A12406:658
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.
A man trieth his horse which must bear him, and shall he not try his faith which must save him? Paul saith, Let every one be able to give a reason of his faith. Is this a reason of our faith to say, I believe so, because Rome believeth so? or rather because that ⟨p. 316⟩the word doth teach me so. It will not answer for them which die in heresy, to say, the Priests taught us so; no more than it would excuse Eve to say,1 the Serpent taught her so: for God saith, Be not deceived, neither by serpent, nor by Prophet, nor by Angel. Therefore I conclude with Paul, Despise not Prophesying, lest the Gospel be taken from you; and yet try prophesying, lest you receive error for truth.
A man trieth his horse which must beare him, and shall hee not trie his faith which must saue him? Paule saith, Let euerie one be able to giue a reason of his faith. Is this a reason of our faith to say, I beleeue so, because Rome beleeueth so? or rather because that ⟨p. 316⟩the word doth teach me so. It will not answer for them which die in heresie, to say, the Priests taught vs so; no more than it would excuse Eue to say,1 the Serpent taught her so: for God saith, Be not deceiued, neither by serpent, nor by Prophet, nor by Angell. Therefore I conclude with Paule, Despise not Prophecying, lest the Gospell be taken from you; and yet trie prophecying, lest you receiue error for truth.
As we are to try doctrines, so Paul would have us to try our thoughts, and our speeches, and our actions: therefore he saith, Try all things. He doth not bid us take a taste of all sins and vanities, as Solomon did to try them; for they are tried already: but that we should set the word of God alway before us like a rule, & believe nothing but that which it teacheth, love nothing but that which it prescribeth, hate nothing but that which it forbiddeth, do nothing but that which it commandeth; and then we try all things by the word. As the Eunuch said, How should I understand without an Interpreter?