A12406:626
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…
The sermons of Master Henry Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his corrected copies in his life time.The sermons of Maister Henrie Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his corrected copies in his life time.
London: printed by Richard Field for Thomas Man, 1593
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thus every thing which should be thrown out, hath a place in our heart; and he which should be received in, can have no room there, though he would open the doors of heaven, if we would open the doors of our hearts,1 that the King of glory might come in. What shall become of those hearts, when he which craves them now, shall judge them hereafter? Then shall they stand like Esau, and see them blessed like Jacob which gave their hearts;2 and cry themselves as he did to his father Isaac, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for us? What a heavy heart will it be then, when it may not joy any longer here, and the joys of Heaven are shut against it? and he which desired it, will not have it, because it comes like the foolish Virgins,3 when the doors of mercy are shut. Thus ye have heard what God requires for all that he hath ⟨p. 287⟩given you, and how all your services are lost until you bring it. What shall I wish you now before my departure? I wish you would give all your hearts to God while I speak, that ye might have a Kingdom for them. Send for your hearts where they are wandering, one from the Bank, another from the Tavern, another from the Shop, another from the Theatres; call them home, and give them all unto God, and see how he will welcome them,4 as the Father embraceth his Sonne. If your hearts were with God, durst the Devil fetch them, durst those sins come at them? Even as Dinah was deflowered when she strayed from home:5 so is the heart when it strayeth from God. Therefore call the members together, and let them fast like a quest of twelve men, until they consent upon law, before any moe Terms pass, to give God his right, and let him take the heart which he wooeth, which he would marry, which he would endow with all his goods, and make it the heir of the crown. When you pray, let your heart pray; when you hear, let your heart hear; when you give, let your heart give; whatsoever you do, set the heart to do it: and if it be not so perfect as it should be,