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…

therefore his heart was not quiet, but still this ran in his mind, all the while they feasted: It may be that my sons sin. How wary was Job over himself which was so jealous over his sons, least one sin should slip from them: nay if ye mark, he speaketh not of any open or gross sins which he feared, but he speaketh of a sin in the thought, It may be that my sons have blasphemed God in their hearts.

therefore his heart was not quiet, but still this ranne in his minde, all the while they feasted: It may bee that my sonnes sinne. How wary was Iob ouer himself which was so ielous ouer his sonnes, least one sinne should slippe from them: nay if ye marke, he speaketh not of any open or grosse sinnes which he feared, but he speaketh of a sinne in the thought, It may bee that my sonnes haue blasphemed God in their hearts.

Blasphemy is properly in the mouth, when a man speaks against God, as Rabshakeh did; but Job had a further respect to a blasphemy of the heart, counting every sinister affection of the heart, as it were a kind of blasphemy, or petty treason. Thus the penitent man doth aggravate his sins, and retch them as it were upon the rack, to make his small sins seem great sins, that he might beware as well of small as great. contrariwise, the profane and carnal minded man doth min•e, and flatter, and extenuate his sins, as though they were no sins, because they should not trouble him: for this sin which Job calleth Blasphemy, which is the highest name ⟨p. 1050⟩of sin, the Papists call but A venial sin; that is, but a sleight sin, because it is in the thought: So Job & they differ in judgement.

Blasphemie is properly in the mouth, when a man speaks against God, as Rabshakeh did; but Iob had a further respect to a blasphemie of the heart, counting euery sinister affection of the heart, as it were a kind of blasphemie, or petie treason. Thus the penitent man doth aggrauate his sinnes, and retch them as it were vpon the racke, to make his small sinnes seeme great sinnes, that he might beware as well of smal as great. contrariwise, the prophane and carnal minded man doth mine, and flatter, and extenuate his sinnes, as though they were no sins, because they shuld not trouble him: for this sinne which Iob calleth Blasphemie, which is the highest name