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…

Then (saith Moses) Noah began to be an husbandman. In that it is here said that Noah began, it doth not disprove that he gave not himself to husbandry before, but it importeth that Noah began to set up husbandry again after the flood, before any other: so this good man recomforted with the experience of Gods favour, (which had exempted him & his seed out of all the world) and rejoicing to see the face of the earth again after the waters were gone, though then an old man, and weak he was, yet he returneth to his labour afresh, and scorned not to till and plant for all his possessions, as though he were an husbandman: such a lowliness is always joined with the fear of GOD, that they that are humbled with Religion, do not think themselves too good to do any good thing. Here note by the way, that none of Noah's sons are said to begin this work: but Noah himself, the old man, the hoary head and careful Father begins to teach the rest, and shows his sons the way how they should provide for their sons: and how all the world after should live by labour and travel, till they return to dust: so the old man whom age dispenseth withal, to take his ease, is more willing to provide for the ⟨p. 582⟩wants of his children, then they are which are bound to labour for themselves and their parents to: as the Stork doth feed the dam when she is old, because the dam fed her when she was young: what a shame is this to Shem and Japheth, that is, to us which are young & strong, that the father should be called a labourer, when the sons stand by.

Then (saith Moses) Noah began to bee an husbandman. In that it is here sayd that Noah began, it doth not disproue that he gaue not himselfe to husbandrie before, but it importeth that Noah began to set vp husbandrie againe after the floud, before any other: so this good man recomforted with the experience of Gods fauour, (which had exempted him & his seede out of all the world) and reioycing to see the face of the earth againe after the waters were gone, though then an olde man, and weake he was, yet he returneth to his labour afresh, and scorned not to till and plant for all his possessions, as though hee were an husbandman: such a lowlines is alwaies ioyned with the feare of GOD, that they that are humbled with Religion, doe not thinke themselues too good to doe any good thing. Heere note by the way, that none of Noahs sonnes are sayde to begin this worke: but Noah himselfe, the olde man, the hoary head and carefull Father begins to teach the rest, and shewes his sonnes the waye how they should prouide for their sonnes: and how all the world after should liue by labour and trauell, till they returne to dust: so the olde man whom age dispenseth withall, to take his ease, is more willing to prouide for the