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…

There was a pool in Jury, where the sick and Leprous lay, for at one time of the day, the Angel came and stirred the water, and then he which stepped in first was healed of his disease: he which stepped in first was healed saith John, none but he which stepped in first; so he which taketh time is sure, but he which foresloweth time oftener faileth then speedeth. For when golden opportunity is past, no time will fit for her. If Elijah would be served before the widow, when she had but a little cruse of Oil, which was not enough to serve her self; will God be served after Elijah, will God be served after thee? Nay after the flesh and after the devil? Thou mayest read in the 19. of Levit. and the 13. ⟨p. 468⟩that GOD would not have the labourers hire stay in thy hands all night, but would have thee pay him before thou sleep. If God would not have the labourers due stay in thy hands one night; how darest thou keep his due from him day and night? so many days and nights, and weeks, and months and years together? where is the morning sacrifice which God requireth: nay where is the evening sacrifice which God requireth: the gloomy morning hath overcast the whole day, doest thou think it enough if thou do not sit in the chair of scorners, or if thou do not stand in the way of sinners? he which standeth stayeth not, he which sitteth taketh his ease, but he which walketh goeth his way. Yet he which walketh in the way of sinners, though he neither sit nor stand, is not of the blessed number. But he which neither sitteth, nor standeth, nor walketh, is blessed saith David, Psalm. 1. ver. 1. Alas then why do we sit, if they which stand are accursed, and they which walk are not blessed?¹ Christ sayeth, First seek the kingdom of God, and we say first, let me bury my father, first let me bid my friends farewell, and so many things first. So long in burying our Father, and bidding our friends farewell: that is the riches, and honours, and pleasures of this world, ⟨p. 469⟩that there is no time left to seek the kingdom: but follow me, is turned to, follow us, Christ must follow our sins, and come after our pleasures, or else he shall not be served at all. When we were Children, we deferred till we were men: when we are men, we defer till we be old men, when we are old men, we defer till death: