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…

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.

Therefore let vs take heede and be carefull, after what sort we speake, and what wordes slip from vs, lest GOD take vs in our lies, or oaths, or slanders, or ribauldrie, as hee tooke Nabuchadnezzar, when his tongue walked without a bit: for if he had supposed that God had been so neare, and that he would haue answered him as he did, he would haue held his peace, and layd his hand vpon his mouth, rather than pay so deare for a vain word, which did him no good when it was spoken.

The second note is of the Judge, A voice came down from heaven: the controlling voice came down from heaven, God is most offended with our sin: for Nebuchadnezzar might have spoken more than this, before any other man, and no man could control him because he was king, and kings delight in greater vanities than buildings, yet no man saith, Why doest thou so? because Solomon saith, He which repeateth a matter separateth the Prince, that is, he which tells Princes their faults, maketh them his enemies: therefore since John Baptist dyed, only God is left to reprove almost all that sin by authority, yet there is one in heaven hath an ear and a ⟨p. 393⟩tongue, and checketh the king as boldly as ever the king checketh his subjects. When the voice from earth spake vainly, the voice from heaven spake judgement. Here is the king of heaven against the king of earth, the voice of GOD against the voice of man: a divine wrath, warring with a humane pride: the fire is kindled, woe to the stubble. The Lord of hosts is in arms against the Lord of Babel, and begins to lay hands on him and to thrust him out of his throne. First, he rattles him like a thunder, O King Nebuchadnezzar: as if he should say, for all thou art a king, thou shalt see whether another be above thee. Now guard thy person, now defend thy honour, for he whom thou hast despised, threateneth to take thy kingdom from thee; go now and walk in thy galleries, fetch one turn more before thou be turned out of door, and walk with the beasts in the forrest.