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…

As he tempteth to all sins, so he tempteth by all means: for the name of a compasser doth import a cunning tempter. There is craft in compassing: the Hunter maketh a rail about the Deere, as though he would guard them, when he meaneth to take some of them: the Fowler goeth about the bird as if he did not see her, when he comes to snare her. If men have so many sleights to compass their matters, how can the compasser himself hold his ⟨p. 1072⟩fingers? if the Serpents seed be so subtle, what do you think of the old serpent, who hath been learning his trade ever since the creation? If mens trades may be called crafts, the devils trade may be called craft? Herod is called a fox, but this fox taught him his subtlety: this is he that prepared flatterers for Rehoboam, which prepared liars for Ahab, which prepared concubines for Solomon, which prepared Sorcerers for Pharaoh, which prepared witches for Saul, which prepared wine for Benhadab, which prepared gold for Achan, which prepared a ship for Jonah, which prepared a rope for Haman, he goeth not about for nothing. But this is the first trick of his compassing, he marks how every man is inclined, what he loves, what he hateth, what he fears, & what he wants: & when he hath the measure of his foot, then he fits him. Ask what you will, here is he which offered the whole world. What? shall Jonah stay for want of a ship? nay here is a ship, go & fly from the Lord: shall Esau stay for want of broth? nay here is a mess of broth, go and sell thy birthright: shall Judas stay for want of thirty pence? nay here are thirty pence, go and betray thy master: shall Pilate stay for want of an halter? nay here is an halter, go and hang thy self.

As he tempteth to all sinnes, so he tempteth by all meanes: for the name of a compasser doth import a cunning tempter. There is craft in compassing: the Hunter maketh a raile about the Deere, as though he would gard thē, when he meaneth to take some of them: the Fowler goeth about the bird as if he did not see her, when he comes to snare her. If men haue so many sleights to compasse their matters, how can the compasser himselfe hold his ⟨p. 1072⟩fingers? if the Serpents seed be so subtil, what doe you thinke of the old serpent, who hath been learning his trade euer since the creation? If mens trades may be called crafts, the diuels trade may be called craft? Herod is called a fox, but this fox taught him his subtiltie: this is he that prepared flatterers for Rehoboam, which prepared lyers for Ahab, which prepared concubines for Salomō, which prepared Sorcerers for Pharao, which prepared witches for Saul, which prepared wine for Benhadab, which prepared gold for Achan, which prepared a ship for Ionas, which prepared a rope for Haman, he goeth not about for nothing. But this is the first tricke of his compassing, he marks how euery man is inclined, what he loues, what he hateth, what he feares, & what he wants: & when he hath the measure of his foot, then he fits him. Aske what you will, heere is he which offered the whole world. What? shall Ionah stay for want of a ship? nay here is a ship, go & flie from the Lord: shall Esau stay for want of broth? nay here is a messe of broth, go and sell thy birthright: shal Iudas stay for want of thirty pence? nay here are thirtie pence, goe and betray thy master: shall Pilate stay for want of an halter? nay here is an halter, goe and hang thy selfe.