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…

Thus you see Nebuchadnezzar was made like a beast that he might die like a man, for he could never learn from whence his kingdom came, until he had been apprentice seven years unto the cross, and when he perceived who took his kingdom from him, then he perceived also who gave his Kingdom to him, and learned his thankfulness in the wilderness, when all the blessings were gone, which he should have been thankful for, he thought that God was no body, until ⟨p. 424⟩he became like no body himself, and then who but God, no power but of him, no honour but from him, his first honour came from God, as well as his last: but when he was like a beast which knew not his owner, like a babe which knew not his Father, like an Image which knows not his maker, but now he knoweth from whom Kings reign, and hath learned to say thy Kingdom, as well as my Kingdom, and is like the elders in the Revelation which cast down their crowns before the Lamb.

Thus you see Nabuchadnezzar was made like a beast that he might die like a man, for he could neuer learne from whence his kingdome came, vntill he had beene apprentice seuen yeares vnto the crosse, and when hee perceiued who took his kingdome from him, then he perceiued also who gaue his Kingdome to him, and learned his thankefulnesse in the wildernesse, when al the blessings were gone, which he should haue been thankfull for, he thought that God was no body, vntill ⟨p. 424⟩he became like no body himselfe, and then who but God, no power but of him, no honor but from him, his first honor came from God, as well as his last: but when he was like a beast which knew not his owner, like a babe which knewe not his Father, like an Image which knowes not his maker, but nowe hee knoweth from whom Kings raigne, and hath learned to say thy Kingdome, as well as my Kingdome, and is like the elders in the Reuelation which cast downe their crownes before the Lambe.

Such a schoolmaster is affliction, to teach that, which Prophets and Angels cannot teach. For the Prophet and his dream had told him as much before, yet he could never say, the Lord hath given, before he did see how the Lord had taken: they say a friend is never known before he be lost: so when God fled, then Nebuchadnezzar followed: but when God called, then Nebuchadnezzar contemned; when he hath all things he is unthankful, and when he hath nothing he beginneth to be thankful.