A73175:216
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
THE REBELLION OF JONAH, IN TWO SERMONS.THE REBELLION OF IONAH, IN TWO SERMONS.
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.
They that should preach at Nineveh, are loitering at Tarshish, and like a drone doth the Nonresident keep his benefice, but for shame wilt thou keep it still, either go and preach at Nineveh as you are commanded, ⟨p. 108⟩or leave your privilege and benefice. But they stand staggering, ashamed to keep it, and loath to leave off, for the sweet morsels of Bells priests are so pleasant unto them, that they cannot find in their harts to leave them as long as they are able to keep it. Jonah was sent to Nineveh, but he went toward Tarshish. And so it is always with us, either we say or do evil, or else we do nothing, or we take one thing for another and so we are ever doing that we should not do. And as Jonah took Tarshish for Nineveh: so we take the Devil for an Angel, light for darkness: pride for handsomeness: sin for godliness: and evil for goodness. No marvel it was that Jonah fled, least he should go to Nineveh: for this is a stumbling vocation among men, yea hated and rejected by the children of this world, which alway 1kick against it, and therefore it was that Moses murmured, and Jeremiah complained. If you would ask for a painful vocation, this is it: if for a contemptible vocation, this is it: for reproving, we are reproved: & it is as easy to wash a Blackemoore, as to convert a sinner, because Satan is ever crossing men from doing the will of God: and as earnest as the Lord was in stopping the way of Balaam, least he should commit ⟨p. 109⟩wickedness, so earnestly did the devil stop the way of Jonah, lest he in obedience should do the will of God.
They that should preach at Niniuie, are loytering at Tarshish, and like a drone doth the Nonresident keepe his benefice, but for shame wilt thou keepe it still, either go and preach at Niniuie as you are cōmmanded, ⟨p. 108⟩or leaue your priuiledge and benefice. But they stand staggering, ashamed to keepe it, and loath to leaue off, for the sweet morsels of Bels priests are so pleasant vnto them, that they cannot find in their harts to leaue them as long as they are able to keepe it. Ionah was sent to Niniuie, but he went toward Tarshish. And so it is alwayes with vs, either we say or do euill, or else we do nothing, or we take one thing for another and so we are euer doing that we should not do. And as Ionah tooke Tarshish for Niniuie: so wee take the Deuill for an Angell, light for darknesse: pride for handsomnesse: sinne for godlinesse: and euil for goodnesse. No maruell it was that Ionah fled, least hee should go to Niniuie: for this is a stumbling vocation amōg men, yea hated and reiected by the children of this world, which alway