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 out of this speech of Job; It may be that my sons have sinned, or it may be that my self have sinned, which I may properly and rightly term the jealousy of a holy man; wherein Job showeth in what fear he stood of his sons so long as their feasts lasted, even as a merchant doth till his ship come home. First, we may see this, that the best things may soon be corrupted, by the wickedness of men, such is our nature ever since Adam chose evil before good, good hath bin turned into evil, Gen. 3. Notwithstanding, that our intent and meaning be good. As for example, when an husband loveth his wife, or a father loveth his children, these are good & holy, and commendable things, yet there is no man can be found that doth love his wife, or his children with that evenness (as I may call it) or just proportion, but that there is some odds in the balance when his affection is weighed, which may crave pardon like the feasts of Jobs children. If this odds be in all our measures, then it is no strange case, that Job thought with himself, that his children might offend God in the thing that of it self of fendeth not. Therefore it is good for a man so ⟨p. 1051⟩long as he liveth in this world, to remember still that he is among temptations, and sits at a feast like Jobs children, where he may soon take too much. If the fish did know the hook, & the bird had seen the net, though they have but the understanding of fishes and birds, yet they would let the hook alone, and fly over the net, and let the fouler whistle to himself: so we must look upon our riches, as we look upon snares, and behold our meats, as we behold baits, & handle our pleasure as we handle Bees, that is, pick out the sting, before we take the honey, for in Gods gifts Satan hath hid his snares, and made Gods benefits his baits, that as Adam said, The woman which thou hast given me, tempted me to sin, so they may say, the riches or the honours, or the liberty, or the wife, or the servants, or the children, or the meats, or the wit, or the beauty which thou hast given me, tempted me to sin, so many sins lie in wait for us, about our meats and drinks, & beds, & ways, that unless we watch, pray, and look about us at every time, it may be, as Job saith, that we may sin in our doings, or in our sayings, or at least in our hearts, as he thought of his sons.

Now out of this speech of Iob; It may bee that my sonnes haue sinned, or it may bee that my selfe haue sinned, which I may properly and rightly terme the ielousie of a holy man; wherein Iob sheweth in what feare he stoode of his sonnes so long as their feasts lasted, euen as a merchaunt doth till his shippe come home. First, wee may see this, that the best thinges may soone be corrupted, by the wickednesse of men, such is our nature euer since Adam chose euil before good, good hath bin turned into euill,