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…

Despise not prophesying. This admonition is as it were the keeper of the former, for by prophesying the Spirit is kindled, and without prophesying the Spirit is quenched, and therefore after Quench not the Spirit, Paul saith, Despise not prophesying; showing that as our sin doth quench the Spirit, so prophesying doth kindle it.¹ This you may see in the Disciples that went to Emmaus, of whom it is said, when Christ preached unto them out of the law and the Prophets, the spirit was so kindled with his prophesying, that their harts ⟨p. 298⟩waxed hot within them. This you see again in Sauls messengers,² which were sent for David, when they came among the Prophets & heard them prophesy, their spirit was so kindled, that they could not choose but prophesy also, insomuch that Saul came after him self, and hearing the Prophets as they did, the Spirit came unto him likewise, and he prophesied too;³ whereupon it was said, Is Saul also among the Prophets? This is no marvel, that the spirit of man should be so kindled, and revived, and refreshed with the word, for the word is called the Food of the soul; take away the word from the soul,⁴ and it hath no food to eat. As if you should take food from the body, the body would pine. And therefore Solomon saith,⁵ Without visions the people perish: that is, without prophesying the people famish. Therefore he which loveth his soul, had no need to despise prophesying; for then he famisheth his own soul, and is guilty of her death; therefore that Pastor or that Patron, which is the cause why any place doth want preaching, is guilty of their destruction, because he which taketh, or keepeth away the food, doth famish the body. The Apostle might have said, love prophesying, or honour prophesying; but he saith, Despise not prophesying. And why doth he ⟨p. 299⟩forbid to despise Prophesying? Why did Christ say,