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…

This was the Arithmetic of holy men in former times to reckon their days, so that their time might seem short, to make them apply their hearts to wisdom: The Hebrews did number their days thus: first they did deduct the time of sleep, so that if our years be threescore and ten,¹ as the Prophet saith, five and thirty of these years are stricken off at one blow, because we spend half our time in sleep: then they did deduct the time of youth,² which Solomon calleth vanity, as though it were not worthy to be called life but vanity: Then they did deduct the days of sorrow, because in sorrow a man had ⟨p. 560⟩rather dye then live: so when the hours of sleep, & the hours of youth, and the hours of sorrow are taken away, what an Epitome is mans life come to? The Fathers used an other account: First they did deduct all the time which is past, for the time which is past is nothing: then they did deduct the time to come, because the time to come is uncertain, and no man can say that he shall live. Now, when the time past, and the time to come is set aside, there is nothing left but the time present, that is, a moment, which is not so much in respect of eternity, as a little mote to the whole earth.

This was the Arithmeticke of holie men in former times to reckon their dayes, so that their time might seeme short, to make them applie their hearts to wisdome: The Hebrewes did number their dayes thus: first they did deduct the time of sleepe, so that if our yeeres bee threescore and tenne,¹ as the Prophet saith, fiue and thirtie of these yeares are striken off at one blow, because wee spend halfe our time in sleepe: then they did deduct the time of youth,² which Salomon calleth vanity, as though it were not worthy to be called life but vanitie: Then they did deduct the daies of sorrow, because in sorrow a man had ⟨p. 560⟩rather dye then liue: so when the houres of sleepe, & the houres of youth, and the houres of sorrowe are taken away, what an Epitomie is mans life come to? The Fathers vsed an other account: First they did deduct all the time which is past, for the time which is past is nothing: then they did deduct the time to come, because the time to come is vncertain, and no man can say that he shall liue. Now, when the time past, and the time to come is set aside, there is nothing left but the time present, that is, a moment, which is not so much in respect of eternitie, as a little mote to the whole earth.