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…

Here is no respect of time, how long thou mayest stay it, or how long he will keep it, but ⟨p. 269⟩give it, is the present time, as though he would have it out of hand, while he asks, before the go out of the Church: for what can we ask of him, while we deny him but one thing when he asks of us? therefore consider who is a suitor to you. Now I am a Collector for God, to gather hearts, either you must grant him, or deny him; think who shall loose by it, if thou wilt not pay thy Land-lord his rent. How many subjects would rejoice if they had any thing to give to their prince, & pray her to accept it, and be glad if she would take it, that they might but say; I have given a present to the Queen.¹ So Mary rejoiced that she had a little Oil to sprinkle upon Christ, that she would take no money for it; yea the widow of Zareptah was so joyful that she had a little food for the Prophet,² that she spared it from her children and her self, to serve him first: so they which love the Lord like his disciple, which left all to follow him,³ had rather that he should have their riches, their honours, their hearts and their lives, then they themselves.

Here is no respect of time, how long thou maist stay it, or how long he wil keepe it, but ⟨p. 269⟩giue it, is the present time, as though he wold haue it out of hand, while hee askes, before ye goe out of the Church: for what can we aske of him, while we denye him but one thing when he askes of vs? therefore consider who is a sutor to you. Now I am a Collector for God, to gather hearts, either you must grant him, or denie him; thinke who shall loose by it, if thou wilt not pay thy Land-lord his rent. How many subiectes would reioyce if they had any thing to giue to their prince, & pray her to accept it, and be glad if she would take it, that they might but say; I haue giuen a present to the Queene.¹ So Mary reioyced that shee had a little Oyle to sprincke vpon Christ, that shee would take no mony for it; yea the widdow of Zareptah was so ioyfull that she had a little food for the Prophet,