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…

This voice came from heaven, and therefore it spake home, not like them which glide by the faults of Princes, & whisper behind their backs, as though they would reprove them if they durst, but for fear lest the prince or counsellor, or judge, or magistrate, should take it as he means it, & think that he aims at them, which makes them speak in parables, as though they would cast a veil over their reproof, and eat their message before they have spoken it. The holy Ghost teacheth us here to reprove, so that whosoever sinneth may know that thou speakest to him. He which speaketh from Heaven (as the voice did) must speak like John Baptist among the Publicans & harlots, and soldiers, as though he went from one to another, and said, this is spoken to thee, this is spoken to thee, this is ⟨p. 396⟩spoken to thee. For unless we come near these mortal Gods and proud Nebuchadnezzars, as near as Elijah came to Ahab, when he said, It is thou that troublest Israel, they will post it over and think that thou speakest not to them until thou speakest plainly, as the voice spake from heaven, To thee be it spoken. And they will reform the matter, or else God show some judgement upon them, as he did here upon this great king Nebuchadnezzar.

This voice came from heauen, and therefore it spake home, not like them which glide by the faultes of Princes, & whisper behinde their backes, as though they would reproue them if they durst, but for feare lest the prince or counsellor, or iudge, or magistrate, should take it as he meanes it, & think that he aimes at them, which makes them speake in parables, as though they would cast a vayle ouer their reproofe, and eate their message before they haue spoken it. The holy Ghost teacheth vs here to reproue, so that whosoeuer sinneth may knowe that thou speakest to him. Hee which speaketh from Heauen (as the voyce did) must speak like Iohn Baptist among the Publicans & harlots, and souldiers, as though he went from one to another, and saide, this is spoken to thee, this is spoken to thee, this is ⟨p. 396⟩spoken to thee. For vnlesse wee come neere these mortall Gods and proud Nabuchadnezzars, as neer as Elias came to Achab, whē he said, It is thou that troublest Israel, they wil poast it ouer and thinke that thou speakest not to them vntill thou speakest plainly, as the voice spake from heauen, To thee be it spoken. And they will reforme the matter, or else God shew some iudgement vpon them, as he did heere vpon this great king Nabuchadnezzar.