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…

difference on the one side, presumption on the other side, and faith in the middest: superstition on the one side, Atheism on the other side, and religion in the midst: ignorance on the one side, curiosity on the other side, and knowledge in the middest. So that there is but one virtue still for two vices, therefore extremities bear rule in this world. Either we cry Hosanna, or else crucifige, either Christ must not wash our feet, or else he must wash our feet & body too,¹ either we will have Paul a God, or else we say he is cursed of God, either we say, touch not, taste not, for it is unclean, or else we say, let us ⟨p. 988⟩eat and drink for to morrow we shall die. If we love, we do over-love, if we fear, we do over fear, if we be careful, we are over careful, if we be merry, we are over merry, if we be solemn, we are over solemn, if so we cannot be wise, but we are over wise, so soon as we are thought to know some thing, we would be thought ignorant of nothing. There is a kind of down or curdle upon wisdom, like the train of Gentle women, which is more then needs, which we call the crotchets of the brain which must be weeded out as the tree is lopped when it groweth too thick, or else they will perish the brain, like the skim which seetheth into the broth. The Scripture speaketh of many ancient, and many rich, and many strong, and many mighty, but of one wise man, and yet that wise man too before he died, s•ept beyond sobriety. Therefore even as ye look lest other mens wisdom should deceive you, so look lest your own wisdom deceive your selves: there is a kind of wisdom, which is more contrary to wisdom then ignorance, as good corn and bad corn come both to the market to be sold, and the bad would have as much money as the good: so true wisdom & false wisdom come both, show both, offer both, praise both, & as Jacob took Leah for Rachel: so many take the worse ⟨p. 989⟩for the better.² Pharaoh said, Come, let us do wisely: when he went about that which destroyed him. The Scribes, and the Pharisees and the Elders, took counsel against Christ, as though they would most wisely prevent their salvation. Judas would betray his master wisely, and therefore he came with a kiss, and said, Hail Master, when he betrayed him.