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…

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 being upon the Mount, he saw all the land of Gilead unto Dan, and all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim & Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the uttermost Sea, &c. The like to this did never any see being of the age of Moses who was 120. years old. Many things might Moses have objected which might have hindered him from going up the Mount: For surely it must needs be a ⟨p. 911⟩grief to him when he considered that great pain which he had taken in bringing them through the wilderness, and conducting them 40. years together, and now when he had no further to go but even over Jordan, to be taken a way then: and another which never took any pains, possess all his labours. This I say, must be a great and intolerable thing to flesh and blood: for when one hath laid a foundation, and another come and build upon it, surely he will think himself hardly dealt withal: Or if one have drawn a picture, head and face, and all saving the legs, if one come and draw the legs, and so take his labours, he would hardly take it well. You know how they which were hired and wrought all the day long,²