A12406:651
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.
THE TRUE TRIAL OF THE SPIRITS.THE TRVE TRIAL OF THE SPIRITES.
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.
Hath not this despising of the Preachers, almost made the preachers despise preaching? the peoples neglect of the prophets hath made the Prophets neglect prophesying? the Nonresident keeps himself away, because he thinks the people like him better, because do doth not trouble them. And the drone never studieth to preach, for he ⟨p. 310⟩saith, that an Homily is better liked of than a Sermon: and they which would study Divinity above all, when they look upon our contempt, and beggary, and vexation, turn to Law, to Physic, or trades, or any thing, rather than they will enter this contemptible calling. And is not the Ark then ready to depart from Israel?
Hath not this despising of the Preachers, almost made the preachers despise preaching? the peoples neglect of the prophets hath made the Prophets neglect prophecying? the Nonresident keepes himselfe away, because hee thinkes the people like him better, because dee dooth not trouble them. And the droane neuer studieth to preach, for hee ⟨p. 310⟩saith, that an Homelie is better liked of than a Sermon: and they which would studie Diuinitie aboue all, when they looke vpon our contempt, and beggerie, and vexation, turne to Law, to Phisicke, or trades, or anie thing, rather than they will enter this contemptible calling. And is not the Arke then readie to depart from Israell?
Now if you will know what makes Prophets and prophesying so despised, you may see first in Jeroboam's Priests. It is said, that Jeroboam made Israel to sin; 1that is, Jeroboam made Israel to contemn Religion, because he made Priests of the basest of the people;2 therefore they which make Priests like Jeroboam's Priests, make the people contemn the Priests & religion too. Why might none carry the Ark but the Levites?