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…

And that which should get pardon at thy hands for all the rest, that is, (our prayer) is so full of toys and fancies, for want of faith and reverence, that when we have prayed, we had need to pray again that thou wouldest forgive our prayers, because we think least of thee when we pray unto thee: what Father but thou, could suffer this contempt, and be contemned still? Yet when we think upon thy son, all our fear is turned into joy, because his righteousness for us, is more then our wickedness against our selves. Settle our faith in thy beloved, and it sufficeth for all our iniquities, necessities, and infirmities.

And that which should get pardon at thy hands for all the rest, that is, (our prayer) is so full of toyes and fancies, for want of faith and reuerence, that when we haue praied, we had need to praie againe that thou wouldest forgiue our prayers, because wee thinke least of thee when wee pray vnto thee: what Father but thou, could suffer this contempt, and bee contemned still? Yet when we thinke vpon thy sonne, all our feare is turned into ioye, because his righteousnesse for vs, is more then our wickednesse against our selues. Settle our faith in thy beloued, and it sufficeth for all our iniquities, necessities, and infirmities.

Now Lord we go forth to fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil, and the weakest of our enemies, is stronger than we: therefore we come unto thee, for thy holy spirit to take our part; that is, to change our minds and wills, and affections, which we have corrupted, to remove all the hindrances which lets us to serve thee; and to direct all our thoughts, speeches, and actions, to thy glory, as thou hast directed thy glory unto our salvation. Although we be sinners (O Lord) yet we are thine, and therefore we beseech thee to separate our sins from us, which would separate us from thee, that we may be ready to every good, as we are to evil. Teach ⟨image 508⟩us to remember our sins, that thou mayest forget them, and let our sorrow here, prevent the sorrow to come. We were made like thee, let not flesh and blood turn the image of God to the image of Satan: our foes are thy foes, let not thine enemies prevail against thee to take us from thee; but make thy word unto us, like the star which led unto Christ: make thy benefits like the pillar which brought to the land of promise: make thy cross, like the messenger which compelled guests unto the banquet; that we may walk before men like examples, and alway look upon thy son, how he would speak and do, before we speak or do any thing.