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…

Lastly, Nebuchadnezzar saith not, that his shape was restored unto him, but that his understanding was restored unto him: all which declare, that he was not changed in body, but in mind: not in shape, but in quality. A savage mind came on him, like that which drove Cain from the company of men,¹ and he became like a Satire or wild man, which differeth not from a beast, but in shape: though he was not turned to a beast, yet this was a strange alteration, to be so changed in an hour, that his Nobles abhorred him, his subjects despised him, his servants forsook him, none would company with him but the beasts. Consider this all that advance themselves against GOD and despise his word, as Nebuchadnezzar did. Take warning by a King, which even now walked in his galleries, & his Nobles served him in his palace, with ⟨p. 401⟩all dishes that the air, or sea, or land, could afford: now he is turned to graze & feed like an ox with the beasts in the wilderness. This was to show that God maketh no more account of the wicked then of beasts, and therefore the holy Ghost calleth them often by the name of beasts: showing how that sin and pleasure make men like beasts: when they have abused their wits often, and perverted their reason, at last God taketh their understanding from them, and they become like beasts, loathsome to themselves and others: many such beasts we have still like Nebuchadnezzar, who were fitter to live in the desert among lions, where they might not annoy others, then in towns amongst men, where they infect more then the plague. Thus if you have not considered the beastliness of sin, look upon Nebuchadnezzar like a beast. If you would see the guilt of it,² look upon wandering Cain. If thou wouldest see the frenzy of it,³ look upon frantic Saul. If thou wouldest see the fear of it, look upon trembling Baltazar.⁴ If thou wilt see the shame of it,⁵ look upon Haman, hanging upon his own gallows. If thou wilt see the end of it, look upon the Glutton frying in hell.