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…

for this is the quality of virtue, it seemeth nothing unto a man until he hath it, as Solomon saith of the buyer, while he is in buying he dispraiseth the thing which he buyeth,¹ and saith; It is naught, it is not worth the price which ye ask: but when he hath bought it, so soon as he is gone he boasteth of his penny worths, and saith it is better than his money. So godliness, before a man have it, he saith it is not worth his labour, and thinks every hour too much that he spendeth about it: but when he hath found it, he would not lose it again for all the world, because he is now come to that which followeth; To be contented with that he hath.

for this is the qualitie of vertue, it seemeth nothing vnto a man vntill he hath it, as Salomon saith of the buyer, while hee is in buying hee dispraiseth the thing which hee buyeth,¹ and sayth; It is naught, it is not worth the price which ye aske: but when he hath bought it, so soone as he is gone he boasteth of his peni worths, and saith it is better than his money. So godlines, before a man haue it, hee saith it is not worth his labour, and thinks euerie houre too much that hee spendeth about it: but when he hath found it, he would not lose it againe for al the worlde, because hee is nowe come to that which followeth; To be contented with that he hath.

1. 1Pro. 20. 14.

Here Paul showeth with what a man should be contented, not with a thousand pounds, nor a hundred pounds, nor twenty pounds, but with that he hath: and there is great reason why he should so; because no man knoweth what is fit for him, so well as his Carver. And therefore every one should esteem so reverently of God, that he think nothing better for him (for that present time) than that which God measureth forth unto him.