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…

Now it resteth, that I should encourage Joshua which succeedeth me. But how should I begin to encourage him? or where should I begin? shall I tell him, that he shall live now at ease and in security? No. Why, how should I encourage Joshua? shall I tell him, you will love him, and follow him, and that he shall find you willing and forward in every good action? If I promise it, shall I not lie? If I become bounden for you, shall I not forfeit? I fear yes. Why, how then should I encourage Joshua? shall I tell him, all will speak well ⟨p. 917⟩of him? or shall I tell him none will slander him? No. For if he be as righteous as Christ, yet some of the Scribes and Pharisees will seek to persecute him. If he will live in quietness, he must not utter all the Counsel of God, though God command him. Nor he must not reprove some sins, for then he shall be thought to envy against some persons. Nor he must not keep company with the godly, for then shall he be accounted a partaker. No, he must not deny the company of the wicked, for then he shall be accounted a Precisian, a Puritan, and I know not what. But thou wilt say: what then, is there no comfort for Joshua? I answer, yes. And that is: it may be after some 3. or 4. years labour and travail, he shall win some 2. or 3. unto Christ which shall extinguish all grief: For God will one day reward him for his labour, & glorify him in heaven. But if Joshua should be in trouble, as he cannot almost otherwise choose, if he keep a good conscience and reprove the mighty under his charge, then he shall see, most of the great ones will quite forsake him which now seem to favour him, & they will see him persecuted like Christ, and stand a far off like Pilate, and wash their hands, as though they were innocent, when it is in their power and authority to amend it.

Now it resteth, that I shoulde incourage Iosua which succeedeth me. But how should I begin to incourage him? or where shoulde I begin? shall I tell him, that he shall liue now at ease and in security? No. Why, how should I incourage Iosua? shall I tell him, you will loue him, and follow him, and that hee shall finde you willing and forward in euery good action? If I promise it, shall I not lie? If I become bounden for you, shall I not forfeit? I feare yes. Why, how then should I incourrage Iosua? shall I tell him, all will speake wel ⟨p. 917⟩of him? or shall I tell him none will slaunder him? No. For if he be as righteous as Christ, yet some of the Scribes and Pharisies will seeke to persecute him. If hee will liue in quietnes, he must not vtter all the Counsell of God, though God commaund him. Nor he must not reprooue some sinnes, for then he shall be thought to enuie against some persons. Nor he must not keepe company with the godlie, for then shal he be accounted a partaker. No, he must not denie the company of the wicked, for then he shall be accounted a Precisian, a Puritane, and I knowe not what. But thou wilt saye: what then, is there no comfort for Iosua? I answer, yes. And that is: it may be after some 3. or 4. yeares labour and trauaile, he shall winne some 2. or 3. vnto Christe which shall extinguish al griefe: For God will one day reward him for his labour, & glorifie him in heauen. But if Iosua should bee in trouble, as he cannot almost otherwise choose, if hee keepe a good conscience and reprooue the mightie vnder his charge, then he shall see, most of the great ones wil quite forsake him which now seeme to fauour him, & they wil see him persecuted like Christ, and stand a farre off like Pilate, and wash their handes, as though they were innocent, when it is in their power and authoritie to amend it.