A12406:773
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 FALL OF KING Nebuchadnezzar.THE FALL OF KING Nabuchadnezzar.
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.
Now the time was come, when this King should be made an example unto all other Kings after him, to amend their lives, and reform their Realms, when as the Prophet cometh from God unto them, to tell them what they should do. When Dream and Daniel had done what they could; now God calls forth his Judgements, and bids them see what they can do, and commands them to chase Nebuchadnezzar, until he have lost his kingdom, until he be driven out of his palace, until he be fled into the wilderness, until he be degenerate like a beast, until his subjects, & servants, & pages make their sport, & gaze and wonder at him, like a fool ⟨p. 392⟩which goeth unto the stocks, or a trespasser, which is gazed at upon the pillory: so the king was debased, when God heard him but vaunt of his buildings.
Now the time was come, when this King should bee made an example vnto all other Kings after him, to amend their liues, and reforme their Realmes, when as the Prophet commeth from God vnto them, to tell them what they should doe. When Dreame and Daniel had done what they could; now God cals foorth his Iudgements, and bids them see what they can do, and commaunds them to chase Nabuchadnezzar, vntill he haue lost his kingdome, vntill he be driuen out of his pallace, vntill he be fled into the wildernes, vntill he be degenerate like a beast, vntill his subiects, & seruants, & pages make their sport, & gaze and wonder at him, like a foole ⟨p. 392⟩which goeth vnto the stockes, or a trespasser, which is gazed at vpon the pillorie: so the king was debased, when God heard him but vaunt of his buildings.
Therefore let us take heed and be careful, after what sort we speak, and what words slip from us, lest GOD take us in our lies, or oaths, or slanders, or ribaldry, as he took Nebuchadnezzar, when his tongue walked without a bit: for if he had supposed that God had been so near, and that he would have answered him as he did, he would have held his peace, and laid his hand upon his mouth, rather than pay so dear for a vain word, which did him no good when it was spoken.