A12406:1437
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 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.
A comfortable speech, taken from a godly Preacher, lying upon his death-bed: written for the sick.
A comfortable speech, taken from a godly Preacher, lying vpon his death-bed: written for the sicke.
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