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…

As you have heard the notes of them which are wise according to sobriety: So if you would know such as are wise above sobriety, you shall discern them by these marks. First, they will have all the talk wheresoever they come, like parrots. Secondly they contemn other like the Pharisees. Thirdly, they spurn at him which tells them of their fault, like Abner. Fourthly, they jump with Caesar, like the Herodians. Fifthly they turn with the time, like Demas. Sixthly, they seek their own credit by the discredit of others, like the enemies of Paul. Seventhly, they love to hear their own praise, like ⟨p. 1000⟩Herod. Eighthly, above all things they would have their own will, like Jezebel. Whensoever these eight marks meet, there is a wise man, and a fool, a wise man in his own conceit, and a fool in proof: these are the wise men of the north, and the Philosophers of England.

As you haue heard the notes of them which are wise according to sobrietie: So if you would know such as are wise aboue sobrietie, you shal discerne thē by these marks. First, they will haue all the talke wheresoeuer they come, like parrats. Secondly they contemne other like the Pharisies. Thirdly, they spurne at him which tels them of their fault, like Abner. Fourthly, they iumpe with Caesar, like the Herodians. Fiftly they turne with the time, like Demas. Sixtly, they seeke their owne credite by the discredite of others, like the enimies of Paule. Seuenthlie, they loue to heare their owne praise, like ⟨p. 1000⟩Herode. Eightly, aboue al things they would haue their owne will, like Iezabel. Whensoeuer these eight markes meete, there is a wise man, and a foole, a wise man in his own conceit, and a foole in proofe: these are the wisemen of the north, and the Philosophers of Englande.

Thus you have heard the wisdom which is according to sobriety. If any man do see the spots of his own face in this glass, let him wash and be clean. He that is wise (saith Solomon) is wise to himself, but he that is over wise, is wise against himself: here you may see: that note above Ela is a jarring note and always makes a discord in the harmony. Christ would not have us wise Serpents, but as wise as serpents, lest they which are like serpents should circumvent us, to be wise to evil is an evil wisdom, and there is no such enemy unto knowledge, as the opinion of knowledge: for one which is wedded unto his own wit, will never be counselled of any. Therefore how necessary it is to remember this doctrine, and God grant we may remember it. I cannot tell how, no man can serve GOD, unless he know GOD: for none do obey him except they which do know him, and yet it is said that there was never so much knowledge and so little goodness. Surely as Christ