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…

As there is a kindred by the Fathers side, and a kindred by the Mothers side, so there is a kindred of Hearers, and a kindred of doers. In Matthew it is said, He which heareth the Will of my Father, and doth it: Here it is said, He which heareth the word of God and doth it: both are one; For his word is his will, and therefore it is called his will. Psalm 119.

As there is a kindred by the Fathers side, and a kindred by the Mothers side, so there is a kindred of Hearers, and a kindred of dooers. In Matthew it is saide, Hee which heareth the Wil of my Father, and doth it: Here it is saide, Hee which heareth the worde of God and dooth it: both are one; For his word is his will, and therefore it is called his will. Psalme 119.

As he spake there of doing, so he speaketh here of a certain rule, which he calleth the word of God, whereby all mens works must be squared: For if I do all the works that I can, to satisfy an others will, or mine own will; it availeth me nothing with God, because I do it not for GOD. Therefore, he which always before followed his own will, when he was stricken down and began to repent,¹ cried out: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? as if he should say, I will do no more as men would have me, or as the Devil would have me, or as the flesh would have me, but as thou wouldst have me.

As he spake there of dooing, so hee speaketh here of a certaine rule, which hee calleth the worde of God, whereby all mens workes must be squared: For if I do all the workes that I can, to satisfie an others will, or mine owne will; it auaileth mee nothing with God, because I doe it not for GOD. Therefore, hee which alwaies before followed his owne will, when hee was stricken downe and beganne to repent,¹