A73175:258
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.
In our necessity we fly every one unto 1his god (as these mariners) in whom we repose our confidence: every one flieth unto those vanities which most feed their humour, persuading them selves of sufficient relief from them. Come Physic heal me; come music cheer me; come dainties seed me; come gold enrich me; come flattery please ⟨p. 137⟩me; come mirth glad me; come honours advance me; & come all pleasures when I wish for you, come when I need and I will trust in you: so every man doth fly unto such vanities (in their necessity) as they take most pleasure in, supposing that they are able of them selves to ease them: so leaving the creator which is all powerful in him self, & running to his creatures, which have no power save that they receive from him. Every one unto his god. That is, in the time of necessity every one doth fly for help and ease unto that, wherein he reposeth most confidence: some run to their coffers, thinking that there it is that is able to procure ease from any troubles: other some run to their delights and wanton sports, supposing that there is no trouble so great, but it will ease them of it: some to their glorious attires & costly jewels, as thinking those can make them acceptable in the sight of God: some to their dainty meats: some to their soft beds and easy standings, &c. But when they begin to perceive that these will not help, which they in all the time of their prosperity reposed their confidence in, and made more account off then God, then they begin to crouch and kneel, & to seek out the true God in hope of relief. If thou canst heal thy self, what ⟨p. 138⟩needest thou a physician? or if thou canst help thy self out of troubles, what need hast thou of succour? Therefore these mariners seeing that they could not help themselves, cried unto their gods, and laboured with all their strength that they might not be cast away. First they used prayer unto the divine powers for assistance: then they used such ordinary means as they knew best in such a time, by casting out their wares to lighten the ship of them, which rule is necessary to be used of all Christians in their necessity:
In our necessitie we flie euerie one vnto 1