B15838:142
Two sermons preached by Master Henry SmithTvvo sermons preached by Master Henry Smith
Two sermons preached by Master Henry Smith: with a prayer for the morning thereunto adjoined. And published by a more perfect copy then heretoforeTvvo sermons preached by Master Henry Smith: with a prayer for the morning thereunto adioyned. And published by a more perfect copy then heeretofore
London: printed by William Hall for William Leake, 1610
THE SWEET SONG OF OLD FATHER SIMEON, in two Sermons. › Sermon
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.
The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake 1which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. And the just Judge shall say to all workers of iniquity: Go ye accursed into hell fire prepared for the devil and his Angels: hell fire, where the worm 2never dieth, and the fire never goeth out. Whereupon, this the Prophet avoucheth, There is no peace to the wicked, 3saith my God. For in their strong hope they feel a stinging fear, their greatest confidence is not without trembling of conscience. Therefore fearing the event of death to be for them (as indeed it is) most horrible, they utterly abhor it, they detest it extremely. How then (say some) should they seek death so eagerly? How should they murder themselves so willingly? They do it not altogether willingly, but wittingly; not freely, but forced with fear of some supposed greater evil: The troubles of this world, the anguish of body, the horror of mind, they are most impatient of, they cannot, they will not endure them, and thereupon they sometimes prefer death before life, less willing to live in vexation, then dying to try, whether they shall feel what they fear, even deserved damnation: for they are never willing to die, but unwilling to live often, and so work themselves endless woe, in hope of supposed happiness, abhorring life, not truly desiring death. For how die they, when they most voluntarily bereave themselves of life? not in love of God, longing to please him, performing all service to him: but either in pain of body, or else anguish of mind, either raging that they cannot satisfy their lusts, or have lost outward things immoderately loved: for fearing, if they die, deserved torments: if they ⟨image 27⟩live they shall either continue in felt horror, or lose hoped for honour:
The fearefull, and vnbeleeuing, and the abominable, and murtherers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall haue their part in the lake 1