Two sermons preached by Master Henry SmithTvvo sermons preached by Master Henry Smith

But thou hast speeches enow to use, if thou wilt needs say somewhat, and leave such superstitious and offensive sentences: if he be a good man, thou mayest say, the Lord be thanked for his deliverance, or the like: but if he be not, then thou mayest say, God grant we may do better then he hath done, and that by his fall we may learn to rise, from sin, or some such thing: whatsoever he be, thou mayest say as David said of his child, giving a reason why he would not pray for him any longer being dead: Can I call him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me: or any other words, so they be wise, and therefore not against the word. What then is to be done? As Jacob said to his ⟨image 47⟩wives and children; Give me your idols that I may bury them: so say I unto you; give me your superstitions that I may bury them, that they may remain with you, or in you no longer, to the dishonour of God, offending of your weak brethren, or to my grief. For I am jealous over you, and because you are mine, and I am yours; O that my voice were as the whittle-wind, to beat down, root out, and blow away all your superstitions, that they may no longer reign amongst you: or rather, O that Christ which is our light were come into us all, and shined so bright, that we were ashamed of all our darkness: of all, not of mind only, but of will also, and of works, that we no longer would walk in darkness, for few have the will to walk according to the word, either in darkness or light: we can see to sin in the dark aswell as in the light, and do rather, because the light discovereth both the harlot and the thief, so they are afraid of the light; but assured be we, where light is not, Christ is not: for Christ is light; and let none be afraid to seek this light, which is so good, so excellent, and so profitable for ¹us. For it doth not only descry it self, but all other things round about it. Therefore if thou have this light, thy faith, thy fear, thy love will show it self, and good things cannot now hide themselves, for he that is light doth delight to please God in the light. It is no marvel though a man stumble in the dark, but he which stumbleth in the light is not very strong, because he seeth his way before him.

But thou hast speeches enow to vse, if thou wilt needes say somewhat, and leaue such superstitious and offensiue sentences: if hee bee a good man, thou maiest say, the Lord bee thanked for his deliuerance, or the like: but if hee bee not, then thou maiest say, God grant wee may doe better then hee hath done, and that by his fall we may learne to rise, from sinne, or some such thing: whatsoeuer hee bee, thou maiest say as Dauid said of his childe, giuing a reason why hee would not pray for him any longer benig dead: Can I call him backe againe? I shall goe to him, but hee shall not returne to mee: or any other words, so they bee wise, and therefore not against the word. What then is to bee done? As Iacob said to his