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…

Christ seeing the serpents dealing, how he had made his mother his tempter, that all his Auditory might go away empty, and say, where they came; We heard the man which is called Jesus, and he began to preach unto us, with such words, as though he would carry us to Heaven; but in the middest of his Sermon came his Mother and Brethren to him, that it might be known what a Kinsman they had: and so soon as he heard that they were come, suddenly he brake off ⟨p. 236⟩his Sermon and slipped away from us, to go and make merry with them. Christ, I say, seeing this train laid by Satan to disgrace him, (as he doth all his Ministers) did not leave off speaking, as they thought he would: but, as if God had appointed all this to credit and renown him; that which was noised here to interrupt his doctrine, he taketh for an occasion to teach another doctrine, that there is a nearer Conjunction between Christ and the faithful, then between the mother and the son, which are one flesh. Therefore, when they say, Thy mother and thy brethren are come to speak with thee, he pointeth to his hearers and saith; These are my mother and my brethren, which hear the word of God and do it: as if he should say, I have a Mother indeed which brought me forth, but in respect of them which hear the word of God, and do it, she is like a stepmother, and these are like a natural mother.

Christ seeing the serpents dealing, how he had made his mother his tempter, that all his Auditorie might go away emptie, and say, where they came; We heard the man which is called Iesus, and he began to preach vnto vs, with such words, as though he would carie vs to Heauen; but in the middest of his Sermon came his Mother and Brethren to him, that it might be knowen what a Kinsman they had: and so soone as hee heard that they were come, suddenly he brake off ⟨p. 236⟩his Sermon and slipt away from vs, to go and make merrie with them. Christ, I say, seeing this traine laid by Sathan to disgrace him, (as he doth all his Ministers) did not leaue off speaking, as they thought he would: but, as if God had appointed all this to credite and renowne him; that which was noysed here to interrupt his doctrine, he taketh for an occasion to teach another doctrine, that there is a nearer Coniunction betweene Christ and the faithfull, then betweene the mother and the sonne, which are one flesh. Therefore, when they say, Thy mother and thy brethren are come to speake with thee, hee pointeth to his hearers and saith; These are my mother and my brethren, which heare the word of God and doe it: as if hee should saie, I haue a Mother indeede which brought me foorth, but in respect of them which heare the word of God, and doe it, she is like a stepmother, and these are like a naturall mother.