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…

Now, when we have tried by the word which is truth, and which is error; what should ⟨p. 317⟩we do then?¹ Keep that which is best: that is, stay at the truth, as the wise men stayed when they came to Christ. We must keep and hold the truth, as a man gripeth a thing with both his hands; that is, defend it with thy tongue, maintain it with thy purse, further it with thy labour, in danger, and trouble, and loss, and displeasure, come life, come death; think, as Christ did seal the truth with his blood, so thou must seal it with thy blood, or else thou dost not keep it, but let it go. Well doth Paul put Try before Choose, for he which trieth may choose the best; but he which chooseth before he try, takes the worst sooner than the best: and therefore the Popes priests because the people should take superstition before religion, will never let them have the Touchstone, but keep them from the Scripture, and lock it up in an unknown tongue, which they cannot skill of, least they should try their doctrines,² like the men of Boerea, making religion a craft, as men call their trades. Therefore, as Josiah rejoiced that the book of God was found again; so we may rejoice that the book of God is found again: for when the people might not read it, it was all one as if they had lost it.

Now, when wee haue tried by the word which is truth, and which is error; what shuld ⟨p. 317⟩we doo then?¹ Keep that which is best: that is, stay at the truth, as the wise men stayed when they came to Christ. We must keep and hold the truth, as a man gripeth a thing with both his handes; that is, defend it with thy tongue, maintain it with thy purse, further it with thy labour, in danger, and trouble, and losse, and displeasure, come life, come death; thinke, as Christ did seale the truth with his blood, so thou must seale it with thy blood, or else thou doost not keepe it, but let it goe. Well dooth Paul put Trie before Choose, for he which trieth may chuse the best; but he which chuseth before he trie, takes the worst sooner than the best: and therefore the Popes priests because the people should take superstition before religion, will neuer let them haue the Touchstone, but keep them from the Scripture, and locke it vp in an vnknowen tongue, which they cannot skill of, least they should try their doctrines,