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…

Why should not any custom, or honour, or pleasure dye, which seeketh the death of religion? Alas (saith Jeremiah) what have I done, ¹that all men should curse me? If we do but preach the truth, you should not hate us for the truth. Now Obadiah had need to hide the Prophets again to save them out of prison,² where is Rahab that she might convey away the servants of God?³ Once Baals prophets were punished,⁴ but now Christs Prophets are punished:⁵ once they did ask, Where is the Seer that he may teach us? but now they ask, where is the Seer, that we may take him? once they did build houses for the prophets, like the Shunamite;⁶ but now they take their houses from them, and think they do God service, when they make them, & their wives, & their children, & their servants beggars; once Paul said to Timothy,⁷ Let no man despise thy ⟨p. 307⟩youth; showing that preachers should not be despised for their youth▪ but now they despise the young prophets and the old too. How is the double honour turned to single honour? nay, how is our honour turned to dishonour.⁸ If I be a Master (saith God) where is my fear? so, if we be prophets, where is our reverence? doth not the contempt of prophets cry unto God, as well as the blood of Abel?⁹ When the messengers which were sent unto the vineyard for fruit, were beaten of them which should have laden them; then it is said that the Lord of the vineyard waxed wroth,