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…

Fifthly, that we should not serve God by fits, as we use to pray when the night comes, to hear when the Sabbath comes, to fast when Lent comes, to repent when death comes: but the service of the heart is a continual service,¹ like that in 1. Thess. 5. 16. Rejoice evermore, pray continually, in all things give thanks. Who is this which rejoiceth, and prayeth, and thanketh continually? The tong prayeth but sometime, the ear attendeth but sometime, the hand giveth but sometime; but the heart prayeth, and praiseth, and worshippeth always; a man may serve God always with his heart and never be weary, because the heart cannot serve him, unless it rejoice in his service: and therefore the Israelites praised God with music,² which did not delight God, but showed that they delighted in his service, as they did in music. But if the tongue, or the hand, or the ear, think to serve God without the heart, it is the irksomest occupation in the world, the hour of tediousness, like a long sickness, he is tired before he begin, and thinketh himself in the stocks, until the Sermon be ended, and until his Prayer be done, that he may be at liberty, and return to his old bias again.

Fiftly, that wee should not serue God by fits, as we vse to pray when the night comes, to heare when the Sabboath comes, to fast when Lent comes, to repent when death comes: but the seruice of the heart is a continuall seruice,¹ like that in 1. Thess. 5. 16. Reioyce euermore, praye continually, in all things giue thankes. Who is this which reioyceth, and prayeth, and thanketh continually? The tong prayeth but sometime, the eare attendeth but sometime, the hand giueth but sometime; but the heart prayeth, and praiseth, and worshippeth alwaies; a man may serue God alwaies with his heart and neuer bee wearie, because the heart cannot serue him, vnles it reioyce in his seruice: and therefore the Israelites praised God with musicke,² which did not delight God, but shewed that they delighted in his seruice, as they did in musicke. But if the tongue, or the hande, or the eare, thinke to serue God without the heart, it is the irksomest occupation in the world, the houre of tediousnesse, like a long sicknesse, he is tyred before he begin, and thinketh himselfe in the stockes, vntill the Sermon bee ended, and vntill his Prayer bee done, that hee may bee at libertie, and returne to his olde byas againe.