A73175:15
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.
Simeon feared God (saith he) Religion may well be called fear, for there is no Religion, 1where fear is wanting, for the fear of the Lord, is the beginning of wisdom, and this privilege hath God given, to them that fear him, that they need to fear nothing else. Simeon waited for the consolation of Israel, until he had embraced in his arms, him whom he so long longed for to see, & feel▪ how many waiters be there in the world, yet few wait as Simeon did, but some wait for honours, some for riches, some for pleasures, some for ease, some for rewards, some for money, some for a dear year, and some for a golden day as they call it, but Simeon waited and expected with many a long look until he had seen and embraced Christ Jesus, ⟨p. 3⟩the light of the Gentiles, the glory of Israel, and the salvation of all that with a faithful and zealous affection and love doth wait for his coming, to the comfort of the afflicted and to the terrifying to the wicked, & ungodly, which have not already waited neither embraced him, as Simeon did. Faith in all afflictions doth lift up her head waiting in assured hope beyond all hope, & seeing the clouds scattered over her head, yet she is ever comfortable to her self, saying anon it will be calm, and although all the friends in the world do fail yet it never faileth nor fainteth, but ever keepeth promise in that which by the verity of the spirit of God it assureth until her joy be filled. All are not Israelites that are borne in Israel. Simeon was an Israelite 2indeed, for he waited for the messias from God with patience, and expectation: so the spirit of God dwelleth always with them which always say thy will be done. The seed 3is not cast all on a heap, but it is cast all abroad: therefore where be the fruits of the spirit that you have brought forth? for the spirit of God is not like a dead potion in the stomach, which worketh not, neither can we have this spirit in us and feel it not. For if thou hast it, it will lead thee to the Temple, and when thou art there, it will lead• ⟨image 6⟩