B15838:250
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
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.
But give me a reason I pray thee, why thou wilt be called the servant of God which dost not serve him, or the child of God, which dost not love him; or the disciple of Christ, which dost not learn of him: yet his rain falleth upon all, just and unjust, and he giveth thee all things for nothing: The Sun doth give his light for nothing, the dew doth give his moisture for nothing, the rivers doth give their waters for nothing; and the earth doth give her fruit for nothing.
But giue mee a reason I pray thee, why thou wilt bee called the seruant of God which dost not serue him, or the childe of God, which dost not loue him; or the disciple of Christ, which dost not learne of him: yet his raine falleth vpon all, iust and vniust, and hee giueth thee all things for nothing: The Sunne doth giue his light for nothing, the dew doth giue his moisture for nothing, the riuers doth giue their waters for nothing; and the earth doth giue her fruit for nothing.
What shall we do then when the Sun shineth? 1We must not do as we do in the dark, for then men ought to betake them to their labour. Learn of the savage beasts who as soon as the day springs, betake them to their travel, and every bird welcometh it with many a sweet song. Christ is light, and this light is come: therefore he that seeth not now is blind. Are not they then blind which yet see not that prayer for the dead is vain, needless, and bootless? But thick darkness have a mighty light to chase it away. So that he which beginneth to root out some error or superstition, at the first shall have much ado, for custom and natural corruption are the first causers of heresy, and shall cry ⟨image 47⟩against her in the maintenance thereof: and withstanders of reformation shall say, Great is Diana of Ephesus: and so for a long time they seem to wash the Ethiopian, or the black Moore, the more they wash him the more they gall him, and yet he is an Ethiopian still: but in the end the Ark standeth, and Dagon falleth down: and truth triumpheth over falsehood, having got the victory; and light chaseth away darkness with the brightness thereof. Why