A73175:141
Six sermons preachedSixe sermons preached
Six sermons preached by Master Henry Smith at Clement Danes Church without Temple bar. With two prayers of the same author hereunto annexed.Sixe sermons preached by Maister Henry Smith at Clement Danes Church without Temple barre. VVith tvvo prayers of the same author hereunto annexed.
London: printed by Richard for Robert Dexter, 1592
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.
There are three things which moved me to take this story in hand above all others. First because you know the story, and therefore ⟨p. 80⟩can the better conceive of the matter as I go forward with it. Secondly because it is brief and doth contain a great deal in a little. Thirdly, because it is most agreeable for the time and state of this sinful age wherein we live, and therefore most convenient for us. It is manifest that Jonah lived in a very troublesome time, namely in the time of Jeroboam a wicked king, of whom it was said, that he not only sinned himself against the Lord, but it is he which is called the Jeroboam that made Israel to sin. Also this commendeth the constancy of Jonah, that he in the midst of all the corruptions wherewith all the people were overflown, kept him self uncorrupted and unspotted amongst them all. And furthermore it layeth open and magnifieth the great love of God, in that he sent a Prophet to admonish his ungodly people, when as he should have sent a thunderbolt to terrify them, or rather utterly to destroy them: so that there mercy stepped before judgment.
There are three things which moued me to take this storie in hand aboue al others. First because you know the storie, and therefore ⟨p. 80⟩can the better conceiue of the matter as I go forward with it. Secondly because it is brief and doth containe a great deale in a little. Thirdly, because it is most agreeable for the time and state of this sinfull age wherein we liue, and therefore most conuenient for vs. It is manifest that Ionah liued in a very troublesome time, namely in the time of Ieroboam a wicked king, of whom it was said, that he not only sinned himself against the Lord, but it is he which is called the Ieroboā that made Israell to sinne. Also this commēdeth the constancie of Ionah, that he in the midst of all the corruptions wherwith all the people were ouerflowne, kept him selfe vncorrupted and vnspotted amongst them all. And furthermore it layeth open and magnifieth the great loue of God, in that he sent a Prophet to admonish his vngodly people, when as he should haue sent a thunderbolt to terrifie them, or rather vtterly to destroy them: so that there mercy stept before iudgment.