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 he had called them brethren, then he beseecheth them, Brethren I beseech you. This is the Apostles stile. If God did humble himself for man, much more should man humble himself for men, therefore though Paul speak of a matter, wherein he might command, as he saith to Philemon I might command thee: yet as he did rather beseech ⟨p. 659⟩him, so he doth rather beseech them. Mark the subtlety of wisdom (as I may call it.) As the serpent did use policy to tempt, so the Preacher may use policy to convert,¹ and so Paul won Agrippa to believe, by persuading him that he did believe.² It was Pauls Office to teach the Romans, but it was Pauls policy to beseech the Romans, until compulsion need, gentleness is better than bitterness: Lenity deserves to go first, and correction hath no place if persuasion will serve.

When he had called them brethren, then he beseecheth them, Brethren I beseech you. This is the Apostles stile. If God did humble himselfe for man, much more should mā humble himselfe for men, therefore though Paul speake of a matter, wherein he might commaunde, as he saith to Philemon I might commaund thee: yet as he did rather beseech ⟨p. 659⟩him, so he doth rather beseech them. Marke the subtiltie of wisedome (as I may call it.) As the serpent did vse pollicie to tempt, so the Preacher may vse pollicie to conuert,¹ and so Paule won Agrippa to beleeue, by perswading him that he did beleeue.² It was Pauls Office to teach the Romans, but it was Pauls pollicie to beseech the Romans, vntill compulsion need, gentlenes is better than bitternesse: Lenitie deserues to goe first, and correction hath no place if perswasion wil serue.

1. 1