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…

Now you shall see what the old man doth which was so commended in the 1. vers. the story saith, that he sent for his sons and sanctified them, & sacrificed for them. In which words the holy Ghost showeth the pattern of an holy man, and good father, which kept the rule that God gave unto Abraham, to bring up his children in the fear of the Lord. Job doth not as some, which when they have passed their bounds, set all at random, and say with Cain, in Gen. 4. My sin is greater then can be forgiven: but he goeth to the remedy, as the Jews when they were stung, went to the brazen serpent: Albeit my children have not done their duties in all points, but offended in their feastings, yet I am sure that God will have mercy upon them, and upon me, if ye ask him forgiveness. Therefore he sent for ⟨p. 1048⟩his sons like a father, and then he taught them like a preacher to sanctify them selves, and then he offered sacrifice for them. First, we will speak of the cause which moved Job to sacrifice for his sons, set down in these words: Job thought, It may be that my sons have blasphemed God in their hearts. He was glad good man to see his children agree so well together, but he would have them merry and sin not, and therefore he puts them in mind every day while they feasted, to sanctify themselves; he condemneth not honest mirth and sober feasts, to maintain amity and peace, but being throughly acquainted with mans infirmity: this showeth, that he had observed never any feasts so duly celebrated, but some disorder or other hath crept in, whereby God hath been dishonoured at his own table, either for superfluity of meat, or excess of drink, or unchaste songs, or corrupt speeches, or wanton dancings, or unseemly dalliances; the devil hath been still at one end, & is lightly the master of the feast. Therefore Job thought with himself; It may be that my sons have committed some scape like other men: I cannot tell, they are but men: it is easy to slip when occasion is ready, though they think not to offend; he had no apparent cause to suspect them, and therefore he speaks in the doubting ⟨p. 1049⟩phrase, It may be that they have sinned. It is better to be fearful, than too secure: that which happeneth often in the like case, he might well doubt of it, though he had warned them before: