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…

They had never heard of Purgatory, but for these spirits which walked in the night, and told them they were the souls of such and such, which suffered in fire till their masses, and alms, and pilgrimages did ransom them out: So these night spirits begat Purgatory, and Purgatory begat trentals, as one Serpent hatcheth another.

They had neuer heard of Purgatorie, but for these spirites which walked in the night, and tolde them they were the soules of such and such, which suffered in fire till their masses, and almes, and pilgrimages did raunsome them out: So these night spirits begate Purgatorie, and Purgatorie begate trentalles, as one Serpent hatcheth another.

Yet a third question riseth out of these words, and that is this; Whether a Christian may wish for death? As Paul desired, so may we desire,¹ if we have Pauls spirit. As Christ told his Disciples when they asked him, whether they should pray for fire from heaven, as Elijah did? Christ answered, that they knew not of what spirit they were: as if he should say, If you were of Elijah spirit, and did pray with the same mind, and to the same end that he did, then you might pray as he prayed. The wicked wish to die, because they would be rid of the cross, and suffer no more for God: as Cain,² so soon as he was cursed, and knew that his life should be a torment, he sought to dye, to prevent the just judgement of God▪ & spite him (as it were) which should punish ⟨p. 538⟩sins. So do the people oftentimes, which have not to satisfy hunger, & the sick which saint of an incurable disease, and the weary captives in prison, galleys, and bonds. As for the faithful, if they at any time wish to die, they pray for death, as the last remedy against sin and Satan: even as they pray in the Revelation, for the hastening of Christs coming to judgement,