A12406:955
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.
Now, why hath GOD appointed such a ⟨p. 562⟩short time to man in this world? Surely, least he should defer to do good, as his manner is: for though his life is so short, yet he thinks it too long to repent.1 The Prophet saith, that our years are but threescore and ten, as though this were but a little time to live. But why should we live so long? for if our life were but a year, yet a year is more then we use, all the rest is lost: for we defer till that week which we think will be last. It is said of the devil,2 that he is busy because his time is short: but the time of man is shorter: and therefore Christ saith,3 In this thy day: as though no day could be called thy day, but this day: and therefore all that thou hast to do, thou must do this day. Consider this, all which travel toward heaven: had we not need to make hast, which must go such a long journey in such a short time? How can he choose but run, which remembereth that every day runneth away with his life?
Now, why hath GOD appoynted such a ⟨p. 562⟩short time to man in this world? Surely, least he should deferre to doe good, as his manner is: for though his life is so short, yet he thinks it too long to repent.1 The Prophet saith, that our yeares are but threescore and ten, as though this were but a little time to liue. But why should we liue so long? for if our life were but a yeare, yet a yeare is more then we vse, al the rest is lost: for wee deferre till that weeke which we thinke will be last. It is sayd of the diuell,2 that he is busie because his time is short: but the time of man is shorter: and therefore Christ saith,3 In this thy day: as though no day could bee called thy daye, but this daye: and therefore all that thou hast to doe, thou must doe this day. Consider this, all which trauell toward heauen: had wee not neede to make hast, which must goe such a long iourney in such a short time? How can he choose but run, which remembreth that euery day runneth away with his life?