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…

Many there be that think they have not sinned in gluttony till they surfeit, but this is gluttony in excess, and punisheth it self with many diseases, as dullness of wit, want of memory, and shortness of life. Now that you may sin in gluttony, and not to surfeit, appeareth by the rich man in the sixteenth of Luke, who fared deliciously every day, and never surfeited, yet for all that he is called a glutton, to teach us that there be gluttons which do not surfeit. This kind of sin much ⟨p. 349⟩displeaseth God, when men eat and drink and rise up to play, and remember not the afflictions of Joseph and Lazarus lying at the door: many be such banquets, where none do come with a Wedding garment, & where Christ is never invited. Many things may persuade us to temperance, & we may learn it of the beasts, who desire no change, nor hoard not, and are content. God provided meat for all creatures, as herbs, roots, and grass, before he provided any for man, to teach us, what little care we should have of our belly, for we live not by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Christ hath taught us to fast, when he prepared himself thereunto in the wilderness, but he never by any example taught us to feast: some there be which think he did never eat flesh but in the paschal Lamb, which although it doth not teach, or debar us from eating flesh, which Peter was willed to eat in the vision, yet it teacheth us to tame the flesh, lest Hagar should get the upper hand of her mistress.

Manie there bee that thinke they haue not sinned in gluttony til they surfet, but this is gluttonie in excesse, and punisheth it selfe with many diseases, as dulnes of wit, want of memorie, and shortnes of life. Now that you may sinne in gluttonie, and not to surfet, appeareth by the rich man in the sixteenth of Luke, who fared deliciouslie euerie day, and neuer surfeted, yet for all that hee is called a glutton, to teach vs that there be gluttons which do not surfet. This kinde of sin much ⟨p. 349⟩displeaseth God, when men eate and drinke and rise vp to play, and remember not the afflictions of Ioseph and Lazarus lying at the doore: many be such banquets, where none do come with a Wedding garment, & where Christ is neuer inuited. Manie thinges may perswade vs to temperance, & we may learne it of the beastes, who desire no chaunge, nor hoord not, and are content. God prouided meate for all creatures, as hearbes, rootes, and grasse, before hee prouided anie for man, to teach vs, what little care wee should haue of our belly, for we liue not by bread onely, but by euerie worde that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Christ hath taught vs to fast, when he prepared himselfe thereunto in the wildernesse, but hee neuer by anie example taught vs to feast: some there be which thinke hee did neuer eate flesh but in the paschall Lambe, which although it doth not teach, or debar vs from eating flesh, which Peter was willed to eate in the vision, yet it teacheth vs to tame the flesh, lest Hagar should get the vpper hand of her mistresse.