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…

Three things I note: wherefore the devil may be said to compass the earth. First, because ⟨p. 1163⟩he tempteth all men. Secondly, because he tempteth to all sins. Thirdly, because he tempteth by all means: So whosoever sinneth, wherein soever he offendeth, whereby soever he is allured, the sin, and the sinner, and the bait, are compassed, and contrived by this Archpolitique, which calls himself a Compasser. Many have their names for naught, because they do nothing for them, like Labans images which were called Gods, though they were but blocks: but the devil deserves his names, he is not called a tempter, and a liar, and a slanderer, and an accuser, and a deceiver, and a murderer, & a compasser in vain, like S. George, which is always on horseback, and never rides: but he would do more than by his office he is bound to. Other are called officers, because they have an office: but he is called an enemy, because he showeth his envy. Other are called Justicers, because they should do justice: but he is called a tempter, because he practiseth temptations. Other are called Pastors, because they should feed: but he is called a devourer, because he doth devour: & we call him a Compasser, because that he doth compass. Ever since he fell from heaven he hath lived like Cain, which cannot rest in a place, but is a runagate over the earth, from door to door, from man to man, begging for sins as the starved soul begs for bread. ⟨p. 1064⟩He should have dwelt in heaven, and not bin compassing the earth, he should have sung with the Angels & not been quarrelling with men, but he hath changed his calling, and is become a compasser, that is, to lay fetters upon men, as GOD hath fettered him, least they should ascend to the place from whence he is fallen. Therefore in this the Liar spake truth, when he said, I come from compassing the earth: as if he should say to God, I come from the slaughter of thy servants, not to ask forgiveness for all the souls which he hath slain already, but to get a commission that GOD would make him Knight Marshall over the world, to slay and kill as many as he hated: like the bramble, which set it self on fire first, and then fired all the wood.

Three things I note: wherefore the diuell may be sayd to compasse the earth. First, because ⟨p. 1163⟩