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…

Now, the ground was barren because of the flood, and could not bring forth fruit of it self, because of the curse: therefore it pitied Noah to see desolation and barrenness, and slime upon the face of the earth, which he had seen so glorious and sweet, and fertile, with all manner of herbs, and fruits, and flowers before. Therefore he setteth himself to manure it, which wanted for nothing now but a painful labourer to till and dress it, that it might bring forth delights and profits for sinful man, as it did before.

Now, the grounde was barren because of the floud, and could not bring forth fruite of it selfe, because of the curse: therefore it pitied Noah to see desolation and barrennesse, and slime vpon the face of the earth, which he had seene so glorious and sweete, and fertill, with all manner of hearbes, and fruites, and flowers before. Therefore he setteth himselfe to manure it, which wanted for nothing now but a painful labourer to till and dresse it, that it might bring forth delights and profites for sinfull man, as it did before.

By this we may learn to use all means for the obtaining of Gods blessings, and not to loose any thing which we might have or save for want of pains, for that is sin, as Solomon noteth in the four and twentieth of the Proverbs, when he reproveth the slothful husbandman, because his field brought forth Nettles and Thistles in stead of grapes: not because the ground would not bear grapes, but because the slothful man would ⟨p. 583⟩not set them. Shall God command the earth and all his creatures to increase for us, and shall not we further their increase for our selves? As we increase and multiply our selves, so we are bound to join hand and help, that all creatures may increase and multiply too, or else the Fathers should eat the children's portion, and in time there should be nothing left for them that come after: this regard Noah seemeth to have unto his posterity, and therefore he gave himself unto husbandry, which is commended in him unto this day, and shall be recorded of him, so long as this book is read: whereby we are warned, that he which liveth only to himself, is not to be remembered of them which live after.