A12406:856
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.
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.
when a man is first married, he may use the matter so, to win his wife unto him, or to estrange her hart for ever. when a Pastor cometh first to a place, with a small matter he may make the simple people like him or dislike him, so long as he stayeth: when the heir comes to his lands, lightly all his tenants begin to speak well of him, or evil of him. when a Prince cometh to the crown, by the laws which he maketh, first the people guess how he will rule ever after: and either dispose their hearts to love him, or wish his death.
when a man is first maried, he may vse the matter so, to winne his wife vnto him, or to estrange her hart for euer. when a Pastor commeth first to a place, with a small matter he may make the simple people like him or dislike him, so long as he staieth: when the heire comes to his lands, lightly all his tenants beginne to speake well of him, or euill of him. when a Prince commeth to the crowne, by the lawes which hee maketh, first the people gesse how he will rule euer after: and eyther dispose theyr hearts to loue him, or wish his death.
Therefore the sage and beaten counsellors ⟨p. 463⟩advised Rehoboam when he began to reign:1 Show thy self loving to the people this day, and they will be thy servants for ever. As though all the days after could not do so much as the first: Such a victory it is to begin well, as our Proverb saith: he which hath begun well, is half his way, especially it is good for a man to begin his repentance, before he learn to be evil: For herein our minds do follow our bodies. If our children be deformed in their youth, we never look to see them well savoured: so if the mind be planted in sin, seldom any goodness buddeth out of that stock. For virtue must have a time to grow, the seed is sown in youth, which cometh up in age.
Therefore the sage and beaten counsaylers ⟨p. 463⟩