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…

After Try all things, and keep the best: followeth, Abstain from all appearance of evil: ⟨p. 318⟩As if he should say, That is like to be best which is so far from evil, that it hath not the appearance of evil; and that is like to be the truth which is so far from error, that it hath not the show of error; whereby he showeth, that nothing should be brought into the Church, or added to our Religion, but that which is an undoubted truth without suspicion of error. It is not enough to be persuaded of our faith, but we must be assured of it; for Religion is not built upon doubts, but upon knowledge. Here we may marvel why Paul biddeth us Abstain from all appearance of evil: because sin, and heresy, and superstition are hypocrites; that is, Sin hath the appearance of Virtue and heresy hath the appearance of Truth, & Superstition hath the appearance of Religion: but by this the Apostle doth note, that there is no Sin, nor Heresy, nor Superstition, but if the visor be taken away from it, it will appear to be a Sin, and Heresy, and Superstition, though at the first sight the visor do make it seem none, because it covereth the evil, like a painted Sepulchre upon worms and rotten bones.

After Trie all things, and keepe the best: foloweth, Abstaine from all appearance of euill: ⟨p. 318⟩As if hee should saie, That is like to be best which is so farre from euill, that it hath not the appearance of euill; and that is like to be the truth which is so farre from errour, that it hath not the shewe of errour; whereby hee sheweth, that nothing should be brought into the Church, or added to our Religion, but that which is an vndoubted truth without suspition of errour. It is not inough to bee perswaded of our faith, but we must be assured of it; for Religion is not built vppon doubtes, but vpon knowledge. Here we may maruell why Paul biddeth vs Abstaine from all appearance of euill: because sinne, and heresie, and superstition are hypocrites; that is, Sinne hath the appearance of Vertue and heresie hath the appearance of Truth, & Superstition hath the appearance of Religion: but by this the Apostle doth note, that there is no Sinne, nor Heresie, nor Superstition, but if the visor bee taken away from it, it will appeare to be a Sinne, and Heresie, and Superstition, though at the first sight the visor doo make it seeme none, because it couereth the euill, like a painted Sepulcher vpon wormes and rotten bones.