A12406:1436
The sermons of Master Henry Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his corrected copies in his life time.The sermons of Maister Henrie Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his corrected copies in his life time.
London: printed by Richard Field for Thomas Man, 1593
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I Owe to God a death, as his Son died for me. Ever since I was borne I have been sailing to this haven, and gathering patience to comfort this hour, therefore shall I be one of those guests now, that would not come to the banquet when they were invited? what hurt is in going to Paradise? I shall loose nothing but the sense of evil: and anon I shall have greater joys then I feel pains? For my head is in heaven already, to assure me that my soul and body shall follow after. O death where is thy sting? why should I fear that which I would not escape, because my chiefest happiness is behind, and I cannot have it unless I go unto it? I would go through ⟨image 513⟩hell to heaven, and therefore, If I march but through death, I suffer less then I would suffer for God. My pains do not dismay me, because I travail to bring forth eternal life, my sins do not fright me, because I have Christ my redeemer, the judge doth not astonish me, because the Judges son is my advocate, the devil doth not amaze me, because the Angels pitch about me. The grave doth not grieve me, because it was my Lords bed. Oh that Gods mercy to me, might move other to love him! for the less I can express it, the more it is. The Prophets and Apostles are my fore-runners, every man is gone before me, or else he will follow after me, if it please God to receive me into heaven before them which have served him better, I owe more thankfulness unto him. And because I have deferred my repentance till this hour, whereby my salvation is cut off, if I should die suddenly: Lo, how my God in his merciful providence, to prevent my destruction, calleth me by a lingering sickness, which stayeth till I be ready and prepareth me to my end, like a preacher, and makes me by wholesome pains, weary of this beloved world, least I should depart unwilling, like them whose death is their damnation. So he loveth me while he beateth me, that his stripes are plasters to salve me, therefore who shall love him if I despise him? This is my whole office ⟨image 513⟩now, to strengthen my body with my heart, and be contented as God hath appointed, until I can glorify him, or until he glorify me. If I live, I live to sacrifice; and if I die, I die a sacrifice, for his mercy is above mine iniquity.
I Owe to God a death, as his Sonne died for me. Euer since I was borne I haue been sailing to this hauen, and gathering patience to comfort this houre, therefore shal I be one of those guestes nowe, that would not come to the banquet whē they were inuited? what hurt is in going to Paradise? I shal loose nothing but the sence of euil: and anon I shall haue greater ioyes then I feele paines? For my head is in heauen already, to assure mee that my soule and body shall follow after. O death where is thy sting? why should I feare that which I would not escape, because my chiefest happinesse is behinde, and I cannot haue it vnles I go vnto it? I would go through ⟨image 513⟩hell to heauen, and therefore, If I martch but through death, I suffer lesse then I would suffer for God. My paines doe not dismay mee, because I trauaile to bring forth eternall life, my sinnes doe not fright me, because I haue Christ my redeemer, the iudge doth not astonish me, because the Iudges sonne is my aduocate, the diuel doth not amaze me, because the Angels pitch about me. The graue doth not grieue me, because it was my Lords bed. Oh that Gods mercy to me, might mooue other to loue him! for the lesse I can expresse it, the more it is. The Prophets and Apostles are my fore-runners, euery man is gone before me, or else he will follow after mee, if it please God to receiue me into heauen before them which haue serued him better, I owe more thankefulnes vnto him. And because I haue deferred my repentance till this houre, whereby my saluation is cut off, if I should die sodainly: Lo, how my God in his merciful prouidence, to preuent my destruction, calleth me by a lingering sicknes, which staieth till I be ready and prepareth mee to my end, like a preacher, and makes me by wholesome paines, weary of this beloued worlde, least I should depart vnwilling, like them whose death is their damnation. So he loueth me while he beateth me, that his stripes are plasters to salue me, therefore who shall loue him if I despise him? This is my whole office ⟨image 513⟩now, to strengthen my body with my heart, and be contented as God hath appointed, vntill I can glorifie him, or vntil he glorifie me. If I liue, I liue to sacrifice; and if I die, I die a •acrifice, for his mercy is aboue mine iniquitie.
Therefore if I should fear death, it were a sign that I had not faith nor hope, as I professed, but that I doubted of Gods truth in his promise, whether he will forgive his penitent sinner or no. It is my father, let him do what seemeth good in his sight: Come Lord Jesus, for thy servant cometh, I am willing, help my unwillingness.
Therefore if I should feare death, it were a signe that I had not faith nor hope, as I professed, but that I doubted of Gods truth in his promise, whether he will forgiue his penitent sinner or no. It is my father, let him doe what seemeth good in his sight: Come Lord Iesus, for thy seruant commeth, I am willing, helpe my vnwillingnes.
Thus the faithful depart in another sort, with such peace and joy round about them, that all which see, wish that their souls may follow theirs.
Thus the faythful departe in another sort, with such peace and ioy round about them, that all which see, wish that their soules may followe theirs.
Beloved, I marvel not that you have pain, for you are sick: but I marvel that you cover it not for offence, because the wisdom of a man is to bite in his grief, & always to show more comfort in God, than pain in suffering. Now God calleth to repetitions, to see whether you have learned more constancy than others: if sickness be sharp, make it not sharper with frowardness, but know this is a great favour to us when we die by sickness, which maketh us ready for him that calleth ⟨image 514⟩us: •ow you have nothing to think upon but God, & you cannot think upon him without joy: your grief passeth, but your joy will never pass. Tell me (patient) how many stripes is heaven worth? Is my friend only sick it the world, or his faith weaker than others▪ You have always prayed Thy will be done, & now are you offended that Gods will is done? How hath the faithful man forgotten that all things (even death) turn to the best, to them that love God? Teach the happy (O Lord) to see his happiness through troubles. Every pain is a prevention of the pains of hell, and every ease in pain, is a fore-taste of the ease, and peace, and joys in heaven.
BEloued, I maruel not that you haue paine, for you are sicke: but I maruel that you couer it not for offence, because the wisdome of a man is to bite in his griefe, & alwaies to shew more comfort in God, than pain in suffering. Now God calleth to repetitions, to see whether you haue learned more constancie than others: if sicknes be sharpe, make it not sharper with frowardnes, but know this is a great fauour to vs when we die by sicknes, which maketh vs ready for him that calleth ⟨image 514⟩vs: •ow you haue nothing to think vpon but God, & you cannot think vpon him without ioy: your griefe passeth, but your ioy will neuer passe. Tell me (patient) how many stripes is heauen worth? Is my friend onely sicke it the world, or his fayth weaker than others▪ You haue alwayes prayed Thy will be done, & now are you offended that Gods wil is done? How hath the faithful man forgotten that all things (euen death) turne to the best, to them that loue God? Teach the happy (O Lord) to see his happines through troubles. Euery pain is a preuention of the paines of hell, and euery ease in paine, is a fore-taste of the ease, and peace, and ioyes in heauen.
Therefore remember your own comforts to others before, and be not impatient, when there is most need of patience, but as you have ever taught us to live, so now give us an example to die, and deceive Satan as Job did.
Therfore remember your own comforts to others before, and be not impatient, when there is most neede of patience, but as you haue euer taught vs to liue, so nowe giue vs an example to die, and deceiue Satan as Iob did.
FINIS.
