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…

But it is said, that before Job offered sacrifice for them, they were sanctified, that is, they considered the faults which they had committed, ⟨p. 1042⟩and repented for them, and reconciled themselves, & then Job sacrificed for them. Again, if their feasts had been surfeitings, and disorders, like our Wakes and Revels, Job should have forbidden their feasts, & not prayed God to pardon their sins which they committed in feasting, & suffer them to sin still, for that were to mock God, as though he desired not pardon for their sins past, but rather leave for them to sin still. Lastly, we do not see by any circumstance of the story, that they abused their feasts either in suspected houses, or profane company, or corrupt speeches, or impure gestures, or wanton dancings, or unlawful dalliances, or vain superfluities, but that our feasts might be allowed, if they were like unto theirs. For first they did feast in their own houses, they did not run to Ordinaries, or Ale-houses, or Taverns, as they which seek for the strongest wine, or hunt after news, or worse purposes, but like good neighbours they invited one another home, and kept their hospitality in their own houses, as our Gentlemen should do that lye about London, which are a kind of Non-residents, from their poor neighbours. Secondly, they did not feast every day, like the rich Glutton in Luk. 16. every one kept his day in the year when their feastings came: so it is not ⟨p. 1043⟩meant, that the sons did nothing but feast, and the father nothing but pray: but as the feasts of the Jews came at certain times of the year, to celebrate some blessings of God, so they observed their feasting times, to celebrate their good wills one to another. Lastly, they did not join themselves with ruffians, & swearers, and tipplers, as all are wont to meet together at a feast: neither did they invite the rich to their tables, as James saith, which are feasts of flattery: but they were all of one kin, and one heart, brethren and sisters, like the Disciples which sate down together.

But it is sayde, that before Iob offered sacrifice for them, they were sanctified, that is, they considered the faults which they had committed, ⟨p. 1042⟩