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…

The devils faith cannot save us, no more then it can save him, the devils knowledge cannot convert us, no more then it doth convert him, and yet he would not have men believe, ⟨p. 1060⟩that which he believeth himself, nor have us understand so much as he understandeth himself: for if Cain had understood so much as he, that God knew whether he lied or no, he would have answered God truly, as Satan did: but the devil knew that there was no dissembling with God, who knows what he asks before he asks, therefore he told troth to God, though he lye to man: for to lye unto him which knoweth, is as if one should lye to himself, but Cain was not so well learned, he thought peradventure yet God might understand his murder, as a thief suspecteth in his heart that the Judge may know his theft: but he doubted whether God did know it, and therefore he denied it like one which is guilty, but thinks that if he confess, he shall be hanged, and therefore though evidence and witness accuse them, yet you see many will not accuse themselves.

The diuels faith cannot saue vs, no more then it can saue him, the diuels knowledge cannot conuert vs, no more then it dooth conuert him, and yet hee would not haue men beleeue, ⟨p. 1060⟩that which hee bleeueth himselfe, nor haue vs vnderstand so much as he vnderstandeth himselfe: for if Caine had vndderstood so much as he, that God knewe whether he lyed or no, he would haue answered God truely, as Satan did: but the diuell knew that there was no dissembling with God, who knowes what he asks before he asks, therefore he told troth to God, though he lye to man: for to lye vnto him which knoweth, is as if one should lye to himselfe, but Cain was not so wel learned, he thought peraduenture yet God might vnderstand his murther, as a theefe suspecteth in his heart that the Iudge may know his theft: but he doubted whether God did knowe it, and therefore he denied it like one which is guiltie, but thinkes that if he confesse, he shall be hanged, and therefore though euidence and witnesse accuse them, yet you see many will not accuse themselues.