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…

So the common people (like your selves) put on Christ, they are zealous so long as they are in the Church, and beat their breasts,¹ and cast up their eyes like the Publican, when they hear a sentence which moves them, as though they would do no more against that saying while they live: but the next business putteth all out of mind, till they come to the Church again. Some put on Christ as a glove, which covereth but the hand; so they put on the face of Christ, or the tongue of Christ: but their hands work, ⟨p. 338⟩and their feet walk, as they did before: So many professors of Religion put on Christ, which call but for discipline and reformation, that they might get a name of zeal and sincerity, to cover some fault, which they would not be suspected of. Thus every man would cover himself with Christ, but they have not the skill, or they have not the will to put him on. What will you do then? Though the Garment be never so good, yet it is not good to them that do not wear it: for what profit have we of the Garments which we do not wear? they neither keep us from heat, nor cold. Therefore Paul doth not bring you a Garment to lay by you for the moths, but he bids you put it on. Here is the cunning now in putting it on. If Paul had taught us this, then you would hearken unto him. Well, you shall hear what Paul saith to the putting it on.

So the common people (lyke your selues) put on Christ, they are zealous so long as they are in the Church, and beate their breasts,¹ and cast vp their eyes like the Publican, when they heare a sentence which mooues them, as though they would do no more against that saying while they liue: but the next businesse putteth all out of mind, till they come to the Church againe. Some put on Christ as a gloue, which couereth but the hand; so they put on the face of Christ, or the tongue of Christ: but their hands worke, ⟨p. 338⟩and their feete walke, as they did before: So manie professours of Religion put on Christ, which call but for discipline and reformation, that they might get a name of zeale and sinceritie, to couer some fault, which they would not be suspected of. Thus euery man would couer himselfe with Christ, but they haue not the skill, or they haue not the will to put him on. What will you do then? Though the Garment bee neuer so good, yet it is not good to them that do not weare it: for what profite haue we of the Garments which we doe not weare? they neither keepe vs from heate, nor colde. Therefore Paul doth not bring you a Garment to laye by you for the moaths, but he bids you put it on. Here is the cunning now in putting it on. If Paule had taught vs this, then you would hearken vnto him. Well, you shall heare what Paul saith to the putting it on.