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…

as though he had forgot all his righteousness so soon as he sinned, & would call in his praise again. This was to show, that Noah was not saved from the flood, because he deserved to be saved; but because God had a favour unto him: for he which was not drowned with water, was drowned after with Wine. As the Pharisees when ⟨p. 586⟩they had done well, were proud of it, and lost their reward: so when Noah had done a good work he spotted it with sin, and was dispraised where he was praised, as though God repented him that he commended him. He planted well, but he drunk not well: therefore that which was good did him hurt: then seeing he was trapped with a good work, whatsoever we do, we may remember how easy it is to sin, if we miss in the matter, or in the manner, or time, or the place, or the measure, as Noah did. He which planteth the vineyard, is worthy to taste of the grape, but if thou have found honey (saith Solomon) eat not too much least thou surfeit. So if thou have found Wine, drink not too much, least thou surfeit. A little Wine is better than a great deal, and if thou wilt follow the Apostles counsel, thou must drink it but for thy stomachs sake, least that happen to thee, which thou shalt hear of this noble Patriarch. Though he was never so righteous before GOD and men, though he escaped the destruction, which lighted upon all the world, though he had all the fowls of the air, and beasts of the land at his command, though he passed the pilgrimage of man nine hundred years, yet Noah was but a man, so ancient, so righteous, so mighty, so happy: Noah ⟨p. 587⟩showed himself but a man for drinking the Wine which himself had planted: he was drunken. This is Noah's fault, he was drunken with his own Wine, as Lot was defiled with his own daughters. If Ham his son had taken too much, and stripped himself as his father did, the holy Ghost would scarce have spoken of it, because he was a man of no note: but when the father forgot himself and gave this offence, mark the manner of the holy Ghost, as though he would show you a wonder: he displayeth Noah's drunkenness, as Ham displayed his nakedness: as if he would say, come and see the strength of man.

as though he had forgot all his righteousnes so soone as he sinned, & would cal in his praise againe. This was to shew, that Noah was not saued from the floud, because hee deserued to be saued; but because God had a fauour vnto him: for he which was not drowned with water, was drowned after with Wine. As the Pharisies when