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…

When GOD said, Seek my face: mine heart answered (said David) I will seek thy face. Psalm. 27. 8. So we must answer the Lord to that which he asketh: and not when he bids us seek his face, seek his back: when he requireth all, give him half: God asketh, Art thou a Christian? and thou answers: O Lord, I am almost a Christian. What niggardly answer is this to him which deserveth a thousand times more than the best can give? If thy master ask thee, art thou my servant? wilt thou answer him, I am almost thy servant? If the ⟨p. 944⟩Prince ask thee: Art thou my subject? wilt thou answer, I am almost thy subject? If thy father ask thee: art thou my son? wilt thou answer: I am almost thy son? If thou art but almost his son, then he is but almost thy father: And so it is with God, a son or no son: half a son, is a bastard. How doest thou know God to be thy God, but as thou art his servant? How doest thou know God to be thy father, but as thou art his son? By thy love thou shalt know Gods love: for according to thy mind towards him, is his mind of thee, whereby thou mayest truly judge whether he favour thee or hate thee, and no way else.

When GOD said, Seeke my face: mine heart aunswered (said Dauid) I will seeke thy face. Psalme. 27. 8. So wee must aunswere the Lorde to that which he asketh: and not when hee biddes vs seeke his face, seeke his backe: when he requireth al, giue him halfe: God asketh, Art thou a Christian? and thou aunsweres: O Lord, I am almost a Christian. What niggardlie aunswere is this to him which deserueth a thousande times more than the best can giue? If thy maister aske thee, art thou my seruant? wilt thou aunswere him, I am almost thy seruant? If the ⟨p. 944⟩Prince aske thee: Art thou my subiect? wilt thou aunswere, I am almost thy subiect? If thy father aske thee: art thou my sonne? wilt thou answere: I am almost thy sonne? If thou art but almost his son, then he is but almost thy father: And so it is with God, a son or no sonne: halfe a sonne, is a bastard. How doest thou know God to be thy God, but as thou art his seruant? How doest thou knowe God to be thy father, but as thou art his son? By thy loue thou shalt know Gods loue: for according to thy minde towards him, is his minde of thee, whereby thou maist truelie iudge whether he fauour thee or hate thee, and no way else.