at the sight of them in others, as though we our selves enjoyed them. So GOD contenteth Moses, and he contenteth Joshua: for as Joshua came into the land as Moses could not, so Moses saw it as Joshua could not. So I say God contenteth all, that Joshua should not envy Moses, nor Moses envy Joshua. And this was the great power of God: who although Moses were very old, yet was his eye-sight most perfect, insomuch that he could see farther than any of all his company: For,1